What is Revit?
Revit is building information modeling software. Instead of drawing separate plans, sections and elevations, users build a single 3D model of a building out of intelligent elements such as walls, doors, floors, beams, ducts and pipes. Every view and schedule is generated from that model, so when a designer moves a wall or swaps a window type, the change shows up everywhere at once. The name reflects that idea: it comes from the phrase revise instantly.
A single Revit license covers architecture, structural engineering and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) design, so the disciplines on a project can work from one shared model. Parametric components called families define how objects look and behave, and schedules automatically count items such as doors or light fixtures. Teams in different offices or firms can collaborate on cloud-hosted models, and Dynamo, a visual programming tool, automates repetitive tasks and generates complex geometry.
Revit sits at the center of Autodesk’s building design products and its Forma industry cloud, and it exchanges drawings with AutoCAD through the DWG format. Revit 2027, released in April 2026, added a built-in AI-powered Autodesk Assistant, an MCP server that lets outside AI tools work with Revit, faster graphics for large models and embodied carbon analysis through Forma. Its main competitors include Graphisoft Archicad and Vectorworks Architect.
Key features of Revit
- 01
Parametric building model
Walls, floors, roofs, doors and other elements carry real-world properties and relationships, and every plan, section, elevation and 3D view updates automatically when the model changes.
- 02
Families
Customizable parametric components called families define everything from furniture and windows to structural connections and mechanical equipment, with parameters for size, materials and manufacturer data.
- 03
Multidiscipline design
Architecture, structural and MEP tools live in one application, so architects, structural engineers and building services engineers can coordinate their work in a shared model.
- 04
Schedules and documentation
Schedules and quantity takeoffs come directly from model data, and construction document sheets with tags, dimensions and annotations stay synchronized with the design.
- 05
Worksharing and cloud collaboration
Several people can work on the same central model at once, and cloud worksharing lets project teams in different offices or companies collaborate on hosted models.
- 06
Dynamo visual programming
Dynamo lets users build visual scripts that automate tasks, manage data and generate complex geometry without writing traditional code, and advanced users can extend scripts with Python.
- 07
Interoperability
Revit imports and exports DWG, IFC and other formats, so models can be exchanged with AutoCAD users, other BIM tools and construction software.
Who uses Revit?
- Architecture firms design buildings and produce coordinated construction documents from a single model.
- Structural engineers model steel and concrete frames and document reinforcement details for construction.
- MEP engineers lay out ductwork, piping and electrical systems and check them for clashes with architectural and structural elements.
- Contractors and building owners use Revit models for cost estimating, construction planning and facility management after handover.
History of Revit
Revit was created by Charles River Software, a company founded in 1997 in Newton, Massachusetts, by Leonid Raiz and Irwin Jungreis, two former developers of the mechanical CAD program Pro/Engineer. They set out to bring parametric modeling to architecture, renamed the company Revit Technology Corporation in January 2000 and released Revit 1.0 on April 5, 2000, following it with several updates within two years.
Autodesk acquired Revit Technology in 2002 for $133 million. It later sold separate Revit Architecture, Revit Structure and Revit MEP products before combining them into a single Revit application with the 2013 release. Over the following decade Autodesk added cloud worksharing, generative design and connections to its Forma cloud platform, and it continues to release a new version each year.
- 1997
Leonid Raiz and Irwin Jungreis found Charles River Software in Newton, Massachusetts.
- 2000
Revit 1.0 is released on April 5.
- 2002
Autodesk acquires Revit Technology Corporation for $133 million.
- 2012
Revit 2013 combines the Architecture, Structure and MEP editions into a single product.
- 2026
Revit 2027 adds an AI assistant, an MCP server and accelerated graphics.
Revit pricing
Pricing modelSubscription
Available by subscription on its own or in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection, with a lower-cost Revit LT, Flex tokens and free educational access.
Prices change often. Check the official Revit website for current plans.
Revit alternatives
Well-known alternativesGraphisoft Archicad, Vectorworks Architect, Allplan, Tekla Structures and Bentley OpenBuildings Designer
Revit: frequently asked questions
Who makes Revit?
Revit is made by Autodesk, which acquired the software’s original developer, Revit Technology Corporation, in 2002 for $133 million. Revit was created by Leonid Raiz and Irwin Jungreis, who founded the company in Massachusetts in 1997 under the name Charles River Software.
What is Revit used for?
Revit is used for building information modeling. Architects, structural engineers, MEP engineers and contractors use it to design buildings as coordinated 3D models, generate plans, sections and schedules automatically, detect conflicts between building systems and produce construction documents.
Is Revit free?
Revit is not free for commercial use. Autodesk sells it by subscription, either alone or as part of its Architecture, Engineering and Construction Collection, and offers a lower-cost Revit LT edition and Flex tokens. Students and educators can get free educational access, and a free trial is available.
When was Revit released?
Revit 1.0 was released on April 5, 2000, by Revit Technology Corporation. Autodesk bought the company in 2002 and has released new versions every year since, with Revit 2027 arriving in April 2026.
What is the difference between Revit and AutoCAD?
AutoCAD is general-purpose drafting software in which lines and shapes are drawn individually, while Revit builds an information-rich 3D model of a building from elements such as walls and doors. In Revit, drawings and schedules are generated from the model and update automatically when the design changes.
Sources
- Revit overview, Autodesk autodesk.com
- What’s New in Revit 2027, Autodesk autodesk.com
- Autodesk Revit, Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
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