# Archicad vs DataCAD Comparison

| | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.6 out of 5 | 4.8 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 291 | 64 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (86.7% of reviews) | Small-Business (94.6% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | $2,810.00 1 Seat Per Year | $395 ea | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Archicad

Pros:
- Ease of Use (52 reviews)
- 3D Modeling (35 reviews)

Cons:
- Missing Features (30 reviews)
- Library Issues (16 reviews)

### DataCAD

**Not enough data**

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.8 (242 reviews) | 9.3 (61 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.4 (244 reviews) | 9.3 (61 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.3 (88 reviews) | 8.9 (9 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.0 (41 reviews) | 8.0 (9 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.2 (230 reviews) | 9.4 (59 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.4 (41 reviews) | 8.1 (9 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.2 (228 reviews) | 7.7 (61 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Archicad

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: 3-Year Archicad Collaborate Subscription

Price: $2,810.00 1 Seat Per Year

Description: Three year subscription, billed annually. Prices are informational only. Final price depends on your billing country, and may differ from prices shown here.

Key Features:
- BIMx Pro
- Redshift rendering
- Surface catalog

[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/archicad/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### DataCAD

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: DataCAD LT

Price: $395 ea

Description: DataCAD LT is a low-cost 2D/3D architectural CADD program for design professionals. DataCAD LT provides the essential production drawing and modeling features of DataCAD and is useful for developing construction drawings and creating architectural presentations. DataCAD LT can also be used in conjunction with desktop publishing applications. Whether you use CAD software occasionally, are a full-time drafter or are new to CAD altogether, you'll find DataCAD LT to be powerful and easy-to-use.


[Browse all 4 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/datacad/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Archicad** | 7.6/10 | 150 |
| **DataCAD** | 7.6/10 | 9 |

#### Design

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **Visualizing** | 9.2 (142 reviews) | 7.6 (7 reviews) | 
| **Rendering** | 7.4 (134 reviews) | 5.3 (6 reviews) | 
| **Drawing** | 9.1 (142 reviews) | 9.0 (8 reviews) | 
| **Editing** | 8.8 (139 reviews) | 8.8 (8 reviews) | 
| **Sequence Steps** | 7.5 (117 reviews) | Feature Not Available | 
| **Dynamic Updating** | 8.7 (110 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Collaboration

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multi User** | 8.7 (121 reviews) | 6.7 (8 reviews) | 
| **File Import/Export** | 8.5 (140 reviews) | 7.8 (9 reviews) | 
| **Annotating ** | 8.2 (138 reviews) | 7.7 (8 reviews) | 
| **Document Storage** | 8.4 (136 reviews) | Feature Not Available | 

#### Construction

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **Fabrication** | 7.3 (103 reviews) | 7.6 (7 reviews) | 
| **Reinforcement Tools** | 6.4 (97 reviews) | Feature Not Available | 
| **Clash Detection ** | 7.3 (109 reviews) | Feature Not Available | 
| **Grading** | 6.5 (100 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Earthwork** | 6.2 (96 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Generation** | 6.1 (27 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text Summarization** | 6.0 (27 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text-to-3D** | 5.9 (27 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Common Data Environment (CDE) - Building Design and Building Information Modeling

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **Role-Based Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Centralized Data Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Cost Estimation - Building Design and Building Information Modeling

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **Lifecycle Cost Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Quantity Takeoff & Cost Estimation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Electrical & Circuit Design - Building Design and Building Information Modeling

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **Clash Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Electrical System Modeling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **MEP Coordination** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Load Calculation & Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Interoperability with BIM & CAD** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Circuit Design Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Urban Planning and Design

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Archicad** | 7.8/10 | 27 |
| **DataCAD** | N/A | N/A |

#### Plan

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **Documentation** | 8.4 (27 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Sequence** | 7.4 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Annotate** | 8.3 (27 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Collaborate** | 8.6 (27 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Design

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D Modeling** | 9.2 (27 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **3D Rendering** | 7.6 (27 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **2D Modeling** | 8.6 (27 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Editing** | 8.8 (27 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Analysis

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **Sustainability** | 7.0 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Liveability** | 5.9 (23 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Movement** | 6.4 (23 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Architectural Rendering

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Archicad** | 7.7/10 | 133 |
| **DataCAD** | N/A | N/A |

#### Library

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **Objects** | 7.6 (130 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Materials** | 7.6 (130 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Rendering

