Software · head to head
Chief Architect vs e-Builder
Chief Architect
Software
Professional home design and construction software
- From
- $695/perpetual
- Rated
- -
e-Builder
Software
Construction project management and accounting software
- From
- $400/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; e-Builder product was rebranded to Trimble Unity Construct and no pricing figures are published on the current product page, only a compare plans link
- They diverge on capability: Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, e-Builder covers Project management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Chief Architect and e-Builder actually diverge.
| Attribute | Chief Architect | e-Builder |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $695/perpetual | $400/month |
| Pricing model | one-time | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 1991 | 2002 |
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 e-Builder
- Project management
- Document control
- Accounting
- RFI management
- Collaboration
- 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 e-Builder
- Automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building modelnot e-Builder
- Kitchen and bath design with manufacturer cabinet catalogsnot e-Builder
e-Builder
- Project managementnot Chief Architect
- Document controlnot Chief Architect
- Financial managementnot Chief Architect
- Collaborationnot 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
e-Builder
- Product was rebranded to Trimble Unity Construct and no pricing figures are published on the current product page, only a compare plans link
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
e-Builder
$400/month- Professional$400/month
- Project management
- Document control
- Accounting
- EnterpriseFree
- Advanced reporting
- Custom workflows
- 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 e-Builder if
- You need project management.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want document control.
Questions people ask
- Is Chief Architect or e-Builder better?
- Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual and e-Builder at $400/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or e-Builder?
- Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual and e-Builder at $400/month.
- Does Chief Architect or e-Builder run on more platforms?
- Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. e-Builder 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 e-Builder is typically brought in for.
- What can Chief Architect do that e-Builder cannot?
- Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists. e-Builder covers Project management, Document control, Accounting, RFI management.