# DataCAD Reviews **Vendor:** DataCAD **Category:** [Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/building-design-and-building-information-modeling-bim) **Average Rating:** 4.8/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 64 ## About DataCAD DataCAD is a professional-level Architectural CADD program for design, presentation, and documentation. DataCAD is one of the few software applications that are developed specifically for Architects, and it is the only CADD software ever to be endorsed by the American Institute of Architects (ca. 1987). Originally developed by an architectural firm more than 30 years ago, DataCAD is one of the stalwarts of the CAD industry. ## DataCAD Reviews ### 1. Datacad has been my go to software for construction documents for over 24 years. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Josh H. | CEO | President, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 04, 2021 **What do you like best about DataCAD?** It's ease of use and customization have made it really user friendly. The programming team always is willing to help and listen to customer feedback and suggestions. **What do you dislike about DataCAD?** The rendering and 3D modeling aspects of the program have lagged behind industry & client expectations. **Recommendations to others considering DataCAD:** If you are looking for software to produce quality construction documents, it's hard to beat Datacad's value. If looking for 3D rendering and modeling I would look somewhere else. **What problems is DataCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** I focus on custom and higher end residential home design and Datacad has helped me create clear and consise documents to get the plans approved by local building jurisdictions. ### 2. DataCAD is CAD for architects that want to get the work done **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mark W. | Architect Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 21, 2020 **What do you like best about DataCAD?** Intuitive interface, flexibility, ease of use. System doesn't force a user to conform to hardwired formats and operations, allows innovation in presentation of information as well as in preparation of documents for construction. It offers a somewhat limited smart object 3D capability, but what is has is adequate for modeling even complex buildings, and it can produce impressive rendered images for presentation. But its real strength is in the business of getting lines on paper that communicate to the construction team the overall design intent and the details that make a building out of an idea. **What do you dislike about DataCAD?** Learning curve for those used to other CAD systems, though most find the transition relatively painless. I don't dislike the smart object 3D capabilities, I just wish it could do a few things it doesn't. **What problems is DataCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** I have been using DataCAD since the early 1990s, and it has gracefully handled everything I have thrown at it. It has produced complex 3D models of many buildings, necessary both to show clients the evolving design and, technically, to investigate the nooks and crannies in the intersections of roofs and walls to ensure that everything necessary to keep the water out of a building is handled in a reasonably elegant way. With it I have been able to produce the drawings for hundreds of buildings of various types, sometimes with another CAD drafter but more often single handedly. Those buildings ranged from single family homes through multi-unit housing developments, commercial buildings and one 19 story building in downtown Boston. ### 3. Principal / Architect **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Gavn T. | Architect/Principal, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 23, 2019 **What do you like best about DataCAD?** I like its logical ease of use along with its ability to do any task i need. you don't need much support in Data Cad but when you do the team at Data Cad are a great help. i like the fact that they are continuously sending out new features and add-ons to improve productivity while keeping the price at the same rate. **What do you dislike about DataCAD?** Honestly there is not much i dislike. i have used many of the other major CAD programs in the past and i still prefer Data cad by far. if there is a dislike it would be that some tasks can be preformed in several different ways and it is up to you to find the best that suits you. Some tasks are just not explained in detail from Datacad at times. **Recommendations to others considering DataCAD:** Don't overlook Datacad when considering buying a package, This is a powerful program that can do everything you need in the architectural industry. i would recommend talking to a Datcad user and asking questions for your specific needs. **What problems is DataCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** I can use DatCad for the most simplest jobs or the most complicated jobs all by myself. Minimal staff are required in the office making it more competitive. ### 4. DataCAD - the versatile software! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mark B. | Principal, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 11, 2019 **What do you like best about DataCAD?** 1. Robust and flexible allowing ideas to be developed from basic 2D or 3D sketch designs through to complete detailed construction documentation drawings, 2. Suitable for small projects through to larger, more complex projects including high rise buildings, residential, office, hospitality, shopping malls, medical, educational and institutional projects etc. and will allow users to work either in the same office or collaboratively across the country or around the world using file sharing options back to a master file(s), 3. Includes a variety of design output techniques for presentation, either as electronic drawings or animated/user-controlled 3D project models. It also includes a large number of file import/export options allowing projects to be shared with consultants and clients, 4. Strong user-control over most entities or objects within a drawing file, allowing users the ability to personalize their drawings and ensure drawings 'read' correctly with good line weight definition and other techniques associated with traditional construction documentation, 5. Work can be done in either 2D, 3D or parametric 3D/2D and includes a host of powerful tools to streamline the transition from concept to developed design to construction drawings, 6. Is straight forward to use and operate without the complexities associated with full BIM sofwares. DataCAD's flexible approach allows projects to use a combination of entities, objects and techniques to create the output drawings. This allows users the option of either modelling a full virtual 3D model to extract the 2D documentation, or create a less detailed 3D model then progress the 2D output views to completion, 7. The software doesn't 'expire' each year requiring a forced payment to be able to open a drawing. Upgrading is optional, and the affordability makes renewing the license a no-brainer! 