Software · head to head
Chief Architect vs Buildxact
Chief Architect
Software
Professional home design and construction software
- From
- $695/perpetual
- Rated
- -
B
Buildxact
Software
Estimating and construction management for builders, remodelers and material dealers
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Buildxact 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; Buildxact the free Go tier includes only 5 complimentary credits before requiring a paid plan starting at $199 per month, as of August 2026
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Chief Architect and Buildxact actually diverge.
| Attribute | Chief Architect | Buildxact |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $695/perpetual | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac | Web |
| Founded | 1991 | Unknown |
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 Buildxact
Nothing recorded that Chief Architect does not also cover.
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 Buildxact
- Automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building modelnot Buildxact
- Kitchen and bath design with manufacturer cabinet catalogsnot Buildxact
Buildxact
No use cases recorded yet. See the Buildxact review.
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
Buildxact
- The free Go tier includes only 5 complimentary credits before requiring a paid plan starting at $199 per month, as of August 2026
- Advanced estimating tools like the Blu Estimate Generator and Takeoff Assistant cost an extra $99 per month each on top of the base plan, as of August 2026
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
Buildxact
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Buildxact review.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Chief Architect or Buildxact better?
- Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual and Buildxact at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or Buildxact?
- Buildxact has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $695/perpetual for Chief Architect and Free for Buildxact.
- Does Chief Architect or Buildxact run on more platforms?
- Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. Buildxact runs on Web.
- Can I use Buildxact for free?
- Yes. Buildxact 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 Buildxact is typically brought in for.
- What can Chief Architect do that Buildxact cannot?
- Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists.