Vectorworks Alternatives in 2024: Free & Paid Software Apps

What is Vectorworks?

Vectorworks Architect is feature-rich BIM software targeted toward various AEC specialists. The software was developed by Vectorworks, Inc., a software provider with a number of other notable solutions for different industries. Vectorworks Architect itself is part of a larger software suite that can be used by professionals from industries such as landscaping, architecture, entertainment, and more.

The other solutions included in the Vectorworks package are:

• Vectorworks Landmark – an outdoor design solution with site design, planting, grading, irrigation, and other features.
• Vectorworks Spotlight – a convenient solution for rigging, set, and lighting design which can be used to create detailed lighting plots with ease and is extremely popular in the entertainment industry.
• Vectorworks Fundamentals – a range of easy-to-work-with drafting and design tools that are an excellent option for customers that only need basic 2D and 3D design capabilities from their software.
• Vectorworks Designer – a combination of Landmark, Spotlight, and Architect in a single solution. It is a case-specific software package for customers who need to work in multiple disciplines on a regular basis.
• Vectorworks Vision – a solution built primarily for visualization purposes and capable of calculating and previewing special effects and lighting for various live events and other similar situations which is very popular among lighting designers and event planners.

Vectorworks, Inc. was established in 1985 under the name Graphisoft. The first piece of software from the company was called MiniCAD and was only suitable for Apple Macintosh. The current name, Vectorworks, was the result of a rebranding process that happened in the late 1990s. Graphisoft, or Diehl Graphisoft, was acquired by the Nemetschek Group in 2000, becoming Nemetschek Vectorworks. The company’s current name has only been around since 2016.

Features of Vectorworks

• Extensive BIM capabilities with the ability to create highly detailed 3D models which can be enriched with real-life information from different departments.
• Ability to create parametric objects using a wide range of built-in parametric tools. Objects can be adjusted automatically depending on the user’s preferences.
• Integration between design and documentation in a single solution makes it possible for Vectorworks Architect to store and generate plenty of construction-specific documentation directly from the BIM model, including floor plans, sections, elevations, and so on.
• Built-in rendering engine, Renderworks (a subsidiary of Nemetschek Group), which can generate detailed renders without the use of another application, which offers tremendous help in terms of design reviews and client presentations.
• Support for a variety of data formats, including the open IFC format, facilitating better interoperability with other BIM solutions. Vectorworks also offers simplified cloud-based information sharing, improving collaboration within projects.
• Extremely customizable workspaces, with custom palettes, menus, toolsets, and more.
• Large library of pre-built objects, textures, and materials to be incorporated into any project with ease.
• Vectorworks Service Select, a separate paid service which offers extensive training, priority tech support, and exclusive content.

Vectorworks licensing model

Vectorworks uses a network of distributors to sell its products worldwide, meaning that the total price of the software most likely varies depending on location.

Unfortunately, no official pricing information can be found on the Vectorworks website.

Why would someone want to look for an alternative to Vectorworks?

Vectorworks Architect is a great solution for its niche, but it is far from perfect. Its focus on small and medium-sized projects directly translates into an inability to handle most large-scale BIM tasks. Additionally, Vectorworks Architect’s BIM capabilities are somewhat basic, even though the solution is promoted as BIM software first and foremost.

As such, there is still plenty of demand for alternatives to Vectorworks Architect, both free and paid. The BIM software market is relatively large, and most solutions also overlap with the CAD market in terms of specific capabilities, so there is no shortage of alternatives to consider.

Methodology for evaluating Vectorworks alternatives

In this article, we have tried to offer a respectable number of free and paid alternatives to Vectorworks software, attempting to provide plenty of information about each solution to simplify purchasing decisions.

We have followed  a certain methodology in this process, with four distinct categories of information for each solution (in addition to a general description of the software):

• Customer ratings
• Key features
• Pricing
• Personal opinion of the author

Customer ratings

Genuine user reviews often have higher value in the eyes of customers than the cherry-picked examples filled with nothing but praise that some companies use as promotional material. As such, there has always been a demand for third-party review aggregation websites, considering how important customer reviews are in the overall purchasing decision.

Customer ratings are also a part of this process, although they may not be as detailed and thorough as written customer reviews. Nevertheless, there are plenty of resources that offer both ratings and reviews for specific categories of software. In this article, we work with three major review aggregation resources: Capterra, TrustRadius, and G2. Each of these websites has hundreds of thousands of verified user reviews, as well as a thorough verification system to ensure user authenticity, an inability for software providers to delete unfavorable user reviews, and so on.

These written user reviews can also be used in the software evaluation process, including to identify the potential benefits and shortcomings of software.

Benefits, disadvantages, and key features

As we mention above, written customer reviews can serve as an irreplaceable source for the benefits and shortcomings of specific software, which is something that is very difficult to garner from official product information. As such, the majority of benefits and disadvantages in our article are taken directly from user reviews. Of course, we include information in our article only if it is repeated several times from different sources. This way, we can avoid case-specific experiences and false positives.

At the same time, not all companies have the same market presence with hundreds of user reviews, with some smaller solutions barely having any reviews at all. If there is not enough information about the advantages and shortcomings of a specific solution from user reviews, both of these sections are replaced with the “Key Features” category, which offers an overview of the software’s capabilities taken from official sources.

Pricing models

The cost of software plays a very important role in a customer’s purchasing decision. Companies often operate on a budget when it comes to software, and these budgets differ depending on the size of the company and other factors.

There are plenty of companies that do not have any kind of pricing information available to the public, citing personalization and other factors as the reason. In our articles, we try to gather as much information about the pricing model of each software as possible, but there are some elements of this that are outside of our control.

Personal opinion

The personal opinion of the author is the most subjective element of our methodology. The primary goal of this section is to offer the author’s completely subjective opinion on a specific topic while also sharing additional information in some cases. There may even be a short overview of the software as a whole in a few sentences if there is not much to add on the subject. Nevertheless, since the majority of the information we offer is presented to be as objective as possible from an outsider’s perspective, we feel that including a subjective opinion in the mix allows us to offer a new perspective on the other topics.

