Chief Architect Software Licensing Changes Beginning January 10, 2023

[WoodGrain]

I bought Chief Architect Premier x12, rode the included SSA upgrade to X13 and didn't renew.

Today I upgraded to X14 from X13, however in my download section there is no link to X14... just to X13.

 

Is this normal?

 

[Kbird1]

5 minutes ago, WoodGrain said:

I bought Chief Architect Premier x12, rode the included SSA upgrade to X13 and didn't renew.

Today I upgraded to X14 from X13, however in my download section there is no link to X14... just to X13.

 

Is this normal?

 

 

Yes, they only confirm Payments in Person Mon-Fri. and then update accounts , so don't panic   you aren't the only one this has happened too.

 

* I am not sure why they don't Note this at payment or in the Confirmation Email , so people don't freak out.....

 

M.

[WoodGrain]

1 minute ago, Kbird1 said:

 

Yes, they only confirm Payments in Person Mon-Fri. and then update accounts , so don't panic   you aren't the only one this has happened too.

 

M.

Thanks for that info  

[mthd97]

Welcome to “SO” day ! 

 

SO = Subscriptions Only.

[Archnot-Boltz]

Unfortunately, this wouldn't be happening if all users had subscribed to SSA. Folks should have gotten onboard back when it was only $199.00 per year. SSA was/is the best way for Chief to pay for R&D & to sustain the previous status quo. Hopefully, our loyalty (mine since 1998) for all the years of continuous upgrades and SSA will be taken into consideration in future SSA price increases.-BB

[mthd97]

Past users who have an older copy of CA can now upgrade to the latest version and save 50% on the first year. 

 

So for occasional users like me that’s a great gesture by CA sales.

 

Well done and thank you very much.

 

 

[Kbird1]

32 minutes ago, mthd97 said:

Past users who have an older copy of CA can now upgrade to the latest version and save 50% on the first year. 

 

An upgrade is nice but since it is to a Subscription Version, what happens this time next year if as in the past you decide to not pay the full $2000 subscription in 2024? Will you be able to continue using X15 ( should be out by then) or do you lose all access to X15?

 

M.

[mthd97]

3 hours ago, Kbird1 said:

 

An upgrade is nice but since it is to a Subscription Version, what happens this time next year if as in the past you decide to not pay the full $2000 subscription in 2024? Will you be able to continue using X15 ( should be out by then) or do you lose all access to X15?

 

M.

Well it does say that it’s only for the first year so after that we should pay the full fee as required. If we would like to continue using CA in the future.

 

They gave us past users plenty of time to upgrade or continue paying SSA.

 

Future users will have a much better developed product that we had when we first started.

 

I think it’s fair because they gave us a warning for when things would change.

 

We are all free to choose what software we will employ and CA has it’s price like other CAD software does.

 

Time will tell if they are attracting new users out there ? It appears to me that many more interior designers are choosing CA these days for ease of use.

 

Just guessing but I wouldn’t be surprised if X15 has a very robust PBR engine in it this time ? Vectorworks Architect & Archicad both have the Maxon Redshift PBR engine in them.

 

Who knows, let’s wait and see !

[Archnot-Boltz]

Archicad is very intensive and expensive. Vectorworks used to be a great deal but still a bit complex. Are you saying that Chief is giving  you a first year subscription at $99.00 per month and then the full $199.00 the following year or that you can upgrade and older version to X14 (w/ included year of SSA and free upgrade to x15) and then if you discontinue your SSA the following year you lose any rights to ownership beyond X15 and would need to subscribe $199.00 per month for any uses of future upgrades? Eg, has Chief said that folks with older legacy licenses would be able to continue using the program without any support from Chief? bb

[Kbird1]

12 hours ago, Archnot-Boltz said:

Archicad is very intensive and expensive. Vectorworks used to be a great deal but still a bit complex. Are you saying that Chief is giving  you a first year subscription at $99.00 per month and then the full $199.00 the following year or that you can upgrade and older version to X14 (w/ included year of SSA and free upgrade to x15) and then if you discontinue your SSA the following year you lose any rights to ownership beyond X15 and would need to subscribe $199.00 per month for any uses of future upgrades? Eg, has Chief said that folks with older legacy licenses would be able to continue using the program without any support from Chief? bb

 

CA will need to Clarify but it appears they are offering Users of ANY older version a 1/2 priced ie $995 upgrade to the latest version ( x14) if they upgrade to the Subscription Model for the 1st year...only.... but it is $1995 per year after that , my question was because MTHD hasn't upgraded since X10 due to cost I assume, but what happens come 2024 if he decides $2000USD is too much to spend "on a hobby"  , can he continue using X15 he'll receive in the 1st yr or does he lose access to X15 and have to revert to his last legacy version  (X10 ) which is an issue since X10 can't open anything done in X14/X15..... or can the User continue using X15 in perpetuity? ( with a SSA-like fee perhaps?)

