Chief Architect

Name: Chief Architect
Price: 1995 USD

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What Chief Architect is

Chief Architect is 3D design software for residential and light commercial projects, including remodeling, kitchens, baths, and interiors. Drawing walls and placing architectural objects builds a 3D model alongside materials lists and construction documents such as site plans, framing plans, sections, and elevations. The materials lists can include quantities, unit and labor costs, markup, and project costs, and update as the design changes. For design reviews and presentations, the software offers realistic and artistic renderings, 360-degree views, virtual tours, and walkthrough videos. Its 3D Library contains fixtures, appliances, millwork, furnishings, and manufacturer-specific products. Chief Architect imports and exports AutoCAD DXF and DWG files and imports OBJ, SKP, STL, and DAE formats. The As-Built app uses LiDAR on supported iPhones and iPads to create room models for remodeling. 3D Viewer models can be shared or embedded on web pages and opened in free iOS and Android apps; cloud accounts hold up to 99 models unless expanded storage is purchased. Premier supports multi-floor design, floor plan import, and AR visualization.

Who it suits

Chief Architect suits residential and light commercial designers, remodelers, and people planning kitchens, baths, or interiors who need design documents, estimates, and visual presentations. It also fits projects that use supported CAD or 3D file formats, or room scans from supported iPhones and iPads.

What it does well

Creates construction documents as users build a 3D model.
Materials lists update as designs change.
Offers 360-degree views, virtual tours, and walkthrough videos.
Imports and exports AutoCAD DXF and DWG files.
As-Built uses LiDAR to create room models on supported devices.
Models can be shared or embedded on web pages.

What to know first

No free plan; pricing starts at $1,995/yr.
Trial disables saving, printing, exporting, and virtual tours.
Premier requires 16 GB RAM minimum and Apple M1 or newer for Mac.
Internet access and license authentication every 14 days are required.

Limits

The trial does not expire, but saving, printing, exporting, and virtual tours are disabled. The cloud account stores up to 99 3D Viewer models unless a larger storage plan is purchased.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Chief Architect Premier	$1,995/yr. $166.25/mo.—save 27% · Includes software upgrades, premium catalog downloads, priority technical support, and Chief As-Built plan import	$1,995 a year
Chief Architect Premier	$229/mo. · Includes software upgrades, premium catalog downloads, priority technical support, and Chief As-Built plan import	$229 a month

As chiefarchitect.com lists them, read 2 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the Chief Architect website.
Choose the Chief Architect Premier plan, listed at $229 a month.
Install Premier on a supported Windows or Mac computer.
Use the free trial to explore the software; saving, printing, exporting, and virtual tours are disabled.
Install the As-Built iOS app to scan rooms with LiDAR on a supported iPhone or iPad.

Verdict

Choose Chief Architect Premier for residential or light commercial design that combines 3D modeling, construction documents, changing cost estimates, and visual presentations. Look elsewhere if you need a usable saving or export workflow during a trial, or if your computer does not meet the listed desktop requirements.

Questions

How much does Chief Architect Premier cost?

The listed plan is $229 a month, billed at $229/mo. The pricing note also says From $1,995/yr.

Is there a free plan or trial?

There is no free plan. A trial is available and does not expire, but saving, printing, exporting, and virtual tours are disabled.

Which platforms does it support?

The listed platforms are Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Premier runs natively on Windows 10 or 11 64-bit and supported Macs; Mac support requires Apple M1 or newer.

Which file formats can it import or export?

It imports and exports AutoCAD DXF and DWG, and imports OBJ, SKP, STL, and DAE. Listed export formats also include PDF, 3DS, CSV, TXT, and HTML.

Can I share 3D models?

Yes. 3D Viewer models can be shared or embedded on web pages and viewed with free iOS and Android apps. The cloud account stores up to 99 models unless expanded storage is purchased.

Who makes Chief Architect?

Chief Architect, Inc. is privately held and headquartered in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The company says its software began in 1992.

Facts from Chief Architect's own pages

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. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
Company: Chief Architect, Inc. is privately held, headquartered in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and says its software began in 1992. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
Design catalog: Its 3D Library includes thousands of objects such as fixtures, appliances, millwork, furnishings, and manufacturer-specific products. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
Estimating: Materials lists can include unit costs, markup, labor costs, quantities, and project costs, and update as the design changes. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
Founded: 1992 · chiefarchitect.com, 23 Sept 2026
Headquarters: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States · chiefarchitect.com, 23 Sept 2026
Integrations: Chief Architect imports and exports AutoCAD DXF and DWG files and imports several 3D formats, including OBJ, SKP, STL, and DAE. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
Internet requirement: Internet access is required for installation, license authentication, deactivation, video and catalog access, with license authentication required once every 14 days. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
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. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
Purpose: Chief Architect Premier is 3D software for residential and light commercial design, remodeling, kitchens, baths, and interiors. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
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. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
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. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
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. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
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. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
Trial limits: The trial does not expire, but saving, printing, exporting, and virtual tours are disabled. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026
Visualization: The software supports realistic and artistic rendering, 360-degree renderings, virtual tours, and walkthrough videos. · chiefarchitect.com, 2 Oct 2026