Arkio

Arkio is a spatial design workspace for architects and related design professionals who need to develop, present, and review ideas together. It is best suited to teams working across mobile, desktop, and XR devices, especially when discussion and model changes need to happen in the same session. The main trade-off is that meeting capacity, AI-render allowances, and device-use rules vary materially by plan.

Overview

Arkio combines real-time solid modeling with shared design meetings. Boolean operations and parametric volumes support form development, while participants can view or edit the same scene as a meeting progresses. Saved views, voice-transcribed notes, AI renders, and collaborative 2D frames extend the workspace into design review rather than leaving feedback in a separate tool.

That combination is valuable for architects and other spatial designers who need to explain options visually and make decisions around a common scene. It is less compelling for a solo user who does not need live meetings, or for teams whose workflows depend on tools outside Arkio's supported integrations.

Key features

Modeling and collaboration

Real-time solid modeling includes boolean operations and parametric volumes, giving designers direct tools for developing forms instead of limiting them to navigation. Meetings allow participants to inspect and edit together, which suits design reviews where a change needs immediate group discussion. Starter meetings are restricted to one-on-one; Pro supports up to six participants and Enterprise up to 24.

Review and visualization

Saved views provide repeatable viewpoints for critiques, while voice-transcribed notes turn spoken feedback into records attached to the design process. Collaborative 2D frames offer another way to discuss drawings or layouts. AI renders provide an additional visualization route, but every render consumes one credit and the included allowance renews monthly, so frequent rendering can make the quota a practical constraint.

Interoperability

Plugins connect Arkio with Archicad, Navisworks, Revit, Rhino, and SketchUp. Pro includes Revit, Rhino, and SketchUp import/export plus Archicad and Navisworks import. Starter includes OBJ and GLB and image import/export, which is useful for lightweight exchange but narrower for established BIM and modeling workflows.

Devices and support

Arkio runs on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, with VR/AR support and mobile viewing. A Pro license can be installed on two devices but used on only one at a time, an important restriction for people moving between a workstation and a mobile or XR device. Help-center and community-forum support are available; Enterprise adds priority support, personal onboarding, and custom training plans.

Pricing

Starter

Starter is free. It includes all modeling tools, one-on-one meetings, and OBJ/GLB and image import/export. It is a sensible way to develop models or hold individual reviews, but the two-person meeting ceiling rules it out for larger design critiques.

Pro

Pro costs $35 per user per month when billed annually, or $45 billed monthly; tax is not included. It allows up to six meeting participants, includes 500 AI credits per month, and adds Revit, Rhino, and SketchUp import/export alongside Archicad and Navisworks import. The 14-day Pro trial includes 20 AI credits, giving prospective teams a short period to assess the higher meeting limit and rendering workflow.

Enterprise

Enterprise costs $85 per month per floating license, with annual billing only and tax excluded. It raises meetings to 24 participants, provides 1,000 AI credits per license each month, and uses floating licenses. Priority support, personal onboarding, and custom training plans make this the appropriate tier for organizations that need structured rollout and larger sessions, rather than simply more modeling tools.

Schools and educational institutions can apply for free educational licenses. Teams should also account for the one-device-at-a-time rule on Pro licenses when assigning seats across shared hardware.

Platforms

Arkio supports Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, with a hybrid setup that combines desktop and mobile access. VR/AR support and mobile viewing make it suitable for presenting spatial concepts away from a conventional workstation, while the supported application plugins help connect meetings to established design files.

Who it's for

Arkio is a strong choice for architecture practices, spatial-design teams, and educators that want shared modeling and review in one environment. Pro fits small project groups that need meetings beyond two people and regular but bounded AI visualization. Enterprise is aimed at larger organizations requiring up to 24-person sessions, floating licensing, and formal support. Solo designers or teams seeking only a conventional CAD or rendering package should look elsewhere, as Arkio's distinctive value is collaborative, real-time work.

Pros and cons

Pro: Real-time editing and viewing let teams make decisions around one shared scene.

Pro: Boolean and parametric modeling are combined with saved views, transcribed notes, 2D frames, and AI renders for a connected review process.

Pro: Plugins cover Archicad, Navisworks, Revit, Rhino, and SketchUp workflows.

Con: Starter meetings are limited to one-on-one, so even modest group reviews require Pro.

Con: AI rendering is metered at one credit per render, with monthly plan allowances.

Con: A Pro license may be installed on two devices but used on only one at a time.

Alternatives

Archicad is the better fit when the priority is a paid architectural design platform with broad desktop, mobile, and web availability, including a free educational license for eligible users.

Live Home 3D suits users wanting a freemium home-design app with free mobile access and optional Standard or Pro subscriptions and lifetime licenses, rather than Arkio's meeting-centered workflow.

AutoCAD is the conventional choice for teams seeking a paid CAD product with Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows support and a free trial.

GstarCAD is an alternative paid CAD package with Standard and Professional perpetual-license plans.

Rayon fits users who want a freemium, browser-oriented design tool with unlimited public models on its free plan and limited exports, history, and AI features.

TAD Designer is a free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows users.

Twinmotion is worth considering when visualization and cloud delivery are the priority, with a free plan and a paid seat option.

Graphisoft BIMx is a free viewer for sharing Graphisoft projects across desktop, mobile, and browser platforms, rather than a full collaborative modeling workspace.

For broader comparisons, see Architecture Software and 3D Visualization Software.

Verdict

Choose Arkio if your architecture or spatial-design team needs to model, discuss, and review a shared scene across desktop, mobile, and XR devices. Its strongest reason to buy is the combination of live solid modeling, meetings, and review tools with useful design-application integrations. Look elsewhere if you need meetings larger than your plan allows, unrestricted AI rendering, simultaneous use of one license on multiple devices, or a conventional CAD-first workflow.