Please Don’t Undermine the Trust of Archicad Users — A Sincere Request Regarding Pricing and Product

[Lee KiSeong]

The global economy is in a difficult place, and in the country where I live, many architectural offices have closed their doors. Even the local distributor of Autodesk is reportedly struggling, and legal disputes have been increasing.

I founded my own architecture office in June 2024. At that time, I purchased three perpetual licenses of Archicad.

I had spent the last decade working as an employee, using Archicad as my primary tool to sustain my livelihood. So, becoming a direct customer and purchasing your software was not just a business decision — it was a moment of real significance for me.

I was proud to invest in your product.

However, the transition plan that moves away from perpetual licenses to subscriptions—starting this year—felt like a declaration that those licenses I bought are no longer truly mine. I was confused and disappointed at first. But I chose to accept the change, hoping Graphisoft would remain a sustainable company that I can trust to accompany me until I retire.

But I must ask:

Have you truly reflected on why Archicad users continue to choose your software over Revit?

It’s not just habit. It’s not because Revit is hard to learn. It’s because we care about Archicad.

Please don’t trample on our loyalty and goodwill with a pricing policy that makes users feel neglected and exploited.

Two Major Concerns — Please Take These Seriously

These two issues, as they currently stand, make us feel like we’re being taken for granted. They also go against the sense of partnership that should exist between software developers and design professionals.

1. MEP Modeler Excluded from Archicad Studio

If Archicad Studio is more than $50/month cheaper than Archicad Collaborate, then perhaps exclusions make sense.

But BIMcloud SaaS costs $47/month, and the price difference between full and partial packages is $26/month. That’s something we understand.

However, why is MEP Modeler excluded?
Do you believe users won’t notice the intention behind this?
It feels like we’re being punished for choosing the Studio version.

If this continues, then don’t call it “Archicad Studio” — just call it “Archicad” and include MEP by default.

And if you justify it by saying, “We’re giving you MEP and SaaS for just $26 more,” please understand — this argument is not persuasive to users who are paying year after year.

2. No INT Version Support in Archicad Studio

We’ve seen that INT version support is being removed from Archicad Studio.

Do you really believe we won’t recognize the implications of this decision?
Are we supposed to believe the excuse that providing INT versions was just a privilege all this time?

Suggested Ideas for Improvement for Archicad Collaborate

Option 1: Include Full BIMcloud (not just Basic) in Archicad Collaborate

Why:
Archicad Collaborate depends on internet connectivity, and your software, like all, is not perfect.
Sometimes, team members have to delete and re-download teamwork files.
During such moments, BIMcloud SaaS is too slow.
When multiple employees do this simultaneously, download speeds become unacceptable.
Also, your data centers are overseas in my region, which worsens the experience.

Option 2: Allow Local BIMcloud Basic to Sync with BIMcloud SaaS (for Backup)

Why:
Live traffic is handled locally, which reduces your server load.
At the same time, we gain a reliable cloud-based backup solution.

Final Thoughts

The upcoming shift in 2028, under the banner of “A New Era of Archicad”, needs to be one that users can embrace with a sense of partnership—not reluctance. Please show that you hear your users. Treat our voices not as complaints, but as signs of how much we care.

We are not just customers. We are architects, engineers, designers—and most of all, long-time partners.

Thank you.

[gurmukh23]

Agree completely, we are considering stopping all subscriptions for 2-3 years as the annual updates are insignificant. This was a really bad move by Graphisoft. We have tried BIM SaaS - it is slow, they don't give assurances that it is well backed up and that downtime won't be there. Saw in one of the terms that a downtime of 1hr per day was acceptable! As you have mentioned, the price for Studio should have been significantly lower than collaborate.

[David Collins]

I completely agree with all of this, but wanted to underscore the faulty reasoning in making the INT version a perk of Archicad Collaborate only. Many of us working in foreign countries use the INT version by preference. In addition, the translated versions are often delayed by weeks or months after a new release. This problem has been flying under the radar, but it feels like another form of underhanded pressure to get users to commit to the more expensive subscription package.

[rbarrowc]

We're in a similar spot. After 30 years of using Archicad, we're ending our purchasing at the end of their perpetual licensing with AC 29. We're going to let Graphisoft shake out this terrible new pricing structure and hopefully, be back in the fold if they come to their senses.

One the BIMcloud front. Oi. The fact that BIMcloud on premise isn't available in the US and only BIMcloud Basic is available for on premise is a travesty. BIMcloud SaaS can't come close to our internal 10 gig network and dedicated Mac Studio server. No one wants to have to download or re-download entire projects over the wire, and definitely not at the same time. I'd be fine with the SaaS model if they indeed allowed on-premise that synced with the Cloud server. I won't hold my breath though.

Looking at the Roadmap...ugh, what a disappointment. AI nonsense everywhere. And in typical Graphisoft fashion, likely half implemented and then abandoned. It's such a shame. They lost the plot for sure. I hope they regain it. Not holding my breath for that either.

[mthd]

The old school of users of perpetual ownership is about to retire in the next decade or so. Ending at AC29 doesn’t phase me that much but ending perpetual licensing at the end of 2026 does.

What are the alternatives ? They are all mostly all timed subscription based. 

Ok for AC Studio to be without MEP in my circumstances but not ok to be a timed subscription only.

I really dislike the decision to go forward with timed subscriptions but we can’t really do much about it except to take it on the chin for now.

To me, it is a no brainer to offer both perpetual licensing and timed subscription licensing. That way you would satisfy all your customers needs in going forward, not just some of them.

Who likes timed subscription licensing ? The users or the vendors ? Someone out there with the brains will start a new CAD/BIM software company that offers both options and will eventually outsell the competition. 

Beware that AI doesn’t plagiarise all the CAD/BIM software out there and create another big competitor like Autodesk.

I don’t require the assistance of AI to farm out my intelligence but the next generation are being railroaded right into it.

Welcome to the big brother world of AI ! That’s right AI is big brother in 2025.