--- description: Review of Chief Architect Software: system overview, features, price and cost information. Get free demos and compare to similar programs on Software Advice Ireland. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/software_advice/og_logo-55146305bbe7b450bea05c18e9be9c9a.png title: Chief Architect | Reviews, Pricing & Demos - SoftwareAdvice IE --- Breadcrumb: [Home](/) > [Floor Plan Apps](/directory/4778/floor-plan-software/software) > [Chief Architect](/software/210280/chief-architect) # Chief Architect Canonical: https://www.softwareadvice.ie/software/210280/chief-architect Page: 1 / 4\ Next: [Next page](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/software/210280/chief-architect?page=2) > Chief Architect is an interior design and remodeling software that helps residential builders, architects, and remodelers design and manage architectural designs. The platform allows users to automatically generate floor plans, 3D models and 2D drawings and share them with contractors. Chief Architect lets designed generate sketches for basic floor plans, and add features such as walls, doors, and windows and elements like moldings, furniture, and appliances. Designers can also create 360-degree panoramic renderings and elevations. It is available on one-time payment and support is extended via phone, email and other online measures. > > Verdict: Rated **4.4/5** by 68 users. Top-rated for **Likelihood to recommend**. ----- ## Quick Stats & Ratings | Metric | Rating | Detail | | **Overall** | **4.4/5** | 68 Reviews | | Ease of Use | 4.0/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Customer Support | 4.3/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Value for Money | 4.1/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Features | 4.2/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Recommendation percentage | 70% | (7/10 Likelihood to recommend) | ## About the vendor - **Company**: Chief Architect - **Founded**: 1992 ## Commercial Context - **Starting Price**: US$3,295.00 - **Pricing model**: Flat Rate (Free Trial) - **Pricing Details**: Product includes 1 year of SSA and there is a rent or buy option. - **Target Audience**: Self Employed, 2–10, 11–50, 51–200 - **Deployment & Platforms**: Mac (Desktop), Windows (Desktop), Android (Mobile), iPhone (Mobile), iPad (Mobile) - **Supported Languages**: English - **Available Countries**: United States ## Features - 2D Drawing - 3D Imaging - 3D Modeling - BIM Modeling - Component Library - Drafting - Landscape Design - Presentation Tools - Rendering ## Support Options - Chat ## Category - [Floor Plan Apps](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/directory/4778/floor-plan-software/software) ## Related Categories - [Floor Plan Apps](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/directory/4778/floor-plan-software/software) - [3D Architecture Software](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/directory/4314/3d-architecture/software) - [Architectural CAD Software](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/directory/4707/architectural-cad/software) - [Architecture Design Software](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/directory/4182/architecture/software) ## Alternatives 1. [D5 Render](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/software/394521/d5-render) — 4.8/5 (388 reviews) 2. [SketchUp](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/software/371821/sketchup) — 4.5/5 (1046 reviews) 3. [AutoCAD](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/software/390127/autocad) — 4.7/5 (3205 reviews) 4. [Revit](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/software/422899/revit) — 4.6/5 (479 reviews) 5. [RoomSketcher](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/software/335125/roomsketcher) — 4.4/5 (174 reviews) ## Reviews ### "Beautiful Renderings" — 5.0/5 > **Michele** | *2 November 2018* | Design | Recommendation rating: 8.0/10 > > **Pros**: This software is perfect for kitchen and bath remodel designs. > > **Cons**: Some things are complicated, such as putting a cut out in the wall or getting a good camera angle in a small space. > > This software is easy to use and the render quality is superb. It definitely helps me sell a design. ----- ### "Good product" — 4.0/5 > **KIRK** | *19 February 2025* | Construction | Recommendation rating: 8.0/10 > > **Pros**: The ease of drawing out rooms for estimates. Like that you could buy only what you needed and it wasn't an annual thing. > > **Cons**: Sometimes there was a big learning curve on doing the drawings. > > I have been happy with the software overall. ----- ### "Not a smart software" — 1.0/5 > **Luis** | *22 February 2021* | Design | Recommendation rating: 0.0/10 > > **Pros**: Nothing, I like absolutely nothing about it\! > > **Cons**: Everything, I hate every single thing about this software. It is not smart whatsoever. Once you use smart software, CA will be so insignificant. You have very little room for customization, no phasing, the layout process is completely atrocious. Worst software in existence. Again, one you use good software CA will be a raisin for a brain compared to a highly respected scientist. > > Horrible ----- ### "Using Chief Architect since 2005" — 4.0/5 > **John** | *12 July 2020* | Architecture & Planning | Recommendation rating: 9.0/10 > > **Pros**: I've used two versions of CA over the last 14 years. It was easy to learn; that is, I learned by trial and error and rarely going to see what others were doing on CA website. It has delivered very good, if not photo-realistic renderings when using the raytrace feature, and I can go through the design and working drawing phases of a residence in a matter of ten days or so for a very custom design comprising 9 24" X 36" sheets. I can't say enough good things about my experience. There have been some minor glitches with this software, but the autobackup feature prevents catastrophic loss. I'm considering getting the latest version. It's gone up in price since the old CA version 9.5 that I purchased, but I'm sure it will be worth the cost. > > **Cons**: As I said there are always glitches in software as complex as this. There were times when I had to hide certain layers to determine that a specific piece of furniture was preventing the program from creating a 3D model, then modify the object or change it out, then replace the layer and try again. This is a small problem and they probably have fixed it on more recent releases. Many of the problems I believed I had I've solved over time by looking for a solution that was right in front of me. It is very difficult to create software tools that are always "intuitive" no matter how you approach them. For example you may expect to see a tool for doing some function nested within a group of similar functions, but it may be elsewhere. That's the way it is with all software. I will say that documentation could be better. Seems like every issue I have isn't in the index or table of contents, and I very much dislike being scooted to a webpage of issues and have to guess by their titles whether it might pertain to my problem. It's like this everywhere. CA isn't alone here. > > Great ----- ### "Owner and Principal Designer of Interior Design Firm" — 5.0/5 > **Verified Reviewer** | *27 December 2018* | Real Estate | Recommendation rating: 10.0/10 > > **Pros**: I use Chief Architect daily to draw designs for my clients and contractors. It's very easy to use and customize to specific clients or projects. I'm able to quickly and easily provide plans views, elevation views, and camera views in order to express an idea or check feasibility. I can present materials lists to my contractors, budgets to my clients, and keep track of how much time I'm spending on a project. If I ever have a question on how to do something, I can contact easily and get an answer quickly. I also sign in to the webinar trainings because there is always something new to learn or a faster, better way to do a task. > > **Cons**: I wish more manufacturers participated and provided models for the software. I find myself using only CA available vendors on my projects when I need to act quickly. The rendering portion of the software could be more developed. > > I recommend Chief Architect to all of my peers who own their firms as well. The technical support is beyond anything you could get from AutoCAD or SketchUp and the price makes it a much better product than Revit. ----- Page: 1 / 4\ Next: [Next page](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/software/210280/chief-architect?page=2) ## Links - [View on SoftwareAdvice](https://www.softwareadvice.ie/software/210280/chief-architect) ## This page is available in the following languages | Locale | URL | | en | | | en-AU | | | en-GB | | | en-IE | | | en-NZ | | ----- ## Structured Data