ARCHICAD vs Design Flex

AutoCAD

Revit

MicroStation

Chief Architect

Capmo

Inertia

Compare ARCHICAD and Design Flex based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Revit is a BIM (building information modeling) solution for architects, structural engineers, construction companies, & MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) services. The platform facilitates coordinated 3D design & offers tools such as floor plan design, 3D visualizations, & a WYSIWYG editor.

AutoCAD is a design and drafting platform which supports automated design tasks and offers features such as 2D drafting, drawing and annotation, 3D modeling and visualization, and more.

MicroStation is a 3D architecture software that helps businesses in the oil and gas, construction, mining, manufacturing, and other sectors create and visualize 2D drawings and 3D computer-aided designs. The platform enables creators to build models using various parametric designing tools including mesh, surface, and solid modeling.

Archicad from Graphisoft is an architectural CAD and building information modeling software for architects, interior designers and planners, with Archicad adding enhancements including CineRender engine, remastered Façade Design tool, Parametric Profile Editor and BIMx mobile model visualizations

2D Drawing

3D Imaging

3D Modeling

Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Tracking

Animation

Annotations

Approval Process Control

Architectural Symbol Library

Bills of Material

BIM Modeling

CAD Tools

Change Management

Collaboration Tools

Comparison View

Component Library

Configurable Workflow

Conflict Tracking

Contact Management

Content Library

Contract/License Management

Customizable Templates

Data Import/Export

Data Visualization

Design Management

Design Modeling

Document Management

Document Storage

Drafting

File Management

For AEC Industry

For Architects

Graphical Data Presentation

Historical Reporting

Issue Tracking

Labeling

Mobile Access

Modeling & Simulation

Multiple Projects

Offline Access

Planning Tools

Presentation Tools

Project Management

Project Planning

Project Tracking

Project Workflow

Projections

Quotes/Estimates

Rendering

Reporting & Statistics

Reporting/Analytics

Role-Based Permissions

Scheduling

Search/Filter

Secure Data Storage

Status Tracking

Subcontractor Management

Template Management

User Management

Version Control

Workflow Management

ARCHICAD

Android

Web-based

Windows

iPad

iPhone

Project Manager

The customer service is excellent and has been great to solve all of out doubts from the day 1.

Architect

I have been with ArchiCAD since V4 and watched it grow into a great piece of software for our industry. It is used nearly every day and is a great asset in our office.

The inability to create "blocks" is utterly ridiculous and maddening. There are 20 ways to access every objects setting and it will confuse you to no end for the first year.

That said, with limited or no support between versions of the same package from the industry standard, coordination can still be a pain.

project coordinator

This software is pretty easy to use right away and very powerful. The 3D design ability is great as well.

Civil Engineer

Can easily handle this software If we are familiar with AutoCAD because it's pretty similar UI like AutoCAD. ArchiCAD helps us to create powerful 3D drawings with more details.

Architecture student

ArchiCAD has excellent customer service and incredible functionality, is very friendly system and has options to enter from a mobile which has helped me a lot in the university.

It has a very nice suite of features, nice integration based on BIM. For architectural purposes it has almost all the features and tools that one would need.

With the release of ArchiCAD V23 there are a lot of new features that have increased my more flow. The integration of  add-ons like TwinMotion and the new an improved coloumns and beams tools.

Executive

Even nonprofessionals can do amazing work on the software. Unlike other software in this category, it allows for complete ownership instead of renting.

Architecture

Good for comunication with both entreprenours and costumers.

Architectural Designer

It is extremely easy to create what you set out to create and Archicad is not overloaded with features like some of its competitors.

Architetto

The thing I like most is the easy-to-use user interface and the BIMx function in order to share the model with other users.

3d modeler

M basically happy with the program. It does the assigned things.

Architec

Poor and complicated tools, takes longer than the competition.

The software is very good, has many features and is well accepted in the market, has features that other software does not have, it is a little difficult to learn but it is still great software.

Interior Designer

Can only have one floor plan and one elevation and one 3d view open at a time. Hard to  make changes on renovation layouts independently from other layers.

Coordinator

The value for money of ArchiCAD can't be beat and it has all of the drafting features a person could want.

ARCHICAD screenshot: Archicad AI Visualizer in Archicad

ARCHICAD screenshot: The Parametric Profile Editor allows for the generation of wall, beam and column profiles of greater intelligence, with the ability to then apply those profiles across multiple details

ARCHICAD screenshot: Expression-defined property values aids architects wishing to define complex data-processing expressions for elements, useful in ArchiCAD for the purpose of tagging or filtering

ARCHICAD screenshot: Performance enhancements in ArchiCAD 22 includes ultra-high 4 and 5K monitor screen resolution on Microsoft Windows 10 operating systems, comparable to the retina display on macOS platforms

ARCHICAD screenshot: Maxon’s R19 CineRender engine enables tone mapping plus stereoscopic 360-degree or spherical renderings to be performed within ArchiCAD