Paid alternatives to Vectorworks in 2024

Although the solution is called Vectorworks Architect, its position in the BIM market does put it up against paid BIM and CAD solutions to a certain degree. Here is our list of paid alternatives to Vectorworks:

Solidworks

Solidworks from Dassault Systèmes is an impressive CAD solution that gets a lot of recognition in engineering, product development, and mechanical design. It may not be seen as a direct competitor to Vectorworks Architect, but its capabilities do overlap to a certain degree, especially when it comes to architectural projects that intertwine with elements of industrial or mechanical design.

Solidworks excels in the integration of engineering and mechanical design. It can also perform thorough analysis and has a number of options for simulation when necessary. Its extensive API-level customization allows for plenty of custom tailoring for specific purposes, including command automation, custom tool creation, and more.

At the same time, it is not a dedicated BIM solution, which puts it at a slight disadvantage compared to Vectorworks. In addition, its built-in rendering engine is nowhere near as powerful and detailed as what Vectorworks has to offer.

Both solutions excel at 3D modeling, work on Windows devices, and provide strong collaborative capabilities with extensive data-sharing flexibility.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.7/5 points based on 724 user reviews
• TrustRadius – 8.1/10 points based on 403 user reviews
• G2 – 4.4/5 points based on 553 user reviews

Advantages:

• Extensive 3D modeling with a large selection of tools and features, along with the ability to create custom tools via API access.
• Basic rendering capabilities mostly suitable for visualization are balanced out by extensive simulation capabilities that support a variety of materials and parameters.
• Outstanding environment management capabilities and some of the best CAD options on the market in this regard.

Shortcomings:

• Sophisticated license management processes have been an issue for a long time, according to multiple user reviews.
• High hardware requirements for the solution to run at full performance.
• Most features are not particularly difficult to work with, but there are a number of exceptions that are exceedingly difficult to grasp.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• There is very limited public pricing and licensing information for Solidworks.
• The licensing model uses the 3DEXPERIENCE platform as a baseline, with three different licensing options:
  • Standard – includes Collaborative Industry Innovator, 3DEXPERIENCE Solidworks Standard, 3D Creator, and 3DSwymer.
  • Professional – includes all of the Standard features and upgrades to the Professional version of Solidworks.
  • Premium – includes all of the Professional features and provides Solidworks Premium and the separate Simulation Designer package.
• While this kind of overview may be somewhat confusing, this is the extent of what Solidworks offers in terms of pricing information on its official website.

My personal opinion about Solidworks:

Solidworks is a CAD solution that can be considered a relatively viable alternative to Vectorworks Architect. Its primary use cases in this regard revolve around projects with a high level of product development or mechanical design. The solution excels at simulation, parametric modeling, and manufacturing integration. At the same time, it is not a BIM solution at its core, which brings a number of problematic shortcomings to the equation, such as the lack of specialized BIM capabilities, dedicated architectural tools, etc. Solidworks also has a number of general disadvantages that might dissuade potential users, such as its complicated license management and high hardware requirements for most projects.

MicroStation

MicroStation by Bentley Systems is a well-known CAD solution built specifically to work with large and complex infrastructure projects. It is precise and robust, and it offers plenty of capabilities in fields such as transportation, civil engineering, and infrastructure design. Despite the fact that it is not a BIM solution, MicroStation is a viable alternative to Vectorworks Architect in certain situations.

MicroStation is extremely scalable, and it can work with some of the largest project models with little to no performance or accuracy losses. It is also integrated with its own network of Bentley Systems products, such as OpenBuildings Designer, ProjectWise, and ContextCapture, which makes it a great option for companies that already use parts of the Bentley ecosystem. MicroStation supports reality modeling, can be customized using multiple programming languages, and also excels at civil engineering tasks.

However, it is not a dedicated BIM solution, and its range of architectural tools is significantly smaller than that of Vectorworks. Additionally, Vectorworks is much more architecture-oriented in general, which includes improved rendering capabilities, compliance with architectural standards, and a slightly easier learning curve in the architecture field specifically.

Both solutions work on Windows devices with ease (with Vectorworks also supporting macOS hardware), both offer extensive data-sharing capabilities both in their own ecosystems and outside, and both provide extremely versatile 3D modeling capabilities.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.4/5 points based on 173 user reviews
• TrustRadius – 8.6/10 points based on 23 user reviews
• G2 – 4.0/5 points based on 299 user reviews

Advantages:

• Surprisingly low hardware requirements for this field of work.
• Extensive support for a large selection of 3D models and project formats, including DWG, DXF, DGN, IFC, and more.
• Relatively easy process for integrating new components and elements into existing projects.

Shortcomings:

• The rendering quality with the built-in engine is not particularly detailed, falling behind most competitors in the field.
• The low hardware requirements directly translate into MicroStation’s inability to work with large-scale project files and models.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• Unlike most of the competition, Bentley Systems offers a very simple pricing model.
• There is only one licensing option to choose from. It costs €2,702 for 12 months.
• The license offers the entire feature set of MicroStation, including data centralization, extensive modeling, and so on. The package also includes three training credits for Virtuosity, a training platform that exists to simplify the onboarding process for new customers.

My personal opinion about MicroStation:

MicroStation, as a CAD solution, can be a great alternative to Vectorworks in specific circumstances. It excels in multidisciplinary design, civil engineering, and infrastructure planning, offering an impressive set of tools and features, along with integration into the bigger Bentley ecosystem. At the same time, it is not a complete replacement for Vectorworks Architect, since it is not a BIM solution at its core, and its rendering engine does not offer much in terms of quality or accuracy. The solution also does not work well with most large-scale projects despite the advertised ability to handle large-scale infrastructure tasks with confidence.

BricsCAD

BricsCAD from Bricsys is a moderately competent CAD solution that combines 2D drafting and 3D modeling capabilities with features in mechanical design and BIM. It is a surprisingly versatile platform that can assist its users in a large number of different industries without focusing on any of them specifically. Its overall versatility makes it a viable alternative to Vectorworks Architect, as well.

BricsCAD uses DWG as its primary file format, making it extremely easy to share information with other solutions if necessary (considering that the format is a widely known CAD format for AutoCAD and other Autodesk products). The overall interface of the solution also significantly resembles that of AutoCAD, making it easy for Autodesk customers to start using the solution. BricsCAD provides 3D modeling and 2D drafting capabilities, along with a dedicated module for mechanical design.

