The American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) is a professional association that promotes the highest standards of excellence in residential building design. AIBD offers a variety of resources to its members, including continuing education, networking opportunities, and marketing assistance. AIBD is a valuable resource for anyone interested in a career in residential building design. If you want to improve your skills, network with other professionals, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends, AIBD is the perfect organization for you.
2026 Architectural Software Survey Results Are In
Thank you to everyone who participated in AIBD’s 2026 Architectural Software Survey. This year, 165 designers told us which software they use primarily in their day-to-day work, along with the supporting tools that round out their workflow. While participation was lower than in our 2023 survey, the results still offer a useful snapshot of the software used across our community. The 2026 ResultsChief Architect was the most frequently selected primary platform, followed by SoftPlan, Revit, and AutoCAD. Together, those four platforms accounted for the clear majority of responses.
The survey also confirmed that many practices rely on more than one program. Respondents named SketchUp, AutoCAD, Revit, Enscape, Lumion, Twinmotion, Rhino, Vectorworks, structural-analysis tools, and AI tools as regular parts of their workflows. Compared with 2023Our 2023 survey received 446 responses, compared with 165 this year. Because of that difference in sample size—and because the 2026 form grouped products more consistently at the main-product level—the year-to-year percentages should be considered directional rather than definitive.
The biggest takeaway is that Chief Architect and SoftPlan remain especially strong among the residential building-design professionals represented in this survey, while AutoCAD and Revit continue to be important tools in many primary and secondary workflows. Join the DiscussionThe numbers tell only part of the story. What does your software stack look like? What tool could you not work without? Have you changed platforms, added AI tools, or found a workflow that saves significant time? A discussion is now underway in the AIBD Members Only Community.
Thank you again for contributing to this snapshot of the tools shaping professional building design. Sincerely, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)
The American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) is a professional association that promotes the highest standards of excellence in residential building design. AIBD offers a variety of resources to its members, including continuing education, networking opportunities, and marketing assistance. AIBD is a valuable resource for anyone interested in a career in residential building design. If you want to improve your skills, network with other professionals, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends, AIBD is the perfect organization for you.
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October 12, 2026, Edition #CreatingWherePeopleLive This weekly newsletter is created by and for those designing homes in North America. Its editorial staff is the American Institute of Building Design, Inc., the premier association of residential design professionals. Here's what you get: Field Notes Nuts & Bolts Highlights Workshops & Gatherings What We're Up To Amazing sponsors who help keep this newsletter free for the industry. Let's dive in. Email servers may truncate this newsletter...