--- title: Chief Architect Premier Reviews meta_title: 'Chief Architect Premier Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 18 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how Chief Architect Premier works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.6 review_count: 18 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-08-07' parent_category: name: 3D Design url: https://www.g2.com/categories/3d-design --- # Chief Architect Premier Reviews **Vendor:** Chief Architect Software **Category:** [3D Modeling Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/3d-modeling) **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 18 ## About Chief Architect Premier Chief Architect Premier is professional drafting, design, and building modeling software for residential and light commercial design. Chief Architect software brings home design projects to life. Automated building tools for home design, interior design, and kitchen & bath design make it easy to create construction drawings, elevations, CAD details, and 3D models. Chief Architect, Inc. was founded in 1992. Our offices are located in Coeur d 'Alene, Idaho. ## Chief Architect Premier Reviews ### 1. Great Way to Learn Residential Architecture **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Regina W. | Inside Sales Representative, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 11, 2021 **What do you like best about Chief Architect Premier?** 1. Perpetual license. I own my software/designs. So many companies are going to subscription-based software, and I couldn't justify spending thousands of dollars only to lose my work if I didn't renew my subscription. I would prefer to own it and pay to update it as necessary; Especially since I'm only doing residential design to build my own homes. 2. Designing in CA is fun! It's a rewarding creative outlet. I spend time every day working on my designs. I can make them as minimal or as elaborate as my heart desires. 3. The software has, directly and indirectly, expanded my understanding of construction principles and vocabulary. If I don't understand a word or option in the program, I simply research it. I've learned so much since I started using the program! 4. It's a pretty robust software program and it can do A LOT! Here is what I believe are Chief Architect's best features: Automatically build roofing and framing layers; Print real, usable architectural drawings which may be used by general contractors; Watermark, so the user may copywrite their work; Incredible library of materials; Allows the user to update their plan in both 2D and 3D; Home may be uploaded to their website and viewed by those the user gives permission. **What do you dislike about Chief Architect Premier?** Could be more user-friendly by designing it so common adjustments are relatively simple. For example: Allowing users to change wall heights at the wall level Make it easier to raise/lower floors Create attic space as a useable room based on truss style Make it easier to raise or lower the terrain for walk-outs I like that I can upload my home to their website but I wish the allowable file size wasn't so small. I found it to be very disappointing when I wanted to share a large home design (6000sq feet, including garage) with friends to get their feedback. That said, I still feel Chief Architect Premier was worth the money and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a comprehensive design program. **What problems is Chief Architect Premier solving and how is that benefiting you?** - Chief Architect Premier allows me to have control of our build. The designs, materials lists, and planning tools will give me the tools I need to effectively communicate and oversee our project. - I'm learning a lot about residentail design and construction while working in the program. - It challenges and relaxes me. It's truly one of my favorite things! ### 2. Perfect for residential, quick turnaround projects **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** tim s. | D, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 10, 2021 **What do you like best about Chief Architect Premier?** Quick 3d images, reasonably quality images. Cloud sharing of model. **What do you dislike about Chief Architect Premier?** CAD clunky. Sometimes reluctant to rely on technical side of things (though may be down to training?) **What problems is Chief Architect Premier solving and how is that benefiting you?** It makes Concept design quick to turn around. Also quick for new users to learn. ### 3. Easy to Learn **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jennifer B. | Junior Interior Designer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 30, 2018 **What do you like best about Chief Architect Premier?** This program is easier to learn than some other software of the same type. It is more user friendly and I love how interior finishes can be changed so easily. **What do you dislike about Chief Architect Premier?