The lack of specialization in one field is also a disadvantage of the solution, especially when compared with Vectorworks. It lacks a built-in rendering engine, and its overall BIM capabilities are not as numerous and flexible as those that Vectorworks has to offer. Additionally, the sheer popularity of Vectorworks directly translates into a larger number of community-made learning resources, something that BricsCAD cannot replicate due to its relatively lower  popularity.

Both solutions offer 3D modeling capabilities to a certain degree, as well as support for multiple well-known file formats such as DWG and IFC. Additionally, BricsCAD and Vectorworks also support both macOS and Windows devices, offering impressive flexibility.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.7/5 points based on 17 user reviews
• TrustRadius – 9.4/10 points based on 11 user reviews
• G2 – 4.5/5 points based on 130 user reviews

Advantages:

• The close resemblance of the interface to that of AutoCAD should make it easy for users to grasp most BricsCAD capabilities.
• Capability to host a large selection of third-party utilities if the end user needs them.
• Support for both Windows and macOS devices makes the solution very versatile.

Shortcomings:

• The Windows version of the software is noticeably faster than any other version.
• The autosave process creates stutters and can take a long time depending on the total size of the project.
• There are few to no options for layout customization.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• BricsCAD offers five pricing tiers:
  • Lite
  • Pro
  • Mechanical
  • BIM
  • Ultimate
• The software is separated into modules that can be purchased separately or in a single package (the Ultimate version).
• BricsCAD BIM is available for:
  • $1,060 per year per person as a single license, $2,120 per year per network license.
  • $2,860 per three years per person as a single license, $5,720 per three years per network license.
  • $2,382 per lifetime single license, $4,764 per lifetime network license.
• BricsCAD Ultimate can be acquired for:
  • $1,180 per year per person as a single license, $2,360 per year per network license.
  • $3,170 per three years per person as a single license, $6,340 per three years per network license.
  • $2,646 per lifetime single license, $5,292 per lifetime network license.
• The network license option can be used to activate the solution for multiple workstations within the same network. The other versions of BricsCAD do not include any CAD or BIM capabilities, which makes them irrelevant in this case.

My personal opinion about BricsCAD:

BricsCAD can be a rather comfortable alternative to Vectorworks Architect when it comes to smaller projects. It is cost-effective, compatible with a selection of project file types, and extremely convenient with its 2D drafting capabilities. The ability to work on mechanical design projects makes BricsCAD even more valuable. At the same time, Vectorworks is still a very detailed and thorough BIM solution with a dedicated rendering engine and a range of advanced BIM capabilities in the field of architectural modeling. However, there are not many layout customization options to choose from, and the built-in autosave feature is known for causing plenty of stuttering.

AutoCAD

AutoCAD from Autodesk needs no introduction here, considering its position as one of the most popular CAD solutions on the market. It is an extremely powerful solution that excels at 2D drafting and 3D modeling, offering a wide range of features and tools for different use cases. Although it is far from being a BIM solution in any way, AutoCAD can still be a viable alternative to Vectorworks in certain situations, especially considering its ability to integrate some BIM capabilities.

AutoCAD is an excellent CAD solution that has been the de facto industry standard for many years. It is precise and versatile, and it can be used in a multitude of different fields, including construction, manufacturing, architecture, engineering, and more. The extensive customization that AutoCAD offers via AutoLISP and several other programming languages creates practically boundless potential to expand its features, and the massive existing community means that there are myriad different resources and learning materials that can be found online about every element of the software.

The biggest disadvantage of AutoCAD as an alternative to Vectorworks is the fact that it is CAD software: it is not a BIM solution, which means it does not have most advanced BIM capabilities, including integrated workflows, parametric design tools, and so on. Additionally, the built-in rendering engine of AutoCAD has somewhat basic capabilities, and the general versatility of the solution also means that it is not specialized in any single area in the same way that Vectorworks is dedicated to the architectural industry.

Both solutions work on macOS and Windows devices and provide extensive 3D modeling capabilities, although Vectorworks is much more focused, while AutoCAD is general-purpose 3D modeling software, first and foremost. Additionally, both solutions can be customized to a certain degree, whether via API access or through scripting.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.7/5 points based on 3,018 user reviews
• TrustRadius – 8.8/10 points based on 545 user reviews
• G2 – 4.4/5 points based on 1,416 user reviews

Advantages:

• Versatility is one of the biggest advantages of AutoCAD, with plenty of capabilities offered for use in sketching, design, prototyping, research, etc.
• AutoCAD can be integrated with a respectable selection of products and solutions, including the majority of Autodesk offerings.
• A high degree of customization is made possible via support for multiple programming languages and direct API access.

Shortcomings:

• The software is incredibly demanding in terms of its hardware requirements, and even the most expensive workstations on the market tend to struggle with modeling large-scale projects.
• The large feature set can be extremely difficult to navigate for new users, creating a steep learning curve as an entry barrier.
• All of the possible cloud collaboration features of AutoCAD are thanks to the integration of third-party solutions. The software itself cannot share information outside of very basic model exporting features.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• AutoCAD approaches pricing in two ways.
• The first is a basic subscription license with different time frames:
  • $255 per month
  • $2,030 per year
  • $6,090 per three years (with a fixed base price per month).
• The second involves accessing AutoCAD as part of the Autodesk Flex program, a “pay-as-you-go” option that offers a daily price in tokens for a number of Autodesk services. AutoCAD’s Flex cost is 7 tokens per day, and there are at least two token bundles available for purchase:
  • 100 tokens for $300
  • 500 tokens for $1500
• It is also possible to purchase custom amounts of tokens, depending on the company’s specific needs. The tokens themselves expire one year after purchase.

My personal opinion about AutoCAD:

AutoCAD is a viable alternative to Vectorworks Architect when it comes to 3D modeling or 2D drafting capabilities. The sheer number of capabilities and the boundless expandability make AutoCAD a viable alternative to practically any solution on the market. It is a flexible solution that can be customized to suit a specific industry, although its total feature set is not able to match dedicated BIM software such as Vectorworks. Additionally, the combination of a high price tag and high hardware demands can make AutoCAD an extremely expensive solution, which may not be suitable for Vectorworks clients that mostly deal with small-scale projects on a budget.

