Archicad Alternatives for BIM on Mac, Windows and Linux

Archicad, Graphisoft's BIM software for architects, is alive and current. Graphisoft showed Archicad 30 in its fall 2026 release, with a Windows dark mode, new documentation controls and AI tools such as AI Assistant Spaces. What changed is how you pay. A Graphisoft press release from September 30, 2024 said that from 2026 Archicad would be sold only through subscription, and that SSA and Forward contracts would be serviced only to the end of 2026.

The Graphisoft US pricing page lists three tiers per seat, before tax. Studio is $345 a month on a monthly term, or $201 a month on a one-year or three-year term ($2,414 a year). Collaborate is $406 monthly or $237 on a term, and Max is $800 monthly or $475 on a term. The commercial trial lasts 30 days and cannot be renewed. Students and educators get a free, watermarked EDU licence.

The eight picks below suit architects who want to leave or price-check Archicad. They start with the full BIM tools most firms compare it against and end with free options.

Prices below are as of November 6, 2026. Our method is on How we review tools.

Quick comparison

Revit

Revit is the BIM tool most consultants and contractors expect files in, which is the main reason Archicad users move to it. The Revit overview page lists it from $251 a month, the rate on one-year or three-year terms, and says those terms save 33% against monthly billing. Subscribers can also install three previous versions.

At $251 against Archicad Studio's $201 on a yearly term, Revit costs more per seat. A third-party breakdown puts monthly billing at about $380. The AEC Collection bundles Revit with more than 10 other Autodesk products. We compare it with other BIM tools on our Revit alternatives page.

Best for: Practices whose engineers and clients already send Revit models.

Pricing:

• From $251/month on a 1-year or 3-year term.
• Monthly billing costs about 50% more (1- or 3-year terms save 33%).
• Free trial available.

Watch out for:

• Revit runs only on Microsoft Windows, so Mac users need a Windows machine or a virtual machine.

Official site: Revit. Our listing: Revit.

Vectorworks Architect

Vectorworks is the closest match for Mac-based Archicad offices. It runs natively on Mac and Windows and is known for mixing BIM with precise 2D drafting. The 2027 English edition, released on September 18, 2026, added Vulkan and Metal GPU acceleration, an AI Visualizer and import of Revit families, according to PBC Today.

Like Archicad, it moved to subscriptions: new perpetual licences stopped on January 1, 2023. Our Vectorworks alternatives list covers the tools Vectorworks users compare it with.

Best for: Mac offices that combine building models with detailed 2D drawings.

Pricing:

• Price on request from country stores or distributors.
• New licences are subscriptions.

Watch out for:

• Without a published price you cannot compare cost against Archicad's rates before talking to a reseller.
• Localised 2027 versions roll out from October 2026 to the first quarter of 2027, so non-English users may wait.

Official site: Vectorworks Architect. Our listing: Vectorworks Architect.

BricsCAD BIM

BricsCAD BIM works in DWG, so it suits firms whose drawings already live in AutoCAD files. The BricsCAD store lists it at €1,060 per seat per year with maintenance, excluding taxes. That is roughly half of Archicad Studio's $2,414 yearly price, before currency conversion.

It is the only commercial pick here that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Release V27.1 improved IFC import so files with small syntax errors still open, and added geo-coordinate placement and Navisworks import.

Best for: DWG-based offices that want BIM on any operating system for about €1,000 a year.

Pricing:

• BricsCAD BIM: €1,060 per seat per year, maintenance included, excl. taxes.
• BricsCAD Ultimate: €1,176/year. Perpetual and 3-year terms are offered without public prices.

Watch out for:

• On Linux, 3D hardware acceleration is not supported on Intel graphics or dual-graphics laptops.
• Some tools differ by platform; the Parasolid translator is Windows only and Parasolid import on Mac is experimental.

Official site: BricsCAD BIM.

Allplan

Allplan joins architecture with reinforcement, steel connections and road modelling in one Professional edition, which Archicad does not offer. The Allplan Professional shop page lists $299 per user per month on a 12-month or 36-month term ($3,588 a year excluding VAT), or $449 on a one-month term.

