Software · head to head
Chief Architect vs CoConstruct

Chief Architect
Software
Professional home design and construction software
- From
- $695/perpetual
- Rated
- -

CoConstruct
Software
Project management for custom home builders and remodelers
- From
- $99/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; CoConstruct coConstruct is being retired into Buildertrend, with the vendor stating the transition is entering its final phase and directing customers to migrate
- They diverge on capability: Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, CoConstruct covers Project scheduling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Chief Architect and CoConstruct actually diverge.
| Attribute | Chief Architect | CoConstruct |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $695/perpetual | $99/month |
| Pricing model | one-time | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 1991 | 2005 |
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 CoConstruct
- Project scheduling
- Estimating
- Client communication
- Selections management
- Financial tracking
- QuickBooks
- Xero
- Zapier
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 CoConstruct
- Automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building modelnot CoConstruct
- Kitchen and bath design with manufacturer cabinet catalogsnot CoConstruct
CoConstruct
- Custom home building and remodeling project management for existing CoConstruct accountsnot Chief Architect
- Migrating an existing CoConstruct project history onto Buildertrendnot 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
CoConstruct
- CoConstruct is being retired into Buildertrend, with the vendor stating the transition is entering its final phase and directing customers to migrate
- No CoConstruct price, plan or minimum is published on its pricing page
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
CoConstruct
$99/month- Essential$99/month
- Project management
- Scheduling
- Client portal
- Advanced$399/month
- Everything in Essential
- Estimating
- Selections
- Complete$699/month
- Everything in Advanced
- Lead management
- Proposals
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 CoConstruct if
- You need project scheduling.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want estimating.
Questions people ask
- Is Chief Architect or CoConstruct better?
- Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual and CoConstruct at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or CoConstruct?
- Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual and CoConstruct at $99/month.
- Does Chief Architect or CoConstruct run on more platforms?
- Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. CoConstruct 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 CoConstruct is typically brought in for.
- What can Chief Architect do that CoConstruct cannot?
- Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists. CoConstruct covers Project scheduling, Estimating, Client communication, Selections management.
Related pages
More on Chief Architect
More on CoConstruct
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