Are you planning to build a house? Interested in redecorating your room or your garden? Are you interested in having your own architectural plan? Then these architecture software are built for you. Aiming basically for getting professional plans for buildings and houses, these software have some unique capabilities over others. Following are the few of the best-picked software for you to help you in your architectural planning.

With SmartDraw you can create your architecture design on your desktop Windows ® computer, your Mac, or even a mobile device. Whether you're in the office or on the go, you'll enjoy the full set of features, symbols, and high-quality output you get only with SmartDraw. With SmartDraw you can create your architecture design on your desktop Windows ® computer, your Mac, or even a mobile device. Whether you're in the office or on the go, you'll enjoy the full set of features, symbols, and high-quality output you get only with SmartDraw. Arcon Evo is not free software for architecture but can be said to be one of the best one in terms of features that it offers. It offers professional CAD tools for designing windows and doors in the 3D view, roof and floor plans and also customized stairs.

3D Architectural Design

FreeCAD is the online architecture software that is free and open source. The professionals and hobbyist use it in design, architecture, and construction-related projects. It is extensible software that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Find and compare top Architecture software on Capterra, with our free and interactive tool. Quickly browse through hundreds of Architecture tools and systems and narrow down your top choices. Filter by popular features, pricing options, number of users, and read reviews from real users and find a tool that fits your needs.

Easy architectural software powered by intuitive BIM technology to create 3D buildings and 2D floor plans and elevations directly in dwg format. The software offers you features as a similar interface to AutoCAD and complete DWG support. The software serves as both an architectural software and CAD software. You can have the taste of the software with the free trial version before deciding on the purchase of software.

Ashampoo 3D CAD Architecture

Architecture software from Ashampoo team, designed simply with powerful features. The feature highlights of this software include step by step project assistance, 2D-3D cross section views, smart input and construction aids, integrated roof staircase and environment builders, realistic light and shadow simulation, extensive pre-defined objects catalogue. You can have a free trial of the software before purchasing it.

My Sketcher

With Sketcher, you can create your architectural plan within few minutes, with its simplicity and advanced features. You can start with your plan by either starting fresh in software or importing hand drawn plan image and building on top of it or building with a pre-defined template. The software is available in three paid versions and one free version. You can have the taste of software before going for paid version.

WayFinder

Wayfinder is a 3D architectural visualization and property management software platform. The software offers some rich features including importing locations of objects using spreadsheets, manage users and permissions, see usage statistics, swap floors instantly and zoom, pan or rotate the view. The software supports all the common 3D formats. 3D Wayfinder can also be integrated with any website or web-based application.

3D Architect- Home Design for Windows

3D Architect home design is the software specifically designed for Windows platform users. For people at any stage, whether home remodeler or professional architect, 3D Architect home design is ideal entry software. The key features of this software include dialogue boxes, landscaping tools for making of path or ponds etc., 3D warehouse interface for adding, furnishing items directly to your design, preset lighting schemes, lighting shadow and reflection effects for real-time design, extensive range of doors and windows, 3D walkthrough function to walk through your project for demonstration. The software is normally priced with the features it offers.

Chief Architect 3D for Mac

Chief Architect 3D is Architect design software built specifically for the Mac (iOS) platform users. The software is free for use. The software has some good features to offer including dynamic cross section views for both interior and exterior, gyro camera for freeform viewing, walk through to walk physically (simulated) through your model. You can also export your design to the cloud or Chief Architect desktop software to view the model in 3D mode.

Architect 3D Express – Most Popular Software

Architect 3D express is the most popular software in architect design software category. You can design your creative project step by step, room by room, from the basement to the loft space with this software. The key features of the software are walk through each room, see project simultaneously in 2D and 3D, creating 3D models on paper, extensive 3D furniture library. The software has got video tutorials for beginners to get going faster. You can also see Floor Plan Software

What is Architect Design Software?

Architect design software is designed with a basic aim of designing an architectural structure, from a single room to a multi-storied building. The free version offered in this category is basically not intended for professional or serious architects or designers. Walk through the room, generating 3D sketches on paper are some common features you can expect from each of the competent Architect design software. You can also see Home Design Software

Though all the software listed above offer some functionality in common, which you can expect from an Architect design software, each of them has some unique feature to offer over others. Some software has trial version to give you a taste before you spending money. If you don’t need advanced features, you can opt for the free one’s; but for the advanced user, the choice is a personal preference.

If you’re looking for CAD software for Mac, you’re not without options. We’ve found some standout Mac and cloud-based CAD platforms for you.

You’re likely to hit a wall if you’re searching for computer-aided design (CAD) software designed for Mac. There are plenty of CAD software options for Windows—you’ll see many of them in our list of the top AutoCAD alternatives—but only a handful offer support for Mac.

And, if you think you’ll bypass the issue by using a cloud-based CAD tool, you’ll quickly find that CAD vendors haven’t embraced the cloud as much as other types of software vendors have, so the offerings are still largely on-premise. According to Gartner’s Hype Cycle for IT Evolution (full content available to Gartner clients), cloud-native CAD applications still have five to 10 years before they reach mainstream adoption.

But fear not, Mac users. We’ve done some digging and have put together this list of the top-rated CAD software for Mac. Read more about our methodology at the bottom of this article.

5 Best CAD Software for Mac (presented alphabetically)

Jump to:

• 
  CorelCAD
• 
  FreeCAD
• 
  Fusion 360
• 
  LibreCAD
• 
  Onshape

1. CorelCAD

CorelCAD offers 2D drafting and 3D design capabilities, such as the drawing constraints feature for creating different geometric shapes faster and the push and pull feature for 3D direct modeling.

