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Construction · head to head

Chief Architect vs Primavera P6

Chief Architect logo

Chief Architect

Construction

Professional home design and construction software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Primavera P6 logo

Primavera P6

Construction

Enterprise project portfolio management for construction

From
$2500/year
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; Primavera P6 listed on G-Cloud 14 by reseller RPC UK Limited at £165 to £439 per user per month for Oracle Primavera P6 EPPM
  • They diverge on capability: Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Primavera P6 covers CPM scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chief Architect and Primavera P6 actually diverge.

Attributes where Chief Architect and Primavera P6 differ
AttributeChief ArchitectPrimavera P6
Starting priceFree$2500/year
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, MacWindows, Web
Founded19911977

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 Primavera P6

  • CPM scheduling
  • Resource management
  • Cost management
  • Risk analysis
  • Portfolio management
  • Oracle ERP
  • Unifier
  • Aconex

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Chief Architect

  • Home design and architectural planningnot Primavera P6
  • Kitchen and bathroom designnot Primavera P6
  • Interior design and remodelingnot Primavera P6
  • Professional building designnot Primavera P6

Primavera P6

  • Project schedulingnot Chief Architect
  • Resource planningnot Chief Architect
  • Cost controlnot Chief Architect
  • Portfolio managementnot 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

Primavera P6

  • Listed on G-Cloud 14 by reseller RPC UK Limited at £165 to £439 per user per month for Oracle Primavera P6 EPPM

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

Primavera P6

$2500/year
  • P6 Professional$2500/year
    • Project scheduling
    • Resource management
    • Cost tracking
  • P6 EPPMFree
    • Enterprise PPM
    • Portfolio management
    • Advanced analytics

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 Primavera P6 if

  • You need cpm scheduling.
  • You work on Windows, Web.
  • You also want resource management.
Primavera P6 review

Questions people ask

Is Chief Architect or Primavera P6 better?
Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at Free and Primavera P6 at $2500/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or Primavera P6?
Chief Architect has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Chief Architect and $2500/year for Primavera P6.
Does Chief Architect or Primavera P6 run on more platforms?
Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. Primavera P6 runs on Windows, Web.
Can I use Chief Architect for free?
Yes. Chief Architect has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Primavera P6 starts at $2500/year.
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 Primavera P6 is typically brought in for.
What can Chief Architect do that Primavera P6 cannot?
Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists. Primavera P6 covers CPM scheduling, Resource management, Cost management, Risk analysis. Both handle Windows support.

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
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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