Chief Architect vs Revit

Introduction

Myriad industries across the world have undergone drastic change as a byproduct of technological progress, and the AEC industry is no different. The introduction of CAD software has revolutionized most of the processes in this industry, making everything easier, more precise, more convenient, and so on.

In this particular context, you may often hear the term “architecture software” – it describes a variety of solutions and tools that can aid in the creation of construction projects in some way. This particular term is also often referred to as an “umbrella term”, since it encompasses an incredible variety of tools, from full-fledged CAD software to an application that calculates how the sun will shine on a building in the future.

Unfortunately, this software category also has plenty of issues – from the high level of competition between different tools to the fact that there is a lot of confusion when it comes to distinguishing BIM and CAD solutions from each other. While we cannot do anything to solve the first issue – the second one can be at least mitigated to a certain degree by explaining both terms properly.

Computer-Aided Design

Computer-aided design (CAD) software is used to either create or modify project models in 2D or 3D with an extremely high amount of detail. Coined in the 1960s, CAD as a term is much older than BIM. The main purpose of CAD software is project visualization, and most of its features are geared towards this one purpose – which is why a lot of CAD software is much more feature-rich and versatile when it comes to model creation than any BIM software.

Building Information Modeling

Building information modeling (BIM) software, on the other hand, is used to create and modify sophisticated detail-heavy 3D models. The definition may at first seem very similar to CAD (which is why the confusion is so rampant to this day), but these two categories of software operate on completely different levels. CAD solutions work with all kinds of geometric shapes, while BIM software works with “objects” – models of specific elements that represent a specific part of the future building, be it a door, a window, a wall, etc.

Each “object” within BIM software is filled with a variety of data about that specific object – its height, width, length, weight, material, shape, and so on. This allows for much more accurate predictions and analyzes to be performed as early as the design development phase of construction, reducing the number of reworks when it comes to the actual construction process.

The main purpose of BIM is to improve the overall results of a construction project, streamlining collaboration between departments and stakeholders. It is not uncommon for BIM software to have some CAD features, but they are usually rather basic and nowhere near as extensive as those found in most CAD software.

There are plenty of other possible differences between BIM and CAD software. There can even be differences in features and capabilities between different software solutions within the same category. With the current state of the AEC software industry, it can be quite difficult to find a solution for a very specific set of use cases, since there are so many options to choose from.

To this end, we have compared several AEC software solutions, showcasing their features, pros and cons. That should make it a lot easier for potential customers to see what each solution can do in the context of other, similar software. In this particular example, our goal is to compare Chief Architect vs Revit.

Chief Architect vs Revit

Chief Architect

Chief Architect is a professional software suite for Building Information Modeling, drafting, design, and more. Most of its functions are geared towards light commercial and residential design. The solution was primarily designed for 2D drawing, but its 3D rendering capabilities are also decent.

Chief Architect often partners with manufacturers of different objects and appliances (doors, windows, flooring, cabinets, etc.) in order to compile precise and extensive data about every single object that can later be used by any customer at any time. The overall toolset of the solution is quite extensive, and most of the features are easy to work with – a massive advantage, considering how many architectural software solutions have a reputation for having a high entry barrier.

Revit

Revit is a BIM solution at its core – one of many solutions developed by the well-known technological giant Autodesk. Revit aims to improve the performance of construction projects of all types, creating better and more energy-efficient structures with less waste and fewer reworks. Revit can work with architectural design, structural engineering, MEP systems, and so on.

As a dedicated BIM solution, Revit works with information-rich project models that act as a centralized information source for all project participants. This, in turn, greatly improves the overall decision-making process, streamlines collaboration, improves building quality, and so on. BIM models made with Revit are always consistent, up-to-date, and work effectively as a single source of “truth” about the current project status – which drastically reduces the number of miscommunications and reworks, among other pros.

Pricing and Features

Chief Architect Pricing

Chief Architect Premier is Chief Architect’s main product; it can be purchased for $229 per month, with savings of 27% when purchasing an annual subscription.

Users of legacy versions of Chief Architect can also take advantage of a 50% discount for the first year of subscription, reducing the price to $995.