Autodesk Inventor

Inventor from Autodesk is a 3D CAD solution created specifically for the needs of manufacturing and mechanical design. It excels at parametric modeling and is extremely popular among industrial designers and engineers. While it is not a typical alternative to Vectorworks, it can still be able to replace some of the software’s capabilities in certain situations, particularly with anything related to product development or mechanical design.

Extensive parametric design capabilities are the highlight of Inventor. They make it possible to create immensely sophisticated assemblies and components with precise engineering requirements. It excels in projects related to product design, but it might not offer the same level of integration with general building design. Other capabilities of Inventor include multiple simulation tools, integration with computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) workflows, plenty of customization options via API access, and the ability to generate construction documents in certain cases.

At the same time, Inventor is not a BIM solution, which limits its capabilities in terms of BIM workflows and data centralization. Its rendering capabilities were created for product visualization rather than architectural renders, and the overall lack of focus on architectural design is a significant disadvantage of Inventor in many cases.

Both solutions offer extensive 3D modeling capabilities and a certain degree of collaboration and data sharing. Additionally, both can be used on Windows devices (although Vectorworks also supports macOS).

Customer ratings:

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

Advantages:

• Most of the basic features are not particularly difficult to grasp, even if the entire range of features takes a long time to learn.
• Seamless integration with other Autodesk products is available for all of the software solutions from this company, and Inventor is no exception.
• An extensive focus on product design makes Inventor one of the most useful solutions in its field.

Shortcomings:

• Many case-specific features are very difficult to manage, such as the Tube & Pipe module.
• While it is not impossible, creating and managing complex shapes with Inventor’s tools can be very challenging, depending on the end user’s capabilities.
• The software is extremely demanding in terms of hardware capabilities.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• An Autodesk Inventor subscription is a single pricing tier with three possible time frames for subscription:
  • $315 for one month
  • $2,500 for one year
  • $7,500 for three years
• Autodesk Flex, on the other hand, is a “pay-as-you-go” pricing model with tokens that provide access to some Autodesk products via daily payments. Autodesk Inventor costs 8 tokens per day in this system, and there are at least two different token bundles that can be purchased:
  • $300 for 100 tokens
  • $1,500 for 500 tokens
  • Purchasing custom amounts of tokens is also a possibility in some cases.
• It should be noted that all Autodesk products update their pricing regularly, and the only way for a business to fix the price of the software is to purchase a three-year package in advance.

My personal opinion about Autodesk Inventor:

Inventor can be a viable alternative to Vectorworks Architect when it comes to the integration of product development and mechanical design with various construction projects. It is an excellent solution with detailed parametric modeling capabilities, in-depth manufacturing integration, and more. At the same time, it is not a BIM solution at its core, and the lack of focus on the architectural industry makes Inventor’s range of use cases extremely small when it comes to replacing Vectorworks. Additionally, the solution is known for its complexity outside of the most basic capabilities, and it is also very demanding hardware-wise.

Alibre

Alibre is a relatively small-scale CAD solution that focuses mostly on product development and mechanical engineering. The low price of the solution is a massive selling point, as is its user-friendly interface. Alibre is not commonly associated with architectural design tasks, but it can be a worthy alternative to Vectorworks in architectural projects which need detailed product development.

Alibre has a reputation for being relatively easy to pick up and use, with most of its capabilities being easy to learn through its user-friendly interface. It targets small-scale projects first and foremost, which is why it is also far more affordable than most of the solutions on this list. Alibre works great when it is necessary to create complex assemblies or design mechanical elements, which can be a great feature in certain types of project. The software can be customized to a certain degree, with task automation and custom-fit tools being the most common examples.

At the same time, Alibre is very limited in terms of what it can do when compared with a full-fledged BIM solution such as Vectorworks. Alibre’s rendering capabilities are somewhat basic, and its inability to work with BIM workflows limits its use in large-scale architectural tasks (at the same time, working with such projects is not the goal of Alibre to begin with). It can replicate advanced documentation generation capabilities to a certain degree, but Alibre’s documentation is also mostly focused on manufacturing and mechanical engineering rather than architectural drawings.

Despite their many differences, both solutions work on Windows devices at the very least, and both can share information with other solutions and stakeholders when necessary. Both of these solutions are also able to produce detailed 3D models.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.7/5 points based on 130 user reviews
• G2 – 4.8/5 points based on 12 user reviews

Advantages:

• Extremely low cost for a full-fledged CAD solution.
• Most capabilities are relatively easy to get a clear grasp of.
• The existence of a user-friendly interface greatly simplifies navigation between tools and features.

Shortcomings:

• Lack of detailed learning content and other resources on the Internet as a result of Alibre’s relatively small customer base.
• The solution is not able to handle complex projects.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• Alibre’s pricing model includes three different pricing plans that can be acquired either as subscriptions or as lifetime licenses.
• Atom3D is a self-proclaimed “hobby-grade” basic version of Alibre with 3D modeling capabilities, easy data import and export, and practically nothing else.
  • Atom3D starts at $10 per user per month.
  • A single perpetual license can also be purchased for $199.
• Design Pro is a slightly more complex CAD solution that offers all of the features above, as well as a sketching toolset, a dedicated account manager, access to a scripting language for automation purposes, direct editing tools, and more.
  • Design Pro starts at $30 per user per month.
  • A single perpetual license can also be purchased for $999.
• Design Expert is the complete package of all of Alibre’s features, with more modeling tools, motion tools, sheet metal modeling, design configurations, photorealistic rendering, a dynamic design library, and more.
  • Design Expert starts at $50 per user per month.
  • A single perpetual license can also be purchased for $1,999.

My personal opinion about Alibre:

Alibre provides a decent alternative to Vectorworks Architect, offering a cost-effective solution that works at its finest when handling product development or mechanical design tasks. Its parametric modeling capabilities are exceptional for the price, and the user-friendly interface makes it easy for casual users to get into. It is also not a BIM solution whatsoever, greatly limiting its potential as a Vectorworks replacement. It is not focused on the architecture industry specifically, and it does not work with integrated BIM workflows. Nevertheless, it is still a great option for its range of use cases, even if its small user base does translate into a limited selection of helpful user-generated content online.

Revit

Revit from Autodesk is one of the most popular BIM solutions on the market. It offers an extremely large selection of features and capabilities in the AEC industry with support for multidisciplinary design processes. It is one of the more direct competitors and alternatives to Vectorworks, considering that they are both BIM solutions at their cores.

