9 Best 3D Architecture Software for Beginners in 2024

Summary: 3D architecture software helps architects to create and render 2D and 3D models of buildings and infrastructure that match their vision of that architecture. What are the other merits of leveraging this software? Find out in the article below.

For engineers, architects, and designers, manual 2D sketches and designs are not enough to showcase the complexities of an infrastructure. Further, these sketches are more prone to data errors. Moreover, if too many members are involved in designing, then the procedure becomes difficult. However, with the availability of architectural rendering software, managing the entire 3D design process has become easier.

With one of the best rendering software for architects, you can generate photorealistic 3D designs, render them, export them in BIM and CAD formats, etc. Further, you can also create the building’s walkthroughs that can be viewed in virtual reality with online architecture design tool.

What is 3D Architecture Software?

3D architecture software helps in creating interactive virtual tours and 3D models of a building’s infrastructure. It creates a more realistic representation of a building to showcase the final design.

With it, architects can create photorealistic designs, identify issues with the models, and make changes to the existing 3D infrastructure model.

From highlighting multiple views and angles of a structure to creating real-time interactive walkthroughs, every design task can be streamlined with architectural rendering software.

List of 9 Best 3D Architecture Software for Beginners

• Revit
• ArchiCAD
• Cedreo
• MicroStation
• VectorWorks
• Enscape
• Concept3D
• V-Ray
• Chief Architect

1. Revit

Revit helps engineers and architects create high resolution designs for buildings and infrastructure. You can easily shape elements with parametric accuracy, create design documents, collaborate on projects in real time, compare design alternatives, and customize design components.

Revit’s Features

• Imports and exports designs in BIM and CAD formats like IFC, SKP, etc.
• Offers tagging and dimensioning tools for annotating designs
• Supports tables for capturing and representing the project’s data
• Adjusts elements’ visibility including hiding and highlighting them
• Creates and customizes the library of building materials and elements
• Adjusts the elements positions in 2D plans for better clarity

Pros and Cons of Revit

Pricing of Revit: No free plan available | Paid subscription starts from INR 21,943/month for 3 years

Revit’s Free Trial: 30 days free trial

2. ArchiCAD

ArchiCAD is a 3D architecture design software to help architects with BIM and 3D modeling. With it, you can work on designing buildings from their conceptual phase till their complete construction.

ArchiCAD comes with features like in-built photorealistic rendering, multiple animations for creating presentations, 3D parametric object library, complex elements designing, etc.

This Open BIM software allows you to easily share and work on projects with different stakeholders.

ArchiCAD’s Features

• Offers built-in tools to design models
• Comes with architectural visualization tools for converting conceptual design models into the future buildings’ imagery
• Offers built-in MEP modeler to collaborate on projects of any complexity
• Creates model documentation complying with local BIM requirements
• Offers multiple textures for model visualization
• Supports project publishing on various online channels directly

Pros and Cons of ArchiCAD

Pricing of ArchiCAD: No free plan available | Paid plan starts from INR 10,914.27+ tax/month

Free Trial of ArchiCAD: 30 days free trial

3. Cedreo

Cedreo is a 3D home design solution that helps home builders, interior designers, and home remodeling designers to create a home model quickly.

This online architecture design tool streamlines the procedure of creating 3D floor plans, customizing roof designs, adjusting the camera angles, customizing the surface coverings, and a lot more.

Cedreo can also be used for customizing the interiors and exterior of your home with templates for furniture and décor materials.

Cedreo’s Features

• Supports HD rendering of projects
• Offers 650+ customizable templates for floors and windows
• Automatically generates 2D and 3D floor plans
• Helps create and manage blueprints
• Offers the 2D and 3D catalogue of furnishings and objects
• Generates photorealistic renderings for both interior and exterior designs

Pros and Cons of Cedreo

Pricing of Cedreo: Free plan available | Paid plan starts from INR 4,009.35 per project

Free Trial of Cedreo: Not available

4. MicroStation

MicroStation is a 3D CAD software to assist architects and engineers with infrastructure designing. This architectural rendering software can be used for automating design workflows with intelligent interactive snapping, developing parametric components for 3D designs, etc.

Further, you can also collaborate on designs with other members in a single design environment with MicroStation.

Features of MicroStation

• Visualizes and analyzes models based on their geometrical attributes
• Creates models in 3D via
• Offers multiple drawing tools for 2D designing
• Manages permissions to view, edit, or publish designs
• Develops model documentation along with the spatial data

Pros and Cons of MicroStation

Pricing of MicroStation: Details are available on request on MicroStation’s official website

MicroStation’s Free Trial: 14 days free trial

5. VectorWorks

VectorWorks’s Architect is a complete BIM software that helps users to sketch, draw, model, and document 3D architectural designs.

It comes with features like history-based modeling, animated walkthrough creation, paranoma renders, objects shading, design geometry manipulation, and so on. You can also edit images directly from this software.

