Chief Architect vs DreamPlan Home Design Software

Chief Architect Premier is 3D design software for residential and light commercial work, including remodeling, kitchens, baths, and interiors. Drawing walls and placing architectural objects builds a 3D model and produces materials lists and construction documents such as site plans, framing plans, sections, and elevations. Materials lists can include quantities, unit and labor costs, markup, and project costs, and update as the design changes. For presentation, the software supports realistic and artistic rendering, 360-degree renderings, virtual tours, and walkthrough videos. Its 3D Library contains objects such as fixtures, appliances, millwork, furnishings, and manufacturer-specific products. It imports and exports AutoCAD DXF and DWG files, and imports OBJ, SKP, STL, and DAE. The As-Built app uses LiDAR on supported iPhones and iPads to create room models for remodeling. The trial does not expire, but saving, printing, exporting, and virtual tours are disabled. Premier costs $229 a month, billed $229/mo.

DreamPlan Home Design Software plans and visualizes houses, condos, apartments, interiors, landscaping, decks, and pools. Users can switch among 3D, rendered 2D, and blueprint views, create multi-floor floor plans, or import an existing plan for tracing. Outdoor tools reshape terrain and place trees, plants, shrubs, gardens, decks, patios, and pools. Interior tools arrange furniture, fixtures, appliances, and decorations while changing colors, materials, and textures. DreamPlan lists JPG, PNG, OBJ, STL, 3DS, and PLY among supported project or model formats and can export a web viewer in HTML. Screenshots can be shared through Google Drive, OneDrive, or Flickr. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Android. The free version is for non-commercial use, costs nothing, and requires no signup. No free trial is listed. Download requirements include Windows 7–11, macOS 10.5 or later, a recommended OpenGL 2.0 or newer driver, and a 64 MB video card with Pixel Shader 2.0 support.