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Construction · head to head

Chief Architect vs Newforma

Chief Architect logo

Chief Architect

Construction

Professional home design and construction software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Newforma logo

Newforma

Construction

Project information management system for construction

From
$300/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; Newforma pricing is by quote only, with no rate, tier or minimum published; the site offers only Book a Demo and Get Started
  • They diverge on capability: Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Newforma covers Document management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Chief Architect and Newforma differ
AttributeChief ArchitectNewforma
Starting priceFree$300/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, MacWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19912006

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 Newforma

  • Document management
  • Project collaboration
  • Transmittals
  • RFI tracking
  • Issue management
  • Autodesk BIM 360
  • Box
  • Dropbox

What people use each for

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

Chief Architect

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

Newforma

  • Managing project email, documents and submittals for architecture and engineering firmsnot Chief Architect
  • Keeping construction project information on-premises for control and security through Project Centernot Chief Architect
  • Coordinating issues and RFIs across design and construction teams in Konektnot 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

Newforma

  • Pricing is by quote only, with no rate, tier or minimum published; the site offers only Book a Demo and Get Started
  • The cloud product Konekt and the on-premises product Project Center are separate offerings, so the on-premises option requires a different product rather than a deployment setting

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

Newforma

$300/month
  • Standard$300/month
    • Document management
    • Project collaboration
    • Transmittals
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Advanced workflows
    • Custom reporting
    • API access

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 Newforma if

  • You need document management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want project collaboration.
Newforma review

Questions people ask

Is Chief Architect or Newforma better?
Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at Free and Newforma at $300/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or Newforma?
Chief Architect has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Chief Architect and $300/month for Newforma.
Does Chief Architect or Newforma run on more platforms?
Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. Newforma runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Chief Architect for free?
Yes. Chief Architect has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Newforma starts at $300/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 Newforma is typically brought in for.
What can Chief Architect do that Newforma cannot?
Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists. Newforma covers Document management, Project collaboration, Transmittals, RFI tracking.

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
Newforma: What is Newforma pricing?

Newforma does not publish pricing on its website. The company offers three product offerings: Newforma Konekt, Newforma Project Center, and Newforma ConstructEx. Customers must book a demo or contact the company directly for custom pricing.

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
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
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
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