 

M.

[Archnot-Boltz]

13 minutes ago, Kbird1 said:

 

CA will need to Clarify but it appears they are offering Users of ANY older version a 1/2 priced ie $995 upgrade to the latest version ( x14) if they upgrade to the Subscription Model for the 1st year...only.... but it is $1995 per year after that , my question was because MTHD has upgrade since X10 due to cost I assume, what happens come 2024 if he decides $2000USD is too much to spend "on a hobby"  , can he continue using X15 he'll receive in the 1st yr or does he lose access to X15 and have to revert to his last legacy version  (X10 ) which is an issue since X10 can't open anything done in X14/X15..... or can the User continue using X15 in perpetuity? ( with a SSA-like fee perhaps?)

 

M.

Certainly an important question. But, would have possibly been cheaper to upgrade prior to the change and continue with SSA depending on his long term projected use. Someone would have to do the math to determine which model was more economically viable.  Of course, a person could subscribe monthly if only doing design work at certain times of the year, say the spring, summer busy season. You would get use of the current version every month you subscribe.  Chief would have to give  12 month discount to keep that from possibly happening.-BB

[Chrisb222]

17 hours ago, Kbird1 said:

An upgrade is nice but since it is to a Subscription Version, what happens this time next year if as in the past you decide to not pay the full $2000 subscription in 2024? Will you be able to continue using X15 ( should be out by then) or do you lose all access to X15?

 

M.

 

To my reading, this offer is simply a discount on the subscription price. If you stop paying, it stops working. This is not an offer to sell an upgraded perpetual license. They don't do that anymore.

[Kbird1]

4 minutes ago, Chrisb222 said:

 

To my reading, this offer is simply a discount on the subscription price. If you stop paying, it stops working. This is not an offer to sell an upgraded perpetual license. They don't do that anymore.

 

This is my understanding too, but I thought MTHD may know something others don't (yet) or may misunderstand what he's getting into, especially as an occasional User and Upgrader.

 

M.

[mthd97]

No I just saw the offer to use the latest version for a years subscription at 50% off on the CA website for persons with an older version like me. No mention is made if that is restricted to just using X14 only for that year ? I will have to read the fine print.

 

It’s fair to say that once the year is up you will not be able to use the newest software version unless you want to pay full price for the following year.

 

I can still however use my older version when ever I wish.

 

Yes those programs I mentioned above are expensive and intensive but many Architects like to use them.

 

Chief Architect is great for home builders and carpenters as well as Architects.

 

I don’t think many home builders or carpenters would even have a use for VW or AC or Revit as I see it ?

 

Chief Architect is much more construction orientated straight out of the box than other CAD is.

[Kbird1]

3 hours ago, mthd97 said:

No mention is made if that is restricted to just using X14 only for that year ? I will have to read the fine print.

 

I would assume it is a standard full subscription which includes an upgrade to any new releases within the subscription period , so someone getting it now, will get X15 in June? assuming a similar timetable as last yr ... The X15 Beta is already out ( for some) so hopefully it's going well.

 

3 hours ago, mthd97 said:

I can still however use my older version when ever I wish.

 

Okay that is good info for someone doing this,  as long as they are aware you can't open Plans created in a Version newer than whatever your older version is, ie a X14 plan won't open in X10 in your case if you don't pay for the 2nd year.....and every year after until you no longer want to use Chief.

 

M.

[mthd97]

If I took up the offer now and got X14 and started a job in that version, there is no way an older version would be able to open those files.

 

That offer is only for now but when X15 arrives it may not be a 50% offer either ?

 

My observations about Interior Designers comes from the Facebook user groups. There appear to be many users who are in that profession who are using CA. Those users would definitely be interested in a robust PBR engine right inside CA so they don’t have to export into other PBR applications. As well as the huge post that was made in this forum about a PBR rendering engine.

 

I think it’s very much in the future interests of CA to have a very fine PBR Render engine right inside CA in the future. That’s cool because that will continue to drive the designing side of development of CA with that user group accessing CA.

 

The only problem is that those very fine PBR render engines require a heavy duty GPU capacity or video card.

 

And many might complain about having to upgrade their hardware as well maybe ?

 

I just like to see how CA develops in the future ?

