ArchiCad licensing

[FERGO]

Hello, How can I access to learn ArchiCad without having to pay almost $3000 for a license?.

I'm not a student but a Draftsman. I wanna switch from Revit to ArchiCAD and the expensive price doesn't make it possible.

Graphisoft should have a subscription for learners that doesn't qualify for a Student Licence, something similar to RevitLT, which is pretty much cheaper and fully usable...I gotta pay almost $3000 for a revit license + almost $3000 for an Archicad license only for learning, That's crazy, it would make more sense if the price would include a full tutorial course though .

Operating system used: Windows

[scottjm]

In believe it is possible to pay for the subscription monthly, so that may be an option while you are still trialling and learning instead of paying for a whole year upfront. 
alternatively it is possible to run Archicad in Demo mode. This restricts the ability to save any work you do in Archicad. But may be an option while you are learning and trialling it out. 

[Eduardo Rolon]

Use Trial and Demo while learning the basics and then monthly subscription for the cheapest version when you are up to more complicated projects.

[ANit]

I finally looked into ArchiCad in depth yesterday and decided the same thing, my process is much suited to ArchiCad for Revit but the cost difference from it to RevitLT makes me balk. It might be better for me but it's so much more expensive 

[Lee Hankins]

Have you looked at Archicad Studio as an option if it’s available In your area? It’s like the LT version of Archicad. There used to be Archicad Solo but this has been discontinued I believe in favour of Archicad Studio. Maybe discuss with your local seller and see if you can start paying monthly to make sure you are happy with it (which I am sure you will be) and if you can then switch to monthly but pay 1 year upfront to save. 

[Lingwisyer]

More information about the Trial can be found at the following link:

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Licensing/Free-trial-of-Archicad/ta-p/596179

[Pavel_N]

Archicad Studio is not comparable with Revit LT. In terms of prices, in my country AC Studio subscription costs 229 EUR/month, but Revit LT costs 53 EUR/month. Prices include VAT. Archicad is 4,3x expensive. It is also worth saying that in the case of LT, these are not comparable products, Archicad Studio is a much more capable product.

On the other hand, RevitLT has loosened some restrictions in recent versions (such as basic PDF export and import) and today I think it cloud be absolutely fine for a small office at that price. It also has full compatibility with the larger version of Revit, so it is possible to have LT and full editions side by side within a team. Or in the case of solo architects, it is possible to take a short one-time monthly subscription to the full version for do some more complex tasks and then return to LT (for example, for working with point clouds, which are missing in LT).

LT is maybe more comparable to the no longer offered Archicad Start Edition. However, the Start Edition unfortunately lacked key features such as Xrefs, Publisher, Renovation, and compatibility with the full version (not possible to open Full in Start). So it was actually not interesting to anyone, because even the smallest architect needs this. LT has all these functions. It's a shame that Graphisoft doesn't offer capable product  at a similar price to Revit LT.

[AlexS1]

With Revit, you also get MEP functionality for your money. With Archicad, you only get architecture and a useless MEP toy.

[Pavel_N]

RevitLT does not have MEP functionality. But AC Studio subscriptions do not have MEP Designer available either.

edit: The full version of Revit is comparable in price to AC, I would probably be more modest in comparison, Archicad will be better in some ways and Revit in others, considering the price everyone can choose what suits them. I believe that GS will work on the MEP modeler if it is a separate product that can be seen more than a dusty plugin within Archicad. I am pleased that GS offers the MEP modeler as part of a separate plan with a lower price. For me, it is a chance to persuade cooperating MEP engineers (now working in 2D) to switch to the Archicad ecosystem in the future.

[AlexS1]

RevitLT does not have MEP functions, but Revit has a proper MEP function. Archicad Studio does not have an MEP function, and Archicad with MEP Designer only has a useless tool for MEP.
Who knows if this will change in the future? Nothing has been improved in the last 17 years. As long as MEP Designer is just a toy, the price is not justified.