ArchiCAD vs. Revit vs. Revizto

Introduction

Technological progress changed plenty of industries in some way or another. The existence of computers and specialized software is one of the biggest contributors to change worldwide – the creation of CAD software, for example, practically revolutionized the entire AEC industry, drastically changing how specialists and companies work with plans and models.

The term “architectural software” is often used to describe a wide variety of tools and solutions related to the creation of construction projects. This is why architectural software is often called an “umbrella term” – since it includes CAD software, BIM software, and many other types of solutions and tools.

There are also plenty of problems that this particular market has – including its very high level of competitiveness, as well as the frequent confusion between BIM and CAD software. While the former issue is not something that could be fixed or avoided, we can try to clear the confusion between BIM and CAD software.

BIM stands for Building Information Modeling (can also be described as Building Information Management or Building Information Model); it describes generating or modifying sophisticated, detail-heavy 3D models. The main goal of BIM is to improve the entirety of the construction project realization process via seamless collaboration and constant access to a centralized project model.

CAD is Computer-Aided Design; it describes the creation or modification of project designs in 3D with the help of workstations and specialized software. CAD as a term and technology is much older than BIM, dating back to around the mid-1960s for the first mention of Computer-Aided Design. CAD software’s main purpose has been project visualization for decades, and it is fairly common for CAD software to be much more specialized and sophisticated than BIM software in terms of 3D modeling.

As we have mentioned before, it is not particularly uncommon for BIM software to be confused with CAD software because of its basic CAD-like capabilities. However, there are plenty of differences, as well, down to the basic idea of how BIM and CAD work with their 3D models. CAD software treats different design elements as just that – elements, be it lines or various shapes. BIM software, on the other hand, is more suitable for working with 3D model parts as “objects” – windows, walls, roofs, doors, and so on.

This approach allows BIM to attach a variety of attributes and other data to different “objects,” creating an information-rich 3D model that acts as the central source of information for all project-related needs. There is also the fact that some BIM solutions may be even further away from CAD software by not having any model modification capabilities in the first place. Any BIM data management solution is a good example of this logic – it is still considered BIM software since it works primarily with information-rich models in the construction environment. Still, its model modification capabilities are either limited or nonexistent.

It is difficult enough to find a single best solution for a specific use case in a market as competitive as the architecture software market – and the existence of the whole “BIM vs. CAD” misunderstanding only adds more confusion to this process. We try to address this by creating direct comparisons for specific combinations of architecture software and providing excessive detail about every single one of them.

This article’s primary objective is to compare ArchiCAD, Revit, and Revizto – including their benefits, shortcomings, and primary arguments on why a company may need this specific solution in the first place.

ArchiCAD

ArchiCAD may not be as popular as Revit in this particular market, but it would also be unfair to say it is not. As a BIM software often considered one of the first examples of BIM solutions on the architecture market, ArchiCAD offers many different features in the 3D BIM software department, including data modeling, graphics overriding, attribute management, etc.

ArchiCAD puts a lot of emphasis on being accessible and user-friendly since it is more or less common knowledge that software such as Revit is powerful but difficult to learn and master. Other advantages of ArchiCAD include documentation automation, accurate building information management, enhanced collaboration, and so on.

ArchiCAD Main Features

• General interface user-friendliness and accessibility, which is not exactly common in the architectural industry
• Vast BIM-related capabilities, offering the ability to improve most of the project-related processes in one way or another by adding a single unified source of truth in the form of a BIM model
• ArchiCAD is also capable of both viewing and modifying 3D models, can view them either in 2D or in 3D, and supports easy navigation between two modes

ArchiCAD Technical Details

• ArchiCAD does not have a dedicated smartphone/mobile app for Android or iOS devices
• ArchiCAD software works with both Windows-based and macOS-based devices

ArchiCAD Price

• ArchiCAD offers three different licensing options – a commercial subscription-based license, a one-year renewable free educational license, and a fully-functional 30-day trial license.
• ArchiCAD’s commercial license can be purchased in three different forms:
  • ArchiCAD – $225+ per month (before tax) – a basic version of ArchiCAD
  • ArchiCAD Solo – $200+ per month (before tax) – a limited version of ArchiCAD with most of its sharing features turned off
  • ArchiCAD Collaborate – $225+ per month (before tax) – a combination of ArchiCAD and BIMcloud

