Software · head to head
Chief Architect vs CMiC
Chief Architect
Software
Professional home design and construction software
- From
- $695/perpetual
- 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; CMiC pricing is by quote only, with the site's Pricing link leading to a Get a Quote form and no rate, tier or minimum published
- They diverge on capability: Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, CMiC covers Project management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Chief Architect and CMiC actually diverge.
| Attribute | Chief Architect | CMiC |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $695/perpetual | $300/month |
| Pricing model | one-time | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 1991 | 1985 |
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
- Revit
- SketchUp
- CAD
Only in CMiC
- Project management
- Accounting
- Document management
- Job costing
- Field operations
- QuickBooks
- Sage
- Microsoft 365
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 CMiC
- Automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building modelnot CMiC
- Kitchen and bath design with manufacturer cabinet catalogsnot CMiC
CMiC
- Running construction accounting and financials as an ERP for a contractornot Chief Architect
- Managing project documents, workflow and approvals alongside the general ledgernot Chief Architect
- Analytics and reporting across a construction firm's projectsnot 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
CMiC
- Pricing is by quote only, with the site's Pricing link leading to a Get a Quote form and no rate, tier or minimum published
- Functionality is split into separately named products including Construction Financials, Project Management, Workflow, Analytics, NEXUS and CONSTRUCT
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
CMiC
$300/month- Core$300/month
- Project management
- Accounting
- Document management
- EnterpriseFree
- Mobile field app
- Advanced analytics
- API access
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 CMiC if
- You need project management.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want accounting.
Questions people ask
- Is Chief Architect or CMiC better?
- Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual and CMiC at $300/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or CMiC?
- Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual and CMiC at $300/month.
- Does Chief Architect or CMiC run on more platforms?
- Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. CMiC 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 CMiC is typically brought in for.
- What can Chief Architect do that CMiC cannot?
- Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists. CMiC covers Project management, Accounting, Document management, Job costing.