Visio is a free online tool by Microsoft that is used to create excellent flowcharts and other diagrammatic representations of text content. The tool was first developed and introduced in 1992 by Shapewear Corporation and was taken over by Microsoft in 2000. It was then included and integrated with the prevalent MS office software as people started taking advantage of the seamless connectivity between Visio and other MS Office tools like MS Powerpoint, MS Word, MS Access, and more. With this context, we'll here be thoroughly examining the top 5 Visio equivalents for macOS that are widely appreciated across the world.

• Best Architecture Software For Mac Free 8
• Free Architecture Software For Mac
• Best Free Architecture App For Mac
• Architectural Design Software For Mac

Sep 10, 2021 The software is also known to have won an award for being the best architectural software for residence and also a few commercial designs. Arcon Evo CAD Arcon Evo is not free software for architecture but can be said to be one of the best one in terms of features that it offers. Formerly known as Google SketchUp, this is a great option for CAD software for Mac. SketchUP summarizes the benefits of its solution as follows: Easy-to use CAD software.

The reason for such a topic is, everyone seems not pretty confident or comfortable working with MS Office, and also with Windows set-up. Considering the fact our discussion goes on here. If you are in the same boat, stick around till the end as we'll cover all the important features, pros & cons, pricing, and more of the best 5 Visio Replacement for macOS.

The Availability of Diagramming Tools of Mac Version

When it comes to macOS, there are no such options to use any diagramming tools for free. It's hard to believe, but really there is none of them. To beat the heat, you can use a few popular online tools for free and there are EdrawMax, ASCII Flow, Draw.io, etc.

But if you are still looking for a desktop application, then you can use these applications in offline mode. With the quantity of using MacBook over the world, the users who got used to Visio to make diagrams and other jobs will be disappointed that Visio could be able to utilize on the Mac version, at that time, the replacement or alternatives of Visio on the iOS system seem to be urgent to satisfy users’ demands.

What to Consider before Choosing Visio Equivalent for Mac?

Selecting a tool for personal/professional purposes requires a lot of research through online surveys and 'trial and error' methods. To help you find the best Visio equivalent for MAC, I have enlisted a few important points to consider before selecting the one.

• Usability

Irrespective of how powerful the tool is, you need to check out whether the tool meets your requirements. The Visio alternative software for Mac must be able to cater to your diagramming needs.

• Connectivity/ Portability

To sustain in today's fast work environment, only being powerful doesn't work anymore. Apart from the software abilities, it should also be well-integrated and portable with other platforms (example, just look at MS Visio for an example, it's not highly mobile, and that's why you are reading this). So the tool should produce such outputs that can be integrated and ported on other platforms.

• Pricing

Try for a free tool if your budget is not sufficient. But also check with your requirements. Based on the needs and pricing, select the one that suits you the best.

• Security

Sometimes you might need to work on very sensitive/confidential data that has to be highly secured. So check carefully with the security as well, then make a decision.

Best 5 Free Visio Equivalent for Mac

1. EdrawMax

Source:EdrawMax

The software is available to download for free and use it as a desktop version. You can create unlimited flow charts, mind maps, org charts, network diagrams, and stunning floor charts in just a few clicks. Choose your favorite templates from the dashboard equipped with plenty of options.

Pros:

• Platform Independent
• Output available in PDF format
• User-friendly interface

Cons:

• Lack of online help on “how to use EdrawMax
• Relational databases are not appropriately functional while creating complex flowcharts

Why We Picked It:

• Highly recommended by professionals and beginners who are interested in diagramming, since its substantial icons, charts and templates, as well as its strong storage.

EdrawMax

All-in-One Diagram Software

• Superior file compatibility: Import and export drawings to various file formats, such as Visio
• Cross-platform supported (Windows, Mac, Linux, Web)

2. Omnigraffle

Source:Omnigraffle

This sophisticated data management tool and customizable diagramming software are highly portable, consisting of hundreds of customizable templates to efficiently work with the complex management data. Engineering designs, infographics, and highly complex business models can be created with ease.

Pros:

• complex data-based drawings, flowcharts, mind maps, etc
• An easy drag-and-drop mechanism

Cons:

• No free version is available
• Features are very limited in the free version

Why We Picked It:

• Many people look for purchasing a premium tool that charges a one-time payment with life-long validity and support. That is the reason this premium super-powerful data management, and the diagramming tool is in our top 5 Visio alternatives for MAC OS list.