** The landscaping tools are a bit difficult to use when trying to do complicated terrain. **What problems is Chief Architect Premier solving and how is that benefiting you?** Cheif Architect allows us to show clients renderings of our design ideas in 3D so that they can better visualize their new spaces. ### 4. Awesome program par with competition **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Machinery | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 18, 2018 **What do you like best about Chief Architect Premier?** Many features like it's competitors. 3d navigation and presentation tools are awesome. Overall a very powerful tool in the design industry. **What do you dislike about Chief Architect Premier?** Not a program for nubies. Need some experience using it. **What problems is Chief Architect Premier solving and how is that benefiting you?** Not currently using the software. Used it in the past to develop building drawings. ## Chief Architect Premier Discussions - [What does Chief Architect Premier do?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-does-chief-architect-premier-do) - [What is new in chief architect X13?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-new-in-chief-architect-x13) - [What does SSA mean in chief architect?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-does-ssa-mean-in-chief-architect) - [What is the latest version of Chief Architect Premier?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-latest-version-of-chief-architect-premier) - [View Chief Architect Premier pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/chief-architect-software-chief-architect-premier/reviews?filters%5Bnps_score%5D%5B%5D=4§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-08-14+03%3A54%3A09+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=b92e7afc-a372-4fba-a9f9-20c21aebc386&secure%5Btoken%5D=fe107bc7f4d479fe4ebd94cb25cdfb6e15980666df2b4e0b2662418808657dcd&format=llm_user) ## Chief Architect Premier Features **Additional Functionality** - Project Tracking - BIM Modeling - API - Mobile Access - Billing & Invoicing - Document Management - Presentation Tools - Generative AI - Planning Tools - Quotes/Estimates - Approval Process Control - Document Storage - Template Management - Customizable Templates - Summary Reports - Task Scheduling - Reporting & Statistics - Project Planning - Timesheet Management - Drafting - Design Management - Task Management - Customizable Reports - Real-Time Notifications - Bills of Material - AI Copilot - Secure Data Storage - Status Tracking - Communication Management - Real-Time Data - Drag & Drop - 2D Drawing - Data Visualization - Projections - Role-Based Permissions - Project Time Tracking - Task Progress Tracking - Job Costing - Project Management - Activity Dashboard - Project Workflow - 3D Imaging - For AEC Industry - Search/Filter - Invoice Management - Third-Party Integrations - Commenting/Notes - Data Import/Export - Customizable Branding - Contact Management - Contract/License Management - Multiple Projects **Design** - Sculpting - Topology - Drawing - Brush Variety - Effects **Library** - Objects - Materials - Bills of Material **Move** - Animate - Render - Views **Rendering** - Textures - Shading - Lighting - Exterior Rendering - Aerial Rendering - Atmospheric rendering **Store & Manage** - Pipeline - Controls - Template library **Integrations** - BIM Integration - 3D Rendering Integration - Third-Party Integrations - API - Website Integration **Generative AI** - AI Text-to-Image - AI Text-to-3D **Generative AI** - AI Text-to-3D - Generative AI **Additional Functionality** - Offline Access - Secure Data Storage - 360-Site Stream - Project Management - For AEC Industry - Drafting - 3D Modeling - Landscape Design - Data Import/Export - Animation - Real-time Product Visualizations - Multiple File Format Support - Component Library - Document Management - Design Management - File Management - AI Copilot - BIM Modeling - Drag & Drop - Floor Plans & Maps - Sketching and Annotation Tools - Content Library - Template Management - Collaboration Tools - Video Creation - Pre-built Templates - CAD Tools - Image Editing - Panoramas - 3D Imaging - Data Visualization - Version Control - Reporting/Analytics - Proposal Generation - User Management - Customizable Branding - Customizable Templates - Architectural Symbol Library - Modeling & Simulation - Labeling - For Architects - Access Controls/Permissions - Project Workflow - Projections - Document Storage - Subcontractor Management - Workflow Management - Search/Filter - Configurable Workflow - Graphical Data Presentation - Historical Reporting - Design Templates - 2D Drawing - Comparison View - Multiple Projects - Annotations - Automatic Formatting - Mobile Access ## Top Chief Architect Premier Alternatives - [Blender](https://www.g2.com/products/blender/reviews) - 4.6/5.0 (310 reviews) - [3ds Max Design](https://www.g2.com/products/3ds-max-design/reviews) - 4.3/5.0 (280 reviews) - [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (1,299 reviews)