ArchiCAD Customer Ratings

• Capterra – 4.5/5 points rating based on 258 customer reviews
• G2 – 4.6/5 points rating based on 235 customer reviews
• TrustRadius – 8.8/10 points rating based on 24 customer reviews

ArchiCAD Customer Reviews

• Tim S. – “Excellent. Clarity over hand drafting. ease of changing any elements to the client’s or our wishes. Creating modules like kitchen or bathroom layouts and popping them in wherever needed, often with fewer modifications. Exploring complex spatial configurations.”
• Krzysztof K. – “I met Archicad during my studies, I was and still am impressed by the possibilities of this program, which is still being developed. In my work, I use it to visualize interiors as they would look after renovation or home staging, it is possible because there is a large database of libraries of objects such as windows, doors, furniture, etc. This allows clients to make better decisions. I also use it to create dimensioned floor plans in 2 and 3D options. Before the meeting, customers review the plans and more specifically interested people come to the meetings, which saves everyone time.”
• Sadaf G. – “As an Architect, I have been able to use ArchiCAD for conceptual designs, detailed drafting, interior layouts as well as generating high-quality elevations, sections and 3D views for all my projects, including presentation drawings. In fact, 3D modelling and rendering have been made simple thanks to ArchiCAD. Visualization, (placing cameras) and gathering documentation are also uncomplicated. Rendering tools are useful and there is no need to get extra plug-ins for performing the same tasks that can be done within the software itself. I consider ArchiCAD to be better than its counterparts, e.g. Revit mainly because it is uncomplicated to use, with the same functionality at an economical investment.”

ArchiCAD Benefits

• Easy navigation between different tools and model view modes
• Capability to view models in 2D or 3D
• Plenty of 3D model modification tools
• Can be beneficial to projects at any project phase, from design to post-construction

ArchiCAD Shortcomings

• The object library is somewhat limited in terms of customization
• ArchiCAD’s 2D drawing capabilities are neither versatile nor detailed
• Layout drawing may turn into a long and problematic process since layout drawing updates tend to take a while to be applied

Revit

Autodesk Revit is one of many software solutions that the technological giant Autodesk (AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Civil 3D, etc.) offers. The primary goal of Revit is to improve the results of construction projects all over the world, allowing for more energy-efficient and higher-quality buildings and structures. Revit’s feature set covers construction as a whole, structural engineering, architectural design, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), and so on.

Revit offers the ability to create and modify information-rich project models, contributing greatly to well-informed decisions across the board while improving cooperation and simplifying collaboration for all project participants. This, in turn, greatly enhances build quality as a whole, reduces the number of potential reworks, and practically eliminates miscommunication between project participants. All of these benefits are made possible by a centralized BIM model that is always up-to-date, consistent, and capable of reflecting every potential design change any project participant makes.

Revit Main Features

• Boundless collaboration possibilities, allowing all project participants to interact with the project and with each other at any moment in time, greatly improving project efficiency, as well as boosting problem-solving capabilities
• High level of accuracy and precision when it comes to different model elements, structures, shapes, etc.
• Versatile project management capabilities with easy access to plenty of features – including the ability to easily modify not only schedules, but also elevations, plans, sheets, sections, and so on

Revit Technical Details

• There is no dedicated mobile application from Autodesk Revit for Android or iOS devices
• Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 are supported by Autodesk Revit

Revit Price

• Autodesk Revit can offer two different pricing models – a subscription-based one and Autodesk Flex.
• Autodesk Revit subscription can be purchased in three different packs:
  • $350 for one month
  • $2,805 for one year
  • $8,415 for three years

• Autodesk Flex is a pay-as-you-go pricing model that uses tokens to provide access to some of Autodesk’s features, including Autodesk Revit. Autodesk Revit’s price in tokens is 10 tokens per day, and there are several different token packages that a user can purchase on Autodesk website:
  • $300 for 300 tokens
  • $1,500 for 1500 tokens
  • A custom token amount