Features of VectorWorks’s Architect

• Helps in sketching, modeling, and documenting the designing ideas
• Quantifies and analyzes data before the schematic designing phrase
• Supports real-time collaboration on projects in different formats
• Supports BIM model exchange in IFC, RVT, RFA, BCF formats
• Creates rendering and presentation in .PSD, TIFF, .EPS, file formats, etc.

Pros and Cons of VectorWorks

VectorWorks’ Pricing: No free plan available | Paid plan starts from INR 12,537.31/month

VectorWorks’s Free Trial: 7 days free trial

6. Enscape

Enscape is a visualization and rendering plugin designed to be used with Revit, Rhino, Vectorworks Archicad, and SketchUp Pro to improve the design workflow.

It can be used to create floor plans, adjusting atmosphere settings, customizing materials library, changing composition and lightning, generating design roadmaps, etc.

This 3d architecture design plugin also displays all the data related to the design elements through its BIM mode.

Features of Enscape

• Creates real-time walkthroughs of buildings with 3D rendering
• Enables you to view all the walkthroughs in virtual reality
• Offers 392 in-built HD material library for presenting material composition
• Offers rendering window to change or replace the design’s assets
• Adjusts the lightning in designs as per the daytime
• Renders your designs in different styles like white and Polystyrol mode

Pros and Cons of Enscape

Enscape’s Pricing: Free plan available | Paid plan starts from INR 3,511.39/month

Free Trial of Enscape: 14 days free trial

7. Concept3D

Concept3D offers different products for creating interactive maps and virtual tours of your location in real-time. This online architecture design tool comes with features like 3D renderings for maps, live data feeds insertion in maps, wheelchair accessible routes addition, mini maps creation, and a lot more.

Concept3D has also made it easier to replace the google map of your location with the interactive maps directly from the software. Further, all the virtual tours and interactive maps can be optimized for laptops and mobile devices with it.

Concept3D Features

• Creates virtual tour of any location with 360-degree view
• Inserts text and audio transcripts in your interactive maps
• You can add the best routes, directions, turns, etc., with wayfinding for any location
• Showcases parking details by inserting data in the map
• You can make changes or addition to your maps via content management module
• Customizes 3D tour guide and maps with your brand’s logo, colors, etc.

Pros and Cons of Concept3D

Pricing of Concept3D: Available on Concept3D’s official website

Concept3D’s Free Trial: Offers free trial for its 360-degree tour product

8. V-Ray

V-Ray is a 3D rendering plugin that can be used with various 3D design and CAD software such as 3ds Max, Houdini, Nuke, Revit, SketchUp, Unreal, etc. With this plugin, you can do interactive rendering, adjust colors in your designs, visualize and analyze lights in design, create designs for virtual reality, etc.

Further, you can also create and edit all types of assets like materials, lights, and rendering materials with this 3d architecture design software.

Features of V-Ray

• Generates photorealistic designs and animations
• Creates HD 3D visualizations of architectural designs
• Supports debug shading of objects
• Offers ready to use library of rendering objects
• Easily adjusts lights and materials in your 3D renderings
• Offers real-time previewing of your models

Pros and Cons of V-Ray

V-Ray’s Pricing: No free plan available | Paid plan starts from INR 3,178.62/month

Free Trial of V-Ray: 30 days free trial

9. Chief Architect

Chief Architect is a 3D modeling software used for designing residential infrastructure. It offers several automated tools for designing home’s interiors, kitchen, bathroom, and so on.

With it, you can easily develop construction sketches, floor plans, panorama renderings, design wall elevation, etc. Further, space planning and virtual reality design creation are also supported by this software.

Chief Architect’s Features

• Generates 3D floor plans with objects and materials
• Automatically generates the building’s basement design
• Creates and visualize the roof styles automatically
• Supports the creation of 3D walkthrough of a building’s exterior design
• Offers multiple rendering techniques to change the look and style of your design.
• Comes with GPU ray tracing for improved lightning in your designs

Pros and Cons of Chief Architect

Pricing of Chief Architect: No free plan available | Paid plan starts from INR 13,584.37/month

Free trial of Chief Architect: Available for 14 days

Top Features of 3D Architecture Software to Look For

If you are planning to buy a 3D architecture software to create stunning 3D models and designs, ensure that it comes with the following features:

• Data Import and Export: The software enables you to import and export your designs in multiple BIM and CAD formats like IFC and SKP.
• Real-Time Collaboration: The real-time collaboration would help you to share and collaborate with your team members on designing projects in real-time.
• Photorealistic Rendering: This feature would help you to generate real-time designs of your 3D models with physically based camera settings and lightning. This helps you in showcasing the real-time preview of infrastructures.
• Component Library: The availability of an inbuilt component library for light effects, materials, colors, textures, etc., would help you to complete your design quickly.
• Model Documentation: With this, you can easily create the model document inclusive of spatial data, material info, cost estimation, and so on.
• BIM (Building Information Modeling): The support for BIM modeling would help you to easily present the physical and functional attributes of a building in your design.

Conclusion

3D architecture software is an important asset for the architectural industry. By offering multiple designing and rendering features, this software has made it easier for engineers and architects to visualize their 3D designs and models in a better way.

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