--- description: Learn more about Chief Architect pricing, benefits, and disadvantages for your business in Canada. Read verified software reviews and find tools that fit your business needs. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/capterra/og_logo-e5a8c001ed0bd1bb922639230fcea71a.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress title: Chief Architect Pricing, Reviews & Features - Capterra Canada 2026 --- Breadcrumb: [Home](/) > [Architecture Software](/directory/20002/architecture/software) > [Chief Architect](/software/80035/chief-architect) # Chief Architect Canonical: https://www.capterra.ca/software/80035/chief-architect Page: 1 / 4\ Next: [Next page](https://www.capterra.ca/software/80035/chief-architect?page=2) > The industry leader for residential architectural home design software. This program is easy to use for the building professional. > > Verdict: Rated **4.4/5** by 68 users. Top-rated for **Likelihood to recommend**. ----- ## Overview ### Who Uses Chief Architect? Chief Architect software is designed for professionals, designers, architects, and remodelers. And Home Designer software is designed for the consumer DIY home design market. ## Quick Stats & Ratings | Metric | Rating | Detail | | **Overall** | **4.4/5** | 68 Reviews | | Ease of Use | 4.0/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Customer Support Software | 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 - BIM Modeling - Component Library - Drafting - Presentation Tools - Rendering ## Support Options - Chat ## Category - [Architecture Software](https://www.capterra.ca/directory/20002/architecture/software) ## Related Categories - [Architecture Software](https://www.capterra.ca/directory/20002/architecture/software) - [Architectural CAD Software](https://www.capterra.ca/directory/31237/architectural-cad/software) - [3D Architecture Software](https://www.capterra.ca/directory/31276/3d-architecture/software) - [Floor Plan Software](https://www.capterra.ca/directory/33775/floor-plan/software) ## Alternatives 1. [RoomSketcher](https://www.capterra.ca/software/164021/roomsketcher) — 4.4/5 (174 reviews) 2. [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.ca/software/174021/autocad) — 4.7/5 (3205 reviews) 3. [Houzz Pro](https://www.capterra.ca/software/199689/houzz-pro) — 4.3/5 (1085 reviews) 4. [SketchUp](https://www.capterra.ca/software/211798/sketchup) — 4.5/5 (1046 reviews) 5. [Revit](https://www.capterra.ca/software/183122/revit) — 4.6/5 (479 reviews) ## Reviews ### "Good product" — 4.0/5 > **KIRK** | *February 19, 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. ----- ### "Chief Atchitect" — 5.0/5 > **Tejshree** | *March 4, 2023* | Civic & Social Organization | Recommendation rating: 10.0/10 > > **Pros**: With adding on features like attenders you can really walk into your home and have complete vision about it. My clients are really very happy after having a picture real view of their dreams > > **Cons**: Rendering needs very high and systems and that involves a good cost > > Overall chief architect is not the best and easy to use software that I’ve ever use. It is very convenient and user-friendly. ----- ### "Plans for clients and trades alike\!" — 5.0/5 > **Teresa** | *May 3, 2023* | Construction | Recommendation rating: 8.0/10 > > **Pros**: I love that I can use one-floor plan to create everything I need to provide to the customers, the foreman, the trades, and the designers to be able to have concepts come to light. Notes, dimensions, and materials are all easily accessible in the program. > > **Cons**: There was a steep learning curve which I still don't feel that I have mastered completely. It works differently than other design programs I am accustomed to used and didn't feel like I naturally knew where tools were. > > I can't imagine using any other program. ----- ### "Do you have to release a new verion earch year?" — 3.0/5 > **Rachel** | *July 22, 2019* | Architecture & Planning | Recommendation rating: 7.0/10 > > **Pros**: It is a great software with a great many features. > > **Cons**: I don't like that major bugs and kinks are never ironed out of the software before the release of a new version. I wish they would fix what is broken first. Each new release for the past 3 years seems to be worse and worse.... > > In the X11 version, views glitch when I zoom in and out, window labels display 2 (") inches measurement symbols when the " use default formatting" box is checked, material regions work on occasion, curved roofs are very finicky. There are other issues as well but the list is too long for this comment box. ----- ### "TOTALLY NON-INTUITIVE" — 5.0/5 > **Mark** | *March 23, 2019* | Construction | Recommendation rating: 3.0/10 > > **Pros**: As long as you want to do something already "canned" in the software, it's got some really sweet features. The immediate 3D renderings are outstanding\! > > **Cons**: There's very little about the program that is intuitive to the way CAD has been traditionally taught. And if you need to make an exception to what it "thinks is normal", OMG what a flippin' nightmare\! IF you can get it to at all do what you want. The building of custom wall types: PITA\! I didn't want a footing, but piers for a pole barn: PITA\!\!\! Not even possible to eliminate the footings\! Make a material change from sheet siding to lap board: PITA\!\!\! Couldn't find a way to have it change ALL THE WALLS in 1 command. It would only allow me to change ONE stinkin' wall at a time. And THEN, I had to go back and do ALL of the gables, because gable walls aren't part of the walls of a house. > > The speed of generating a 3D building for a client to see can be very quick, but the learning curve and the inherent limitations just made it not worth the effort. I spent 40+ hours trying to generate drawings for an existing house, while client made changes on the fly. I couldn't overcome the learning curve or the limitations in a timely fashion and not only didn't get paid, but lost the client. ----- Page: 1 / 4\ Next: [Next page](https://www.capterra.ca/software/80035/chief-architect?page=2) ## Links - [View on Capterra](https://www.capterra.ca/software/80035/chief-architect) ## This page is available in the following languages | Locale | URL | | de | | | de-AT | | | de-CH | | | en | | | en-AE | | | en-AU | | | en-CA | | | en-GB | | | en-IE | | | en-IL | | | en-IN | | | en-NZ | | | en-SG | | | en-ZA | | | es | | | es-AR | | | es-CL | | | es-CO | | | es-CR | | | es-DO | | | es-EC | | | es-MX | | | es-PA | | | es-PE | | | fr | | | fr-BE | | | fr-CA | | | fr-LU | | | it | | | ko | | | nl | | | nl-BE | | | pt | | | pt-PT | | ----- ## Structured Data