Vectorworks Architect 2026: Benefits, Features & Pricing

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Overview
Pricing and Plans
Features
User Reviews

Overview

Vectorworks Architect

4.3

(53)

Pricing

Starting at $127.50 per month

About Vectorworks Architect

Vectorworks is a versatile, on-premise application that provides extensive 2D drafting, 3D modeling, BIM and rendering capabilities for your architectural and landscape design needs. Vectorworks is equipped with designer-focused tools and features, allowing your workflows to have great freedom, ease of use and flexibility.

A key strength of Vectorworks is its ability to serve your entire creative process, from the initial concept stage through design development, construction drawings, and presentations. 2D drawings and graphics are of rich quality and renderings can range from sketch-styles to photorealistic – All within this one application. Using Vectorworks means it is very likely you will not need to purchase, learn or maintain any other software for your design needs.

With deep BIM integration, Vectorworks enables many techniques and pathways for incorporating construction data into your design and reporting that data on demand. This results in a high level of accuracy and productivity for your firm.

Built-in collaboration tools allow Vectorworks to be a suitable solution for both small and large teams, and for projects of all sizes. A wide range of import and...

Vectorworks Architect Screenshots

Vectorworks Architect Pricing and Plans

Starting price: $127.50 per month

Free Trial

Free Version

Annual Subscription

$127.50

per user, per month

No plan information available

Monthly Subscription

$153.00

per user, per month

No plan information available

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Vectorworks Architect Features

Popular features found in Subcontractor
Bid Management
Calendar Management
Contract/License Management
Contractor Management
Document Management
Project Time Tracking
Qualification Tracking
Task Management
Time & Expense Tracking
More features of Vectorworks Architect
2D Drawing
3D Imaging
3D Modeling
BIM Modeling
CAD Tools
Collaboration Tools
Data Import/Export
Design Modeling
Drafting
Estimating
For AEC Industry
For Architects
Landscape Design
Panoramas
Presentation Tools
Rendering

Vectorworks Architect User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.3

Ratings Breakdown

47%

40%

Secondary Ratings

Ease of Use

4.0

Value for money

3.9

Customer support

4.0

Functionality

4.4

Krista F.

Verified reviewer

Architecture & Planning

2-10 employees

Used daily for less than 12 months

Review source

Reviewed October 2025

Great but too convoluted

Even with its glitches and flaws, we’re glad we went with Vectorworks. It’s so nice not having to bounce from one program to another to another, on the same project.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Our firm chose Vectorworks because of the ability to do so many different things in one program. We love being able to draw in 2D, or 3D (with good rendering abilities), or create all our construction documents in one place. There are also virtual classes and updates all the time which is nice.

Cons:

Options are great, but there are actually too many ways to do things and too many menus per feature. As an analogy, it’s like using Studio Designer (1,000 different menus), when what we really want and need is a streamlined experience like Programa. The other frustrating thing is that the tools are too picky as to whether they will work on a shape. You have to pair the type of object (mesh, nurbs, polygon, etc) with the right tool or else it won’t work at all. I wish that all 3D tools would work on all 3D shapes, and all 2D tools would work on all 2D shapes. I also find the classes too convoluted and not very helpful.

Reasons for switching to Vectorworks Architect

We wanted to add 3D modeling to our presentations.

David H.

Verified reviewer

Architecture & Planning

Self-Employed

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed December 2023

The hub of my architectural workflow

Overall, I'm pleased with it. It fits well into my workflow. It's a little bit expensive, and I do find it a bit frustrating that Vectorworks offers seasonal discounts that I can never take advantage of because my annual subscription renewal never coincides with them!

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

I love the flexibility and customisation options Vectorworks gives me. I can use it as a very simple drafting software for simple projects, or a fully-fledged BIM application for larger projects. With Vectorworks, I don't feel like I have to design in a way the software wants me to design.

Cons:

There is a fairly long learning curve to get the most out of the software, and occasionally you do have to do a bit of head-scratching to figure something out. However, I feel like that is inevitable for software that offers this degree of flexibility.

Reasons for choosing Vectorworks Architect

Revit is too expensive and I didn't think it was very good.

Reasons for switching to Vectorworks Architect

I got started with AutoCAD LT because it was cost-effective, but ultimately lacked features. I found ArchiCAD to be too restrictive - I felt like I had to design the building ArchiCAD wanted me to design!

Tyler S.

Verified reviewer

Events Services

11-50 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed January 2019

Vectorworks to the rescue

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Previously 5

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

The amount of detail this software has is game changing. to be able to truly go into 3d and view true dimensions is so great

Cons:

The price is steep but it’s one of the best apps you can use. Can be hard to use but with a little training it’s easy to use

David C.