Chief Architect is a purpose-built solution that works best in interior design and residential architecture. It uses an intuitive approach to home design with an abundance of specialized tools to create cabinets, baths, kitchens, and other interior elements with ease. Chief Architect’s automatic building tools offer simple floor generation capabilities, while the extensive library of objects, materials, and fixtures helps populate existing models in mere moments. It also excels in visualization capabilities, offering photorealistic rendering options with compelling presentation.

Revit Pricing

Autodesk Revit offers two different pricing models – subscription-based and Autodesk Flex.

The 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 the Autodesk website:

• $300 for 300 tokens
• $1,500 for 1500 tokens
• A custom token amount

Revit is a comprehensive BIM platform that offers an outstanding range of features. It excels in precision modeling and extensive project management, making it possible to instantly access project-critical information about elements. The collaborative capabilities of the platform are especially noticeable due to their robustness when it comes to cooperative work and data sharing between teams in any locations. The addition of parametric modeling helps in its own way, as well, enabling intelligent relationships between elements for further convenience.

Long-term cost of ownership for Chief Architect and Revit

Both solutions remain on relatively equal ground when it comes to evaluating their basic licensing models. Both Revit and Chief Architect are provided using subscription-based licenses, with the total cost of ownership stacking upwards over time.

There are also additional services that can affect the total cost of ownership of both solutions, including add-ons, specialized training, and even potentially higher-end hardware for working on more complex and nuanced projects.

Cloud services are also often considered part of the long-term total cost of ownership of such solutions. Chief Architect’s cloud capabilities are somewhat limited but come included with the total cost of the solution, while Revit has a dedicated service called Autodesk Construction Cloud with a separate price tag.

When it comes to the upfront cost, it is easy to see how Revit is the more expensive option of the two. However, the specific situation will differ for each business depending on its needs and priorities, making the divide either smaller or bigger.

Certification and training for Chief Architect and Revit

The availability of professional certification options and quality training resources contributes greatly to the evaluation of architectural solutions, and neither Chief Architect nor Revit are exceptions to this.

Chief Architect

Chief Architect takes a somewhat straightforward approach to user training, with a focus on practical application for professionals in residential design. The company provides regular webinars, instructional videos, a comprehensive knowledge base, and the dedicated Chief Architect Academy with both free and premium training options. Chief Architect has no official certification program, but it does provide certificates that note the completion of its training courses, confirming the proficiency of the individual to employers, clients, etc.

The solution is also supported by an active community on social media, official forums, and even regional training events. Chief Architect generally hosts at least one conference annually that combines networking opportunities and education in the same place. It even has dedicated migration guides and conversion tutorials to help professionals transition from working with other architectural software to Chief Architect.

Revit

Autodesk has a wide range of official training options for Revit users, considering its status as one of the most popular BIM solutions on the market. The educational ecosystem of Autodesk includes:

• Instructor-led training programs
• Video tutorials
• Specialized learning paths
• Self-paced online courses
• Extensive documentation, and more

Autodesk uses two primary tiers of certification: Autodesk Certified User and Autodesk Certified Professional. Autodesk Certified User credentials are made for beginners in software handling, while Autodesk Certified Professional credentials are intended for advanced users with sufficient skill with different aspects of Revit.

The broader Revit ecosystem also includes a variety of third-party training providers, along with an active community consisting of user groups, forums, and specialized resources for some highly-specific workflows or industries. This extensive support network helps Revit users find appropriate educational content for practically every level of knowledge or skill, even if the total volume of information available may make it difficult to find the specific resources that the user needs at the moment.

Compatibility and versatility

Ongoing integrability with other software applications along with the flexibility to remain operational on different platforms are both important parameters for architectural design software in this market.

Chief Architect

Chief Architect is compatible with multiple industry file formats, such as DXF, DWG, PDF, and so on. It can also import models directly from SketchUp or Photoshop, making it a great option for design teams that use multiple software platforms. The solution’s ability to export its own models to other solutions such as Lumion improves its visualization capabilities, even if it is less integrated with construction management platforms than Revit is.

On the other hand, Chief Architect offers cross-platform support and native versions for both the Windows and macOS environments, as well as a companion mobile application (Room Planner) capable of basic viewing or editing of plans on the go. This level of mobility extends the overall utility of the environment on-site, and the built-in 3D Viewer can help users navigate designs without the need to install the entire software package.

Revit

Revit’s biggest advantage compatibility-wise is its seamless integration with many other Autodesk products in the sphere, such as Navisworks, Civil 3D, AutoCAD, ACC, and more. Its capabilities for integration with third-party software are just as impressive, and it supports several popular rendering engines that expand its visualization capabilities. There is also support for custom development and API access in the app, but both require a high degree of expertise in programming.

Revit’s exclusivity for the Windows operating systems does hurt its flexibility to a certain degree, especially in the context of diverse office environments. The lack of a dedicated mobile application does the same, but there is an option to access limited project data using Autodesk’s cloud services on-the-go, if such services have been configured properly beforehand. The solution itself can work with numerous data formats, including DXF, DWG, IFC, gbXML, and many image formats.

Hardware requirements

The hardware specifications necessary to run each architectural software application differ dramatically, affecting both performance and the budget considerations for each option. Below, we present a comparative analysis of the system requirements of Chief Architect and Revit.

Minimum hardware requirements

Both solutions necessitate the use of relatively powerful hardware, even if the specific requirements do differ in some ways:

Recommended hardware requirements

For the most optimal experience in handling large and complex projects, both software platforms have a range of recommended hardware configuration requirements, as well:

Chief Architect’s requirements are generally lower than Revit’s, making it a more accessible option for clients with weaker hardware. The difference between the two is even more apparent in large and complex projects, where Revit tends to consume significantly more resources than usual. There is also the fact that Revit has no support for macOS environments, limiting its flexibility for Mac-oriented design firms.

At the same time, Revit’s higher hardware requirements represent its commitment to providing a complete toolset for the management of complex and data-rich BIM models in commercial projects. It can manage extensive parametric relationships and detailed component information, all of which necessitates substantial amounts of computing power, especially in graphics processing and memory.

Both apps also benefit greatly from the use of solid-state drives to improve load times and file operation speed. A professional-grade graphics card is highly recommended in both cases for the best 3D navigation and rendering experience.

Community support for Chief Architect and Revit

A robust community ecosystem significantly enhances the value of software outside of its core features, offering an abundance of shared knowledge, troubleshooting assistance, and even additional resources on the topic.

Chief Architect

Chief Architect is nowhere near as massive as Revit when it comes to the community formed around it, and understandably so. It is a niche community that is centered around a niche software application, and its primary audience is only interior design professionals and residential architecture experts. The central hub of this community is the official Chief Architect User Forum, which even features active participation from company representatives, who often contribute to the discussion or provide direct assistance with technical topics. Corporate involvement on this level creates a deeper connection between users and the developers than usual, contributing to many important factors.

The community is known for specialized content sharing, especially in terms of objects for the 3D library. Regional user groups even organize various meetups and training sessions on a regular basis, facilitating plenty of in-person networking opportunities. Chief Architect users can clearly benefit from the focused nature of the smaller community, with solutions and content able to address the specific needs of the market in most cases.

Revit

Thanks to Revit’s dominant position on the BIM software market, it has one of the largest user communities in the industry, creating a global presence that spans practically every aspect of building design and construction. The large user base translates directly into a large number of online resources, including social media groups, forums, blogs, YouTube channels, etc. Major technological platforms on the internet host thousands of discussions on the topic of this software alone, whether it is problem-solving or workflow specialization, which greatly simplifies the process of finding guidance to resolve issues.

The market dominance of Revit has also led to the appearance of an entire ecosystem of content creators, consultants, and add-on developers. They often produce custom content on topics that are relevant to Revit in some way. Even if the total volume of information available can be overwhelming at times, the depth and breadth of this community means that many technical questions have already been resolved somewhere on the Internet, reducing the need to develop your own approach from nothing.

Sustainability

Sustainability analysis capabilities are becoming more important as time goes on, as building energy performance standards are becoming more strict and clients have to prioritize a lot of environmental considerations in their projects.

Chief Architect does what it can within its own constraints, offering sufficient capabilities for standard energy code compliance and basic sustainability planning. It can generate insulation schedules, calculate window-to-wall ratios, and assess thermal bridging capabilities in residential construction assemblies. It even supports export to some energy modeling platforms, even if the integrations are often somewhat basic.