Revit is an outstanding option when it comes to practically any BIM capability imaginable, including BIM workflow integration, collaboration, communication, data centralization, and so on. Its scalability is nothing short of impressive, even if it is mostly suitable for large-scale projects such as hospitals, high-rise structures, etc. Aside from its general BIM capabilities, Revit also provides a competent selection of MEP and structural engineering tools that are integrated with the rest of the software’s capabilities. Its sheer popularity in the industry makes it compatible with the majority of the software on the market, and it can also be integrated well with other Autodesk products.

At the same time, there are plenty of areas where Revit cannot keep up with Vectorworks, with the majority of differences being because of their different target audiences. Vectorworks is a lot easier to get into, even if some of its case-specific features can prove challenging to work with. Revit is also not as flexible and detailed when it comes to the accuracy of the renderings generated by the solution, and its design tools are a bit less flexible and customizable than those of Vectorworks.

Both solutions are available for Windows devices, and both can be customized using scripts and other methods – Dynamo for Revit and VectorScript for Vectorworks.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.6/5 points based on 436 user reviews
• TrustRadius – 8.9/10 points based on 217 user reviews
• G2 – 4.6/5 points based on 870 user reviews

Advantages:

• Extensive BIM capabilities are combined with a detailed 3D modeling toolset, which is not something offered by most BIM solutions.
• Multiple integrations with other Autodesk solutions significantly improve the interoperability of the software, and the fact that most BIM solutions can work with Revit’s proprietary file format is an even better contributor to collaboration between different solutions.
• Massive feature set in both 3D modeling and BIM.

Shortcomings:

• High hardware requirements, both minimal and recommended.
• The rudimentary built-in automation capability drastically reduces the ability of most users when it comes to automating complex tasks.
• The software is notoriously difficult to start working with, and a steep learning curve stands in the way of every new user.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• Revit is licensed using Autodesk’s standard pricing model.
• The solution is available as a basic subscription that can be purchased for one month, one year, or three years.
  • 1 Month – $365
  • 1 Year – $2,910
  • 3 Years – $8,730
• There is also an option to purchase Revit’s capabilities on a “pay-as-you-go” basis using the Autodesk Flex program. Revit’s cost in this program is 10 tokens per day, and these tokens can be purchased in at least two different bundles:
  • 100 tokens for $300
  • 500 tokens for $1,500
  • Purchasing custom amounts of tokens (more than 500) is also an option.

My personal opinion about Revit:

As a comprehensive BIM solution, Revit is a strong contender for one of the most “complete” alternatives or replacements for Vectorworks Architect. It is a powerful solution with myriad features and capabilities, and it is also commonly accepted as one of the most popular solutions on the market. At the same time, Revit is mostly suitable for large and complex multidisciplinary projects, while Vectorworks is much more suitable for smaller models. The latter is also much more user-friendly and puts greater emphasis on the architecture industry, offering a much more advanced feature set in comparison. Revit is also notorious for its high price and complexity, especially for new users, and its hardware requirements are particularly demanding.

Solid Edge

Solid Edge from Siemens Digital Industries Software is another example of a capable CAD platform with a specialization in manufacturing and product development. Despite the fact that it focuses primarily on engineering tasks, it can also be a viable alternative to Vectorworks in some cases, especially in projects that combine architectural design with engineering or mechanical design.

Solid Edge’s parametric modeling capabilities are some of the best on the market, making it able to generate accurate and detailed mechanical components. The software’s proprietary synchronous technology makes it possible to combine the flexibility of parametric design with the simplicity of direct modeling, making it possible to create quick iterations of a project while also being able to correct details when necessary. It excels at simulation, can be integrated into CAM workflows, and offers plenty of automation options via API access.

Solid Edge’s rendering capabilities are not particularly detailed, and its CAD-like structure does make it less than competent when it comes to the BIM capabilities of Vectorworks. Nevertheless, this does not make Solid Edge a bad alternative, considering how both solutions specialize in their own fields of work.

Both solutions can be used to create detailed 3D models and share them between stakeholders and other team members. Support for Windows devices is also available in both cases.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.4/5 points based on 46 user reviews
• TrustRadius – 7.9/10 points based on 50 user reviews
• G2 – 4.3/5 points based on 373 user reviews

Advantages:

• Ability to transform entire 3D models into 2D drafts for specific goals, such as documentation generation.
• A lot of its basic CAD capabilities are simple enough to cause no issues whatsoever for newcomers.
• Plenty of CAD file standards are supported out of the box, offering impressive versatility.

Shortcomings:

• The customer support experience has been reported as lackluster by multiple customer reviews over the years.
• The software requires very powerful hardware in order to operate at its full performance.
• Solid Edge’s user interface differs significantly from how most solutions in this field operate, making it somewhat challenging to get used to at first.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• Solid Edge takes a somewhat peculiar approach to pricing. Its product page offers multiple different subscription options to choose from. These options can be separated into three groups: general subscription-based offerings, feature-specific subscriptions, and token-based subscriptions
• Each element has its own price tag, and it is possible to mix and match some of them. As for the elements themselves, the first group of general subscriptions consists of:
  • Design and Drafting is a basic CAD package that starts at $86 per month. It offers basic automation, rendering, part design, and assembly design capabilities.
  • Foundation is a slightly larger CAD package that starts at $210 per month. It combines the previous offering with surface modeling, 2.5-axis milling, and weldment management.
  • Classic is Solid Edge’s most popular CAD package, starting at $263 per month. It provides reverse engineering, generative design, subdivision modeling, and a number of other features in addition to everything mentioned above.
  • Premium is the complete CAD functionality of Solid Edge. It starts at $378 per month, and it offers point cloud visualization, electrical routing, stress simulation, and more.
• The second group of offerings from Solid Edge covers specific categories of use cases, such as:
  • Wiring Design, starting at $189 per month (billed annually).
  • Harness Design, starting at $163 per month (billed annually).
  • Wiring & Harness Design, starting at $326 per month (billed annually).
  • 2D Drafting, starting at $36 per month (billed annually).
  • 3D Publishing, starting at $232 per month (billed annually).
  • Design Configurator, starting at $139 per month (billed annually).
  • Teamcenter Integration, starting at $38 per month (billed annually).
  • Illustrations, starting at $150 per month (billed annually).
  • Solid Edge + CAM Pro 3 Axis Milling, starting at $530 per month (billed annually).
• The last group of offerings is the most interesting of the three. It is called “Value-Based Licensing,” and it uses a token system to provide access to all of the specific features of Solid Edge for a limited time. There are only two token bundles available right now:
  • Value Based Licensing 25 Pack, for $360 per month (billed annually).
  • Value Based Licensing 50 Pack, for $756 per month (billed annually).

