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Construction · head to head

Chief Architect vs Dalux

Chief Architect logo

Chief Architect

Construction

Professional home design and construction software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Dalux logo

Dalux

Construction

BIM viewing, snagging and field quality control for construction and facilities teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Chief Architect no free tier after trial; Dalux no pricing is published for any paid module, so comparing Dalux against Procore or Autodesk Construction Cloud on cost requires entering a sales process and waiting for a quote you cannot benchmark.
  • They diverge on capability: Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Dalux covers Mobile BIM viewer.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chief Architect and Dalux actually diverge.

Attributes where Chief Architect and Dalux differ
AttributeChief ArchitectDalux
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWindows, MacWeb, iOS, Android, Windows
Founded1991Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Construction).

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 Dalux

  • Mobile BIM viewer
  • Field snagging
  • Dalux Box
  • InfraField
  • Dalux FM
  • Handover
  • Checklists and forms
  • Free viewer tier

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Chief Architect

  • Home design and architectural planningnot Dalux
  • Kitchen and bathroom designnot Dalux
  • Interior design and remodelingnot Dalux
  • Professional building designnot Dalux

Dalux

  • A Nordic main contractor wants every subcontractor raising and closing snags in one system without paying a seat fee for each trade, so the free Field Basic tier carries the supply chain.not Chief Architect
  • An engineering consultancy needs site staff to interrogate a federated model on a phone in a basement with no signal, where a browser-based viewer would be useless.not Chief Architect
  • A public asset owner wants the as-built model and asset register to survive handover into an FM system rather than arriving as a pallet of ring binders.not Chief Architect
  • A rail or highways contractor needs quality records located by chainage along a route rather than by level and grid on a building floor plan, which is what InfraField exists for.not Chief Architect

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Chief Architect

  • No free tier after trial
  • Monthly subscription at $229/month is significantly higher than annual equivalent ($166.25/month)
  • Trial download available but duration and features not specified
  • No mention of team or multi-user plans

Dalux

  • No pricing is published for any paid module, so comparing Dalux against Procore or Autodesk Construction Cloud on cost requires entering a sales process and waiting for a quote you cannot benchmark.
  • There is no cost management, estimating, budgeting or payment application functionality, so commercial teams keep a separate system and someone reconciles the two by hand.
  • The integration catalogue is thin next to the American incumbents, and ERP or finance connections generally mean custom work through the API rather than a listed connector.
  • Support, documentation and product terminology are strongest in Danish and Northern European construction conventions, and teams working to AIA or other North American contract norms will find the workflows do not map cleanly.
  • The free tier is deliberately limited: Field Basic has no checklists, no document control and no reporting, so the free users your subcontractors get are consumers of information rather than participants in a controlled process, and upgrading them is a paid conversation.

Pricing, plan by plan

Chief Architect

Free
  • Monthly Subscription$229/month
    • Software upgrades
    • Premium catalog downloads
    • Priority technical support
  • Annual Subscription$1995/year
    • 27% savings vs monthly
    • All monthly benefits included
  • Legacy License Upgrade$995/year
    • 50% discount first year
    • Then $1,995/year
    • For existing Chief Architect users

Dalux

Free
  • BIM Viewer and Field Basic$undefined/year
    • Federated model viewing on desktop and mobile
    • Basic snagging against drawings and BIM
    • Unlimited invited project members at no cost
  • Dalux Field, Box, InfraField, Handover, FM$undefined/year
    • Full quality, safety and document control workflows
    • Handover and tender modules
    • Facilities management on the as-built model

Which should you pick?

Choose Chief Architect if

  • You need 2d and 3d design.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac.
  • You also want floor plan creation.
Chief Architect review

Choose Dalux if

  • You need mobile bim viewer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
  • You also want field snagging.
Dalux review

Questions people ask

Is Chief Architect or Dalux better?
Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at Free and Dalux at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or Dalux?
Chief Architect starts at Free and Dalux at Free.
Does Chief Architect or Dalux run on more platforms?
Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. Dalux runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
Can I use Chief Architect for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Chief Architect best used for?
Chief Architect is most often used for home design and architectural planning, kitchen and bathroom design, interior design and remodeling, professional building design. Of those, home design and architectural planning and kitchen and bathroom design are not what Dalux is typically brought in for.
What can Chief Architect do that Dalux cannot?
Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists. Dalux covers Mobile BIM viewer, Field snagging, Dalux Box, InfraField.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Chief Architect: How much does Chief Architect cost?

Chief Architect costs $229/month on a monthly subscription, or $1,995/year ($166.25/month equivalent) for annual billing, representing a 27% discount.

Source
Dalux: Is Dalux really free?

BIM Viewer and Field Basic are genuinely free with unlimited invited users. Dalux Box, the full Field product, InfraField, Handover, Tender and FM are paid and quoted privately.

Chief Architect: Is there a free trial available?

Yes, a free trial download is available for prospective customers to evaluate Chief Architect before purchase.

Source
Dalux: Does Dalux work offline on site?

Yes. Models, drawings and snags sync to the device and the mobile apps are built to work in basements and lift shafts, syncing when signal returns.

Chief Architect: Is there a discount for existing Chief Architect license holders?

Yes, legacy license holders can upgrade to an annual subscription for $995 the first year (50% discount), then $1,995/year thereafter.

Source
Dalux: Can Dalux replace Procore?

Not on the commercial side. It covers field quality, safety, documents and handover, but has no cost control, budgets or payment applications.

Chief Architect: What is included in the subscription?

Chief Architect subscription includes software upgrades, premium catalog downloads for design assets, and priority technical support.

Source
Dalux: Is it available outside Europe?

It is sold globally and the apps are multilingual, but the customer base, partner network and support hours are centred on Northern Europe.

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