Software · head to head
Chief Architect vs Fieldwire
Chief Architect
Software
Professional home design and construction software
- From
- $695/perpetual
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Fieldwire 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; Fieldwire free tier limited to 5 team members and 3 projects maximum
- They diverge on capability: Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Fieldwire covers Task management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Chief Architect and Fieldwire actually diverge.
| Attribute | Chief Architect | Fieldwire |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $695/perpetual | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac | iOS, Android |
| Founded | 1991 | 2013 |
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 Fieldwire
- Task management
- Digital blueprints
- Punch lists
- Inspections
- Photo documentation
- Procore
- Autodesk BIM 360
- Box
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 Fieldwire
- Automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building modelnot Fieldwire
- Kitchen and bath design with manufacturer cabinet catalogsnot Fieldwire
Fieldwire
- Construction task tracking and field coordinationnot Chief Architect
- Punch list management on mobile devicesnot Chief Architect
- Project documentation organisationnot Chief Architect
- Field team communicationnot 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
Fieldwire
- Free tier limited to 5 team members and 3 projects maximum
- Basic plan limited to 100 sheets
- Advanced features (RFIs, submittals, change orders, budget management) restricted to higher tiers
- BIM viewer availability gated to Business tier and above
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
Fieldwire
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Fieldwire 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.
Choose Fieldwire if
- You need task management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android.
- You also want digital blueprints.
Questions people ask
- Is Chief Architect or Fieldwire better?
- Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at $695/perpetual and Fieldwire at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or Fieldwire?
- Fieldwire has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $695/perpetual for Chief Architect and Free for Fieldwire.
- Does Chief Architect or Fieldwire run on more platforms?
- Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. Fieldwire runs on iOS, Android.
- Can I use Fieldwire for free?
- Yes. Fieldwire 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 Fieldwire is typically brought in for.
- What can Chief Architect do that Fieldwire cannot?
- Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists. Fieldwire covers Task management, Digital blueprints, Punch lists, Inspections.