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Software · head to head

Buildertrend vs Chief Architect

Buildertrend logo

Buildertrend

Software

Construction project management for home builders and remodelers

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Chief Architect logo

Chief Architect

Software

Professional home design and construction software

From
$695/perpetual
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Buildertrend pricing is by quote only, with no rate, plan name or minimum published on the pricing page; 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: Buildertrend covers Project scheduling, Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Buildertrend and Chief Architect differ
AttributeBuildertrendChief Architect
Starting price$99/month$695/perpetual
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows, Mac
Founded20061991

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

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 Buildertrend

  • Project scheduling
  • Customer management
  • Financial tracking
  • Selections management
  • Change orders
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • Zillow

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.

Buildertrend

  • Running scheduling, budgets, change orders and client communication for a residential construction businessnot Chief Architect
  • Giving homeowners a client portal to approve selections and view progressnot Chief Architect
  • Consolidating estimating, purchase orders and job costing for custom home builders and remodelersnot Chief Architect

Chief Architect

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

Where each one falls short

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

Buildertrend

  • Pricing is by quote only, with no rate, plan name or minimum published on the pricing page
  • Getting a price requires completing a multi-step form declaring builder type and annual construction volume, then booking a call with a sales representative
  • The only published discount is 10% off for paying annually upfront

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

Buildertrend

$99/month
  • Core$99/month
    • Project scheduling
    • Daily logs
    • Photo management
  • Pro$299/month
    • Everything in Core
    • Proposals & estimates
    • Customer portal
  • Premium$499/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Financials
    • Time clock

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 Buildertrend if

  • You need project scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want customer management.
Buildertrend 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 Buildertrend or Chief Architect better?
Neither clearly leads. Buildertrend starts at $99/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, Buildertrend or Chief Architect?
Buildertrend starts at $99/month and Chief Architect at $695/perpetual.
Does Buildertrend or Chief Architect run on more platforms?
Buildertrend runs on Web, Ios, Android. Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac.
What is Buildertrend best used for?
Buildertrend is most often used for running scheduling, budgets, change orders and client communication for a residential construction business, giving homeowners a client portal to approve selections and view progress, consolidating estimating, purchase orders and job costing for custom home builders and remodelers. Of those, running scheduling, budgets, change orders and client communication for a residential construction business and giving homeowners a client portal to approve selections and view progress are not what Chief Architect is typically brought in for.
What can Buildertrend do that Chief Architect cannot?
Buildertrend covers Project scheduling, Customer management, Financial tracking, Selections management. Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists.
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