Softwr

Construction · head to head

Chief Architect vs Knowify

Chief Architect logo

Chief Architect

Construction

Professional home design and construction software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Knowify logo

Knowify

Construction

Construction and field service management integrated with QuickBooks

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Chief Architect has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Chief Architect no free tier after trial; Knowify additional users cost $29/month per person across all plans
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Chief Architect and Knowify differ
AttributeChief ArchitectKnowify
Starting priceFree$99/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, MacWeb
Founded1991Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Knowify

Nothing recorded that Chief Architect does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Chief Architect

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

Knowify

  • Bidding fixed-price and AIA jobs with team managementnot Chief Architect
  • Tracking labor and materials costs to project phasesnot Chief Architect
  • Real-time dispatching and payment processing for crewsnot Chief Architect
  • Managing change orders and invoicing across 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

  • 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

Knowify

  • Additional users cost $29/month per person across all plans
  • Monthly billing costs 50% more than annual billing

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

Knowify

$99/month
  • Core$99/month
    • 1 user
    • Bid, execute, and invoice for fixed-price and AIA jobs
  • Advanced$329/month
    • 10 users
    • Project management
    • Job costing tools
  • Enterprise$null/mo
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited inventory
    • Custom pricing

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 Knowify if

Nothing in the data separates Knowify from Chief Architect on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Knowify review

Questions people ask

Is Chief Architect or Knowify better?
Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at Free and Knowify at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or Knowify?
Chief Architect has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Chief Architect and $99/month for Knowify.
Does Chief Architect or Knowify run on more platforms?
Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. Knowify runs on Web.
Can I use Chief Architect for free?
Yes. Chief Architect has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Knowify starts at $99/month.
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 Knowify is typically brought in for.
What can Chief Architect do that Knowify cannot?
Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists.

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
Knowify: How much does Knowify cost?

Knowify Core plan starts at $99/month for annual billing (or $149/month for monthly billing) and includes 1 user. The Advanced plan costs $329/month annually ($399/month monthly) and includes 10 users.

Source
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
Knowify: What is the cost per additional user on Knowify?

Additional users cost $29/month across all plans whether on Core or Advanced.

Source
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
Knowify: Does Knowify have a free trial?

A free trial is available for both Core and Advanced plans before requiring a paid subscription.

Source
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
Knowify: What add-on features are available on Knowify?

Service Pro ($99/month annually), Live Equipment Tracking ($25/vehicle/month annually), AI Dashcams ($25/dashcam annually), and Tool Tracking ($99/month) are available as paid add-ons.

Source
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