 

[Kbird1]

2 hours ago, mthd97 said:

If I took up the offer now and got X14 and started a job in that version, there is no way an older version would be able to open those files.

 

That is how I understand it yes...... if you just want to "Play" with X14 , you can download the Trial Version, you just can't save plans , export or Print from Trial Versions.

 

M.

[SheriC]

On 12/6/2022 at 5:18 PM, smashing said:

I am so annoyed by this decision, and so bitterly disappointed. My entire view of the company has changed.....

 

While the company may have done the figures and worked out how much additional revenue this will bring them, the fact remains this company will never be able to calculate the loss of goodwill and feelings from people - perhaps like myself - who still believe in the concept of owning things, rather than renting them. 

 

What a damn damn shame.

 

**THIS** concept of not owning things is so 'Klaus Schwab' or Agenda 2021 or 2030. It, too, will fail.  I could not agree more with the above post from smashing.  I, too, am not a professional home designer, though I have used CA to successfully design two personal homes that we built and have been thrilled. I learned online and felt comfortable with my 'training' and research. For years I have used some version of these programs as my "game", then advanced to CA to use in my business as a Realtor. Instead of paying for services from companies to do floor plans of homes if I could not pull them online somewhere, I could within 30 to 60 minutes of my time, sketch out a floor plan and come up with some basic ideas to add to my MLS ads using CA. Here's the real kicker: I just bought a new laptop to handle the CA program (almost $3K). I sat down this morning, 14 Jan 2023, going to renew my SSA because I have not so in a few years, only to find out this BS about pricing. Just so anyone reading this knows, I am fully aware of how all of these REITS have taken over SFH sales nation wide and are renting them out, turning what would be previous home buyers into home owners. Instead, because of the outrageous pricing of homes, people are becoming "renters". I see exactly what is going on here. Get it? Now, I find that CA is doing the same thing as the Black Rock/Klaus Schwab companies are doing! What BS! We, the People, want value for what and where WE INVEST OUR MONEY 'in'. WE decide to play, revolt, or walk away. NOTHING CHANGES IF WE STAY QUIET. ALL of these companies that are going the way of woke and socialist agendas will FAIL. The 'renter mentality', will find REVOLT among the citizens. The ONLY way to fight it is to REJECT these ideas. I will not comply. I will not 'drink' your Kool-Aid and pay the price you demand. It's overpriced for my needs and the average small business person. It's egregious and you now make me sick. You should keep your politics out of your board room. You have SOLD software for years. You should stick to it. I'd rather use the perpetual older license I "own". Now, we need to see if you honor your past words. You have changed so much as a company. What. A. Damn. Shame. 

[SheriC]

I have those licenses then upgraded to CA. However, I sometimes want to add furniture, etc. or show a 3D model overview. I may design another home and would need a professional product. The learning curve of AutoCAD was just too much for me 'way back' when I did decided to upgrade to CA. I may be as old as dirt but I can learn!  I do not want "just a simple plan". I have to compete with other professional floor plans. Home Designer is not what I want. I'm having to throw my feet back into the game and wanted to upgrade to the newest program. My mind will not allow me to do this new "pay by the month' plan. No. Way.

 

[Archnot-Boltz]

On 1/14/2023 at 1:38 PM, SheriC said:

I have those licenses then upgraded to CA. However, I sometimes want to add furniture, etc. or show a 3D model overview. I may design another home and would need a professional product. The learning curve of AutoCAD was just too much for me 'way back' when I did decided to upgrade to CA. I may be as old as dirt but I can learn!  I do not want "just a simple plan". I have to compete with other professional floor plans. Home Designer is not what I want. I'm having to throw my feet back into the game and wanted to upgrade to the newest program. My mind will not allow me to do this.

 

Chief has been warning of the impending lease only option and giving offers to entice folks to upgrade from older versions and or renew their SSA for a couple of months now. Kind of stinks if you missed the memo about the cutoff date of Jan 10. I don't foresee many subscribing at $200 per month when Softplan is $99.00. Of course then you would have to learn SP, which is still more user friendly than most of the other Big Boy CAD programs (Autocad, Archicad, Vectorworks(Nemetschek?) and Revit). Cadsoft has a goofy one out there too. The SSA path was/is fair and my hope is that they will treat continue to treat the legacy users fairly.  

[Kbird1]

7 hours ago, Archnot-Boltz said:

entice folks to upgrade from older versions and or renew their SSA for a couple of months now. Kind of stinks if you missed the memo about the cutoff date of Jan 10.

