Archicad vs Live Home 3D

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.

Live Home 3D is a home design app for drawing floor plans and creating 3D views of rooms, houses, exteriors and terrain. It runs on Android, iOS, macOS and Windows and is described for both amateur designers and professionals. Floor-planning tools let users draw walls, trace a plan image, mark dimensions and create multiple stories. A design can then be viewed in 3D, walked through, and changed by rearranging furniture and finishes. The Mac app page lists a library of 2,400 3D models and 2,100 materials. Listed imports include objects from Trimble 3D Warehouse and models from Sketchfab; using Sketchfab requires a free account. Mac import and export options include common 3D model formats, PDF floor plans, images, panoramas and walkthrough videos. Offline on-device ray-tracing renders are supported, while AI cloud rendering uses purchased credits. The free version is limited to two stories, and its exports contain watermarks; formats vary by platform. Paid options start at $5.99 per month, with annual and lifetime licenses also listed.