Architectural practice
without the compromise.
Synaps as an alternative to BricsCAD Pro
At a glance
Strong fit
BricsCAD gives you familiar DWG-native CAD at a lower cost, but the project is still a folder of drawings with sheet numbers in a spreadsheet. Synaps keeps DWG round-trip and adds project memory, linked views, and sheet sets, without per-file layout administration.
- Synaps for one project context, sheet sets, and library governance
- BricsCAD for DWG-native CAD and BIM (BricsCAD BIM) workflows
- Migrate one sheet set first, keep BricsCAD for legacy deliverables
Side by side
Synaps vs BricsCAD
Feature-by-feature comparison of Synaps and BricsCAD Pro.
| Feature | Synaps | BricsCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Primary unit | Project with linked views | DWG file per drawing |
| Sheet sets | Built-in, auto-numbered | Layouts + viewports per file |
| Linked plan / section / detail | Live across edits | Xref + layout discipline |
| Office libraries | Publish / edit / view roles | Tool palettes + block libraries |
| DWG round-trip | Yes | Native |
| BIM (BricsCAD BIM) | Not the goal | Available in BIM edition |
| PDF issue | Sheet-set-aware | Plot layout per DWG |
| Pricing model | Per editor, monthly | Perpetual or subscription |
Honest tradeoffs
When to switch from BricsCAD, and when not to
Switch to Synaps when
- You reconcile multiple DWGs before every client meeting
- Sheet numbering lives in a spreadsheet beside the drawings
- Library updates do not propagate to active jobs reliably
- You want sheet sets without layout administration per file
Stay on BricsCAD when
- BricsCAD BIM is your federated coordination surface
- Clients mandate raw DWG with BricsCAD-specific objects
- Perpetual licenses and offline-only deployment are non-negotiable
Migration path
Pilot Synaps next to BricsCAD
A two-week pilot on a live job. If documentation does not get faster, stop, even if the comparison reads in our favour.
-
Week 1
Import one DWG library slice. Pick one live sheet set to own in Synaps.
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Week 2
Run internal review in Synaps. BricsCAD stays open for legacy exports.
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Week 3–4
Issue one PDF set from Synaps. Compare hours against the BricsCAD workflow.
BricsCAD questions we hear
Does Synaps open BricsCAD DWG files?
Yes, Synaps reads and writes DWG for round-trip with BricsCAD and other CAD tools.
What about BricsCAD BIM?
BricsCAD BIM stays your coordination surface if you use it. Synaps targets documentation, not federated clash detection.
Is Synaps cheaper than BricsCAD?
Per editor, often yes, and without perpetual upgrade cycles. Compare total cost on a two-week pilot, not list price alone.
Can we keep BricsCAD for contractors who require DWG?
Yes. Synaps exports DWG and PDF. Many studios keep BricsCAD as a compatibility export path during transition.
More comparisons