Software · head to head
e-Builder vs Chief Architect
e-Builder
Software
Construction project management and accounting software
- From
- $400/month
- Rated
- -
Chief Architect
Software
Professional home design and construction software
- From
- $695/perpetual
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: e-Builder product was rebranded to Trimble Unity Construct and no pricing figures are published on the current product page, only a compare plans link; Chief Architect chief Architect Premier is $229 per month or $1,995 per year, with the monthly option costing 27% more than annual
- They diverge on capability: e-Builder covers Project management, Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which e-Builder and Chief Architect actually diverge.
| Attribute | e-Builder | Chief Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $400/month | $695/perpetual |
| Pricing model | subscription | one-time |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Windows, Mac |
| Founded | 2002 | 1991 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 e-Builder
- Project management
- Document control
- Accounting
- RFI management
- Collaboration
- QuickBooks
- Sage
- Microsoft 365
Only in Chief Architect
- 2D and 3D design
- Floor plan creation
- Construction documentation
- Material lists
- Rendering
- Revit
- SketchUp
- CAD
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
e-Builder
- Project managementnot Chief Architect
- Document controlnot Chief Architect
- Financial managementnot Chief Architect
- Collaborationnot Chief Architect
Chief Architect
- Producing construction documents, elevations and 3D renderings for residential architecturenot e-Builder
- Automatic generation of framing, roofs and material lists from a building modelnot e-Builder
- Kitchen and bath design with manufacturer cabinet catalogsnot e-Builder
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
e-Builder
- Product was rebranded to Trimble Unity Construct and no pricing figures are published on the current product page, only a compare plans link
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
Pricing, plan by plan
e-Builder
$400/month- Professional$400/month
- Project management
- Document control
- Accounting
- EnterpriseFree
- Advanced reporting
- Custom workflows
- API access
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
Which should you pick?
Choose e-Builder if
- You need project management.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want document control.
Choose Chief Architect if
- You need 2d and 3d design.
- You work on Windows, Mac.
- You also want floor plan creation.
Questions people ask
- Is e-Builder or Chief Architect better?
- Neither clearly leads. e-Builder starts at $400/month and Chief Architect at $695/perpetual, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, e-Builder or Chief Architect?
- e-Builder starts at $400/month and Chief Architect at $695/perpetual.
- Does e-Builder or Chief Architect run on more platforms?
- e-Builder runs on Web, Ios, Android. Chief Architect runs on Windows, Mac.
- What is e-Builder best used for?
- e-Builder is most often used for project management, document control, financial management, collaboration. Of those, project management and document control are not what Chief Architect is typically brought in for.
- What can e-Builder do that Chief Architect cannot?
- e-Builder covers Project management, Document control, Accounting, RFI management. Chief Architect covers 2D and 3D design, Floor plan creation, Construction documentation, Material lists.