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Chief Architect^® Software

Chief Architect is a leading developer of 3D architectural design software for builders, designers, architects and home DIY enthusiasts. For professionals, we publish Chief Architect^® Premier, and for the consumer DIY market, we publish Home Designer^®.

Home Designer customers receive special pricing when upgrading to Chief Architect — see upgrade pricing.

Learn about the detailed differences between Chief Architect Premier and Home Designer in our ChiefBlog article.

Professional 3D
Home Design Software

Chief Architect® Premier

CHIEF ARCHITECT

Home Designer to Chief Architect Summary Comparison

View Full Comparison

Home Designer

$79/mo.
$495/yr.

Chief Architect Premier

Chief Architect Premier

$229/mo.
$1,995/yr.

Design Category

DIY
Perfect for the home
DIY enthusiast

Professionals
Includes productivity
tools for professional
designers

Layers & Layer Sets

Layers only
Turn on/off individual
layers

Yes
+Save display settings
for specific views —
floorplan, framing,
interiors, etc.

Defaults & Default Sets

Defaults only to
control the way an
object initially behaves
(text, dimensions, …)

Yes
+Layer assignment
+Default sets

Saved Plan Views

No

Yes
A quick way to switch
layer sets & default
settings for
dimensions, text, etc.

3D Rendering — Ray Trace & Artistic

Yes

Yes
+Adjust Material Properties
+Line-drawing overlay
+Additional rendering techniques

3D Text, Dimensions & Molding Polylines

No

Yes
Nice for plumbing
plans, diagrams &
annotations

3D Walkthroughs

Yes

Yes
+Stationary walkthrough
for sun studies

Materials List & Schedules

Materials List only
Create a detailed list of
materials and pricing

Yes
+Schedules for doors,
windows, cabinets, etc.

Layouts for Construction Drawings

5 pages

Unlimited

Roofing & Ceiling Tools

Automatic & Manual

Yes
+Curved
+Tray Ceilings

Automatic & Manual Framing Tools

Yes

Yes
+Individual wall framing details
+Truss editing
+Framing for individual components
+Define default settings for manual framing

Automatic & Manual Dimensions

Yes

Yes
+NKBA dimension styles
+Story pole dimensions
+All dimensions can be customized per view

Remodeling — Chief As-Built™ app file import

No

Yes
Scan job site
measurements with your
phone and import into
Chief Architect Premier

Reference Display — 2D & 3D for Floor & As-built Overlays

2D only
For floor above, below &
same floor reference

Yes
+For external as-built plans
Perfect for remodeling

CAD tools for drawing

CAD tools for drawing
+CAD work area
+500 details you can
modify

3D Library Catalog Downloads

Free Content

Free Content
+Branded manufacturer
cabinet catalogs

No

Yes
Create custom shapes for
architectural elements

Material Builder

No

Yes
Create custom tiles,
hardwoods, etc.

Interactive Material Editor

No

Yes
Adjust materials in 3D —
nice for tile installation
diagrams

No

Yes
Quickly apply new styles
for interior rooms

Support, Education & Learning

Free online & phone
support
Training videos
Webinars

Free online & phone support
Training videos
Webinars
+1-1 Online Training
+In-person Training

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