Revit Customer Ratings

• Capterra – 4.6/5 points rating based on 384 customer reviews
• G2 – 4.5/5 points rating based on 795 customer reviews
• TrustRadius – 8.7/10 points rating based on 189 customer reviews

Revit Customer Reviews (original spelling)

• Santiago H. – “The benefits I have achieved with Revit are many. From creating 3D models to generating construction drawings, Revit has allowed me to work more efficiently and accurately, which translates to higher quality projects and customer satisfaction. In addition, thanks to the ability to generate bills of materials, I have been able to reduce errors and improve decision making in terms of materials management.”
• Alma R. – “It’s a great software, and it’s one of the programs I’ve used and still use the most in architecture. It has everything you need for the realisation of a project and you just come to love it the more you learn and use it. If you get to use it enough you will start to feel that you don’t need any other software to work with, but you should always keep in mind that there are complementary programs that will make the use of the program even easier and you shouldn’t close yourself to the idea that it is bad to make use of them even if Revit can do it. In general it is a program that is constantly updated and really adapts to the evolution of architecture and the complexity of it; and it plans to continue to do so for many years to come.”
• Piotr L. – “We have 6 licenses, a mix o Revit LT and Revit. With Revit we are able to save time by creating a 3d models along with flat drawings. Basic views (in Revit LT) with reliastic materials are ok to present to our clients. In complete Revit (sans LT) you can do realistic renderings. Thats a great advantage to be able to use one software instead of 3.”

Revit Benefits

• Photorealistic renders and animations that allow Revit to be one of the best tools on the market when it comes to imagining what the end product would be like when created
• A wealth of native integrations with other Autodesk products – one of the biggest software providers in the industry, with renowned software offerings such as Navisworks, AutoCAD, and more
• Plenty of different add-ons to choose from, expanding Revit’s feature set beyond its standard capabilities

Revit Shortcomings

• Relatively high hardware requirements – even though it is a fairly standard issue for most BIM/CAD solutions due to the sheer complexity of different models they usually work with
• The complexity of the solution as a whole is a significant issue of Revit, and it is rather difficult to start learning it, as well – which may somewhat limit the scope of the potential customer base
• The price of Revit makes it practically inaccessible for most SMBs (Small and Middle-sized Businesses), which is not a problem for Revit itself, but it is a problem for its potential clientele that does not belong to a large enterprise or business

Revizto

Revizto as a BIM solution puts a lot of emphasis on cooperation among team members and simple collaboration. It is an advanced data management solution with a significant focus on BIM data that acts as a centralized single data source for all project participants. This approach eliminates miscommunication, improves communication, reduces the number of conflicts among team members, etc. Revizto offers an unusual approach to design analysis and project review with the help of Virtual Reality hardware, and its emphasis on clash detection/issue tracking makes it easier to keep various errors and mishaps from all construction projects.

Revizto as a solution can be helpful to plenty of different industries and specialists, including contractors, architects, engineers, and even owners. It can be integrated with plenty of other CAD/BIM solutions and supports many different project file formats (including some of the less commonly used file types, such as Faro or BCF). Effective collaboration and flexible interaction with different data sources are some of the biggest advantages of Revizto.

Revizto Main Features

• Plenty of automation capabilities – model delivery, file versioning, reporting, as well as streamlined data exchange and project status monitoring from anywhere
• Real-time task management and improved collaboration with the help of a single source of truth for all project participants
• Easier and more efficient communication with owners at different project phases, capability to provide owners with access to critical project information, notifying owners of project completion status updates, and so on
• Better project management efficiency that is achieved with easier clash management, enforceable accountability, and improved cross-team collaboration

Revizto Technical Details

• Revizto has three different applications available for mobile devices – a fully functional Android smartphone app, a separate Android tablet app, and a dedicated iPad app
• Revizto’s solution supports both macOS and Windows operating systems

Revizto Price

• There is no official pricing information available on the official Revizto website, with the only possible option being a demo request.
• The unofficial sources state that there are three pricing plans Revizto can offer:
  • “Starter” – $600 per year per user, for 10 users or less
  • “Team” – $500 per year per user, for 20 users or less
  • “Company” – $400 per year per user, for 50 users or more

Revizto Customer Ratings

• Capterra – 4.3/5 points rating based on 31 customer reviews
• G2 – 4.2/5 points rating based on 21 customer reviews

