ArchiCAD and Revit are some of the most used tools by architects worldwide. These two tools are used for designing 3D architectural visualizations and are some of the best platforms for creating realistic architectural projects. However, some people prefer one over the other because these two tools have different specifications and features.

We will discuss some of the main features of both platforms and what makes them different. We will provide an in-depth comparison to help you choose the perfect tool for your architectural needs.

Main features

ArchiCAD comes with various tools you can use to create professional 3D architectural projects. Some of the tools you can find on this platform are stair tools, pro visualization, element classification, collision detection, and beams and columns. All these tools can help you create projects in no time while also ensuring that your projects will be of high quality once they are built.

Revit’s characteristic tools, on the other hand, have a different purpose yet the same goal. These tools will also help you create specific projects, but the main features differ from those of ArchiCAD.

For example, generative design, global parameters, work sharing, and parametric components make your architectural journey easier, but they focus more on the program’s productivity.

Pricing structures

When it comes to the pricing structure of ArchiCAD, there are two options to choose from – Solo and Full Version. The Solo Version is perfect for freelance architects who are not working in a company, and the annual fee for using this account is $2,250, or $280, every month.

The Full Version is mainly recommended for larger teams, and you can use this account on multiple devices. The price of the Full Version is $2,545 annually or $320 monthly. You can also get a free 30-day trial to determine whether this platform fulfills your architectural needs.

Revit’s pricing plan differs from ArchiCAD’s since it is not based on the number of accounts but on the subscription length. Revit offers three options: monthly payments, annual plans, or three-year plans.

Monthly Revit subscriptions are currently $268, annual subscriptions are $2,675, and three-year subscriptions are $7,625. You can pay off annual or three-year subscriptions on a monthly basis.

Licensing

ArchiCAD offers various licensing plans you can choose from according to your needs. There are commercial licenses (full, solo, pay-per-use, and rental licenses), educational licenses, trial licenses, demo licenses, and start editions. These licenses have different purposes, and you can choose the one that best describes your workflow.

On the contrary, Revit has announced that there will no longer be licensing options with the latest update. Instead, they have created a different plan which uses serial numbers instead. These plans come in four different options: Standard, Premium, Enterprise, and Education.

You can choose a plan that best fits your workflow and the number of accounts that will use the Revit platform.

Ease of use

ArchiCAD claims to be one of the best architectural platforms for ease of use. However, the users of this platform have claimed that this program is not the easiest to work with. You will see many tools and features when you open the platform. Thus it may take some time to master all of the tools this platform has to offer – ArchiCAD is not very beginner-friendly and not very easy to use.

Revit is another tool that may appear difficult to master. Just like ArchiCAD, there are many tools and features that take up the space on your screen. However, you can fully customize your Revit platform and organize your tools however you like.

It may take some time to fully understand all that Revit has to offer, but when you learn in phases and segments, you will see that Revit may not be as complex as it appears. It is also not one of the most beginner-friendly platforms on the market.

User interface

As previously mentioned, ArchiCAD doesn’t have the most organized user interface you can come across. The screen may appear overcrowded, and you may come across some tools you haven’t previously seen. However, you can customize the interface and create a work environment that will fit your needs as an architect.

Similarly, Revit also has an overcrowded interface that is not very user-friendly. As previously mentioned, you can customize your interface to your preferences and make the tool easier to use. Many people claim that they have been overwhelmed by the amount of data on the interface, but once organized and customized, Revit can have a pretty clean interface to work with.

Performance

ArchiCAD uses a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to run, so creating projects with ArchiCAD will be less time-consuming and more efficient since GPU can process more data simultaneously. However, this implies that you need to have a graphics card to be able to run the program and create your projects.

Revit uses a hybrid system of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) simultaneously. CPU is dedicated to making your visualizations as precise as possible, while GPU is used for fast data processing. You will have more precise projects faster if you use the Revit tool for your architectural visualizations.

Rendering options

Although ArchiCAD comes with some rendering options, they might not be as good as one would expect them to be. Moreover, you will have to manually insert your renders into the projects instead of choosing an option available. ArchiCAD has a rendering option, but we recommend getting a plugin that will provide you with more rendering options.

Revit also has a rendering option that you will have to manually input into your projects. However, there are more rendering tools on Revit that you can use to adjust your renderings and create a variety of lighting for your projects. Although it is not the best rendering solution, Revit has a better rendering option than ArchiCAD.

Simulation features

Currently, neither Revit nor ArchiCAD offers simulation features. However, the developers of these platforms have presented some add-ons you can download to enable simulation features for your architectural projects. We hope that the developers will incorporate this feature into some of the updates in the future.

Analysis

The structural analysis of ArchiCAD enables you to simplify and analyze your projects while you are working on them. This feature will run seamlessly in the background and will update any time you make a change to your project. The analysis feature works well, and people have had no problems with this feature. It’s one of the greatest features of ArchiCAD.

Revit has, unfortunately, disabled this feature in 2018. The developers considered this feature to be useless and that it takes up too much space. If you want an analysis feature for your Revit platform, you must download a plugin to analyze your projects.

Plugin options

Both ArchiCAD and Revit have a variety of plugin options available. Additionally, both platforms support some external plugins created by different developers. These plugins can truly make your visualizations come to life and save you some time in the creation process.

Conclusion

ArchiCAD and Revit are both excellent options for professional architects. However, these two platforms are not beginner-friendly, and it may take time to master these tools. We have mentioned some of the most important differences between these two platforms that can help you decide which one is the best option for you.