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Proposal & Quote · head to head

Bidsketch vs Chief Architect

Bidsketch logo

Bidsketch

Proposal & Quote

Professional Proposal Software

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Chief Architect logo

Chief Architect

Construction & Architecture

Professional home design and construction software

From
$695/perpetual
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bidsketch tiers are seat caps rather than feature sets, at 1 user on Solo, 3 on Team and 8 on Business, with the same features throughout; Chief Architect chief Architect Premier is $229 per month or $1,995 per year, with the monthly option costing 27% more than annual
  • They diverge on capability: Bidsketch covers Proposal templates, Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bidsketch and Chief Architect actually diverge.

Attributes where Bidsketch and Chief Architect differ
AttributeBidsketchChief Architect
Starting price$29/month$695/perpetual
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
PlatformsWebWindows, Mac
CategoryProposal & QuoteConstruction & Architecture
Founded20101991

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bidsketch

  • Proposal templates
  • Reusable content
  • Electronic signatures
  • Analytics
  • PDF export
  • Salesforce
  • FreshBooks
  • Zapier

Only in Chief Architect

  • 2D and 3D design
  • Floor plan creation
  • Construction documentation
  • Material lists
  • Rendering
  • Revit
  • SketchUp
  • CAD

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bidsketch

  • Writing and sending client proposals from templatesnot Chief Architect
  • Electronic signature and approval on a proposalnot Chief Architect
  • Tracking when a proposal is openednot Chief Architect
  • Reusable fee and content sections across proposalsnot Chief Architect

Chief Architect

  • Producing construction documents, elevations and 3D renderings for residential architecturenot Bidsketch
  • Automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building modelnot Bidsketch
  • Kitchen and bath design with manufacturer cabinet catalogsnot Bidsketch

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bidsketch

  • Tiers are seat caps rather than feature sets, at 1 user on Solo, 3 on Team and 8 on Business, with the same features throughout
  • The $15 Starter plan is annual only, caps clients at 25 and excludes e-signatures and custom domains
  • Team is $79 a month billed monthly against $47 billed annually, a large gap for paying monthly
  • There is no free tier, only a 14 day trial

Chief Architect

  • Chief Architect Premier is $229 per month or $1,995 per year, with the monthly option costing 27% more than annual
  • Software rentals have been replaced with subscriptions and access to the software ends at the conclusion of the current billing period once cancelled
  • The $995 upgrade price for existing legacy licence holders applies to the first year only, after which standard rates apply

Pricing, plan by plan

Bidsketch

$29/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Bidsketch review.

Chief Architect

$695/perpetual
  • Standard$695/perpetual
    • 2D and 3D design
    • Floor plan creation
    • Construction documentation
  • Architectural$1595/perpetual
    • Advanced architectural tools
    • BIM capabilities
    • Rendering

Which should you pick?

Choose Bidsketch if

  • You need proposal templates.
  • You also want reusable content.
Bidsketch review

Choose Chief Architect if

  • You need 2d and 3d design.
  • You work on Windows, Mac.
  • You also want floor plan creation.
Chief Architect review

Questions people ask

Is Bidsketch or Chief Architect better?
Neither clearly leads. Bidsketch starts at $29/month and Chief Architect at $695/perpetual, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bidsketch or Chief Architect?
Bidsketch starts at $29/month and Chief Architect at $695/perpetual.
Does Bidsketch or Chief Architect run on more platforms?
Bidsketch runs on Web. Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac.
What is Bidsketch best used for?
Bidsketch is most often used for writing and sending client proposals from templates, electronic signature and approval on a proposal, tracking when a proposal is opened, reusable fee and content sections across proposals. Of those, writing and sending client proposals from templates and electronic signature and approval on a proposal are not what Chief Architect is typically brought in for.
What can Bidsketch do that Chief Architect cannot?
Bidsketch covers Proposal templates, Reusable content, Electronic signatures, Analytics. Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists.
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