Smaller editions start lower: Basic from $140, Concept from $241 and Ultimate from $404 a month. A free trial covers all editions for evaluation and non-commercial use.

Best for: Design-and-build or engineering firms that model and detail concrete in the same tool.

Pricing:

• Professional: $299/user/month on 12 or 36 months; $449 on 1 month.
• Basic from $140, Concept from $241, Ultimate from $404.

Watch out for:

• Professional costs more per year than Archicad Studio on a term ($3,588 against $2,414).
• Allplan 2026 system requirements are written for Windows 11, with separate requirements for running on a Mac.

Official site: Allplan.

Chief Architect

Chief Architect Premier X18 is built for houses. The X18 what's new page lists automatic roof trusses, deck ledger offsets, built-up framing members and an iPhone and iPad As-Built app that scans rooms into floor plans.

One licence installs natively on Mac or Windows, including Apple Silicon. Premier costs $1,995 a year billed annually or $229 billed monthly, so the yearly price sits about $400 below Archicad Studio.

Best for: Residential designers and builders who need framing and construction drawings fast.

Pricing:

• Premier: $1,995/year ($166.25/month) or $229/month billed monthly.
• Legacy licence upgrade: $995 for the first year, then $1,995/year.

Watch out for:

• Its new X18 features are almost all about houses: framing, decks, roof trusses and story poles. Little is aimed at commercial work.
• Sold as a subscription only; no new perpetual licence.

Official site: Chief Architect.

Bonsai

Bonsai turns Blender into an IFC authoring tool built on IfcOpenShell. It models straight into IFC, the openBIM format Archicad exports, so files stay vendor-neutral from the first wall.

It installs from Blender's Get Extensions menu and runs anywhere Blender does: Windows, Mac and Linux. The Bonsai install guide covers version 0.9.0. A free Bonsai Viewer exists, and Bonsai Web is listed as coming soon.

Best for: Architects who want to work in open IFC without a licence fee.

Pricing:

• Free and open source, as is Blender.

Watch out for:

• Version 0.9.0 is still pre-1.0, and you learn Blender's interface on top of BIM.

Official site: Bonsai.

FreeCAD

FreeCAD merged its Arch tools and the external BIM add-on into one built-in BIM workbench in version 1.0, per the FreeCAD features page. It imports and exports IFC and is free for commercial use.

Version 1.1 arrived in March 2026 and 1.1.4 is the current download, for Windows 10 and later, macOS 12 and later on Apple Silicon or Intel, and Linux. No account or licence server is involved.

Best for: Small practices and students who want parametric BIM at zero cost.

Pricing:

• Free and open source, including commercial use. No paid tier.

Watch out for:

• OSArch's review of FreeCAD 1.1 said the release had not a single BIM-specific feature.

Official site: FreeCAD. Our listing: FreeCAD.

SketchUp

SketchUp is not full BIM, but many Archicad users only need it for massing studies and client models. The SketchUp plans page lists Pro at $33.25 per user per month and Studio at $71.58, both billed yearly.

Pro runs on Mac and Windows. Go, at $10.75, works on the web and iPad. SketchUp Free, a web-only plan for personal use, is still available alongside SketchUp for Schools. Students and educators pay $55 a year.

Best for: Concept design and quick 3D before a project moves into BIM.

Pricing:

• Free: SketchUp Free, web only, for personal, non-commercial use.
• Go $10.75, Pro $33.25, Studio $71.58 per user per month, billed yearly.
• Students and educators: $55/year.

Watch out for:

• Studio, the tier with the extra workflows, is Windows only.

Official site: SketchUp. Our listing: SketchUp.

How to choose

When to stay with Archicad

Stay on Archicad if your office runs on Macs and needs full BIM with published prices. Archicad 30 supports macOS 15, 26 and 27 on Apple Silicon and Intel, per the Archicad system requirements, which Revit cannot match. Graphisoft let SSA and Forward customers convert to Studio at their old maintenance price, so a renewal can cost less than retraining a team.

Frequently asked questions