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Verified User in Design
UD
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"The unwanted child of Autocad and Illustrator. An almost Reddit."
What do you like best about Vectorworks Architect?

Simplicity of controlling line weights and colors. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Vectorworks Architect?

(For MAC) The program does not work well for large files. It is okay for small and simple projects. Having classes and layers makes it difficult to manage lines and objects are being shown correctly albeit this can be fixed by office standards. Referenced files don't work well and you can not copy viewports from one file to another. Making coordination difficult. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Vectorworks Architect Reviews & Product Details

Pricing

Pricing provided by Vectorworks Arch.

Annual Subscription

$1,530.00
1 license Per Year

Vectorworks Architect Media

Vectorworks Architect Demo - Pre-Design Architect Screenshot
Pre-Design
Vectorworks Architect Demo - Schematic Design Architect Screenshot
Schematic Design
Vectorworks Architect Demo - Design Development Architect Screenshot
Design Development
Vectorworks Architect Demo - Construction Documentation Architect Screenshot
Construction Documentation
Join Neil Barman, Architect AIBC, as he demonstrates how you can use the parametric tools in Vectorworks you to create 3D designs while you draw your plans in a 2D view.
Play Vectorworks Architect Video
Join Neil Barman, Architect AIBC, as he demonstrates how you can use the parametric tools in Vectorworks you to create 3D designs while you draw your plans in a 2D view.
In this video, we will demonstrate how to be able to use advanced architectural rendering techniques to create a twilight rendering for the Villanova Icône project designed by architectural firm Hamonic+Masson & Associés.
Play Vectorworks Architect Video
In this video, we will demonstrate how to be able to use advanced architectural rendering techniques to create a twilight rendering for the Villanova Icône project designed by architectural firm Hamonic+Masson & Associés.
Meet Low Hammond Rowe Architects, a Victoria-based firm that works all across British Columbia. With such a diverse array of clients, Vectorworks gives them the flexibility to create BIM models and the documentation they need.
Play Vectorworks Architect Video
Meet Low Hammond Rowe Architects, a Victoria-based firm that works all across British Columbia. With such a diverse array of clients, Vectorworks gives them the flexibility to create BIM models and the documentation they need.
Checkwitch Poiron takes a proactive approach to their designs by giving them the flexibility to create the 3D models and the documentation they need to convey their design intent to their clients, all while keeping everything in 1 program.
Play Vectorworks Architect Video
Checkwitch Poiron takes a proactive approach to their designs by giving them the flexibility to create the 3D models and the documentation they need to convey their design intent to their clients, all while keeping everything in 1 program.
Explore the potential of photogrammetry and point cloud capture for landscape projects using Nomad, a Vectorworks app for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
Play Vectorworks Architect Video
Explore the potential of photogrammetry and point cloud capture for landscape projects using Nomad, a Vectorworks app for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
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Vectorworks Architect Reviews (222)

Reviews

Vectorworks Architect Reviews (222)

4.4
222 reviews

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Daniel G.
DG
architect assistance
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"smoth but deep"
What do you like best about Vectorworks Architect?

i like the way you use the software, what you draw is what you are gonna print. You have so much pen and fill options so the 2D is amazing. in 3D you also have different way of buildings. BIM objects are in a diverse quantity. The tools to create personalised reports are also helpful. Implementation and integration were relatively easy but exist a big curve of learning I faced after. Customer supports works pretty well, every time i had a problem with my license, it was solve the same day. I use the software everyday and it works pretty well. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Vectorworks Architect?

you also have different way of buildings, which in my opinion they could connect more between them. Sometimes the file get too big, spacially with the bim objects, that could be treat with some coding. Also you kind of lost complete control of design when you are trying to mix constructive objects with extrudes or 3d symbols.Implementation and integration were relatively easy but exist a big curve of learning I faced after, in comparison with others softwares. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Lee C.
LC
Principal
Architecture & Planning
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Vectorworks 2025 review"
What do you like best about Vectorworks Architect?