My personal opinion about Solid Edge:

Solid Edge is a competent mechanical design and engineering solution that provides strong CAD capabilities. It is a viable alternative to Vectorworks in a range of use cases where architectural design tasks also require engineering validation, manufacturing integration, or mechanical design. Its parametric modeling capabilities are outstanding, and the ability to integrate with CAM workflows makes management significantly easier. Nevertheless, it is not a BIM solution at its core, meaning that a substantial portion of Vectorworks’ capabilities are not replicated to the fullest. It is also known for being a relatively difficult solution for newcomers, purely because of how unusual its overall interface is for most users.

Free alternatives to Vectorworks in 2024

Now that we have a good grasp of paid software alternatives to Vectorworks, it is time to also offer a number of options that can be considered “free”  to a certain degree. It is worth mentioning that the number of completely free solutions on the market is extremely low, which is why we have also included solutions that have some form of a basic free tier with the ability to receive more features for an additional payment (SketchUp being the most prominent example).

SketchUp

SketchUp from Trimble is a very well-known 3D modeling solution that is renowned for its balance between ease of use and feature complexity in professional environments. It is a great drafting and sketching solution for designers, architects, and other similar professions. It might not seem completely feasible, but SketchUp is capable of replacing some of the features of Vectorworks despite the lack of most BIM capabilities.

SketchUp is incredibly user-friendly, and it is practically irreplaceable when it comes to the early design stages where iterative design and prototyping are commonplace. It is also relatively inexpensive, and the massive user base directly translates into a large selection of third-party resources and plugins available to improve the solution’s capabilities when necessary. This is also one of the primary ways that SketchUp offers a certain degree of BIM capability: via integration with another solution called Trimble Connect.

Unfortunately, no integration or plugin can replace built-in BIM capabilities, and this is where SketchUp falls short. It is also not as detailed and case-specific as Vectorworks when it comes to advanced architectural design tasks.

Both solutions support a certain degree of customization using plugins and third-party tools. Additionally, both work on both macOS and Windows devices while also providing extensive 3D modeling capabilities to their users.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.5/5 points based on 962 user reviews
• TrustRadius – 8.3/10 points based on 176 user reviews
• G2 – 4.5/5 points based on 896 user reviews

Advantages:

• A large library of models and objects that can be easily implemented into each project.
• A free version of the software with a respectable feature set.
• The extreme user-friendliness of the solution makes it easy to learn most of its features.

Shortcomings:

• Limited importing and exporting capabilities and practically nothing to work with outside of CAD/BIM software support.
• A lot of the useful plugins and add-ons have separate price tags on top of the subscription fee (the full object library is also only available to paid users).
• The number of built-in learning materials and other resources from SketchUp itself is very low.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• The licensing model of SketchUp uses four primary pricing tiers:
  • The licensing model of SketchUp uses four primary pricing tiers:
  • Free – the web version of the software, with basic 3D modeling capabilities, limited access to the 3D warehouse, rudimentary data import/export features, and limited Trimble Connect cloud storage capacity.
  • Go – adds a dedicated iPad application and several new features, such as Live Components, advanced exporting, and the removal of the limitations on Trimble Cloud storage and 3D warehouse access, all at a cost of $119 for one year.
  • Pro – adds 2D documentation, access to the Extension Warehouse, AR/VR integration for model previews, a dedicated SketchUp Pro desktop app, and more. The package costs $299 per year.
  • Studio –  the complete feature set of SketchUp, with Revit-to-SketchUp file importing, Scan Essentials, photorealistic visualizations, and other features for $699 per year.

My personal opinion about SketchUp:

SketchUp is a powerful sketching and modeling solution, which also makes it a noteworthy Vectorworks alternative. It excels at conceptual design and visualization, but its overall versatility and expandability make it possible to replace a number of features from Vectorworks with relative ease. The solution itself targets small-scale projects in most cases, but it can also scale upwards when necessary. However, SketchUp is far from perfect as a replacement for Vectorworks, considering that it is not a dedicated architectural solution and that it has practically no built-in BIM capabilities. The total price of the solution also scales upward with an alarming speed when it is necessary to include multiple plugins or third-party modules in a project.

DesignSpark

DesignSpark from RS Components is a set of free CAD tools for different use cases, including electrical and mechanical design tasks. It offers a range of accessible tools for designers and engineers, and one of its primary target fields is mechanical design. It can be a viable Vectorworks alternative, although the total range of features it can replace is relatively low.

The complete lack of a price tag is one of the most notable advantages of DesignSpark, considering how expensive average CAD or BIM software usually is. The solution itself is relatively simple in its base functionality, making it possible for practically any average user to try computer-aided design free of charge. The solution excels at working with mechanical design and 3D modeling, so its best bet when it comes to serving as a Vectorworks replacement is to work on projects that combine architectural design with mechanical engineering or assembly.

Unfortunately, DesignSpark is not a BIM solution, and it cannot be expanded to have any BIM features. This greatly limits its capabilities as a Vectorworks replacement, and there are plenty of other disadvantages that mostly come from the fact of comparing a free solution with a paid one.

Both software applications support the Windows operating system, and both are capable of extensive 3D modeling processes, even if their primary focus is different.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.4/5 points based on 17 user reviews

Advantages:

• The overall user interface is fairly intuitive, and most of the basic features are easy to work with.
• It is a great option for initial conceptual design and simulation.
• Extensive data importing capabilities (it can even work with proprietary SketchUp file formats, which are not supported by most solutions).

Shortcomings:

• Some elements of the software’s logic are somewhat unusual, which might take time to get used to.
• The amount of both official and user-generated explanatory content is very limited.
• Limited data exporting formats.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• DesignSpark’s base package and its PCB and Electrical versions are completely free.
• There seem to be three premium add-ons for separate price tags: Mechanical Exchange, Mechanical Drawing, and a combination of the two. However, the pages for them have been removed, and the current status of paid add-ons remains unclear.