ARCHICAD screenshot: Custom graphical labels can be created using drawing primitives such as lines, arcs and polylines combined with text blocks

ARCHICAD screenshot: IFC import and export enhancements include the switch from IFC2x3 to IFC4 when exporting component and material information

ARCHICAD screenshot: An updated Attribute Manager dialog allows for instant attribute search, a combined tab for layers and layer combinations, plus support for the edit of multiple attributes at the same time

ARCHICAD screenshot: The Model View Options dialog has also been updated, reorganized and revised to match the layout of other ARCHICAD dialogs

ARCHICAD screenshot: The BIMx app for iOS and Android devices features the BIMx Hyper-model for 2 and 3D navigation, while also supporting Google Cardboard VR

ARCHICAD screenshot: Real time 3D cutaways with instant access to current room-related information can be viewed within the BIMx model viewer app available for iOS and Android devices

ARCHICAD screenshot: The remastered Façade Design tool promises an enhanced design environment for creating and detailing Curtain Walls, internal or external facades featuring repeating patterns

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Public Administrations

Small Business

Chief Architect is a complete architectural design solution that helps remodeling professionals and interior designers create and share home design plans, 3D models, and renderings via a unified portal. The platform enables users to create floor plans, building elevations and perspectives, dormers, window details, and more.

Inertia is a construction management software that helps businesses with project management, job site coordination, and compliance management. The platform enables managers to collaborate, track progress, and communicate across teams.

Capmo makes it easier for you to manage the complex daily life in the construction industry and to manage all your projects. Capmo is the intuitive software for construction.

Design Flex is architecture software that helps businesses design kitchen and bathroom spaces by generating photorealistic renders and 360° panoramic views. It gives designers the ability to use real products in designs through the largest selection of manufacturer catalogs in the industry.

Billing & Invoicing

Summary Reports

Task Management

Task Progress Tracking

Task Scheduling

Timesheet Management

Design Flex

Interior Designer - Kitchen and Bath

The ability to print of floor plans and elevations with ease is a great feature. It is a very easy program to learn and integrate.

kitchen & bath designer

I am quite impressed with the 2020 learning videos. They are so helpful and it's nice to go back and revisit them when I am not quite sure how to do something.

Owner and lead designer 

I love the rendering and ability to accurately draw my spaces. Love the huge portfolio online to use.

Cabinet Designer

I love that I can show clients what they're getting. I love that it generates all the trim for me as well.

Estimator

Oh, and the crashes, the crashes alone are making me bald. This is a very frustrating program, but almost required in the industry.

We use this everyday for cabinetry design, proposals, and presentations. It is very nice and pretty user friendly.

owner

I like the ability to visualize the design with 3-d renderings. I appreciate cabinet catalogs include pricing to be able to price, design and visualization simultaneously.

Design/Sales Support

Efficient and definitely helps me do my job to the best of my ability.

Manager Kitchen and Bath 

The ease of using multiple catalogs makes the system work much better. Also, whenever calling customer service they are very helpful.

Designer

It is so user friendly and the rendering are amazing.

Kitchen Designer

Crashes a lot, files become corrupted and don't save into recovery. Can be quite frustrating.

Product Specialist

Big kudos to them for taking that seriously b/c that's what makes/breaks a product.

Owner/Kitchen Designer

2020 design lives helps me draw kitchens quickly and accurately and allows my customers to envision what their space will look like.

I was basically trained on this program, it gives me everything required to professionally do my job. It is easy to use and the customer support is invaluable and user friendly.

Design & Sales Administration

It's like I'm being forced to create a very specific drawing, without actually having the specifics. That results in a misleading rendering.

President/CEO

2020 design has several drawbacks which lead to a negative user impression. Overall cost is significantly too high for small business usage.

I like the integration with LiveOrder because it makes placing orders through our various cabinet companies a lot easier and more streamlined.

Cabinetry Designer - Home Project Specialist

Some of the applications are hard to determine and understand.

Design Flex screenshot: 2020 Design Live space planning

Design Flex screenshot: 2020 Design Live dimension calculation

Design Flex screenshot: 2020 Design Live visualization

Design Flex screenshot: Kitchen, bath and closet design software. Create high quality renderings to wow your clients.

Design Flex screenshot: Real manufacturer products in real-time. Not only does 2020 Design Live provide the largest selection of manufacturer catalogs to designers but offers online configurable cabinetry, appliance and plumbing that is uniquely available on 2020 Cloud.

Design Flex screenshot: Personalizing a design is the finishing touch that will tug at your clients' heart strings. 2020 Design Live has native decorative cloud items & SketchUp integration to offer you all the decor you need to sell your designs

Design Flex screenshot: Created to help designers sell more spaces from space planning to photorealistic renderings to 360 panoramas 2020 Design Live has all the tools that will help designers create stunning kitchens & bathrooms that are easy to show off to clients

ARCHICAD vs Design Flex Comparison (2026)

ARCHICAD

Design Flex

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives