Revit vs Inventor vs Revizto

Introduction

A large number of global industries have undergone significant transformations thanks to technological advancements, and a prime example of this can be seen in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector. The adoption of computer-aided design (CAD) software has revolutionized various processes in the field, making them more efficient, precise, and user-friendly.

The term “architectural software” is quite broad and encompasses a diverse array of solutions and tools that aid in various capacities in the development of construction projects. It serves as an umbrella term encompassing extensive CAD software, advanced building information modeling (BIM) utilities, as well as applications designed to forecast the future impact of sunlight on a structure.

While BIM and CAD software share many similarities, they also exhibit notable distinctions. In the current landscape of the AEC software industry, there’s a multitude of options, making it quite challenging to identify solutions tailored to highly specific use cases.

Our goal is to alleviate this situation by conducting a direct comparison of several AEC software solutions, highlighting their advantages, drawbacks, and sets of features. This approach will simplify the process for prospective clients and allow them to discern the unique offerings of each solution when compared to similar software options. In this specific instance, we compare Revit, Inventor, and Revizto.

Revit

Autodesk’s Revit is a robust tool for construction projects. It plays a crucial role in reducing the number of errors and the amount of waste, while also helping with the creation of more efficient structures. Revit excels in handling various aspects of a project, including architectural design, mechanical systems, structural engineering, plumbing systems, or and electrical infrastructure.

As a building information modeling (BIM) solution, Revit works with incredibly sophisticated project models that include essential data for all project stakeholders. This characteristic simplifies decision-making, fosters collaboration, and enhances the overall quality of the construction. The models produced in Revit remain consistently accurate, acting as reliable repositories for the real-time status of projects. This minimizes misunderstandings and reduces the need for rework, among other benefits.

Revit’s Main Features

• Its models are remarkably precise and accurate, offering an outstanding preview of the project’s future visual aspects.
• It has an impressive range of project management tools that allow for the modification of schedules, blueprints, sheets, and more.
• It uses a single project model that ensures continuous consistency and precision with extensive collaborative possibilities for all parties involved.

Revit’s Technical Details

• Autodesk Revit is compatible with Windows 10 and Windows 11.
• Autodesk Revit does not have a mobile application for iOS or Android

Revit’s Price

• Autodesk Revit can be officially purchased using two separate pricing models: a subscription-based model and Autodesk Flex.
• An Autodesk Revit subscription has only one tier with three different intervals for subscription purchase:
  • $355 for one month
  • $2,835 for one year
  • $8,505 for three years

• Autodesk Flex is a pay-as-you-go pricing model with tokens that provide access to a variety of Autodesk products without an actual purchase. The price of Autodesk Revit is 10 tokens per day, and there are several different token packages that users can purchase on the Autodesk website:
  • $300 for 100 tokens
  • $1,500 for 500 tokens
  • Custom token amounts

Revit Customer Ratings

• Capterra – 4.6/5 stars with 384 customer reviews
• TrustRadius – 8.7/10 stars with 189 customer reviews
• G2 – 4.5/5 stars with 795 customer reviews

Revit’s Benefits

• It provides a comprehensive set of features and the capability of enhancing its functionality through a variety of add-ons.
• It achieves exceptional precision in both renderings and animations thanks to its outstanding project visualization capabilities, resulting in project models that closely mimic their real-world counterparts.
• It can seamlessly integrate with a wide array of other Autodesk products, such as Navisworks and AutoCAD.

Revit’s Shortcomings

• While Revit offers a wide range of features, it is not particularly known for its user-friendliness. It comes with a notable learning curve, and many users require several months to become proficient in its numerous functions.
• Users often have to invest in relatively expensive workstations to ensure that the software operates smoothly. As a sophisticated BIM solution, Revit’s hardware requirements are rather substantial, especially for more complex projects.
• Revit’s primary audience is businesses – large-scale companies with significant software budgets. This is the stance of most Autodesk solutions, which have traditionally occupied the higher end of the market, and it may be a detriment for smaller businesses that also want to use the software.

Inventor

Autodesk Inventor is a professional 3D computer-aided design software program developed by Autodesk, a well-known company in the field of design and engineering software. Autodesk Inventor is primarily used for product and mechanical design, making it a powerful tool for engineers and designers involved in various industries, including manufacturing, engineering, and product development.

Inventor facilitates the integration of 2D and 3D data within a unified environment. This capability provides a virtual representation of the end product, empowering users to assess and confirm the design, dimensions, and functionality of the product even before it is physically manufactured. Autodesk Inventor boasts a diverse set of modeling tools, including parametric, direct edit, and freeform modeling, alongside the ability to work with multiple CAD formats and standard DWG drawings.

Inventor’s Main Features

• Autodesk Inventor provides simulation tools for testing the strength and performance of designs, helping users identify potential issues before the manufacturing stage.
• The compatibility of Inventor with other CAD solutions is made possible by the fact that it supports many file formats and can also be integrated with other Autodesk software such as AutoCAD.
• It is possible to integrate Inventor with computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software to create accurate toolpaths for manufacturing or CNC machining.

Inventor’s Technical Details

• Autodesk Inventor is compatible only with the Windows operating system.
• Autodesk Inventor does not have a mobile application for Android or iOS.

Inventor’s Price

• Autodesk Inventor can be purchased using either the standard subscription model or via Autodesk Flex.
• Autodesk Inventor subscriptions have three different prices depending on the length of the subscription:
  • $305 for one month
  • $2,440 for one year
  • $7,320 for three years

• Autodesk Flex is a pay-as-you-go pricing model with tokens that provide access to Autodesk products with daily payments without the commitment of a complete purchase. Autodesk Inventor costs 8 tokens per day, and each user can choose between several different token packages available on the Autodesk website:
  • $300 for 100 tokens
  • $1,500 for 500 tokens
  • Custom token amounts

Inventor Customer Ratings

• Capterra – 4.5/5 stars based on 257 customer reviews
• TrustRadius – 8.1/10 stars based on 80 customer reviews
• G2 – 4.4/5 stars based on 419 customer reviews

Inventor’s Benefits

• Inventor is a surprising combination of complexity and user-friendliness, offering a user experience that is relatively easy to get into while also offering a plethora of features that more experienced users can take advantage of.
• The general versatility of the solution is very welcome, with different parts and properties available in a convenient fashion.
• As an Autodesk product, Inventor can be integrated with some other Autodesk software such as AutoCAD with little effort.

Inventor’s Shortcomings

• Creating and modifying complex shapes can be extremely difficult with Inventor – it does offer the functionality, but the process itself is far from easy.
• The solution itself is rather resource intensive, and the situation gets far worse with more complex and detailed models.
• Certain modules of the solution can be rather user unfriendly, such as the Tube & Pipe module.

Revizto

Revizto, as a BIM solution, prioritizes and promotes inter-project collaboration through various means. It minimizes conflicts among team members and reduces errors by providing a centralized data repository for all project participants. It also has plenty of other features, such as virtual reality support, offering a much more convenient approach to design validation, design review, issue identification, and other important tasks within a project.

Issue tracking and clash detection represent two of Revizto’s primary specialties, which ultimately enhance collaboration. It can also be integrated with a large number of different architectural tools, – including software used by architects, contractors, engineers, etc. Revizto also supports a large number of different file formats, promoting interoperability and ensuring easy collaboration between departments no matter which software is used.

Revizto’s Main Features

• The incorporation of comprehensive automation features, including automated reporting, model distribution, version control, and continuous real-time project status monitoring, collectively contributes to heightened operational efficiency in all facets of a project.
• Improved communication with project stakeholders at every phase and uninterrupted access to essential project data streamline the process of keeping stakeholders well-informed about both previous and current project advancements.
• Enhanced collaboration processes, simplified conflict resolution, and enforceable accountability measures all work together to advance the overall objective of enhancing project management efficiency.

Revizto’s Technical Details

• Revizto is compatible with both Mac and Windows devices.
• It has three different mobile applications: an older Android tablet app, a new Android smartphone app, and a dedicated iPad app.

Revizto’s Price

• The only way to access official pricing information for Revizto is to request a quotation or a demo showcase using a special link on the software’s website.

