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Construction · head to head

ArchiCAD vs Primavera P6

ArchiCAD logo

ArchiCAD

Construction

BIM software for architects

From
$177/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Primavera P6 logo

Primavera P6

Construction

Enterprise project portfolio management for construction

From
$2500/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ArchiCAD available on Windows and macOS only, no native Linux support; 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: ArchiCAD covers BIM modeling, Primavera P6 covers CPM scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ArchiCAD and Primavera P6 actually diverge.

Attributes where ArchiCAD and Primavera P6 differ
AttributeArchiCADPrimavera P6
Starting price$177/month$2500/year
PlatformsWindows, macOSWindows, Web
Founded19821977

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 ArchiCAD

  • BIM modeling
  • Design tools
  • Documentation
  • Rendering
  • Energy analysis
  • IFC support
  • Teamwork collaboration
  • Library parts

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.

ArchiCAD

  • Architectural design with BIM capabilitiesnot Primavera P6
  • Real-time team collaboration via BIMcloudnot Primavera P6
  • Automated documentation generation from design changesnot Primavera P6
  • Mixed Windows and macOS team environmentsnot Primavera P6

Primavera P6

  • Project schedulingnot ArchiCAD
  • Resource planningnot ArchiCAD
  • Cost controlnot ArchiCAD
  • Portfolio managementnot ArchiCAD

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ArchiCAD

  • Available on Windows and macOS only, no native Linux support
  • Subscription-only licensing model with no perpetual licence option
  • Studio tier does not include MEP Designer - requires Collaborate tier at $208/month

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

ArchiCAD

$177/month
  • Archicad Studio$177/month
    • Archicad Windows & macOS
    • BIMx Pro
    • BIMcloud Basic
  • Archicad Collaborate$208/month
    • Archicad Windows & macOS
    • MEP Designer
    • BIMx Pro

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 ArchiCAD if

  • You need bim modeling.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want design tools.
ArchiCAD 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 ArchiCAD or Primavera P6 better?
Neither clearly leads. ArchiCAD starts at $177/month and Primavera P6 at $2500/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ArchiCAD or Primavera P6?
ArchiCAD starts at $177/month and Primavera P6 at $2500/year.
Does ArchiCAD or Primavera P6 run on more platforms?
ArchiCAD runs on Windows, macOS. Primavera P6 runs on Windows, Web.
What is ArchiCAD best used for?
ArchiCAD is most often used for architectural design with bim capabilities, real-time team collaboration via bimcloud, automated documentation generation from design changes, mixed windows and macos team environments. Of those, architectural design with bim capabilities and real-time team collaboration via bimcloud are not what Primavera P6 is typically brought in for.
What can ArchiCAD do that Primavera P6 cannot?
ArchiCAD covers BIM modeling, Design tools, Documentation, Rendering. Primavera P6 covers CPM scheduling, Resource management, Cost management, Risk analysis. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ArchiCAD: What is the cost of Archicad's subscription plans?

Archicad Studio starts at $177/month or $2,123 upfront annually. Archicad Collaborate, the most popular tier, is $208/month or $2,497 upfront annually. Both include local and cloud teamworking capabilities.

Source
ArchiCAD: What is the difference between Archicad Studio and Archicad Collaborate?

Studio includes architectural modeling and BIMcloud Basic for local teamwork. Collaborate adds MEP Designer for MEP modeling and BIMcloud SaaS for cloud-based global teamwork, and costs $31 more per month.

Source
ArchiCAD: Is Archicad free for students?

Yes, Archicad offers free educational licenses for students, educators, and academic institutions. Archicad Studio is available free for 30 days as a trial.

Source
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