I have used this software for 30 years, starting in its early days. Compared to other systems I've used, I find it more intuitive. Now that I’ve steadily used a BIM workflow for more than 15 years, the built-in plug-in objects in this software make it easy to develop a design concept quickly. Using layers and classes allows for easy control of attributes and features in the model and drawing sheets. New features in v2025 have been game-changers. AI Visualization, on-screen control, and the one-point perspective were overdue additions. The ability to easily search for classes and layers has also saved time.

It is possible to generate a drawing quickly with excellent graphic quality. The shaded rendering option has significantly improved for quick views, allowing me to promptly study solar angles and make meaningful design changes based on real data. The added rendering partners also enable outstanding renderings.

People know me as an architect with clear, beautiful drawings that demonstrate my integrity as an architect. I can credit Vectorworks for being a trusted partner with that reputation. When one examines the options out there based on visual quality, price, ease of use, and a community of support, there is clearly no other BIM platform that can match the overall balance of Vectorworks. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Vectorworks Architect?

Recent releases have greatly improved, but I hope the software designers continue to listen and spend time with architects who work on existing buildings and reach out to them to see how the software can be adapted to the workflow of an architect who has to balance the complexities of older buildings, manage the demolition of features and model building parts that are not clean and simple like new construction.

Lag and RAM management have improved in 2025, but it can be challenging to explain without observing a user for an extended period. In other words, it still takes up too much memory for my taste. Perhaps there is a memory issue with how it returns RAM to the computer.

Maybe this is the reality of heavy graphic crunching software packages. My friends who use the other well-known BIM platforms complain about them more frequently. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Patrick V.
PV
Technologist/ Information manger
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Great Potential & Flexability"
What do you like best about Vectorworks Architect?

The flexability that the software offers. The true desire from the developers to push for software development. The vision that company has for the next 10 years of the development. They are listening to feedback and have setup a developer road map webpage where they have shown the steps and tools that they are improving. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Vectorworks Architect?

The push for new features has sadly meant that existing tools have not had the right amount of development which has meant that they are lacking with customisation features. There are some tools that had some development and the developer has clearly made improvements, however the consistant tools that are being used for years have not been improved and still need to be looked at. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Architecture & Planning
UA
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Excellent 2D Tools and Interface, but 3D Features Need Improvement"
What do you like best about Vectorworks Architect?

The 2D drawing tool and interface are easy to use. The use of classes, layers, sheet layers, etc. is very easy to use and straightforward. The control of viewports is designed well and easy to use. The customer support has always been excellent and easy to access. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Vectorworks Architect?

Moving to 3D drawings in Vectorworks has been challenging. Some tools are easy to use, but some of the things we want to do with the 3D tools are either difficult to complete or not available in the tools available today. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

DD
architect - builder - cheerleader
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Long time vectorworks user"
What do you like best about Vectorworks Architect?

i love the constant improvement that the software has gone through over the years. the continued improvements have vastly improved my work, and capabilities. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Vectorworks Architect?

the has been an issue over the years as well as the learning curve. additionally, finding cost effective vectorworks users who use BIM / ad 3D model and render has been almost impossible over the years. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Kathy G.
KG
Director
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Versatile and feature-rich, but 3d not always accurate and still slow load times"
What do you like best about Vectorworks Architect?

Extremely versatile - suitable for many types of business and user.

Very good number of innovative features, relatively easy to use.

Customer tech support is excellent. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Vectorworks Architect?

Size of text.

Sometimes, updates are 'buggy'.

Very slow to load up despite high end powerful computer

3d not always accurate enough Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

NA
Design manager
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Beautiful Design Tools, But Poor Compatibility Forces a Switch"
What do you like best about Vectorworks Architect?

It has a design approach platform. Good graphic and beautiful rendering options. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Vectorworks Architect?

It’s not compatible with other programs used in industry. It never exports or imports well enough to make it workable for other programs used.

I’m actually being forced to switch to Revit just for this reason. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Elena Pantazopoulos of Vectorworks Arch

Thanks so much for sharing your experience and for highlighting what you enjoy about Vectorworks Architect — especially its design-focused approach and beautiful rendering capabilities. We’re glad to hear those strengths have supported your creative process.

We recognize how frustrating it can be when working across different design platforms. Interoperability is a key priority for us at Vectorworks. We support a variety of file formats, including DWG, RVT, IFC, and many others, to enhance collaboration. Since every workflow is unique, it may require some communication and adjustments to discover the settings that work best for your project team. Our technical support specialists are always happy to assist you through this process.

