Finch vs VisualARQ

Finch is a building-design platform for generating plans, exploring options with real-time data, and producing project outputs. Its Plan Library draws on past projects, firm knowledge, accessibility rules, local codes, and constraints as a basis for design generation. The AI agent Archie handles repetitive precision tasks such as placing doors, checking compliance, and updating linked units. Finch produces floor plans, area calculations, and BIM geometry, with exports to traditional BIM tools. It documents workflows with Rhino, Revit, Grasshopper, and Autodesk Forma; listed application versions include Rhino 8, Rhino 7.24+, Rhino 6 SR35+, and Revit 2023–2027. Finch is available as an extension and on macOS, the web, and Windows. The Free plan costs nothing for one user. Basic costs €79 a month for one user and lists a 14-day trial. Enterprise costs €14,500 a year, billed annually for at least three seats.

VisualARQ is architectural BIM software for Rhino 7 and 8, turning freeform geometry into BIM objects and supporting custom parametric objects. Its tools include walls, curtain walls, doors, windows, beams, columns, stairs, railings, slabs and roofs. It generates linked 2D plans, sections and elevations, real-time vector drawings, and dynamic quantity take-off reports that can be exported to Excel. The software supports IFC 2×3 and IFC 4 exchange and DWG export of page layouts. Grasshopper components and a RhinoCommon API support development with C#, VB.NET or Python. It also works with Rhino-compatible render engines including V-Ray, Enscape, Lumion and Twinmotion. VisualARQ works in Rhino for Windows only; the maker says there is no Mac version. Licenses are permanent, have no subscription fees and include free updates within the same major version. A fully functional 90-day evaluation is available, after which some features are disabled. Floating licenses use Cloud Zoo or Rhino Zoo.