Revit, on the other hand, relies even more on third-party integrations while offering practically nothing in terms of built-in sustainability capabilities. It can export building data to Autodesk’s Insight, which is a dedicated performance analysis tool that is extremely effective at evaluating energy usage and many other sustainability metrics. This symbiosis proves effective in many cases but necessitates additional subscription costs in order to acquire the full potential of the solution.

Customization

Adaptability is important in practically any software industry. Architectural software is no exception: being able to adapt to specific workflows or project requirements can play an important part in a company’s satisfaction and productivity with a specific solution, whether it is Chief Architect or Revit.

Chief Architect uses a Ruby-based scripting environment for a lot of its customization options, including automation, custom object creation, and more. Even the smallest companies should be able to develop certain customization elements due to the accessible nature of Chief Architect’s environment. There is even a dedicated library of residential components that can be modified and saved to user libraries, creating a de-facto collection of elements that are specific to a single business and consistent across multiple projects.

Revit offers extensive customization using a combination of a visual programming interface and comprehensive API access. Professional developers can create practically any add-in or feature using Visual Basic .NET or C#, and even design professionals with limited coding experience can utilize Dynamo to add to or modify certain aspects of the software. There is also a massive marketplace of pre-made third-party plugins that might have already created solutions to some users’ issues without the need to commit to creating your own add-in.

User-friendliness of Chief Architect and Revit

The overall usability and initial learning curve of software tends to have a strong effect on both team productivity and adoption rates, especially when newer tools are introduced into an existing ecosystem.

Chief Architect

Chief Architect is known for its relatively user-friendly interface, along with workflows that align closely with how a lot of residential designers conceptualize projects. The software uses a room-based approach to design with multiple automated building tools capable of generating floors, roofs, walls, and other elements in a convenient manner. The automation element tends to greatly simplify the transition from a concept to a 3D model, and the context-sensitive interface presents only the most relevant tools and features for each task, which reduces visual complexity for end users.

Chief Architect’s focus on residential construction makes it possible to use specialized tools to handle common residential design scenarios out-of-the-box with barely any customization. The “Smart Objects” feature also helps with making objects behave like their real-life counterparts, adjusting different elements to better fit them into the architectural context. The overall design philosophy of the solution makes it possible even for newer users to create professional-quality plans and 3D renders in a short time. However, the simplified approach may limit flexibility in certain situations, especially in highly unconventional designs.

Revit

Revit’s reputation as a complex and challenging solution is known to practically everyone in this industry. It requires users to think in terms of building components and systems instead of just shapes and lines, which can be challenging for users who are mostly accustomed to traditional CAD software. Revit’s user interface is also reasonably complex, containing a large number of ribbons, toolbars, properties, and many other elements that can easily overwhelm the average first-time user. Even the most basic industry-specific operations require a certain degree of understanding for Revit, making it very difficult to deliver immediate productivity from the get-go.

Despite all these issues, Revit does become slightly more logical once the user has grasped the fundamentals of its capabilities. The solution provides extensive documentation and many tooltips with contextual guidance. The initial investment in learning is massive, but the long-term efficiency with the software is well worth it for most users, especially in complex projects where a comprehensive approach is needed to get the most out of the situation.

Target audiences and user ratings Chief Architect and Revit

Businesses should always try to understand which solutions align with their goals and industry targets, and that includes understanding the intended user base for different software solutions.

Chief Architect

Chief Architect’s original purpose of working on residential architecture and interior design makes its target audience relatively small. This audience includes home builders, remodeling contractors, kitchen or bath designers, and so on. This focused approach helps Chief Architect provide the most relevant and specialized tools for each client, addressing the various challenges and workflows that are normal in residential construction, such as interior visualization, cabinet design, room layout, etc.

The customer ratings for Chief Architect are:

• Capterra – 4.4/5 stars based on 66 customer reviews.
• G2 – 4.6/5 stars based on 18 customer reviews.

Revit

Revit has always targeted a broad range of users and companies, especially in the AEC industry and on large-scale projects. The solution was created to work in multidisciplinary teams with consistent collaboration using specialized tools for different professions. This comprehensive approach helps Revit be the best option for close coordination between disciplines and for controlling the entire building lifecycle.

The customer ratings for Revit are:

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

Potential shortcomings of Chief Architect and Revit

There is no such thing as a perfect software solution in the modern digital environment. Every competitor has its own areas for improvement or downright limitations, something all businesses should be aware of before committing to a single purchase.