Verified reviewer

Architecture & Planning

2-10 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed November 2022

Best BIM software for a growing practice

We have generally had a superior experience using VectorWorks Architect, primarily on a OSX platform.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

the vast array of features and it's integration with other 2D, BIM and 3D software.

Cons:

The service select feature which is marketed as a customer service platform comes at a separated cost, further you cannot get updates or pay for upgrades without it.

Reasons for choosing Vectorworks Architect

cost and ability to run natively on mac

Reasons for switching to Vectorworks Architect

it was the most cost effective BIM solution available on the mac platform at the time

Simon E.

Verified reviewer

Architecture & Planning

2-10 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Reviewed February 2020

Great software, but....

We started using Vectorworks many years ago because it was truly superior to Autocad at producing legible drawings. But Autocad has caught up. And we prefer modeling in Rhino, even though it is a more cumbersome work flow. Meanwhile. for BIM, it makes more sense to use Revit simply because everyone else is using it. IF we were starting our office today, we would not be selecting Vectorworks, much as I like it as a drafting program. And the expensive annual upgrades are frustrating, given how little benefits are.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Functionality

Pros:

Vectorworks is a great drafting program. it allows you to do anything you want, with great control over how the drawings look, and many ways to organize a complete drawing set.

Cons:

The software is expensive, and the annual updates add very little. Autocad as pretty much caught up in terms of object-based controls. and ability to make beautiful, robust, legible, intelligent 2D drawings. While the 3D is very intuitive, Rhino is more robust. And for BIM, it is hard to justify not using the industry standard software. So where is the edge for Vectorworks?

Reasons for choosing Vectorworks Architect

20 years ago it was a superior drafting program.

Rob G.

Verified reviewer

Architecture & Planning

2-10 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Reviewed February 2020

Outstanding Software

We have been using the software over 20 years without hardly any issues! We can still open files from 1994!!!!!! We look at other softwares to make sure we are keeping up. When we factor in money, easy answer.....VectorWorks! We are a full BIM FIRM and VECTORWORKS does everything we need.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

BIM capabilities, ease of learning, ease of use, ease of rendering, Smart tools, exceptional customer service, stability and speed of work.

Cons:

Really ...... nothing. If the software doesn’t have something someone else has, they are probably developing it for the next version.

Reasons for choosing Vectorworks Architect

Way back in 1994, it was one of the only Mac platforms. We were just lucky they kept growing and improving!

Sarah G.

Verified reviewer

Construction

11-50 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Reviewed February 2020

Vectorworks review

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Wide breadth of features and functionality

Cons:

Glitchy quirks that randomly show up and little support from VWX techs.

Reasons for choosing Vectorworks Architect

More similarity to AutoCAD, easier for staff to learn.

Bill g.

Verified reviewer

Architecture & Planning

11-50 employees

Used daily for less than 2 years

Reviewed February 2020

VECTORWORKS REVIEW

The transition has been a smooth and good experience so far.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

The ease of use, the customer support from the software company, and the ease of training

Cons:

The process of creating drawing sets and create all the viewports can be tedious.

Reasons for choosing Vectorworks Architect

The price point and the ease of making the switch over

Reasons for switching to Vectorworks Architect

The software was 2d only and the support for upgrades was not great

David Laurence P.

Verified reviewer

Architecture & Planning

2-10 employees

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Reviewed February 2020

Legacy User Loves Vectorworks 2020

As an Architect + Planner + Interior Architect & Designer... Having the ‘Verticle Market’ solutions available like Vectorworks ‘Architect’ & ‘Designer’ is so very valuable!

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Features & Ease of Use + Price!!! And Vectorworks Customer Service & Community is Absolutely Amazing!

Cons:

I wish that the initial price was lower :-)

Reasons for choosing Vectorworks Architect

• Best Features! • Best Customer Service! • VectCommunity! • Best Value! ...THANK YOU VECTORWORKS!!!

Craig B.

Verified reviewer

Entertainment

11-50 employees

Used monthly for less than 12 months

Review source

Reviewed November 2025

Takes my plans to the next level

Vector works takes my plans to the next level, giving our drawings an air of professionalism our clients are looking for.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Easy to use, managed to self teach its so user friendly. We mostly use if for 2d drawings, produces industry standard plans so no need for a middle man to translate our plans.

Cons:

For our use, there are no cons, we are able to do what ww need plus lots more. If you get stuck on any aspect of the software, there are plenty of help forums and how to videos available online

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