3D modeling in CorelCAD (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analyses of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of CorelCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• The short learning curve: Users mention that the tool is easy to use and beginners don’t have to spend a lot of time learning it.
• Compatibility with multiple file types: Users like the fact that the tool is compatible with DWG, PDF, ACIS, DXF, STL, CDR, and other file formats.

What users think could be improved:

• Software reliability issues: Some users mention that the software tends to crash at times.
• Better dimension functionality: Some users would like a better dimensioning feature for more accurate drawings of angles and proportions.

Who can use CorelCAD

CorelCAD can be used by construction businesses for collaborative editing on multiple devices. It offers native iOS applications, which makes it easy for field crews to add annotations in graphics and share files using their iPhones and iPads. Additionally, the tool allows team members to leave recorded messages and instructions for colleagues embedded in the graphics using a voice note tool.

2. FreeCAD

FreeCAD is an open source CAD tool that works on Mac as well as Windows and Linux. It reads many common file formats such as STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC, and DAE.

It offers different modules, including a drawing sheets module that converts 3D models into 2D views, a rendering module that can export 3D objects, and an architecture module for a BIM-like workflow.

3D model of a building in FreeCAD (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of FreeCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• Feature-richness for a free tool: Users mention that, although it’s free, the tool comes with a full set of features.
• Reliability: Users mention that the tool does not demand a lot of CPU power and works well on devices with low RAM.

What users think could be improved:

• Steep learning curve: Users mention that the tool is not the most user-friendly solution and can be difficult for beginners to learn.
• Dependent on community for updates: Users mention that modules ignored by the community tend to become outdated quickly.

Who can use FreeCAD

FreeCAD appears to be best for hobbyists and home users. It’s also good for users who don’t have a high budget for software but still want to tinker with CAD modeling.

FreeCAD could also be a good choice for businesses on a budget looking for a free and open-source option.

3. Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is a CAD tool from Autodesk with design functionalities such as sketching and 3D modeling. It also supports project management with features such as task management, document management, and collaborative image editing.

Document management in Fusion 360 (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of Fusion 360 they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• Comprehensive design features: User mention that the tool offers all the functionalities necessary for 2D and 3D designing.
• Availability of training resources: Users like the fact that the tool comes with ample documentation and tutorials.

What users think could be improved:

• System crashes: Users mention that the tool tends to crash, especially when designing and rendering large files.
• Steep learning curve: Users mention that it can take a lot of time to learn the advanced functionalities of the tool.

Who can use Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is part of the Autodesk ecosystem designed for the AEC industry. This makes the tool suitable for construction businesses that are already using, or intend to use, other Autodesk solutions. Using a software vendor that offers multiple solutions will especially benefit larger businesses that invariably need software that can scale with their growing requirements.

4. LibreCAD

LibreCAD is an open source CAD tool that supports Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. The tool comes with 2D drawing features such as a snap tool, dimensioning, and annotations. It also supports multiple file imports and exports.

2D drawing in LibreCAD (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of LibreCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• Ease of use: Users mention that the tool offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
• Lots of tutorials: Users like the fact that there are ample video tutorials that help them get started with the tool.

What users think could be improved:

• Software speed: Users mention that the software tends to lag, especially when trying to print designs.
• Add support for 3D design: Users would like to see functionalities for creating 3D designs.

Who can use LibreCAD

LibreCAD is an exclusively 2D CAD tool for drawing and designing blueprints of buildings, layouts of parks, and the like. As a free tool, the solution can be used by small and midsize businesses across different industries, including manufacturing, engineering, architecture, and construction.

5. Onshape

Onshape is a cloud-only CAD solution that comes with features such as document management with version control, collaborative design creation/editing capabilities, and reporting dashboards to understand project status.

Importing documents in Onshape (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of Onshape they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• Document version control: Users like the document management features of the tool, such as version history.
• Intuitive interface: Users mention that the tool comes with an intuitive interface for easy image editing.

What users think could be improved:

• Performance issues: Some users mention that the tool does not function well on non-Chrome browsers and has file loading issues.
• Lack of features: Users mention that the tool should improve certain features such as 2D drawing and 3D surfacing.

Who can use Onshape

As a fully-cloud based tool, Onshape is ideal for businesses that need to manage design documents collaboratively with multiple stakeholders. The tool’s collaboration functionalities include document sharing, document editing, comments, and file downloads in multiple CAD formats, such as Parasolid, ACIS, STEP, and IGES.

Next steps

Architecture Software For Macbook Air

This report offers a mix of Mac CAD solutions—from free tools that can help you with basic 2D drawing to advanced solutions offering extensive 3D modeling functionalities.

If these tools don’t meet your needs, expand your search and check out more options. To help you, we’ve created a CAD software comparison page where you can explore products using different filters, such as features offered and pricing options.

If you’re looking to understand the CAD software market better, we also recommend that you read the articles listed below:

Methodology

To be shortlisted, products had to fulfill the following criteria:

• Products had to be compatible with Mac and offer core CAD software capabilities, such as:
  • 2D drawing or 3D modeling features
  • Collaborative editing of drawings
• Products needed a minimum of 20 user reviews on Capterra (published in the last two years).
• Products had to have a high overall rating (an average of at least 4 out of 5 on Capterra).

Note: The content in this piece that provides opinions and points of view expressed by users. It does not represent the views of Capterra.

Best Simple Architecture Software For Mac

Looking for Construction Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Construction Management software solutions.