My personal opinion about DesignSpark:

DesignSpark can be considered an alternative to Vectorworks in a very specific range of use cases. It is a competent 3D modeling solution that specializes in working with mechanical or electrical elements. The fact that it is completely free is a massive advantage in itself, but the lack of a specialized toolset does mean it differs significantly from Vectorworks. It is also not a BIM solution whatsoever, and there is no ability to add any of these capabilities to the software, even for a price. DesignSpark also seems to be struggling with generating enough educational content to help its users, which may be a significant turn-off for some audience members.

Onshape

Onshape is a very interesting CAD solution from multiple standpoints. First of all, it is a cloud-based 3D CAD solution, which is practically unheard of. Second, there is also an abundance of collaborative and real-time data management capabilities included in the software. The software itself also excels at product development and mechanical design, making the offer even more confusing. However, the existence of collaborative capabilities and an extensive CAD feature set makes it a viable alternative to Vectorworks to a certain degree.

Onshape is a cloud-based solution. It need not be installed to start working. Its cloud-based nature also makes it extremely convenient when it comes to collaborating and sharing project information with other stakeholders. Project data can be accessed from anywhere using practically any type of device, and the ability to offer advanced parametric modeling makes Onshape that much closer to Vectorworks in terms of its overall feature set.

At the same time, Onshape is far from perfect. It is not a complete BIM solution, so many BIM-specific features are missing. Onshape also lacks any kind of built-in rendering capability, and it is not able to replicate many of the features that are specific to the architecture design industry Vectorworks focuses on.

Both solutions provide extensive 3D modeling capabilities, even if their target areas differ a lot. Both solutions are also customizable to a certain degree, and both run on multiple platforms or operating systems.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.5/5 points based on 313 user reviews
• TrustRadius – 9.0/10 points based on 75 user reviews
• G2 – 4.7/5 points based on 641 user reviews

Advantages:

• Model versioning can be a very useful feature in many situations.
• Many of the rudimentary 3D CAD capabilities are simple and effective.
• It is practically unheard of for a CAD solution to have an extensive collaboration-oriented feature set.

Shortcomings:

• The overall user interface of the solution takes time to get used to.
• 2D sketching can be surprisingly challenging, and there are many false registrations for some reason.
• The cloud-centric nature of the software means that the solution has absolutely no offline mode.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• Onshape offers four different pricing plans, ranging between completely free and enterprise-specific options with no public pricing.
• The Free Plan is a great option for personal projects. It offers a number of CAD capabilities, as well as versioning, access to mobile apps, and unlimited public project storage.
• The other pricing plans are:
  • The Standard Plan costs $1,500 per year for a single user and is essentially a paid version of the Free Plan. It offers unlimited private storage and direct customer support.
  • The Professional Plan starts at $2,500 per year for a single user and offers advanced PDM, rendering, release management, ECAD exchange, and other capabilities.
  • The Enterprise Plan has no publicly available pricing information. It offers priority support, SSO capability, analytics and dashboards, and guest access.

My personal opinion about Onshape:

Onshape can be a decent alternative to Vectorworks in certain situations. It is an unusual combination of a cloud-centric service and a CAD solution with plenty of collaborative capabilities and a focus on mechanical design. Its collaborative nature makes it a lot closer to a BIM solution than most of our examples, but the software itself is quite basic when it comes to 3D modeling, and the lack of focus on the architectural design industry also robs it of many of Vectorworks’ case-specific features. Onshape also does not work at all without an Internet connection, and its 2D drafting capabilities often report incorrect inputs for some reason.

SelfCAD

SelfCAD attempts to present a cloud-based 3D modeling solution that is easy to work with, making it possible to offer not only 3D modeling capabilities, but also sculpting and 3D printing, which makes it popular among small businesses, educators, and hobbyists. Its basic 3D modeling capabilities do make it a free alternative to Vectorworks Architect, but the range of use cases it can cover is very limited.

A number of basic features of SelfCAD are easily accessible and can be picked up by any newcomer. The solution is very cheap, and its cloud-based nature makes it a versatile option for a number of use cases, including information sharing and project access from anywhere. Its 3D modeling capabilities are the primary reason why the solution is considered an alternative to Vectorworks, but its sculpting capabilities are also great, even if their range of use cases in a commercial environment is not particularly wide.

Of course, SelfCAD is not able to replicate most of the capabilities of a comprehensive BIM solution such as Vectorworks. It is not focused on architectural design and does not offer built-in rendering capabilities on the same level.

However, it does offer support for a multitude of operating systems and devices, and its 3D modeling capabilities are quite simple when it comes to basic modeling or sculpting.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.6/5 points based on 11 user reviews

Advantages:

• A user-friendly interface that drastically reduces the time it takes for a newcomer to get used to the solution.
• An extremely responsive and helpful customer support team.
• Outstanding 3D modeling capabilities are combined with features such as sculpting and STL repairs, along with the ability to prepare models for 3D printing operations.

Shortcomings:

• The basic feature set of the software might seem simple, but the majority of features are rather difficult to work with and take time for most users to get used to.
• SelfCAD has practically no parametric modeling capabilities.
• The solution is great for small-scale and simple models, but it is very difficult to create anything complex in it.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• The pricing model of SelfCAD consists of two pricing plans: Free and Pro.
  • The Free pricing plan is, of course, free, and it offers a port of the software’s capabilities, such as direct data import/export, STL slicing, drawing, sketching, and interactive tutorials.
  • The Pro version starts at $14.99 per month ($11.99 if paid for annually) for a single license, offering all of the features of SelfCAD: sculpting, deformation, 3D sketching, and more.

My personal opinion about SelfCAD:

SelfCAD is a viable alternative to Vectorworks for many individuals and a number of small businesses. It is an interesting solution with sculpting and 3D modeling capabilities, but it cannot even come close to replicating the entire feature set of a modern BIM solution such as Vectorworks. It is also not particularly useful when it comes to parametric modeling, and it can be very difficult to create or modify minute details in a model with the built-in feature set.