Whether you continue exploring Vectorworks or move to another solution, we truly appreciate your feedback — it helps us continue to improve — and we’ll always be here if you’d like assistance or wish to return in the future.

Tom O.
TO
Architect
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Broad feature set that lets me avoid using multiple software programs"
What do you like best about Vectorworks Architect?

While I've used several different CAD programs over the years, Vectorworks stands out above them all. I love the graphic capabilities - the drawings just look better - crisper, clearer, cleaner. I have a great deal of graphic flexibility - both to set overall styles of a drawing but also to zoom to one particular element and adjust it to suit my specific need.

My primary use is Vectorworks Architect but I also own the "Designer" package so I get civil/landscape, theatrical and rendering modules.

But more importantly, I really appreciate the Vectorworks staff. I can call them on the phone, any day of the work week and get a live person who will take the time to answer my question, solve my problem ...and help me understand what's happening ... on the screen while we talk. I was along time user of another program and that never, ever happened.

...and the cost of an annual subscription plus premium support is far less than just the annual subscription to our former architectural software....and that includes the Designer Suite, not just the architect module.

We're a small firm so while cost is an important consideration, customer service/technical support is critical to keeping us working efficiently.

Vectorworks is also cross-platform compatible so it works equally well on PCs and Macs. Setup is easy. Vectorworks does most of the work and you can usually walk away and do something else while it's happening.

Vectorworks has frequent updates. Some are driven by bugs that users find and report - usually in the Fall when the annual major version upgrade is released and the wider user base uncovers the little glitches. But after that, updates keep coming every few months - usually to add new functionality or further refine something.

Vectorworks also comes with a huge array of "content" ranging from generic items like preconfigured title blocks, symbols, date tags, etc. These are ready to use and generally have a consistent way they can be used .... as opposed to my previous software's content which clearly had been developed over many years by many different users so each one was unique and had to be further customized to a consistent standard. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Vectorworks Architect?

Vectorworks has a different"way" or working than the widely used software I used to use. It's taken a bit of time - longer than I hoped - to purge the "old" processes from the front of my brain and adapt to Vectorworks. But part of that was my own stubbornness. While Vectorworks has a plethora of keyboard shortcuts, there isn't a command line so if you are used to that being your primary method of command selection and customization, you'll initially feel lost but like any software, you'll quickly adapt to those things you do the most frequently and then keep adding more skills for the less frequently used processes. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Vu Nguyen of Vectorworks Arch

Hey Tom, we're delighted to hear that you are enjoying the graphic capabilities and flexibility of Vectorworks Architect, as well as the comprehensive feature set of the Designer package. Providing exceptional customer service and technical support is a top priority, and we’re glad it has been valuable to you. We appreciate your feedback and are grateful for your support as a small firm. Thank you for choosing Vectorworks!

Federico S.
FS
Director
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"A design experience that lets you draft, model, render and document within a single platform."
What do you like best about Vectorworks Architect?

The fact that there are always different ways to achieve your design goals and there is always something new to discover. It is a highly customisable software that can be shaped around your reqirements. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Vectorworks Architect?

There's something off here and then, some tools could be improved, it is sometimes not so easy to collaborate with other professionals who use different softwares. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Construction
UC
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"A comprehensive BIM SW package"
What do you like best about Vectorworks Architect?

Innovation and continual improvement, support and knowledge base Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Vectorworks Architect?

some compatibility issues with other BIM packages Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Response from Vu Nguyen of Vectorworks Arch

It's great to hear that Vectorworks Architect is helping you with integrated design and BIM implementation. If your interface compatibility issue persists, please get in touch with tech@vectorworks.net for additional support.

Pricing Options

Pricing provided by Vectorworks Arch.

Annual Subscription

$1,530.00
1 license Per Year

Monthly Subscription

$153.00
1 license Per Month
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Vectorworks Architect Features
Visualizing
Rendering
Drawing
Multi User
File Import/Export
Annotating
Fabrication
Reinforcement Tools
Clash Detection
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Vectorworks Arch