Vectorworks Architect Reviews & Product Details

The best thing about Vecotworks is that it is an all in one CAD program. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There are numerus tools to use to created your drawings and the intergration between objects. Like the doo and windows on the plans can easely create a door & window schedule and door / window elevations on your schedule. If you make a change you can simply update and your work will not be intergrated. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Vectorworks Architect has a set of integrated 2D and 3D tools that allow small and large firms to use the software from Schematic Design through Construction Documents and have photo-realistic renderings produced art any point in the design process. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Upgrading yearly to take advantage of the new features requires upgrading files with the potential of minor incompatibilities with older versions. Many of the projects I work on don't magically end in September when the new versions are released. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The speed that I can set up a room and begin designing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There are so many tools that I simply don't need to use. But I'd rather have them available and not use them right away than need them and they aren't available. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The main thing I enjoy about Vectorworks is the features that are included,and that they keep including very helpful tools with some of the updates they make every year. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There doesn't seem to be an easy way to do remodels in vectoworks.There aren't as many helpful videos or resources on how to do certain features, So whenever we have a new employee start working for us we have to teach them everything ourselves. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It features a number of useful features that are missing in other software, such as the ability to easily perform booleans using any geometry which can produce slabs, roofs, walls etc quite seamlessly.

VW has a large selection of import and export file formats which mean it has fairly good ease of integration in a mixed-software type environment.

The landscaping / grading tools are slightly more useful than Revit, which is not saying much. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

At its core Vectorworks feels like a cobbled together collection of older software, lacking any coherent overarching UX approach, and desperately in need of a ground-up redesign.

Older features are still supported in a piecemeal fashion, mashed together with newer BIM aspects in a poorly-executed way that often leaves users scratching their heads. 2D and 3D layers collide incoherently, and Design Layers, Scales, and Elevations are all poorly implemented due to the inconsistent approach. Every accepted standard in terms of layer handling or shortcuts needs to be thrown out of the window, so your retraining time is very high.

The UX, while it looks good, is decidedly un-user friendly in operation. Even if you have decades of experience using BIM and 3D software, many of the functions are not intuitively usable without consulting the help or online forums. And, unfortunately, those resources are both poorly maintained and quite sparse. Customer support, even at Premium level, is not good.

The nail in the coffin is that this software is incredibly, painstakingly slow. Every operation, even simple line drawings, can have detectable lag between operations, and larger BIM files are an absolute menace. I have been a daily user for 3 years and in this time have upgraded computers 3 times in an attempt to get enough power to overcome this hurdle, but to no effect. Even small files that would run smoothly in Rhino or Revit are a lumbering, stuttering mess. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There are many great features in Vectorworks. I particularly like the full integration of space planning, reports/schedules, 3D, Rendering, and online support. VW also has great importing and external file referencing functions, tremendous flexibility in establishing using defined interfaces, and list keeps going... This is a fantastic program and I highly recommend to any serious Architect. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Perhaps a major pitfall is that Vectorworks seems to think that newcomers already are familiar with their software. I have been using CAD since 1985, including 4 or 5 different programs, but I had difficulty learning the terminology and file structures. In my opinion, a Beginners Guide to Vectorworks would be a tremendous help for newbies. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I have used this software for 29 years, starting in its early days. Compared to other systems I've used, I find it more intuitive. Now that I’ve steadily used a BIM workflow for more than 14 years, the built-in plug-in objects in this software make it easy to develop a design concept quickly. Using layers and classes allows for easy control of attributes and features in the model and drawing sheets. New features in v2023 and v2024 have been game-changers. Data Tags and Viewport Styles have saved me so much time in coordination. It is possible to generate a drawing quickly with excellent graphic quality. With the built-in capabilities of Renderworks, I can promptly study solar angles and have meaningful design changes based on real data. The added rendering partners allow for outstanding renderings, too. People know me as an architect with clear, beautiful drawings that demonstrate my integrity as an architect. I can credit Vectorworks for being a trusted partner with that reputation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recent releases have greatly improved, but I hope the software designers continue to listen and spend time with architects who work on existing buildings and reach out to them to see how the software can be adapted to the workflow of an architect who has to balance the complexities of older buildings, manage the demolition of features and model building parts that are not clean and simple like new construction. Even with a robust computer, lagging and RAM management remain hard to explain without watching a user for hours. In other words, it still takes up too much memory for my taste. Perhaps there is memory loss in how it returns RAM to the computer. Maybe this is the reality of heavy graphic crunching software packages. My friends who use the other well-known BIM platforms complain of theirs more frequently. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Vectorworks Architect is a robust solution for architectural design that offers a combination of performance, versatility, and easy-to-use features. I highly recommend it to any professional looking to improve their architectural design workflow.

What I have found in Vectorworks Architect is a comprehensive workspace that allows me to develop a project in all its phases with ease and precision. It is also a tool that allows you to exchange files with other formats and link efficiently with complementary software for real-time rendering.

I have been using Vectorworks for more than 20 years and the program has been improving significantly with each new version and update, so I have stopped using other software packages as Vectorworks has become increasingly complete and robust.

I currently use Vectorworks Architect in my professional studio and teach a course dedicated to Vectorworks Architect at LCI Veritas University in San José, Costa Rica. I can assure you that the learning process is quite fast and without complications.

Vectorworks is not a toolbox, it is the single tool that does everything an architecture firm needs Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I can honestly say that there is nothing I don't like about Vectorworks Architect Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Reasonably intuitive and powerful.

We're very used to it.

Works with everyone else we deal with. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

File changes every new version. A huge issue with 30 years of projects. System requirements for newer versions require new hardware purchases - which is starting to make VW very expensive to maintain.

Basic BIM tools not updated for years (stairs, windows, doors). These are clunky and seem neglected as flashy features are prioritised.

Rendering slow, and problems with Shaded and tree symbols.

Referencing flaky (co-ordinates jump inexplicably).

A better export to Sketchup would be appreciated.

File sizes now seem huge. We're a smallpractice and often have 1GB files.

Many features do not reflect UK (or Europeran) practices. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Excellent, fast Rendering on Mac Studio using RenderWorks

Excellent DWG translation

Clear and Easy to use interface

Strong 2D tools

Really strong database for object intelligence Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Unclear instructions as to how viewports work

No advantage of using sheet layers over sheet views

Implementation of Sheet Layers and Viewports makes program complex Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.