FreeCAD

FreeCAD is a well-known parametric 3D CAD solution with a large number of potential use cases, ranging from product design to architectural modeling. It is completely free and open source, making it extremely affordable and also opening an endless sea of possibilities when it comes to customization and the creation of third-party modules. It is a surprisingly viable alternative to Vectorworks, covering more options than most of the solutions in this article.

FreeCAD’s open-source nature makes it easy for the solution to focus on the niche Vectorworks operates in: architectural design. The software is outstandingly flexible, and it exceeds anything a commercial solution would be capable of offering any time soon. It is also impressive in parametric design and the creation of detailed 3D models with dozens of adjustable parameters per model. It can be integrated with plenty of other solutions, both paid and free, and can even be turned into a multidisciplinary solution with a system of modular workbenches.

It is also not a BIM solution to begin with, so plenty of alternatives and different features are to be expected. FreeCAD does not provide a built-in rendering engine, its documentation generation processes are very basic, and some of the more advanced architectural design capabilities are not available. FreeCAD is also more challenging than average to get into, which is a common trait of open-source solutions.

Both solutions excel at parametric 3D modeling and work with multiple operating systems, such as Windows and macOS. Both options also offer a certain degree of scripting and customization, although it is much more prominent in FreeCAD as an open-source solution.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.3/5 points based on 139 user reviews
• TrustRadius – 7.8/10 points based on 10 user reviews
• G2 – 4.2/5 points based on 57 user reviews

Advantages:

• Support for many operating systems and model formats.
• A wide range of features in the base version of the software and a practically limitless range of additional capabilities via user-generated modules and add-ons.
• The solution is completely free and open-source.

Shortcomings:

• The solution slows down considerably with large-scale projects.
• An extremely steep learning curve makes it difficult to recommend FreeCAD to most casual users.
• The sheer number of features present in FreeCAD makes it somewhat difficult to navigate at times.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• The solution is completely free and open-source.

My personal opinion about FreeCAD:

FreeCAD can serve as a viable alternative to Vectorworks in specific situations. It is an open-source parametric 3D modeling solution with a wealth of capabilities to choose from. While it can be expanded to offer basic BIM capabilities via third-party extensions, it still cannot offer as many capabilities as a native BIM solution, and most FreeCAD users clearly understand that fact. The choice between the two options depends completely on the needs of each customer, and the fact that FreeCAD struggles quite a lot with large projects may be a significant downside for bigger clients.

LibreCAD

The last, but not the least, option on this list is LibreCAD, a free and open-source CAD solution that has its fair share of popularity when it comes to drafting plans and creating technical drawings. One of the solution’s most significant disadvantages is its ability to only work in 2D, but it can still be a viable alternative to Vectorworks in certain situations.

LibreCAD does not have any kind of license attached to it, and it is very easy to install and use. That is a substantial advantage in itself, although the lack of 3D modeling does make it very case-specific. It is an excellent solution for the creation of technical drawings, making it a great option for basic CAD users and simple tasks. It can be customized to a certain degree, but the customization options are as simple as the solution itself and cannot completely change the purpose of the software.

LibreCAD is not a BIM solution, and it cannot operate in three dimensions. It can be used to create architectural documentation, but each file must be linked to a 3D model afterwards, leaving a lot of space for confusion and potential mistakes. There is no built-in rendering option to work with, either, which is obvious considering the lack of a 3D toolset.

Nonetheless, both of these solutions can be customized, they both support multiple operating systems, and can both work in the 2D drafting space.

Customer ratings:

• Capterra – 4.1/5 points based on 48 user reviews
• G2 – 3.8/5 points based on 25 user reviews

Advantages:

• Plenty of features to choose from when it comes to 2D drafting.
• Excellent option for basic design tasks and creation of technical documentation.
• The numerous community resources and complete lack of a price tag are both great advantages.

Shortcomings:

• Lack of 3D modeling in any capacity.
• The steep learning curve that is common for open-source solutions.
• The software can be quite unstable, with crashes and slowdowns with no apparent causes.

Pricing model (at the time of writing):

• The solution is completely free and open-source.

My personal opinion about LibreCAD:

LibreCAD can be an alternative to Vectorworks for users that require only basic 2D drafting capabilities. While this audience might be relatively small, it still exists, and LibreCAD offers plenty of features in this regard, including affordability, high performance, and support for multiple operating systems. Of course, it is not able to replace Vectorworks’ 3D modeling or BIM capabilities, and it is not suitable for complex projects in the architectural design field. The solution can also be quite unstable, making it a tough recommendation for the majority of potential users, but it still has its own audience, and that audience is perfectly fine with LibreCAD’s capabilities.

Conclusion

Vectorworks Architect is a competent BIM solution with a number of interesting capabilities. It specializes in architectural design and offers impressive parametric modeling capabilities. However, it does not work well with most large-scale projects, and its BIM capabilities are also somewhat rudimentary.

In this context, it would be wise to keep an eye out for Vectorworks alternatives. Unfortunately, the BIM/CAD software market that the solution competes in is extremely competitive and filled with many software applications that have drastically different feature sets.

As such, we have prepared a selection of free and paid Vectorworks alternatives to look through, including both complex BIM solutions (Revit), well-known CAD software (AutoCAD), and small-scale free solutions (FreeCAD and LibreCAD).

All of these solutions have situations in which they are viable alternatives to Vectorworks, and even the most feature-rich BIM software on the market, such as Revit, is not capable of completely replicating Vectorworks’ capabilities in a single solution. Our biggest recommendation as a result of this article is thus to assess your company’s needs and requirements before starting to look for a BIM or CAD solution to replace Vectorworks or other software.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most notable use case for Vectorworks Architect?

Vectorworks excels in architectural design projects that require parametric 3D modeling capabilities along with some basic BIM features.

Is it possible to find a Vectorworks alternative with a smaller price tag?

It is completely possible, but the results differ significantly depending on what features are the most necessary for your company. For example, SketchUp is a cheaper solution, but it is also primarily CAD software with limited BIM capabilities. Alternatively, FreeCAD costs nothing to begin with, but it is also not the most BIM-centric option, even with all of its customization and scripting potential.

What solution comes the closest to replicating the entire feature set of Vectorworks Architect?

The answer to this is Autodesk Revit, at least if we consider solutions only from our list. However, Revit is also far from perfect. It is a lot more expensive, and it is not as flexible when it comes to handling smaller projects, which is something that Vectorworks is very proud of.