Help me to choose: ArchiCad or Revit. And Why

Binh
Now, I'm on a junction. I want to move from AutoCad to a BIM program. I know the 2 most popular BIM programs today are ArchiCad and Revit.
I confused to make a decision to pick up one op them to study and improve my career .
I'm in VietNam. Here, Revit seems to be used mostly in Architectural Firms. But as I see ArchiCad also have their own advantages Which Revit don'r have, like Morph Tool, library in order, Tilt Wall....etc
Please Help me with your reasons and opinions.
Thank you.

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Answers (13)

Stephan • 2013

Hmmmmmmm... interesting. We hire great architects and then train them in whatever they don''t know. Easier to train software.
Btw we use ArchiCAD and OpenBIM methodology. I''ve been on ArchiCAD for 23 years now and for large projects, it''s streets ahead. Try joining 40 people to a single Revit file...

2
Jared • 2013

So which software? Try both out and chose the one that will make you most excited to explore and absorb BIM. Because in the end what firms need are people who understand BIM. If your way into BIM is through ArchiCAD, go with ArchiCAD. If it''s through Revit, go with that program. But remember it''s about the path to BIM. That''s paramount.

So while I have very strong preferences about which software I prefer, I won''t recommend one over the other. You can read my blog for that. For many, many, many more posts, links and thoughts on the Revit vs ArchiCAD debate:

http://www.shoegnome.com/tag/archicad-vs-revit/

2
Al • 2016

So it turns out that no matter what 3D program you use, there are translation problems. Jared, who posted back when this post was newer has a great blog called Shoegnome. One of the topics is how to use the worksheet environment in ArchiCAD to generate easy to translate 2D versions of the 3D model into an exported .dwg. I usually do a fill removal and line consolidation before exporting just to be kind, but it works great. Each of my engineers wants different things, so my next step is to fine tune the export. One of my engineers is going to collaborate to see if we can improve it even more. None of my engineers is using a Bim solution at the moment....So I haven't tried to go ArchiCAD to Revit, but it's possible... I recently watched a cont. Ed video all about it...It looks easier to go ArchiCAD to Revit than the other way around. No surprise there.

1
Michael, Architect • 2016

I don't know anyone using anything but Acad and Revit. Acad is on the way down, Revit is on the way up. The situation is like the early 90s when Acad release 12 blew everyone else away. Yes, some users clung to their TinyCad, their EasyCad, or whatever. But they amounted to 2% of the market. Acad had everyone else. It didn't matter that Acad wasn't the best. I know because I was using a much superior system developed for mainframes. It had capabilities way beyond Acad. But Acad won anyway.
In these days of interoperability, when your consultants and joint venture partners are all on Revit, who's going to want your OtherCad file? If you are in a multiuser environment, you will quickly get tired of translations and incompatibilities.

1
Jared • 2013

I wrote a post about this a few months ago:

http://www.shoegnome.com/2013/03/29/which-bim-software-should-i-use/

Both are powerful programs, but in the end you need to try each out and go with the program you enjoy most. If you pick one because we all tell you to choose that one, but you hate using it, you''re no use to anyone. And yes some companies only want to hire people with experience with a particular software but that is horribly short-sighted on their part. Good companies need good employees. And if you''re good at one BIM software you''ll be good at another. Hiring is about the whole person, not one aspect of their experience. Yes if you know ArchiCAD and get hired by a Revit firm you won''t be up and running as fast as someone with Revit experience, but that won''t last. Very quickly there''ll be no difference. These firms that are hiring only employees with knowledge of the ''correct'' software are only looking at the short term. And that hurts all of us.

1
Rokas, Architect • 2020

Hello, we are using Archicad and Revit ( https://www.team4bim.com/ ). That is why we are called Team 4 BIM :)
And as it goes to price, functionality and licensing policy Archicad is much better choise.
Archicad has better support of Open BIM concept.

Recently we have created new house project website : https://www.architektugildija.lt/namu-projektai/ . That project was created using Archicad and Twinmotion and we are really happy about result and time spend on this project.

Kevin, Architect • 2018

>>> All I can laud ArchiCAD for is its node system that allows objects to be more 'freeformish-massey' like sketchup, if you don't drag them around too much. If it's easier to go from ArchiCAD to Revit as another commenter noted, then doesn't that attest to Revit's superiority? And for those of you saying to "try both out and decide for yourself", please get off the fence. people are seriously asking this question at a firm operations level, not a user luxury level; you need to inform us of the pros and cons that are a apparently keeping you from saying one is over the other. Finally, in response to Stephan, if you're a great architect that can't make the software represent your design after 2 weeks of youtube 'tutorials' and fruitless forums of folks discussing what they feel like it should do rather than how to do it, it's likely a crappy software.

Kevin, Architect • 2018

it seems the vocal minority is here... or maybe that's because I'm currently on a Mac. if you're doing building design in BIM, Revit is going to be the way to go; the user interface is very intuitive, the project organization is sensible and set up like a typical file directory, worksharing for multiple users on the same project is very straightforward and doesn't require a BIM cloud to function. I can attest that going from Revit (self-taught in undergrad architecture school - Texas A&M - up to BIM manager of three: Living Architecture) to self-teaching ArchiCAD, it is exceedingly difficult to wrap my head around the absent logic of the system and a major step backwards in operational smoothness. 'Align', 'Filter', Roofs, and draggable Dimensions for starters. >>>

hitech, Engineer • 2016

Since I have used both ArchiCAD and Revit for a long time. They are both advanced and mature BIM software applications. Each with their own merits. Rather than discussing which one is best overall, you should investigate which one is the best fit for you. Today, market seems to go towards Revit (being an Autodesk-marketed product), sometimes up to the level of enforced usage (which I strongly object). ArchiCAD has an edge on many aspects, which shows its long development history

Cari, Architect • 2016

Most people like the one they learned first. Graphisoft seems to have marked share in Europe and Australia, not sure about other places. Autodesk is king in the US... not for any good reason. Historically ArchiCAD was first on the scene, but Autodesk acquired Revit and made wise marketing use of AutoCAD's dominance in the US. Graphisoft recently did a significant overhaul of ArchiCAD's core. Revit will likely make some advancements. It's good for the marketplace for both to be viable. Without competition, nothing will prompt better customer service and responsiveness for new program features. I like ArchiCAD, and there's a growing contingent here in the US, but there is still a better opportunity currently for Revit... i.e. more jobs advertised for Revit... hopefully that will change. For the betterment of both...

Jim • 2013

I use Revit which makes me bias...But I would say revit from my experience you have more job opportunites....

Binh, Architect • 2013

Thank you alot

Al • 2013

Revit, Revit, Revit! I know you are in Vietnam, but if your coming to the states chances are most firms will be in Revit. I know mine is, and I won't hire anyone that does not know Revit. Here is a linked in post for more information:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/ArchiCAD-vs-Revit-796267.S.60527145

And here is a great start to Revit:

http://www.revitfurniture.com/what-is-revit.html

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