Software · head to head
Chief Architect vs Autodesk Construction Cloud
Chief Architect
Software
Professional home design and construction software
- From
- $695/perpetual
- Rated
- -
Autodesk Construction Cloud
Software
Unified platform for construction project delivery
- From
- $85/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Chief Architect chief Architect Premier is $229 per month or $1,995 per year, with the monthly option costing 27% more than annual; Autodesk Construction Cloud autodesk Construction Cloud has been rebranded as Autodesk Forma and the ACC product names have changed, so existing documentation and training refer to superseded names
- They diverge on capability: Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Autodesk Construction Cloud covers Document management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Chief Architect and Autodesk Construction Cloud actually diverge.
| Attribute | Chief Architect | Autodesk Construction Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $695/perpetual | $85/month |
| Pricing model | one-time | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 1991 | 1982 |
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 Chief Architect
- 2D and 3D design
- Floor plan creation
- Construction documentation
- Material lists
- Rendering
- SketchUp
- CAD
- Google Drive
Only in Autodesk Construction Cloud
- Document management
- Model coordination
- Project management
- Cost management
- Field execution
- AutoCAD
- Navisworks
- Civil 3D
Both cover
- Revit
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Chief Architect
- Producing construction documents, elevations and 3D renderings for residential architecturenot Autodesk Construction Cloud
- Automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building modelnot Autodesk Construction Cloud
- Kitchen and bath design with manufacturer cabinet catalogsnot Autodesk Construction Cloud
Autodesk Construction Cloud
- Managing construction documents, RFIs and submittals across a project teamnot Chief Architect
- Preconstruction bid management, takeoff and estimatingnot Chief Architect
- Model coordination and clash detection between design disciplinesnot Chief Architect
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Autodesk Construction Cloud
- Autodesk Construction Cloud has been rebranded as Autodesk Forma and the ACC product names have changed, so existing documentation and training refer to superseded names
- All three bundles (Model Management, Preconstruction and Construction Operations) are sold by Get a Quote with no published price
- Capability is split across separate bundles, so a firm needing preconstruction and construction operations buys two bundles
- Pricing is described as user, project and account-based rather than a single published per-seat rate
- The money-back guarantee is limited to 30 days
- Expert support hours are 24 hours a day Monday to Friday, so weekends are not covered
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Autodesk Construction Cloud
$85/month- Autodesk Docs$85/month
- Document management
- Model coordination
- Design collaboration
- Autodesk Build$175/month
- Project management
- Quality control
- Cost management
- Full PlatformFree
- Complete ACC access
- All products
- Enterprise features
Which should you pick?
Choose Chief Architect if
- You need 2d and 3d design.
- You work on Windows, Mac.
- You also want floor plan creation.
Choose Autodesk Construction Cloud if
- You need document management.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want model coordination.
Questions people ask
- Is Chief Architect or Autodesk Construction Cloud better?
- Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual and Autodesk Construction Cloud at $85/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or Autodesk Construction Cloud?
- Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual and Autodesk Construction Cloud at $85/month.
- Does Chief Architect or Autodesk Construction Cloud run on more platforms?
- Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. Autodesk Construction Cloud runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- What is Chief Architect best used for?
- Chief Architect is most often used for producing construction documents, elevations and 3d renderings for residential architecture, automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building model, kitchen and bath design with manufacturer cabinet catalogs. Of those, producing construction documents, elevations and 3d renderings for residential architecture and automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building model are not what Autodesk Construction Cloud is typically brought in for.
- What can Chief Architect do that Autodesk Construction Cloud cannot?
- Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists. Autodesk Construction Cloud covers Document management, Model coordination, Project management, Cost management. Both handle Revit.