Architectural practice
without the compromise.
Synaps as an alternative to Autodesk Revit
At a glance
Best alongside Revit
Revit is model-first: every plan, section, and schedule is a view of one parametric database. That is exactly why coordination is its strength, and why documentation can feel like feeding the model. Synaps takes the documentation half, drafting, sheet sets, and weekly PDF issues, and leaves coordination in Revit.
- Synaps for drafting, sheet sets, and library governance
- Revit for federated BIM, clash detection, and FM handover
- Most studios run them side by side after a two-week pilot
Side by side
Synaps vs Revit
Feature-by-feature comparison of Synaps and Autodesk Revit.
| Feature | Synaps | Revit |
|---|---|---|
| Primary surface | 2D drafting + sheet index | Federated 3D BIM model |
| Linked views | Plans, sections, details stay live across edits | Native, but coupled to the full model |
| Sheet sets | First-class, drag-reorder, auto-numbering | Sheet manager inside the model |
| PDF issue export | Tuned for issued sets out of the box | Requires print-set discipline |
| Office libraries | Publish / edit / view roles | Family templates + shared parameters |
| Multi-discipline coordination | Not the goal | Core strength |
| Clash detection | No | Yes (Revit + Navisworks) |
| Facility data / IFC handover | Not the goal | Yes |
| Learning curve | 2–5 days for an editor | 2–4 weeks plus office standards |
| Pricing model | Per editor, monthly | Per seat, annual |
Honest tradeoffs
When to switch from Revit, and when not to
Switch to Synaps when
- Documentation eats more partner hours than coordination does
- Re-exporting after a plan change takes an afternoon, not minutes
- Library governance lives in someone's head, not a system
- You issue weekly 2D sets but treat the model as supporting cast
Stay on Revit when
- The federated model is the contract deliverable
- Clash and multi-discipline coordination is the job
- You owe FM handover or IFC compliance to the client
- No one in the office can own a documentation pilot for two weeks
Migration path
Pilot Synaps next to Revit
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
Migrate one office library slice. Pick one live sheet set to own in Synaps.
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Week 2
Move internal review to Synaps. Revit stays the federated archive.
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Week 3–4
Issue one PDF set from Synaps. Measure plan-edit-to-re-export hours.
Revit questions we hear
Can we keep Revit and use Synaps for drafting?
Yes, the most common mixed stack. Revit stays coordination and archive; Synaps owns drafting, libraries, and the weekly issued set.
Does Synaps import Revit (.rvt) files?
Synaps reads IFC and DWG exports from Revit for geometry and view setup. The federated model is not imported wholesale, pilots usually start with one sheet set and grow.
Do we lose multi-discipline coordination by switching documentation?
Only if coordination was happening in 2D sheet sets, which it usually is not. Federated coordination stays where it belongs: in your BIM tool.
How does pricing compare to Revit?
Synaps is per-editor monthly without the seat lock-in or annual commitment. Studios commonly pilot with two editors and a studio lead.
More comparisons