Curious About Pricing: Perpetual License vs. Subscription—Which Is Better Value in Long Run?

[babyandtoysus]

Hi everyone,

I’m evaluating whether to purchase a perpetual license or switch to a subscription model for Home Designer. I’d really appreciate insights from those who have done both especially parents balancing design projects with family life (as I have from running Baby and Toys). Does the ongoing cost of a subscription feel justified compared to the one-time cost of a perpetual license? Have you noticed any difference in access to updates, features, or support over time?

Thanks in advance your real-world experience could help a lot!

[Rookie65]

Now that HD 2026 is out, your decision may already be made for you. I'd suggest contacting support to see if you can even get access to an earlier version that isn't subscription based.

[Darkhorse41]

Well, I dropped Adobe because they went subscription based only. Now it looks like I will have to do the same thing here. I just upgraded to 2025 not too long ago and now it looks like that will be my last version.

[HaroldL]

I generally don't like subscription pricing since it seems generally, depending on the software company and product involved, to increase the cost of the software. However, looking at the pricing switch-a-roo for Home Designer it appears that for an upgrade you actually get a price break at least for the first year.

 

And it also appears that they did away with the Pro version and are just naming it Home Designer. 

 

 

[Rookie65]

Yes, they got rid of all 3 versions and now it's just Home Designer. No more Suite, Architectural, or Pro. They also eliminated several features that I wish they hadn't. 

[lksnider]

Unfortunately it looks like I'll be dropping HD as well.  Upgrading each year for ~$100 is doable but now to only get one year upgrade at half price?  I'm sorry, $500 a year for something that I use only periodically to dream about what my house could look like isn't worth it.  Come on folks, just think of the customers who have helped get you to where you're at, to drop us unceremoniously for profit?  

 

[GlasgowGrip]

This stinks.  I bought an HD Arch 2025 "perpetual" license less than a year ago, and I was considering an upgrade to HD Pro because of the crippled features in HD Arch..  only to just now find out that's no longer an option.  I'm designing for my own personal home, I need to be able to pick it up and put it down as time permits and as new ideas come up.  I'm not using this for a business so how could I justify an ongoing subscription?  Ridiculous.

[havard]

Find different software. Once a company goes subscription, they're just going to keep jacking up the price every few years until there's one customer that can't leave the platform.

[Robborito]

On 8/26/2025 at 12:45 PM, Rookie65 said:

They also eliminated several features that I wish they hadn't.

Could you list the deletions please?

Thanks.

[Rookie65]

Too many to list 

[ChiefArchitect]

@Robborito

Below is the list of deprecated features and new features in Home Designer 2026.  Hopefully this will provide a quick summary of what has changed for the Home Designer 2026 release.

 

Please feel free to reach out to sales with any questions at 208-292-3400.

 

Kind regards

,

Derek

Chief Architect Software

 

Deprecated in Home Designer 2026

• Sun Shadows in 2D Plan View
• Terrain Modifiers – Note: This set of terrain modifiers was limited in function.  The terrain Elevation Data tools are better and more accurate.  We are working on a user-friendly set of terrain modification tools for a future version.
• Material Properties Panel - There is a Define Material dialog, but the material properties panel has been removed because most of the functionality was not applicable to Home Designer.
• Master List Material Pricing Management
• Watermarks
• Depth Cue
• Store Custom Fill Style, Text, Callouts, and Markers in the Library Browser

New Features in Home Designer 2026

• Plans & Layouts Pin Recent Files in Dashboard List: Use the Pin feature to keep your favorite files at the top of the Recent File List.
• Managed Projects: Avoid file management with Chief Architect Project Management. Work is automatically organized and stored as projects you can navigate in the Project Browser.
• Project Browser Details Panel: View information for selected projects or files, like date created, date modified, file size, and other data.
• Search Project Browser: A search bar in the Project Browser makes it easy to filter and find what you are looking for.
• Drag Views to Layout: Drag and drop saved views directly from the project browser to your layout page.
• Layout View Resolution: Specify the image resolution when sending 3D views to layout pages.
• 3D Design & Materials Physically Based Real Time Ray Tracing: Use the Real Time Ray Tracing rendering technique to create scenes with realistic lighting, shadows, reflections, and metallic effects.
• Animated Water Materials: Choose predefined Animated Water Materials from the Library Browser and see the rippling movement in your Ray Traced Views.
• Modeless Cross-Section Slider: Interact with the Cross Section Slider in real time to efficiently update 3D views.
• Walkthrough Editing: Pause keyframes and use multi-select to edit many at once.
• Auto-hide Items in Small Spaces: Use the Hide Exterior-Facing Walls feature to remove items attached to exterior walls from views.
• Library Catalog Library Catalog Downloads: Included with subscription, access hundreds of Bonus and Manufacturer Catalogs at no additional charge.
• Sort Library Browser Search Results: When viewing library search results in Tile Mode, right-click to access the 'Sort By' options to view the objects in the most relevant way.
• Smart Under Counter Appliances: When placing under-counter appliances between two cabinets, like dishwashers, automatic countertops are generated.
• Doors & Windows Display Windows Open: Show windows ajar in 2D and 3D Views.
• Stairs & Ramps Ramp Tool: Input slope and lock ramp top or bottom to automatically create ramps that fit the space.
• Framing Defaults: Control fill style and labels for various framing members in a centralized location.
• Shoe Plate: Control whether to include a shoe plate for roof framing overbuilds.
• Horizontal Wall Framing: Set up girt spacing within the wall’s properties, including distance from the ground, and sizing and spacing for top and bottom girts.

 

[Rookie65]

The material properties was a good feature. There is no realistic looking screen porch screening option now. 

Deleting the watermark takes away our ability to protect our work, or to at least mark it as preliminary. Now the way to do that is to add a text box to the layout sheet, which is distracting, and can easily be removed by someone just editing a PDF page in Adobe, etc.

[ChiefArchitect]

I will log a request for a more realistic screen material for screened in porch rooms with our content team.  Thank you for the feedback on the other features as well, @Rookie65.

 

Kind regards,

 

Derek

Chief Architect Software

[Rookie65]

Thank you