TurboCAD Deluxe (opens in new tab) is a particularly good choice for beginners and intermediate users. Some of these are worth looking at because they better serve as an introduction for beginners, while others are notable for being free while retaining useful features.
While we've featured some of the most powerful and popular AutoCAD and 3D design software programs in this roundup, especially for use in designing buildings and other architectural interests, there are plenty of alternative options to consider. Other architecture software options to consider
To find out more, read our full Sketchup review (opens in new tab).
Sketchup offers a free tier, although it has limited features. It might not be suitable for designing a building entirely, but it is an excellent tool for rapidly prototyping a design when it is still at a conceptual stage. The user-base has also contributed to an extensive object library, a vast resource of pre-constructed parts to drop into any project. The free release has made Sketchup very popular, generating a large and active community of Sketchup users on hand to help the inexperienced. After a few easy to follow tutorials, designers should be able to work rapidly to construct complex solid geometry using it. Originally a Google-backed project, Sketchup (opens in new tab) is now owned and developed by Trimble, who release a new version at least once a year.Īs a start point for anyone entering 3D modelling, Sketchup is as easy as CAD gets. However, dedicated software for architecture is still quite niche, as the programs have to be pretty comprehensive, and there are only a few vendors who specialize in this area. Additionally, for the more serious projects you can also include engineering information to ensure your structures are viable in a real-world context.Īrchitecture software can also be used to set up workflow management (opens in new tab) and account for project management (opens in new tab) tasks, some of which are included, integrated, or can simply be exported into another program. This is where architecture software really comes into its own, allowing architects to not just design their vision simply and easily, but also edit, delete, and add at will. Additionally, while there are various digital design packages out there, architects need something more dedicated than normal graphic design software (opens in new tab). Architecture software has become essential in the modern digital world, making it easier to draw up, save, and print plans for your designs.