Chief Architect

Chief Architect focuses a lot on residential architecture, limiting its usability for businesses that handle commercial projects on occasion, since the software does not have many more complex tools for large-scale coordination and the establishment of commercial building systems. The existing library of commercial objects and materials in Chief Architect is significantly smaller than its residential counterpart, and the options for MEP engineering or detailed structural workflows are extremely low.

It also does not offer much in terms of BIM functionality, limiting the depth of information that can be embedded into building models, which is the price of being relatively user-friendly and accessible. When exchanging complex data with other BIM platforms, Chief Architects tends to encounter occasional translation issues, which puts its broad range of supported data formats into question.

Revit

Autodesk Revit faces an abundance of challenges, which are most prominent when it comes to users with limited resources or specific workflow needs. The demanding hardware requirements of the solution necessitate a substantial investment in computing infrastructure, and this general resource intensity can become the single biggest bottleneck for companies without sufficient IT budgets.

Revit’s subscription-based model is a significant ongoing expense, even if there are no longer many options that do not rely on subscription licensing. The steep learning curve of the environment necessitates a large time investment before the average user can truly become proficient in the software and its capabilities, which has the potential to delay timelines and reduce productivity in the short-term. The abundance of features that Revit provides to handle large and complex projects may also be seen as a detriment that makes the solution even more confusing and unfriendly.

Which software is a better fit for newcomers?

The market for architectural software is vast and varied, and it can cover users of practically any skill or target field. However, the abundance of options does present users with the issue of choosing a specific solution out of everything that is available. As such, we can try to see where both Chief Architect and Revit are when it comes to being accessible to newcomers.

Chief Architect is, undoubtedly, the more accessible option of the two. It is a relatively good entry point for newcomers in the industry, especially in the field of residential design. The intuitive approach to building creation with automatic element generation in certain cases helps it align more closely with how most designers create project concepts in the first place, improving accessibility. New users can become productive with Chief Architect in just a few days, a crucial speed for smaller businesses and individuals that do not have the time to indulge in long non-billable training periods.

Autodesk Revit is the undisputed leader of the architectural software market, holding a massive market share among BIM solutions. Strangely enough, its market share does not translate into accessibility. On the contrary, Revit is known for being incredibly complex software with a steep learning curve, which is a necessary sacrifice for its comprehensive approach to building information modeling features.

Conclusion

The architectural software market provides specialized software to address the many different needs of design professionals depending on their context and type of project. The goal of this article has been to present a detailed comparison between Chief Architect and Revit, highlighting the way both solutions can serve distinct segments of the architectural field in their own ways.

Chief Architect is a purpose-built solution for residential architecture and interior design with a surprising degree of accessibility. It offers an intuitive interface, automated building tools, and specialized residential features for the rapid development of designs with little-to-no training required. It is not particularly demanding in terms of hardware requirements, and its lower price makes it slightly more accessible to smaller practices and even individual professionals.

It should be noted that Chief Architect’s focus on residential projects manifests in practically every aspect of its capabilities, from its extensive library of industry-specific components to streamlined documentation capabilities custom-made to work best in the home construction field. It is one of the best options on the market for professionals that mostly operate within the range of small multifamily projects, renovations, and single-family homes, providing a direct path from concept to construction documentation with little complexity.

Autodesk Revit is the industry standard for some of the most complex and nuanced projects possible, necessitating extensive data management and fast information exchange. It has a comprehensive set of BIM features that enables sophisticated modeling of almost any building environment and not just architectural elements, which also facilitates collaboration throughout the entire project lifecycle.

Revit is known for being complex and demanding in terms of both hardware and cost, and some might say that its status as indisputed industry leader is the only reason that Revit can still afford to be this unfriendly to new users. However, there are also many professionals who claim that any investment in this software is worth it purely because of the sheer scope that Revit can work in, along with its extensive customization and the broad ecosystem of other Autodesk software it can easily integrate with.

An organization’s typical project scope, team composition, and long-term business strategy can be considered the biggest deciding factors when choosing between Chief Architect and Revit. As the industry continues to evolve, both solutions are likely to receive system updates, adding new features and addressing user feedback. Even if they retain their different approaches to architectural design, both solutions are sure to continue their existing approaches to working in the industry, making both solutions viable to their own potential audiences and use cases.