8. DataCAD has been around for over 35 years which reflects on its wide user-base satisfaction and industry acceptance, 9. Has a good user-support network and public Forum, 10. It's enjoyable to use! **What do you dislike about DataCAD?** 1. Development in the parametric objects/entities has been slow, 2. Scope for improvement in the editing of 3D objects/entities and view settings, **Recommendations to others considering DataCAD:** 1. Understand the type of projects your office works on, who you interact with and what level of drawing file information is needed to successfully design and output a project, 2. Don't follow the 'crowd' or get caught up in the hype - if BIM appears in all the media, it may not be ideal for your situation, 3. Give DataCAD an honest go, get on the Forum, which is free, and ask questions, 4. Explore and experiment with the software, **What problems is DataCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** 1. All projects are designed directly in DataCAD from initial sketch design onwards. This allows the ideas to be continually developed in the one software as it progresses through the various stages. 2. It's quick to use so there's time benefits compared to other offices that may use more than one software to arrive at a set of presentation, DA or CD drawings. 3. There's benefits in keeping the work methodology and project file structure 'simple' when compared to full BIM projects that 'eat up' time in other areas of file management and having to model everything and anything to be able to output the drawing set. My experience is DataCAD has a better balance between simplistic design models (ie. SketchUp), and time consuming full BIM models (ie. Revit, ArchiCAD etc.). ### 5. The best architectural drafting software **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Architecture & Planning | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 10, 2019 **What do you like best about DataCAD?** The tools are pretty intuitive and the menu system gives you immediate access to its capabilities. Training time for new hires was negligible. Using it to the best of its capabilities took longer to learn but people were typically productive within a day or two. **What do you dislike about DataCAD?** Recent improvements to DataCAD have made it's capabilities less transparent. There are keyboard shortcuts required to access some of its functions whereas previously it was all available from 2 menus with further nested menus beneath. Improvements that have been made recently seem to be tweaks aimed primarily at long time users. **Recommendations to others considering DataCAD:** Don't fall for the marketing hype of competitors. DataCAD can actually provide you with the tools needed for design and contract documents. You will be free to design and document what you wish. You won't be fighting the software to accomplish what you want to. You can utilize it without extensive software training required or a long learning curve. **What problems is DataCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** Its been over 30 years since I began using DataCAD thanks to an employer who sent me to a three day training session. It made coming to work every day a distinct pleasure knowing that I had excellent tools to work with. It also offered sufficient tools and flexibility to devise countless ways to improve efficiency in drafting. I loved the control it gave me to accurately draw architecture down to the smallest detail. I also enjoyed the 3D modelling capabilities of the software. I'm mostly retired now so regrettably do not have as much time to use the software. ### 6. Best CAD software & company for architects **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** David P. | President, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 10, 2019 **What do you like best about DataCAD?** Functionality like an architect thinks. Learning curve and ease of use to get great end results are the best. **What do you dislike about DataCAD?** Nothing. I have been a part of the beta testing teams for program improvements for a number of years. The DataCAD team just keeps improving the functionality and abilities of the program. After using DataCAD for the past 35 years, it is still so much fun to create 2D and 3D drawings and designs using it that I don't want to retire. **Recommendations to others considering DataCAD:** I have used it exclusively for the past 34 years and continue loving it every day as much as I did in 1985 when I first discovered DataCAD. The learning curve is a breeze compared to other CAD programs I have tried. It was created by an architect and computer programmer so it has the functionality of how architects think and draw. The original creator of the software is still the software writer and is accessible by email and phone. That kind of service doesn't exist with any other software, anywhere. **What problems is DataCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** Makes me a better architect. Quick 3D roof design visualizations makes all of my roofs correct. 3D models exported to SketchUp and rendered show clients realistic final designs. 2D drafting tools and methods allow my construction drawings to be detailed, accurate, and informative. Leave little for contractors to complain about in the field (well, it diminishes the complaining, anyway) ### 7. My 25th year anniversary with DataCad **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Robert F. | Proprietor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 09, 2019 **What do you like best about DataCAD?