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Chief Architect vs Planner 5D: catalog facts
Chief Architect	Planner 5D
Best for: Builders, remodelers and designers producing residential home plans	Best for: Homeowners planning a layout or redecoration who want to see it in 3D
Paid Subscription at $1,995 per year or $229 per month, with a downloadable trial.	Free + paid options Free to start a project; some features require payment.
Windows, macOS	iOS, Web
Automatic generation of roofs, foundations and framing Produces dimensions, schedules and materials lists from the model All 4 strengths for Chief Architect Automatic generation of roofs, foundations and framing Produces dimensions, schedules and materials lists from the model Focused specifically on residential design Trial version available	Quick to draw a floor plan without CAD experience Recognises uploaded floor plans All 4 strengths for Planner 5D Quick to draw a floor plan without CAD experience Recognises uploaded floor plans Library of more than 8,000 furniture and decor items Realistic 4K renders of designs
Expensive subscription aimed at professionals Specialised for homes rather than general-purpose CAD	Aimed at home design rather than precise technical drawing Closed-source online service
Downloadable app	Downloadable app, Web application
Not open source	Not open source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Chief Architect chiefarchitect.com Catalog checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Planner 5D planner5d.com apps.apple.com/us/app/planner-5d-ai-home-design/id606173978 Catalog checked September 23, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.