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **Textures** | 7.2 (128 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Shading** | 7.8 (127 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Lighting** | 7.1 (120 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Exterior Rendering** | 7.0 (123 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Aerial Rendering** | 7.0 (117 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Atmospheric rendering** | 6.1 (108 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Integrations

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **BIM Integration** | 8.5 (122 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **3D Rendering Integration** | 8.1 (125 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text-to-3D** | 6.4 (37 reviews) | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/building-design-and-building-information-modeling-bim)

**Unique to Archicad (2):** [Architectural Rendering Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/architectural-rendering), [Urban Planning and Design Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/urban-planning-and-design)



---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Archicad | DataCAD | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 86.7% | 94.6% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 10.4% | 0% | 
| **Enterprise** | 2.9% | 5.4% | 

### By Industry

#### Archicad

- **Architecture & Planning:** 83.0%
- **Construction:** 5.3%
- **Design:** 4.3%
- **Civil Engineering:** 1.4%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 0.7%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 0.7%
- **Alternative Dispute Resolution:** 0.4%
- **Building Materials:** 0.4%
- **Commercial Real Estate:** 0.4%
- **Computer Software:** 0.4%
- **Other:** 3.2%

#### DataCAD

- **Architecture & Planning:** 77.8%
- **Construction:** 7.9%
- **Design:** 4.8%
- **Civil Engineering:** 3.2%
- **Internet:** 1.6%
- **Higher Education:** 1.6%
- **Government Administration:** 1.6%
- **Education Management:** 1.6%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Archicad

- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1324 reviews)
- [Revit](https://www.g2.com/products/revit/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (946 reviews)
- [Vectorworks Architect](https://www.g2.com/products/vectorworks-architect/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (235 reviews)
- [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1930 reviews)
- [Blender](https://www.g2.com/products/blender/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (316 reviews)
- [Civil 3D](https://www.g2.com/products/civil-3d/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (304 reviews)
- [V-Ray](https://www.g2.com/products/v-ray/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (220 reviews)
- [Lumion Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/lumion-pro/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (108 reviews)
- [AutoCAD MEP](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-mep/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (203 reviews)
- [Navisworks](https://www.g2.com/products/navisworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (204 reviews)

### Alternatives to DataCAD

- [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1930 reviews)
- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1324 reviews)
- [Revit](https://www.g2.com/products/revit/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (946 reviews)
- [Vectorworks Architect](https://www.g2.com/products/vectorworks-architect/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (235 reviews)
- [AutoCAD MEP](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-mep/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (203 reviews)
- [Civil 3D](https://www.g2.com/products/civil-3d/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (304 reviews)
- [Navisworks](https://www.g2.com/products/navisworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (204 reviews)
- [Revizto](https://www.g2.com/products/revizto/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (208 reviews)
- [Tekla Structures](https://www.g2.com/products/tekla-structures/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (64 reviews)
- [ALLPLAN](https://www.g2.com/products/allplan/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (25 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Archicad

- Title: [Is it necessary to make a new version release every year ?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-it-necessary-to-make-a-new-version-release-every-year) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "No, you can get away with getting it every couple of years. But they do have a good offer when paying yearly and guarantee a new version every year."
- Title: [How best can the newly integrated classifications and properties be used to organize keynotes?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/50662-how-best-can-the-newly-integrated-classifications-and-properties-be-used-to-organize-keynotes) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Hi Spencer, 
It is frustrating that there is not a straight forward tool for keynoting, however, it is possible.  Our company uses the "Keynote..."
- Title: [What is the best way to stop it from overloading my computer?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-best-way-to-stop-it-from-overloading-my-computer) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Ensure your computer meets the recommended specifications that Graphisoft have published on their website, and otherwise rationalize the way you structure a..."
- Title: [Why doesn't Archicad do 3D renderings?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/pourquoi-archicad-ne-fait-pas-des-rendus-3d) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Archicad does 3d Rendering throughout Cinema Render, a rendering motor that comes within the software installation. "
- Title: [How do other people make custom objects for their projects?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/12321-how-do-other-people-make-custom-objects-for-their-projects) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "you can model your own objects with native Arhicad elements such as Walls, Slabs or any other, and then save them as objects by selecting the entire elements..."

### DataCAD

- Title: [What is the company for DataCAD?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-company-for-datacad) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "DataCAD LLC."

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/archicad-vs-datacad)