 

Well it was only 5 weeks ( Nov.29th) and came during the Holiday period and the Email looked like another "Offer" for Training or their usual Newsletter , so I think many ignored it and will pay the price in the next 6 months especially if not frequent Forum Visitors. 

 

Personally I think the switch should of happened with the Release of X15, giving people time to to find out and update their SSA or in some cases Sell ( transfer) their software license as was previously allowed, I personally know of a small 3 man company who's Owner is now stuck with two additional licenses as Chief refused to let his employees buy those two licenses, and wanting to stay Perpetual the Employees were forced to buy at Full Price last week, so they were all losers in that scenario.

 

M.

[Rashid_Garuba]

On 1/14/2023 at 11:39 AM, SheriC said:

You should keep your politics out of your board room.

 

While some of your points are well taken you are the first person here to mention politics.

 

It is not easier for any of us to swallow but until you are a Software vendor you can't understand what happens to your revenue stream as your product product matures.  I have used a couple of CAD programs that ceased to exist and in hindsight may have payed a yearly fee to keep time alive.  That said, depends on the yearly fee.  If I were a new user I probably would not pay $199/month. I avoided Autodesk when they went subscription..

 

Understandably a casual user as you are it is though.. As Eric mentioned a lower tier may be your option.

[Archnot-Boltz]

19 hours ago, Kbird1 said:

 

Well it was only 5 weeks ( Nov.29th) and came during the Holiday period and the Email looked like another "Offer" for Training or their usual Newsletter , so I think many ignored it and will pay the price in the next 6 months especially if not frequent Forum Visitors. 

 

Personally I think the switch should of happened with the Release of X15, giving people time to to find out and update their SSA or in some cases Sell ( transfer) their software license as was previously allowed, I personally know of a small 3 man company who's Owner is now stuck with two additional licenses as Chief refused to let his employees buy those two licenses, and wanting to stay Perpetual the Employees were forced to buy at Full Price last week, so they were all losers in that scenario.

 

M.

Ok, Mick, I was only guessing and maybe Chief would offer a last chance deal to any regular users who might have missed the boat. It did kind of come out of nowhere and I can see how someone (whom I've never seen on this forum) could have missed the memo. 

 

[Kbird1]

5 hours ago, Archnot-Boltz said:

Ok, Mick, I was only guessing and maybe Chief would offer a last chance deal to any regular users who might have missed the boat. It did kind of come out of nowhere and I can see how someone (whom I've never seen on this forum) could have missed the memo. 

 

 

Nothing aimed at you Brad , I was just pointing out I think the whole change-over was poorly planned, and without much consideration for many Loyal Long Term Users , who have in many cases been cost thousands of dollars and I am sure there will be more, I was not one on them, so I have no skin in that game, as I will continue using Chief for another decade perhaps, it just doesn't sit well with me, as one of those long time loyal Users. As Eric pointed out there was 1 email, a week after the Forum announcement and I suspect 50+% went straight to Junk Mail, with the new Subscription Model implemented 35 days (?) later. Just "Poor Form" from my point of View.

 

M.

[mthd97]

On 1/16/2023 at 10:28 PM, Rashid_Garuba said:

It is not easier for any of us to swallow but until you are a Software vendor you can't understand what happens to your revenue stream as your product product matures.  I have used a couple of CAD programs that ceased to exist and in hindsight may have payed a yearly fee to keep time alive.  That said, depends on the yearly fee.  If I were a new user I probably would not pay $199/month. I avoided Autodesk when they went subscription..

 

I think I would also be quite skeptical about going to Autodesk for Revit LT or Autocad LT as I see it ? But it’s up to each persons scope of work to decide what they will use and not use.

 

I am mostly retired and only do the occasional job here and there and I am happy with X10 but if I still had my builder clients to work for, I would simply have kept SSA active.

 

I don’t need to be on SSA with other cad either because I don’t use my software very much at all now but if I did, I would prefer to own my license to use the software and not be forced to pay a yearly subscription fee.

 

The CAD companies that stay away from yearly subscriptions only agreements will probably do much better because they still offer perpetual licensing.

 

As much as I like Chief Architect, I 100% disagree with its new policy because it may hurt them quite a bit down the track.

 

I think Autodesk may have shot themselves in the foot ? I see some Revit users moving over to other cad so that they can actually own a perpetual CAD license.

 

I think Chief Architect inc will have its subscription clients demanding allot more from the CAD software because of this new arrangement ? It could force them to have to deliver a much higher level product than they would have if they just stayed perpetual ? With Autodesk being the other main competitor offering yearly subscriptions, it becomes the measuring point of what you can expect for a yearly subscription fee for CAD software agreements.