ArchiCAD vs Inventor

In the old times, architectural designs were drafted manually for making different structures like tombs, minarets, dams etc. All the civil work was very difficult and also requires a large amount of time. To cope with these problems, engineers over the years put a great effort into making special drawing and drafting software. Now there is much software available in the market for making civil designs. So we will compare two frequently used software that is ArchiCAD and Inventor to find the right one.

What is ArchiCAD?

ArchiCAD is a proprietary computer application that simplifies architectural design work. Developed by Graphisoft, this software is one of the best software to work with both types of designs 2D as well as 3D. It is multi-purpose software that helps in constructing data Modelling, Building Information Modelling, computer-aided design works, etc. It supports Windows as well as iOS platforms.

Advantages of ArchiCAD

• User-friendly interface with handy designing tools for faster work.
• It comes with Cine render engine for fast rendering of high-quality designs. 
• It offers editing tools along with production tools for stable editing in the software itself.
• It is the best choice for designing virtual buildings.
• It comes with many themes to choose from for making designs.

Disadvantages of ArchiCAD

• Rendering takes more time as compared to Rhino.
• It is problematic while working with third-party integrations.

What is Inventor?

Inventor is a computer application designed for fulfilling different tasks like simulations, rendering, modelling, 3D mechanical designing, architectural designs etc. It was developed by Autodesk in 1999 with a simple design and drafting features, over the years many new tools were added to this software and in 2022 a stable version was launched with assembly and parametric modelling capabilities.

Advantages of Inventor

• It allows Building Information Modelling (BIM) along with 3D designing and modelling.
• It offers design automation by taking base model designs and tracing them with advanced tools.
• It offers real-time sharing and collaboration capabilities to enhance productivity.
• It is compatible with different files from a number of 3D modelling software.

Disadvantages of Inventor

• Supports only Windows Operating systems.
• Less learning resources as compared to AutoCAD.

Following is a table of differences between ArchiCAD and Inventor:

Category	ArchiCAD	Inventor
Definition	ArchiCAD is a computer software for making 2D and 3D models of civil work like buildings, dams, bridges, railway stations, etc.	Inventor is a 3D design and modelling software used for making simulations, 3D models, machine design, rendering etc.
Original Author	The original author of ArchiCAD is Graphisoft.	The original author of the inventor is Autodesk.
Supported Operating Systems	ArchiCAD supports Windows and Mac operating systems.	The inventor only supports Windows OS.
Drafting	ArchiCAD has tools for supporting 2D and 3D drafting.	Inventor is not compatible with 3D drafting and can only support 2D drafting.
File Extension	By default, all the files are saved with the .pln extension in ArchiCAD.	By default, all the files are saved with the .ipt extension in ArchiCAD.
Subscription	ArchiCAD offers two subscription options monthly and yearly. A monthly subscription charges $196 per month.	ArchiCAD also offers two subscription options monthly and yearly. A monthly subscription charges $260 per month.
Type	It is a geometry-driven computer application.	It is a dimension-driven computer application.

Conclusion/Summary

On comparing both software, it is clear that ArchiCAD is budget-friendly and offers more design tools along with a simple interface. It also provides good learning materials and customer support so one should go for ArchiCAD. On the other hand, if the design is really complex and needs industry standards then one can choose Inventor.