Archicad vs Bonsai

Archicad is building information modeling software for architects, designers, engineers, and other AEC professionals working on building projects. Its tools cover mass modeling, sketches, optioneering, quantity take-offs, building elements, and custom components. The software turns 3D models into coordinated drawings with real-time and automated annotation updates, and supports openBIM workflows through IFC, BCF, and IDS. BIMcloud can host a centralized model with live updates and notifications. Studio includes local teamworking with BIMcloud Basic; Collaborate adds MEP modeling and Graphisoft-hosted BIMcloud for global Teamwork. Visualization options include photorealistic visuals, fly-throughs, animations, and a cloud-powered AI Visualizer. Archicad runs on macOS and Windows, with compatible file formats and Teamwork between versions. Studio costs $201 a month, billed with an upfront $2,414 + tax for a one-year subscription per seat. Collaborate costs $237 a month, with $2,840 + tax upfront for a one-year term per seat. Eligible students and educators can use a free educational license for non-commercial work; EDU files carry an irremovable watermark.

Bonsai is a free, open-source family of applications for creating, reviewing, and sharing IFC models. Bonsai Studio is an IFC authoring platform built on Blender. It supports modeling, documentation, coordination, and BIM data management across disciplines. Studio can generate and annotate linked 2D drawings, then produce schedules and reports from model data. Bonsai Viewer is a separate free desktop application for reviewing IFC models, drawings, and data without the authoring environment. Viewer includes model search and filtering, clash detection, BCF issue management, federation of multiple models, and cloud synchronization for models and issues. Bonsai reads and writes native IFC and states that it has no proprietary formats or lock-in. Studio is powered by IfcOpenShell and includes Python scripting and an API. Listed workflows cover structural-analysis solver connections, MEP systems, 4D scheduling, 5D cost estimation, and COBie facility-management data. Studio and Viewer support Windows, macOS, and Linux. The Studio page labels the software alpha.