The interface is clever enough to notice when you add another wall, and if you click close enough to an existing one, it will assume the new wall starts from there, and won’t leave you with frustrating little gaps that would be a pain to fix later on. As you drag them you’ll immediately start seeing how long it will be (you get to choose your preferred measuring system: antiquated feet and inches, or the more modern and precise metric system). Perhaps the most obvious start is adding walls. It might look a little intimidating at first, but you get the gist of it very quickly.

The largest part of the interface is dedicated to your design, with all the tools you need crammed in a sidebar to the left, rows of icons at the top, and a library on the right. For the sake of this review, we’ve taken a look at the Suite package on a Mac. If you’re not sure which one to choose, Chief Architect offers you a trial version (opens in new tab) which you can check out and decide which features suit you best. There are also upgrade prices for those who already own a previous version. Further, if you’ve paid for 12 consecutive months, you can own the software outright (sort of a rent to buy option). Finally, Pro costs a hefty $595 (or $495 with the current price reduction), and you also have the option of renting that software for $59 a month.

Architectural would set you back $249 (or $199 if the current offer is still valid by the time you read this). You can get it for $129, although it is currently on offer at $99. Don’t be put off though: Suite is still incredibly capable, and most likely would suit most people’s needs.

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