March 29, 2024

Tohdad

Design with distinction

Two most trending software: which one you should choose!

If you’re a budding architect or 3D designer, you’ve probably already had your fair share of trying to pick between AutoCAD and Revit. And if you already use one or the other, that hasn’t made things any clearer. Both are fantastic architecture software products for creating 3D models in their own way. But what makes them different, and which is the right choice for you? The best software for designing buildings is AutoCAD software. Autocad software is used by architects and engineers to build all types of buildings including apartment buildings, houses, schools, hospitals, and more. The software is used to create 3d models of the building which are then used by the builders to construct the building.

Revit is preferred by developers who want to create 3d models for game engines like Unity and Unreal. It is a commercially supported, enterprise software that is designed to be easily installed on any type of workstation or server. It is a commercial product, even though open-source versions exist.

 Autocad vs. Revit: what are the differences?

Autocad and autocad LT are the two main autocad products. Autocad LT is free and has fewer features than autocad. Autocad is used for design and drafting while Revit is used for design and documentation. But the ultimate decision is yours. 

Autocad is all about speed. It doesn’t matter if a project is 10 pages long or 1,000. If you’ve ever written code, you’ll know how important a rapid workflow and fast turnaround are. Although you get a lot of features in both programs, those that are invaluable speed be lively outweigh the few minor conveniences others may get excited about. And it is in this regard that autocad excels. The animation capabilities of this program are second to none (even compared to C++ and Fortran). And that’s a pretty good sign for the quality of your project.

We’ll talk more about animations in the next section, but with 3D models, it is the prototyping features that make helping with a project a breeze. Users get to select the parts or objects in ways that don’t seem possible in the CAD world. While this isn’t strictly a speed advantage over other CAD programs, it can make all the difference if you’re trying to understand a complex design and have spreadsheets printed out, for example.

Revit on the other hand is all about polish and versatility. It has not been widely adopted, but its terrific modularity and unlimited possibilities make it the go-to choice for some. You can get started by using it with foundation design drawings. This will allow you to walk through a design step by step. If you are different, no problem. There are definitely plenty of tutorials and books on Revit to help you through. One of Revit’s main advantages over other CAD programs is the “hit it now, fix it later” philosophy.

 How to choose between AutoCAD and Revit

The first thing to decide is whether you need 2D or 3D. If you’re designing in 2D, then AutoCAD is probably the best choice because it’s more affordable. And just in case, you’re working in 3D, there aren’t any alternatives.  If neither of these situations applies to you, AutoCAD and Revit are excellent choices.

The next big question is the level of customization you’ll be able to do in either software. While the basic functions of both are editable, the level of detail and flexibility in adding or modifying objects will limit everyone if you choose AutoCAD. Since there is no CADDY for Revit, you’ll have to get creative when it comes to making changes. Autocad’s built-in capabilities are geared more towards power users.

That said, many people will find themselves in the middle and will prefer to be able to add in their own customizations and prevent the program from slowing down their workflow. That said, even in this category, Revit is the clear winner. With more advanced customization and settings, Revit functions as a more powerful and feature-rich version of AutoCAD.

You could go through the process of deciding which software you need before working on your project. But why try to learn all that if one of the two can meet you halfway? While you can generally find articles about the differences between these software products, what’s even more exciting is that you can decide for yourself.

We’ve drafted up different areas where Revit wins, comparing the features of both. So, if you find yourself in the middle of a project and aren’t quite 100% sure about what you need, or you’re uncertain if you’d be able to manage your workflow in one or the other, this guide can help you decide. While AutoCAD excels at basic functionalities, adding these advanced features will definitely increase its power and productivity.