No. 19 of 38 ·3D Home Design Software

Chief Architect

Name: Chief Architect
Price: 229 USD

Web · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone · paid plans from $166.25/mo

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Freedom report

Two barsScore 5.3

Free tierNo free tier on record
Open codeNo open-source code on record
Runs widely5 of 6 device platforms
DocumentedPlans, terms and facts published

Chief Architect is ranked #19 of 38 in 3D home design software on Freedom251. It runs on Android, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows. There is no free plan. A free trial is offered. Paid plans start at $166.25/mo.

Chief Architect plans and pricing

All plans

Chief Architect Premier $229/mo $229/mo. Includes software upgrades, premium catalog downloads, priority technical support, and Chief As-Built plan import chiefarchitect.com · 2 Oct 2026

Chief Architect Premier $1,995/yr $1,995/yr. $166.25/mo.—save 27% Includes software upgrades, premium catalog downloads, priority technical support, and Chief As-Built plan import chiefarchitect.com · 2 Oct 2026

Compared on 3D home design software

Free plan: No
Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Floor plan import: Yes
AR visualization: Yes
Export formats: PDF, DXF, DWG, 3DS, STL, DAE, CSV, TXT, HTML
Multi-floor design: Yes

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The record

Purpose: Chief Architect Premier is 3D software for residential and light commercial design, remodeling, kitchens, baths, and interiors.
Building tools: As users draw walls and place architectural objects, the software creates a 3D model, materials lists, and construction documents such as site plans, framing plans, sections, and elevations.
Visualization: The software supports realistic and artistic rendering, 360-degree renderings, virtual tours, and walkthrough videos.
Design catalog: Its 3D Library includes thousands of objects such as fixtures, appliances, millwork, furnishings, and manufacturer-specific products.
Integrations: Chief Architect imports and exports AutoCAD DXF and DWG files and imports several 3D formats, including OBJ, SKP, STL, and DAE.
Estimating: Materials lists can include unit costs, markup, labor costs, quantities, and project costs, and update as the design changes.
Mobile scanning: The As-Built app uses LiDAR on supported iPhones and iPads to create room models that can be imported into Chief Architect for remodeling.
Sharing: 3D Viewer models can be shared or embedded on web pages and viewed using free iOS and Android apps; the cloud account stores up to 99 models unless a larger storage plan is purchased.
Trial limits: The trial does not expire, but saving, printing, exporting, and virtual tours are disabled.
Supported desktop systems: Premier runs natively on Windows 10 or 11 64-bit and supported Macs; the listed minimums include 16 GB RAM, and Mac support requires Apple M1 or newer.
Internet requirement: Internet access is required for installation, license authentication, deactivation, video and catalog access, with license authentication required once every 14 days.
Security and privacy: The company says it protects information to industry standards, does not sell personal information, does not store credit card numbers, and uses a PCI-compliant payment processor.
Support: Priority support is available for X17 and X18; versions X14–X16 have paid per-incident support for $125, and X13 and earlier are ineligible.
Company: Chief Architect, Inc. is privately held, headquartered in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and says its software began in 1992.
Price from: $166.25/mo

Where it ranks on Freedom251

Best 3D Home Design Software in 2026#19 of 38
Best Architecture Software in 2026#18 of 38
Best Architectural Design Software in 2026#11 of 31

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Sources

chiefarchitect.com/products/home-design/premier/· checked 2 Oct 2026
chiefarchitect.com/products/features/· checked 2 Oct 2026
chiefarchitect.com/products/as-built/· checked 2 Oct 2026
chiefarchitect.com/products/3d-viewer/· checked 2 Oct 2026
chiefarchitect.com/software-subscription/· checked 2 Oct 2026
chiefarchitect.com/products/sysreq.html· checked 2 Oct 2026
chiefarchitect.com/company/privacy.html· checked 2 Oct 2026
chiefarchitect.com/support/· checked 2 Oct 2026
chiefarchitect.com/company/aboutchief.html· checked 2 Oct 2026