** I started drawing by hand in 1967 with a sharp pencil, straight edge, compass, multiple angles, etc. From there I advanced to a drafting machine (faster but some accuracy lost in the nature of the mechanical arm). In 1983, I started my own home planning design firm and worked with the traditional tools until 1994, when I became aware of DataCad. I purchased DataCad 5 on 3 1/2" disks on 5/2/1994, for $149.95 and hired an employee to learn it at a work station next to my drawing board. I forced myself to learn the CAD drafting by teaching that employee, and there were many questions so I had to learn it well. Over the years I have watched the AutoCad/Autodesk crowd become slaves to their software to such an extent that I have occasionally wondered who is working for whom. **What do you dislike about DataCAD?** I didn't dive deep into DataCad's 3D capabilities because I kept my computer hardware investment to a minimum. If the 3D had not been so memory intense and time consuming when it was first offered, I would have enjoyed getting to know it better. **Recommendations to others considering DataCAD:** DataCad will evolve into a more presentation-based software like the other major CAD companies, but it remains to be the perfect solution for the construction documents necessary to build. **What problems is DataCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** DataCad gives you complete control of every line that makes up every part of your design. Although I only explored the 3D components, the 2D capability was everything I needed to provide my clients with the reliable and artfully original designs and plans they required. ### 8. DataCAD Drafting for Architects **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Architecture & Planning | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 10, 2019 **What do you like best about DataCAD?** The program was designed with Architects and Engineers in mind as the primary users. The symbol and built in walls/doors/windows make drafting simple and easy for inexperienced and experienced CAD users. **What do you dislike about DataCAD?** Not much to dislike, the program is very versatile, it lets you modify a lot and make custom settings. The only time I am annoyed is due to user error when I hit the wrong button or short cut. The 3d portion of the program is there, but it is not as refined (or "Smart") as the many other CAD options that are available. **Recommendations to others considering DataCAD:** If you need a 2d program that can do it all, look no further. If you like have 3d elements incorporated into your design, you can do that to! **What problems is DataCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** The company I work for uses DataCAD for 2d architectural drawings and basic 3d models to show clients. Personally, I use DataCAD to make 3d .stl models for my 3d printer. ### 9. I have been with DataCad since it's inception. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Eddie C. | Architect, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 10, 2019 **What do you like best about DataCAD?** I have been with DataCad since it's inception. I like the 2D drawing that is design specifically for Architectural drafting. I like the fact that it's ready to use right out of the box and not having to buy add-on's for the program to work. **What do you dislike about DataCAD?** Nothing. It meets and ecxeeds all expectations. 3D is improving with each generation. This may be a issue for some users but I send my 3D rendering out so it does not impact my eng use. **Recommendations to others considering DataCAD:** The cost and ease of training users. Intigration with other cad programs. **What problems is DataCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** The program seamlessly integrates with other cad programs importing and exporting DWG files. ### 10. DataCAD user for many years **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** George A. | Architect, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 09, 2019 **What do you like best about DataCAD?** I was one of the last Architect's in my area to shift to CAD. The old dog new tricks thing. I had tried AutoCAD and spent a lot of money on it only to get frustrated and give up. I tried DataCAD and could not believe how intuitive and easy it was to use. I was hooked instantly and have been honing my CAD skills ever since. DataCAD is an awesome program. **What do you dislike about DataCAD?** For my purposes, DataCAD fills my needs completely. **What problems is DataCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** DataCAD fulfills my 2D drawings needs for my Architectural practice and has been for many years. ## DataCAD Discussions - [What is the company for DataCAD?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-company-for-datacad) - 1 comment - [View DataCAD pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/datacad/reviews/datacad-review-19347?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-05-06+23%3A48%3A02+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=85c2b61c-735c-45b7-978a-3d1ee17bc90b&secure%5Btoken%5D=f98a9a3a7082350547e8d09ff10f75d5b4a638d2a7ed9b3fb0b860682848cf2a&format=llm_user) ## DataCAD Features **Design** - Visualizing - Rendering - Drawing - Editing - Dynamic Updating **Collaboration** - Multi User - File Import/Export - Annotating **Construction** - Fabrication - Grading - Earthwork **Generative AI** - AI Text Generation - AI Text Summarization - AI Text-to-3D **Common Data Environment (CDE) - Building Design and Building Information Modeling** - Role-Based Access - Centralized Data Management **Cost Estimation - Building Design and Building Information Modeling** - Lifecycle Cost Tracking - Quantity Takeoff & Cost Estimation **Electrical & Circuit Design - Building Design and Building Information Modeling** - Clash Detection - Electrical System Modeling - MEP Coordination - Load Calculation & Analysis - Interoperability with BIM & CAD - Circuit Design Integration ## Top DataCAD Alternatives - [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (1,827 reviews) - [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (1,296 reviews) - [Revit](https://www.g2.com/products/revit/reviews) - 4.6/5.0 (909 reviews)