Software · head to head
Chief Architect vs BuildingConnected
Chief Architect
Software
Professional home design and construction software
- From
- $695/perpetual
- Rated
- -
BuildingConnected
Software
Preconstruction and bid management platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only BuildingConnected has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- 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; BuildingConnected the Internet Archive's capture of BuildingConnected's homepage on 16 December 2019 named three distinct network tools, BC Pro, TradeTapp, and Bid Board Pro, each sold via demo request or free trial with no price figure published; the product is now owned by Autodesk.
- They diverge on capability: Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, BuildingConnected covers Bid management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Chief Architect and BuildingConnected actually diverge.
| Attribute | Chief Architect | BuildingConnected |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $695/perpetual | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 1991 | 1982 |
Identical on both: 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
- Revit
- SketchUp
- CAD
Only in BuildingConnected
- Bid management
- Subcontractor network
- Prequalification
- Bid leveling
- Analytics
- Autodesk Build
- Autodesk Docs
- Procore
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 BuildingConnected
- Automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building modelnot BuildingConnected
- Kitchen and bath design with manufacturer cabinet catalogsnot BuildingConnected
BuildingConnected
- Bid solicitationnot Chief Architect
- Subcontractor prequalificationnot Chief Architect
- Bid analysisnot Chief Architect
- Vendor managementnot 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
BuildingConnected
- The Internet Archive's capture of BuildingConnected's homepage on 16 December 2019 named three distinct network tools, BC Pro, TradeTapp, and Bid Board Pro, each sold via demo request or free trial with no price figure published; the product is now owned by Autodesk.
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
BuildingConnected
Free- Pro (Subcontractors)Free
- Bid opportunities
- ITB responses
- Company profile
- Pro (GCs)Free
- Bid management
- Subcontractor network
- Bid leveling
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 BuildingConnected if
- You need bid management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want subcontractor network.
Questions people ask
- Is Chief Architect or BuildingConnected better?
- Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual and BuildingConnected at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or BuildingConnected?
- BuildingConnected has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $695/perpetual for Chief Architect and Free for BuildingConnected.
- Does Chief Architect or BuildingConnected run on more platforms?
- Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. BuildingConnected runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use BuildingConnected for free?
- Yes. BuildingConnected has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual.
- 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 BuildingConnected is typically brought in for.
- What can Chief Architect do that BuildingConnected cannot?
- Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists. BuildingConnected covers Bid management, Subcontractor network, Prequalification, Bid leveling.