Archicad suits AEC professionals working across building design and documentation, especially teams that need model-based coordination.
Free plan Free trial From $201 a month, billed yearly AndroidiPhone & iPadWebWindowsMacAPI+1
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Best Architecture Design Software 2026
Facts read 20 Sep 2026 – 15 Oct 2026
This list covers architecture design software for buyers comparing BIM support, rendering tools, file formats and team collaboration.
The standings: top 10
| Name | In a line | Record score | Price from | Try it free | Runs on | Facts read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Archicad | Archicad suits AEC professionals working across building design and documentation, especially teams that need model-based coordination. | 6.4 | $201 a month, billed yearly | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 02 Live Home 3D | Live Home 3D suits amateurs and professional designers who want to plan rooms or homes and view designs in 3D. | 6.0 | $19.99 a year | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows, Mac | 3 Oct 2026 |
| 03 Home Designer | It suits homeowners and designers planning remodels or new spaces who need floor plans, 3D views, construction documents, and cost estimates. | 5.6 | $495 a year | Free trial | Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows, Mac | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 04 Allplan | ALLPLAN suits architecture, engineering, and construction teams working across building or infrastructure projects. | 5.4 | €123 a month | Free trial | iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows, Mac | 3 Oct 2026 |
| 05 Autodesk Forma Build | It suits construction teams coordinating office and field work, documents, costs, quality, safety, and collaboration. | 5.4 | $800 a year | Free trial | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, API | 12 Oct 2026 |
| 06 Finch | Finch suits architecture teams working with building design, real-time performance data, and BIM workflows. | 5.4 | €79 a month | Free plan | Web, Windows, Mac, Browser extension | 8 Oct 2026 |
| 07 Chief Architect | Chief Architect Premier suits people designing residential or light commercial spaces, including remodeling, kitchens, baths, and interiors. | 5.3 | $1,995 a year | Free trial | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 2 Oct 2026 |
| 08 Vectorworks Architect | It suits architectural teams that need BIM across design and construction documentation, plus modeling and visualization tools. | 5.3 | $1,530 a year | Free trial | Android, iPhone & iPad, Web, Windows | 2 Oct 2026 |
| 09 Maket | Maket is intended for homeowners, builders, and real estate professionals exploring residential concepts. | 5.0 | $20 a month, billed yearly | Free plan | Web, API | 14 Oct 2026 |
| 10 Renga Architecture | 4.8 | $590 a year | Free trial | Windows, API | 30 Sep 2026 |
Entries run from newer releases to older ones; published figures are shown alongside availability on Windows, web, macOS, iOS, Android and through APIs.
02
Live Home 3D
Live Home 3D suits amateurs and professional designers who want to plan rooms or homes and view designs in 3D.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+1 Record6.0 Visit
03
Home Designer
It suits homeowners and designers planning remodels or new spaces who need floor plans, 3D views, construction documents, and cost estimates.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+1 Record5.6 Visit
04
Allplan
ALLPLAN suits architecture, engineering, and construction teams working across building or infrastructure projects.
iPhone & iPadWebWindows+1 Record5.4 Visit
05
Autodesk Forma Build
It suits construction teams coordinating office and field work, documents, costs, quality, safety, and collaboration.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+1 Record5.4 Visit
6
Finch
WebWindowsMac+1 €79 a month Record5.4 Visit Finch suits architecture teams working with building design, real-time performance data, and BIM workflows.
7
Chief Architect
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+2 $1,995 a year Record5.3 Visit Chief Architect Premier suits people designing residential or light commercial spaces, including remodeling, kitchens, baths, and interiors.
8
Vectorworks Architect
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+2 $1,530 a year Record5.3 Visit It suits architectural teams that need BIM across design and construction documentation, plus modeling and visualization tools.
9
Maket
WebAPI $20 a month, billed yearly Record5.0 Visit Maket is intended for homeowners, builders, and real estate professionals exploring residential concepts.
11
Bonsai
WindowsMacLinux Free plan Record4.7 Visit Bonsai suits teams and practitioners working with IFC models across disciplines, whether they need authoring tools or a separate desktop review app.
13
Snaptrude
Web $60 a month Record4.6 Visit Snaptrude suits architects and interior designers working on concept design who want linked programming and 3D modeling tools.
14
VisualARQ
WindowsBrowser extensionAPI $95 one-time Record4.6 Visit It suits architects and BIM users working in Rhino for Windows who need architectural objects, documentation, file exchange or rendering integrations.
Before you choose
Compare free plans and paid pricing
Several entries, including Archicad, Arcol, Bonsai, Cedreo, CYPE Architecture and Finch, offer a free plan. Paid pricing varies by product and billing term.
Examples of published prices are $140 per user each month for Allplan with annual billing, $201 per user each month for Archicad with annual billing, and $1,995 per year for Chief Architect.
Check trial access
Trial periods differ by tool. Allplan lists 14 days, Archicad lists 30 days, Edificius lists 30 days, and Finch lists 14 days.
ARCHICHTURES lists a 7-day trial. Check the product page for the current trial terms before choosing.
Match BIM and rendering needs
BIM support and rendering tools appear as comparison fields, helping you assess fit with your design workflow. Review supported file formats before transferring existing work.
Choose where the software runs
Coverage spans Windows, web, macOS, iOS, Android and API-connected tools. Deployment and mobile access fields show how a tool fits your devices and services.
Review team features
The comparison includes a team-collaboration field. Consider it with deployment, file-format support and BIM support when several people will work on a project.
Questions
Which architecture design software has a free plan?
Free plans are listed for Archicad, Arcol, Bonsai, Cedreo, CYPE Architecture and Finch. Other tools may use paid plans or trials.
Which tools list a free trial?
Listed trial lengths include 14 days for Allplan, 30 days for Archicad, 7 days for ARCHICHTURES, 30 days for Edificius and 14 days for Finch.
What paid pricing is published for Allplan?
Allplan's published starting price is $140 per user per month with annual billing, and it lists a 14-day trial.
What platforms are covered?
Entries cover Windows, web, macOS, iOS and Android, with some also offering API access.
Does the list compare BIM support?
Yes. BIM support is one comparison field, alongside rendering tools, file formats, deployment, collaboration and mobile access.
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