Revizto Customer Ratings

• Capterra – 4.3/5 stars with 31 customer reviews
• G2 – 4.2/5 stars with 21 customer reviews

Revizto’s Benefits

• The ability to assign conflicts and problems to specific team members not only establishes responsibility but also streamlines the distribution of work, ultimately elevating overall performance.
• Efficient and precise 3D rendering allows for the swift creation of intricate environments with ease.
• Revizto’s functioning as an intuitive cloud-based issue tracking tool allows it to enhance project efficiency and promote smooth collaboration among team members.

Revizto’s Shortcomings

• Revizto’s 2D interface may not be the most convenient on the market, since the solution prioritizes 3D visualization.
• Although Revizto does provide integration with a variety of third-party BIM/CAD software options, it is important to note that some of these connections are rather simplistic and may offer limited features.
• Revizto may also encounter performance challenges when handling complex, large-scale project models, a relatively common issue within the industry as a whole.

Revit vs Inventor vs Revizto

Now that we have a wealth of information about each of these solutions, it is an opportune moment to explore the individual merits of each one and determine why one might choose each solution.

Why Revit?

Autodesk Revit is a powerful building information modeling tool, equipped with a versatile range of features designed to cater to a wide range of tasks and applications. Its capabilities allow the streamlining of collaboration, the creation of detailed and information-rich models, the fostering of teamwork, the reduction of conflicts and errors, and, ultimately, the boosting of overall project efficiency. Despite the initial cost, its comprehensive set of features, including integrations and add-ons, makes it a valuable and justified choice for professionals in the industry.

Why Inventor?

Autodesk Inventor is a professional 3D CAD software application purpose-built for mechanical design and product design. It provides the advanced 3D modeling and simulation tools needed in any field that involves complex mechanical systems, such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and industrial equipment. The basic capabilities of Inventor are fairly easy to learn, but most complex features have high barriers to entry in terms of knowledge and experience. It can also be quite expensive, especially when combined with other tools in the same field such as AutoCAD.

Why Revizto?

Revizto uses clash detection and issue tracking to improve collaboration and boost teamwork, making it a competent BIM solution. However, its set of features extends beyond these functions, including the ability to conduct virtual tours using VR equipment and various other innovative features. With its flexibility and comprehensive range of features, Revizto stands as an excellent choice for its intended purpose, and it demonstrates minimal drawbacks within this specific context.

Use cases for each solution

Revit, developed by the well-established software provider Autodesk, is an exceptionally advanced tool tailored to skilled industry professionals. It provides a comprehensive range of core functions while offering users the option to enhance its capabilities by incorporating various add-ons. Revit can also be integrated easily with other Autodesk products (Navisworks, AutoCAD, etc.), positioning it as one of the most comprehensive solutions available to companies in search of a full-fledged BIM solution with a diverse array of features.

Inventor by Autodesk is a specialized 3D CAD software application tailored for product design and mechanical engineering. It features advanced parametric modeling and simulation capabilities. Autodesk Inventor is a robust tool for engineers and designers engaged in a wide spectrum of industries, including manufacturing, engineering, and product development, where it is an invaluable resource. It is also commonly used in tandem with AutoCAD and other Autodesk products, as most of those work with their own sets of use cases and features.

Revizto should not be overlooked as a solution just because it does not have the wealth of features that solutions such as Revit can offer. Revizto remains an extremely valuable solution for data management, particularly concerning essential BIM features such as issue tracking and clash detection. Its capabilities are crucial when it comes to improving collaboration, reducing rework, minimizing the number of conflicts, and even boosting the overall effectiveness of project tasks with unique features such as VR support. All of that is packed into a single centralized data model that each project participant can access at all times, making Revizto a true BIM solution to the core.

Conclusion

The architecture industry is inherently complex, making it challenging to find suitable solutions for specific use cases. In such situations, it is advisable to carefully assess your company’s feature requirements to identify the most essential capabilities. For instance, a company with a primary need for issue tracking and clash detection may decide that Revizto is the optimal choice, while simultaneously enjoying improved collaboration and increased project efficiency as valuable byproducts. A highly customized approach is recommended for every single case to ensure that you select the solution that is most capable of aligning with your company’s specific needs.