AutoCAD vs ARCHICAD

SolidWorks Premium

Revit

AutoCAD Architecture

MicroStation

FreeCAD

Civil 3D

Compare AutoCAD and ARCHICAD 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.

SolidWorks Premium is the leading 3D design solution in the industry. It seamlessly integrates powerful design tools-including industry-leading part, assembly, and drawing capabilities with built-in simulation, rendering, animation, product data management, and cost estimation. 

SolidWorks will help you get work done faster and easier than before, using innovative phases of product creation to achieve a more productive 3D design experience.

FreeCAD is an on-premise open-source paramedic 3D modeler, which helps businesses design objects of all sizes. Programmers can sketch constrained 2D shapes and utilize them as a base to create other objects. It supports several file formats such as IGES, SVG, DXF, DE, IFC, STL, STEP, OBJ, and more.


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.

2D Drawing

3D Design & Modeling

3D Modeling

Access Controls/Permissions

Animation

Annotations

Bills of Material

CAD Tools

Change Management

Civil

Collaboration Tools

Commercial

Compliance Management

Component Library

Configurable Workflow

Content Library

Customizable Fields

Data Import/Export

Design Management

Design Templates

Document Generation

Document Management

Document Storage

Drafting

Drag & Drop

Electrical

Estimating

File Management

Floor Plans & Maps

For 3D Printing

For AEC Industry

For Architects

For Manufacturers

For Residential

Landscape Design

Manufacturing Design Data

Mechanical

Mobile Access

Offline Access

Parts Management

Planning Tools

Product Data Management

Project Management

Project Templates

Project Workflow

Real-Time Updates

Rendering

Reporting/Analytics

Reusable Designs

Rules-Based Workflow

Scheduling

Search

Search/Filter

Secure Data Storage

Sketching and Annotation Tools

Third-Party Integrations

Workflow Management

AutoCAD

Android

Linux

Web-based

Windows

iPad

iPhone

Search Engine Optimization Manager

The biggest disadvantage of AutoCAD is that it comes with a lot of problems, which is to be expected from a tool that can do so much. It seems reasonable to me.

Civil engineer

WOW, all that I can say is that probably this is the most important software to make blueprints in the world.

interior designer 

The AutoCAD is very good to be used for many industries like construction and industrial / manufacturing process as well, good for beginners and professional level as well.

architecture

I use this program all of the time because their Features are awesome powerful tool and easy for professional and beginners.

excellent application

Excellent for architects and engineers, all functions and tools are easy to use, and have an excellent cost benefit.

Co Founder

It is the most accessible CAD software to date with lots of documentation and a great and responsive community. Very user friendly and a well designed interface.

Telecommunications Specialist

I have been using AutoCAD (Mostly 2D) for almost 9 years now and I found it very useful, easy to use, and great platform for drafting anything you like.

Sometimes the user interface becomes annoying, file can get very big and may crash the computer, drawings can get corrupt.

Web Developer 

It was one and still is the best Architectural software they was and will every be. I remember how easy it was to make designs and configure settings to my liking.

Student

Great software with a great user interface that has a ton of functionality to it.

Firstly, I like all the features in AutoCAD which make the software one of the best in engineering designs. Also, it is not complected and that make the software easy to use for any user.

INDEPENDENT BUSINESS CONSULTANT

I love the shortcut keys for various tools, it makes the job a lot quicker. As a Mechanical Engineer , I really love spending time with different drawings in this cool software.

Front-End Web Developer

Overall, I think AutoCAD has been a great addition to our company. We needed a 3D drawing tool and even with the price, I believe AutoCAD was the best software for us.

Landscape Architect

I love how easily other pieces of software can integrate with it and how you can produce quality looking technical drawings within a relatively short time-span.

Planner

It is frustrating when in the AutoCAD updates over the years that the interface has changed so much that it makes it hard to adjust and find things.

Applications Engineer

This is also backed up by AutoDesk's excellent customer service and a very large catalogue of training documentation and tutorials online.

Innovation Manager

The 3d is terrible and right now the 3d is absolutely need for design.

Freelancer

The software keeps improving with update and the integration with other software as well as the online version gives me interest working experience.

AutoCAD screenshot: AutoCAD design models

AutoCAD screenshot: AutoCAD manage model design

AutoCAD screenshot: AutoCAD customize workspace 

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Non Profit

Public Administrations

Small Business

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.

AutoCAD Architecture lets you design and document architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) projects faster with 2D and 3D modeling tools that are specifically tuned for architectural design.


Civil 3D is an on-premise engineering CAD software designed to help businesses with surface modeling, construction documentation, and plan production. Managers can create triangulated irregular network (TIN) surfaces, display point cloud data, and create dynamic surfaces.

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

3D Imaging

Activity Tracking

Approval Process Control

Architectural Symbol Library

BIM Modeling

Comparison View

Conflict Tracking

Contact Management

Contract/License Management

Customizable Templates

Data Visualization

Design Modeling

Graphical Data Presentation

Historical Reporting

Issue Tracking

Labeling

Modeling & Simulation

Multiple Projects

Presentation Tools

Project Planning

Project Tracking

Projections

Quotes/Estimates

Reporting & Statistics

Role-Based Permissions

Status Tracking

Subcontractor Management

Template Management

User Management

Version Control

ARCHICAD

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

AutoCAD vs ARCHICAD Comparison (2026)

AutoCAD

ARCHICAD

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives