Compare ActCAD BIM and Octave BricsCAD 
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (78.7% of reviews)
Small-Business (72.1% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $249.00 With One-Time Purchase
€314.00 1 User Per Year
ActCAD BIM
Star Rating
(50)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (78.7% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $249.00 With One-Time Purchase
Learn more about ActCAD BIMOctave BricsCAD
Star Rating
(135)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (72.1% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
€314.00 1 User Per Year
Browse all 5 pricing plansActCAD BIM vs Octave BricsCAD
When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found ActCAD BIM easier to use, set up, and administer. However, reviewers felt that both vendors make it equally easy to do business overall.
- ActCAD BIM and Octave BricsCAD both meet the requirements of our reviewers at a comparable rate.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Octave BricsCAD is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of ActCAD BIM over Octave BricsCAD.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
ActCAD BIM
ActCAD 2025 Software
Starting at $249.00
With One-Time Purchase
ActCAD is a 2D & 3D CAD software with functionality of the industry leaders. We offer two product options:
- ActCAD Standard for 2D Drafting Power Users
- ActCAD Prime for 2D Drafting, 3D Modeling and BIM (Building Information Modeling) functionality
ActCAD can be used for applications across domains Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC) including Structural, Electrical and Mechanical.
We also offer value added products for specific applications based on ActCAD:
- ActCAD Nesting
- ActCAD Dials & Scales
- ActCAD CNC Post Processor
ActCAD uses the latest IntelliCAD 11 Engine, Open Design Alliance, dwg/dxf Libraries, ACIS 3D Modeling Kernel, and many other Technologies which ensures file support right from the early R2.5 to the latest 2022 Version of dwg/dxf. It also supports other file formats like .dgn, .step/.stp, .iges/.igs, .stl, .obj, 2D PDF, 3D PDF, .svg, .dae, etc. The interface and commands are designed in a manner that is familiar and easy for migration from any CAD Software.
- Support for 2025 dwg & dxf files
- High Speed and Performance
- IntelliCAD 13 Engine & ODA 21.11 Libraries
Octave BricsCAD
BricsCAD® Lite
€314.00
1 User Per Year
Familiar CAD drafting functionality
- All familiar CAD functions in .dwg
- Full LISP support (vl, vlr, vla and vlax)
- 2D Constraint Management
Free Trial
ActCAD BIM
Free Trial is available
Octave BricsCAD
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
9.0
37
9.0
105
Ease of Use
8.9
38
8.8
107
Ease of Setup
9.4
13
8.9
34
Ease of Admin
9.3
12
8.8
27
Quality of Support
8.7
38
9.0
87
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
9.0
12
9.0
25
Product Direction (% positive)
9.0
36
8.8
99
Features by Category
Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM)Hide 28 FeaturesShow 28 Features
Not enough data
Not enough data
Design
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Collaboration
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Construction
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Common Data Environment (CDE) - Building Design and Building Information Modeling
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Cost Estimation - Building Design and Building Information Modeling
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Electrical & Circuit Design - Building Design and Building Information Modeling
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Plan
8.8
12
Not enough data
8.0
9
Not enough data
8.5
11
Not enough data
8.1
9
Not enough data
Design
7.1
8
Not enough data
6.7
7
Not enough data
8.6
12
Not enough data
8.3
12
Not enough data
Construction
7.8
6
Not enough data
7.5
6
Not enough data
6.0
5
Not enough data
8.3
5
Not enough data
7.7
5
Not enough data
Engineering
8.6
6
Not enough data
8.0
5
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Design
9.2
24
9.3
78
7.6
15
8.8
55
7.5
18
8.8
55
7.2
15
7.8
38
Edit
8.7
23
8.5
75
7.8
17
8.6
53
8.0
21
8.6
66
7.7
20
8.5
67
Collaboration
8.3
19
8.8
61
8.1
17
8.3
53
8.3
16
8.2
44
Library
7.7
5
Not enough data
7.3
5
Not enough data
6.7
7
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
CAD
5.7
5
Not enough data
7.5
8
Not enough data
8.1
8
Not enough data
Integration
6.0
5
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
6.3
5
Not enough data
File Options
9.3
9
Not enough data
9.0
8
Not enough data
9.8
9
Not enough data
6.9
6
Not enough data
8.0
5
Not enough data
9.3
9
Not enough data
Tools
9.1
9
Not enough data
8.3
7
Not enough data
5.7
5
Not enough data
Design
9.8
8
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
ActCAD BIM and Octave BricsCAD are categorized as General-Purpose CAD
Unique Categories
ActCAD BIM is categorized as CAD Viewers, CAD Libraries, Sketching, Civil Engineering Design, and Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Octave BricsCAD has no unique categories
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
ActCAD BIM
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Octave BricsCAD
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Architecture & Planning
25.5%
Civil Engineering
23.4%
Construction
12.8%
Computer Software
4.3%
Information Technology and Services
4.3%
Other
29.8%
Construction
20.0%
Architecture & Planning
16.2%
Civil Engineering
16.2%
Design
6.9%
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
6.9%
Other
33.8%
Discussions
How can I get some of my old lisp routines to work. They don't work well with ActCAD.
3 Comments
Official Response from ActCAD BIM
Hi David, thank you for your valuable inputs. Please share the details of your programs we will try to improve them and add to ActCAD package. Please note...Read more
"Not opened for read" error
1 Comment
JB
Update: It is not a "trial" problem. I am able to use all commands when I create a new drawing (and I imagine when I open the drawing that was created in...Read more
I need detail how to use three dimensional CFD analysis with ACT CAD
1 Comment
Official Response from ActCAD BIM
Hello Mr.Dinkar, Thank you for your question. Please note that ActCAD is a CAD software meant for 2D Drafting and 3D unparametric modeling. Our BIM version...Read more
What is BricsCAD used for?
2 Comments
JD
BricsCad replaces the drawing board and does every aspect of design process from an Architect's viewpoint using your computer.Read more
Is BricsCAD free?
2 Comments
JC
for the working version it is better to use a licensed versionRead more
BricsCAD seems to loose edges when taking flat shots. Is there a setting that needs to be adjusted to clean up the flat shot block?
1 Comment
KG
Hi there,
Thank you for your question!
We would advise creating a ticket on this matter. Be sure to add a scenario and sample file in order for our...Read more
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