3. Dia Diagram Editor

Source:Dia Diagram Editor

One of the best Visio equivalents for macOS using an extremely professional interface with lots of features to create awesome flowcharts and vector diagrams. Ease of use is its priority for the users, especially for the beginners.

Pros:

• Dia editor is open-source software, download for free
• Platform independent
• Easy user interface

Cons:

• Hard to find the download link

Why We Picked It:

• When we did online surveys on feedback about MS Visio equivalent for macOS, we received excellent feedback about the Dia diagram editor, which is freely available across all platforms. Hence, it ranks in our top 5 MS Visio alternatives for macOS list.

4. ConceptDraw

Source:ConceptDraw

A highly advanced diagramming tool for use in creating flowcharts, business mapping, managing and maintaining business data, charts, workflow models, and also integrating them seamlessly through the cloud environment. Stuffed with plenty of useful, robust templates for using multiple times with designing accurate data-driven use cases, charts, infographics, and architectural models.

Pros:

• Simple and easy to use
• Plenty of in-built templates
• It can create infographics starting from the scratch with customizable designing templates.

Cons:

• Keyboard shortcuts are too complex
• Rearranging the set-up in case of business scaling is not easy

Why We Picked It:

• We found the cons of ConceptDraw are not that superior, having an overall good score ConceptDraw retains its position in the top 5 list of Visio equivalent for MAC.

5. Lucidchart

Source:Lucidchart

One of the best free MS Visio equivalent for Mac users, that comes with lots of features, online help, and a very simple User interface. You will not require any kind of technical skillset to use this tool. It’s so easy to use and step-by-step explanations with images are available as a complete tutorial/guide!

Pros:

• Available for free
• Easily Portable
• A bunch of ready-to-use templates is available
• Simple User Interface

Cons:

• Many features are available only in the paid version
• Extremely complex data cannot be handled perfectly

Why We Picked It:

• The software extremely easy to use, with a simple yet powerful user interface. Moreover, the tool is available for free across all platforms. The software is also voted as the top 5 Visio replacement for Mac in our online surveys. Thus, it has appeared on the list.

Recommendation

Though it is not easy to suggest a single tool to the users with a variety of requirements, especially when it is the Aternative to Visio for MAC users. But still, from our top 5 list of MS Visio replacement for Mac, I would recommend you one software which I liked the most - Edraw Max. I recommend the tool due to its user-friendliness, portability, and robustness. Unlike the other tools with similar functionalities, Edraw Max’s UI(User Interface) is more comfortable with excellent online user manuals that guide the beginners correctly in a stepwise manner explaining each step thoroughly. I also am a satisfied user of Edraw Max, and can assure you with the security and performance.

Are you looking for the best architecture software for Mac or Windows 10 PC? Here’s the list of top 13 best free architectural design software for architects.

AutoCAD is the market leader when it comes to the architectural design software industry, but are you bored with it? Do you want to try a new architectural design software and jazz up your practice? Perhaps you are an architecture student who doesn’t want to spend large amounts of dough on a paid software and are looking for a free architecture design software. We have you covered.

In this article, we will take a look at the top 13 best free architectural design software for architects which also double as 3D house design software. So join us on this journey and hopefully by the end you would have found the best architecture design software to fit your specific needs.

Best Architecture Software For Mac Free 8

Top 13 Best Free Architectural Design Software for Architects

Free architecture design software and 3D house design software are useful in more than one way. If you are a new landowner who’s looking to design a rudimentary floor plan for your house or just want to see how simple repositioning of current furniture would look in your current home then these 3D architectural design software do come in pretty much handy.

So, now without any further ado, let’s check out the list of top 13 best free architecture software for architects and laymen to use. Here we go:

SketchUp (Free)

SketchUp quickly rose to popularity thanks to an acquisition from Google which made SketchUp a great choice among architects. Google, has since sold the software company. This doesn’t stop SketchUp from being our number 1 recommendation.

Now, I know a lot of you will be disappointed to see it here, but hear me out. The software boasts of some of the best extensions you can find in the market and the free version of SketchUp combined with the free versions of these extensions make for an exceptional and more importantly a functional free architecture design software.

Yes, the software overall is a bit clunky and doesn’t recognize unique shapes easily but it is a great tool for beginners since it is so easy to use. Try it out before you dismiss it.

