Softwr

Construction · head to head

Chief Architect vs Raken

Chief Architect logo

Chief Architect

Construction

Professional home design and construction software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Raken logo

Raken

Construction

Daily reporting and field production tracking

From
$40/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; Raken no pricing tiers published on public website. Pricing requires direct contact with sales at 858-290-4477 or [email protected]
  • They diverge on capability: Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Raken covers Daily reporting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Chief Architect and Raken differ
AttributeChief ArchitectRaken
Starting priceFree$40/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, MacWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19912014

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 Raken

  • Daily reporting
  • Photo documentation
  • Time tracking
  • Production tracking
  • Safety toolbox talks
  • Procore
  • Autodesk BIM 360
  • Sage

What people use each for

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

Chief Architect

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

Raken

  • Daily logsnot Chief Architect
  • Field documentationnot Chief Architect
  • Progress trackingnot Chief Architect
  • Time 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

Raken

  • No pricing tiers published on public website. Pricing requires direct contact with sales at 858-290-4477 or [email protected]

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

Raken

$40/month
  • Lite$40/month
    • Daily reports
    • Photo documentation
    • Time tracking
  • Pro$80/month
    • Everything in Lite
    • Production tracking
    • Toolbox talks
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Custom workflows
    • API access
    • SSO

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 Raken if

  • You need daily reporting.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want photo documentation.
Raken review

Questions people ask

Is Chief Architect or Raken better?
Neither clearly leads. Chief Architect starts at Free and Raken at $40/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chief Architect or Raken?
Chief Architect has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Chief Architect and $40/month for Raken.
Does Chief Architect or Raken run on more platforms?
Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac. Raken 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. Raken starts at $40/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 Raken is typically brought in for.
What can Chief Architect do that Raken cannot?
Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists. Raken covers Daily reporting, Photo documentation, Time tracking, Production 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
Raken: Does Raken offer a free trial?

Yes, Raken offers a free trial option with no pricing details disclosed on the public website. Interested users can start a free trial or schedule a demo to see the product in action.

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
Raken: What is Raken's pricing model?

Raken uses a quote-based pricing model. No pricing tiers or rates are published on their website. Pricing must be obtained by contacting their sales team.

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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