Revizto Customer Reviews  (original spelling)

• Steven B. – “We are now only using this software for as-built purposes and we are trying to enforce it that the subs sign in to be able to do shop drawing changes that come in from out in the field. We want our superintendents more involved in the coordination process and this is how we plan to get them in there.”
• seiya o. – “fast, easy, and accurate visual coordination at ease by using Revizto. We were able to have our client provide positive feedback. customer service was great. I especially thank to rep for all the help that he provided in the early days of Revizto.”
• Bill M. – “Our project collaboration efficiency increased, as did our quality and confidence with our designs as a result of the “single source of truth” approach that Revizto provides.”

Revizto Benefits

• Specific issues or clashes can be easily assigned to a dedicated team or a single team member, which makes it a lot easier to manage issues as a whole
• Outstanding 3D rendering capability in various situations, capable of creating impressive environments faster than most competitors
• Issue-tracking itself is cloud-based, making it incredibly convenient for all project participants, boosting cooperation and overall project performance

Revizto Shortcomings

• 2D interface is not particularly user-friendly
• Revizto relies a lot on various integrations with CAD/BIM solutions, but some specific integrations are fairly basic in what they are capable of
• Revizto may struggle with bigger and more complex project files, even though it is a somewhat common problem for the industry as a whole

ArchiCAD vs. Revit vs. Revizto

Since we have plenty of information about all three solutions at this point, it may be a good time to begin comparing them to one another. First, we have to figure out what each solution can achieve in the first place and why you may have a specific solution on the list.

Why ArchiCAD?

ArchiCAD is a 3D BIM solution focusing mainly on modeling and design capabilities. It is a fairly popular solution for architecture, designs, and urban planning since ArchiCAD tends to greatly improve the entire workflow for these kinds of specialists. It can work with both 2D and 3D models, capable of modifying them if necessary, and the user interface is surprisingly welcoming for a CAD/BIM solution.

Why Revit?

Autodesk Revit is a comprehensive BIM solution with plenty of features. It can create information-rich models, boost cooperation, eliminate miscommunication, reduce the number of potential reworks, and so on. It can also be expanded with a library of add-ons, integrated with other Autodesk products, and has two different pricing approaches.

Why Revizto?

Revit’s emphasis on clash detection and issue tracking is a great way to improve practically any project team out there, and its general BIM collaboration capabilities are just as useful on their own. Revizto can be useful to plenty of different specialists and teams, from architects to owners, and its unusual abilities such as VR model walkthrough, make it even more attractive as a BIM solution. It can also be incredibly modal, with three different smartphone apps for various operating systems.

Use cases for each solution

ArchiCAD is a comprehensive BIM solution that offers two different feature sets – 3D model creation/modification and a collaboration platform. Both of these work great in the context of the architectural industry, providing a versatile and easy-to-use solution for architects and other specialists while acting as a single source of truth for all project participants to eliminate miscommunication, reduce the number of reworks, and so on. However, it also has its issues, such as the layout updates taking a long time to be shown on the model or the overall limited feature set regarding integrations with other BIM/CAD solutions.

Revit is one of the more well-known BIM platforms on the market, created and distributed by a well-known software provider. It can be seamlessly integrated with plenty of other Autodesk solutions while also creating and managing BIM models and expanding its functionality via a system of add-ons. It can also be rather demanding in terms of hardware, difficult to learn, and expensive.

Revizto is a primarily BIM data management solution with a lot of emphasis on clash detection and issue tracking. It also puts a lot of effort into improving cooperation and collaboration between stakeholders, as well as excellent issue tracking and a much lower potential for miscommunication than ever before. It is also a solution with limited integration capabilities with other BIM or CAD software and may sometimes struggle with more complex models.

As we have mentioned before, finding the single best solution for every possible use case is practically impossible due to the sheer complexity of this industry. As such, everything boils down to a very specific set of needs and priorities of the company looking for a BIM/CAD solution to fit their needs. For example, Revitzo is a great choice for companies that struggle with clash detection or issue tracking, while also offering vast collaboration-related capabilities – better communication, easier clash management, more productive environment among project participants, and so on.