Dynamo (Free)

If you lean more towards the technical side of things and enjoy a bit of programming then Dynamo may be what you have been looking for. All the design in Dynamo architecture software is generated based on the sets of parameters you program in this 3D house design software but don’t worry you don’t need to write any code yourself. This free architectural design software for architects comes with a GUI which helps you combine multiple nodes to create the final code and the drag and drop UI is fairly easy to use but certainly hard to master.

The driving force behind the Dynamo architecture design software is AutoDesk but since Dynamo is published under open-source licenses you don’t need to worry about any interferences. You can choose between the free version and the commercial version and download whichever suits your needs.

FreeCAD Arch (Free)

Do you wish to design crazy looking buildings like Frank Lloyd Wright or Mies Van der Rohe? Would a free architecture design software that allows you to design crazy shapes help you design the building of your dream? Well, FreeCAD Arch does just that. You can design real-life objects of any size in whatever shape your heart desires thus setting you free from the constraints of stereotypical shapes.

This free architectural design software for Windows 10 and Mac is based on parametric design philosophy and helps you dial in exact shapes and sizes based on your desired parameters. This also enables you to go back once a design is rendered to make small changes if you choose to do so.

FreeCAD Arch software for 3d house design and architectural design is still in development so it does suffer from some issues but they shall be rectified with updates that come out regularly. Check out this amazing software using the given link.

B-processor (Free)

The B-processor architectural design software is designed by professors and actual architects at the Arhus School of Architecture of Denmark in collaboration with the Alexandra Institute which ensures that this 3D architectural design software is easy to use even for newbie architects and students alike.

This free architecture software and home design software is designed from the ground up with architects in mind which ensures that the whole industry can work on an open platform that they can modify according to their needs and contribute towards as a whole to improve the current standards.

In addition to all these things, B-processor free architecture design software also allows you to calculate quantities and the associated costs while also allowing you to run energy efficiency simulations. Pretty neat right?

Revit Architecture (Free Educational License)

Revit Architecture software, widely loved and accepted by the community mainly because Revit is an all in one collaborative tool that allows architects to work with electrical, mechanical, and structural design teams so that the overall structure is coherent and the workflow smooth.

This powerful architectural design software is backed by Autodesk which has built the software in such a way that you can easily design structures based on certain parameters. Autodesk being the backer for Revit Architecture design software, also ensures that both of these programs and extensions thereof also integrate well with each other which also makes Revit a compelling offering.

When it comes to the pricing, this best architectural design software for beginners and specialists is completely free to use for 3 years if you are a student or an educator and if you are not then you can avail the free month of service which Revit Architecture software offers to commercial users.

AutoCAD Architecture (Free for Students)

AutoCAD Architecture software is the industry leader, whether you like it or not. AutoCAD was first introduced back in 1982 and has been loved by many, hated by some but respected by all since its inception. It is the best architecture design software and boasts of nearly any feature any architect can think of.

This popular and best architectural design software is powered by Autodesk which ensures that all the products of Autodesk are fairly compatible with each other and AutoCAD Architecture software is no exception. This 3D architectural design software allows you to use templates to quickly design walls, Windows or doors which act as if they would in real life in the simulations.

There is also a vast library of components that you can simply retrofit into your design. Similar to other Autodesk products, AutoCAD Architecture offers free 3 year licenses to people in the field of education and a free one month trial for everyone else.

ArchiCAD (Free)

ArchiCAD, as the name suggests, is a free architectural design software and 3D house design software which is designed with architects and interior designers in mind. ArchiCAD has a library of assets both in 2D and in 3D which you can use as standard parameters to design your building.

The key USP of ArchiCAD architectural design software is its ability to allow multiple people to work on the same project and refine it instead of waiting for the files to be passed on. ArchiCAD architectural design software, free download is widely appreciated in Universities and commercial offices alike since it is easy to use.

This free architectural design software for Mac and Windows OS allows you to produce simple and realistic looking renders with materials and shadows in them. If 4D renders is what you need, ArchiCAD can also produce those with the help of an Add-on.

TAD (The Architect’s Desktop) (Free)

The Architect’s Desktop (TAD), as the name suggests is a holistic tool that allows users to take their creations from concept sketches and basic designs to final products with the help of built-in tools. The architecture software originates in an Indian architecture office in the early ’90s and was designed primarily for architects who didn’t want to involve themselves in the engineering side of things.

TAD is a great tool for the senior architects who prefer to have a rough sketch as an outline instead of having every nut and bolt drawn for them in software. The software is currently closed source but still free to use and the next updates are said to make the whole software open source so others who aren’t part of the community can also develop add-ons for the software.

Various latest and standard features one expects from these 3D house design software and best free architectural design software for architects are also present with this tool.

MicroStation (Free Educational License)

MicroStation, developed by Bentley Systems Inc. (No, Not the Car Makers. Unfortunately) is a holistic BIM software that allows architects as well as engineers to collaborate and work in the same software environment. MicroStation software for architecture and engineering makes it easier for large teams to review changes and make any appropriate tweaks as necessary since the whole team can work on a single project at once and don’t need to use multiple different applications.

This popular 3D architectural design software allows you to model any geometric shape of your choice and modify the size and shape of it by simply changing the parameters of the shape. This feature allows you to reuse any of your previous designs and change them to suit the needs of your current project.

The software offers a free trial of 14 days post which the license cost is about $5000. Students can avail of a license for free by visiting the given link. In short, MicroStation is one of those best architectural design programs that every architect should use.

BricsCAD BIM (Free Educational License)

A highly advanced BIM, BricsCAD is a 3D architectural design software that helps you design photorealistic and information-rich digital representation of structures like building that can be used for testing and simulation purposes. The plethora of well thought out and sophisticated tools in the software enables the users to create complex designs and structures with relative ease.

This architectural design software, similar to most others, uses the parametric model where you can change the design by simply changing the parameters to suit your needs. The structure tool also helps identify liner solids and transform them into structural elements which is helpful for the engineering teams.

BricsCAD architecture software also has versions compatible with macOS and Linux along with Windows operating systems, so the whole office can collaborate with ease. The projects are stored on the cloud so you can easily pick up from where someone else left it last time. The lifetime license cost of BricsCAD is about $2500. Per usual, students get free to use licenses.

DesignWorkshop Lite (Free)

If a simple 3D architectural design software is what you are looking for to plan your own house or building then DesignWorkshop Lite may be the perfect option for you. This 3D house design software allows you to get realistic models of houses, floor plans, and landscapes which help you get a feel for the design. You also have the option to do a virtual walkthrough of your design for a more in-depth feel.

You can manipulate the elevation or understand the projections with easy or lengthen any element as you see fit without a lot of hassle. If you enjoy drawing with hand then you can use the virtual pencil to make freehand designs as well.

Ideally, DesignWorkshop Lite architecture software is for beginners who are just getting into the work of architectural design or for homeowners who are looking to design their house their own unique way. Oh, did I mention? This amazing architectural design software is completely free.

MyVirtualHome (Free)

As the name suggests, MyVirtualHome is a great 3D house design software for people building their own homes. You can envision how certain design elements will look like in your house and plan the layout using this free house design software for Windows 10 and Mac. The renders look quite realistic and hence gives you the feeling that you are in your own, yet to be constructed the house.

The models are very interactive and the lighting effect feels very real too. The key USP of MyVirtualHome architecture software is its ability to provide details of material and service suppliers once you finalize a design so you don’t have to go out of your way looking for them.

This architectural design software is perfect for people who don’t want to have someone else design the house they live and wish to have granular control over almost all the things about their home. A big downer though is that the software mainly caters to the Australian market and doesn’t scale very well for a global audience so unless you are in Australia you may not be able to profit from the details of suppliers. It is free though, so couldn’t hurt to try.

BRIOVR (Free)

BRIOVR isn’t a 3D architectural design software in the traditional sense. BRIOVR is essentially a visualization software that provides hyper-realistic 2D, 3D renders of products or designs. It is also capable of producing AR content to make the designs interactive.

Free Architecture Software For Mac

You can leverage new emerging technologies such as Mixed media, 360-degree video and even augmented reality to bring your designs to life and impress your clients with your attention to detail.

This free architectural design software for beginners and professionals is fairly easy to use and highly effective for larger organizations. The prices are also relative very affordable for software of its caliber. Give it a try today!

Conclusions

Well, this goes without saying but, most of these free 3D house design software and best architecture design software require a fairly powerful system to run smoothly. So, ensure that you have a system that can hold its own. The new Ray Tracing Technology on the new Nvidia cards also slots in well with some of these home design software and powerful free architecture software for Windows 10 PC.

Best Free Architecture App For Mac

So my architect friends, found what you were looking for? I am certain you must have by now. Our list here of the top 13 best free architectural design software for architects (beginners and professionals) hopefully helps you narrow down the perfect software for your requirements.

Architectural Design Software For Mac

Do let us know in the comments below, which free architecture design software and 3D architectural design software, free download you love the most and if we missed any of your favorite ones.

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