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Autodesk Forma Site Design vs SWAPP

Two design tools at opposite ends of the design phase that both hand off to Revit. Not like-for-like (our reading): Autodesk Forma Site Design is cloud software for early site planning, massing and environmental analysis, with AI features added and published subscription prices; SWAPP sells an AI architect called Frank that produces construction document sets, models and QA checks inside a firm's own Revit or ArchiCAD files, priced by credits through a quote. Desk research from vendor pages read Oct 29, 2026; not tested, no winner.

DESK RESEARCH, NOT TESTED. Compiled from vendors' public websites (accessed Oct 29, 2026). Vendor claims are not verified by Means & Methods Lab. No scores or rankings.

In short: Autodesk Forma Site Design (Site planning, massing & environmental analysis; vendor publishes prices) vs SWAPP (AI construction documents & BIM automation; no public prices (quote / sales)). Facts last checked Oct 29, 2026. No winner declared; not tested.

Side by side

Autodesk Forma Site Design vs SWAPP: vendor-published facts side by side
Sheet rowAutodesk Forma Site DesignSWAPP
CategorySite planning, massing & environmental analysisAI construction documents & BIM automation
AI role (our label)AI features added to established productAI-first
What it doesCloud software for site planning and analysis, described by Autodesk as AI-powered. Site context from the Forma Data Marketplace (terrain, buildings, roads), terrain editing with pad volume and mass balance insights, 3D massing, and an AI-powered Site Automation tool that generates and compares layout options, plus housing, parking, line-building and floor-plan/unit tools. Analyses include sun hours, daylight, wind and noise (each with a rapid machine-learning prediction mode and a detailed simulation mode), microclimate, solar energy, shadow, view and total carbon (US hubs). Forma Board handles design review tied to Revit sheets; AI rendering is included with render limits. Proposals go to Revit as a geolocated native model; IFC/OBJ import and Dynamo and Rhino connections are listed. Autodesk says Forma Site Design replaced Spacemaker, whose subscribers were migrated. A customer quote on the page cites a 60-hour design done in 4 hours (customer claim, not verified). Re-read Oct 17, 2026 (rendered in a browser): the old Forma overview URL now redirects to a Forma Site Design product page, which still calls it AI-powered cloud software for site planning and analysis and now lists sending a Site Design proposal into Forma Building Design, viewing Forma Data Management files and Revit sheets in Forma Board, and a Forma for Construction connection. Its FAQ describes Forma Site Design as an initial set of capabilities of Autodesk's AEC industry cloud for pre-design and schematic design. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: (WebFetch; a plain request returned 403) the product page still calls it AI-powered cloud software for site planning and analysis and lists the same tools and analyses, with Site Automation and terrain editing marked Enhanced and Forma Board adding AI-powered rendering in context (render limits may vary). This read lists sending proposals to Forma Building Design and Revit and sharing projects in Autodesk Construction Cloud; it no longer names the Forma for Construction connection we noted Oct 17. Subscriptions include 8x5 support, SSO and usage reporting. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: product page unchanged in substance (AI-powered site planning and analysis, Site Automation and terrain editing marked Enhanced, rapid machine-learning wind and noise predictions alongside detailed simulations, Forma Board with AI-powered rendering, Revit, Rhino, Dynamo, IFC and OBJ connections). Customer quotes on the page were not used. Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: integrations still list Forma for Construction alongside Forma Building Design, Revit, Forma Data Management, Dynamo, Rhino and App Store extensions; the FAQ now also explains how the product differs from the wider Autodesk Forma platform, and lists 24x7 online support options. Re-checked Oct 25, 2026 (read through a fetch service; a direct request returned 403): unchanged in substance (site context from the Forma Data Marketplace, terrain editing with pad volume and mass balance, 3D Sketch, AI-powered Site Automation, housing, line-building and parking tools, sun, daylight, wind, microclimate, carbon, noise, solar, shadow and view analyses, Forma Board with AI-powered rendering, and export to Revit as a geolocated model). Customer quotes and time-saving figures are vendor content and not used. Re-checked Oct 27, 2026 (plain requests returned 403; page read through a web fetch): overview page unchanged in substance (site context and Forma Data Marketplace, 3D Sketch, Site Automation, environmental analyses including rapid machine-learning wind and noise predictions, Forma Board, Revit, Rhino and Dynamo connections). Re-checked Oct 29, 2026 (plain requests returned 403; page read through a web fetch): overview page unchanged in substance (site context, 3D Sketch, AI-powered Site Automation, environmental analyses, Forma Board, Revit export as a geolocated model). Customer quotes are vendor content and not used.AI documentation and modeling platform for architecture firms that produces CD sets, models and QA checks inside Revit and ArchiCAD. It executes work in the model: complete construction document sets (dimensions, tags, views, sheets) to a firm's standards, 2D-to-3D modeling, finish schedules and parameters from SD through CD, QA validations, and agentic ADA checking that finds and fixes issues in the model. Frank is its agentic assistant that reads and writes the live model. Each engagement starts with a two-week onboarding that encodes the firm's guidelines and QA logic. Vendor claims it automates up to 80% of CD tasks, has delivered 35M+ sq ft of documents and saved 104,300+ production hours in two years (vendor claims, not verified). Preconstruction coordination, construction RFI feedback and operations modules are listed as "Coming 2026". Vendor says it is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified and that native BIM files are not sent to third-party LLM providers. Re-read Oct 17, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance; the navigation now lists a Frank Skills Library, Workflow Memory and an Integrations page naming Revit, ArchiCAD, Procore and Trimble. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: unchanged in substance; Frank is now billed as an AI Architect, with Revit and Archicad demo pages; the 80% CD-task, 35M+ sq ft and 104,300 hour figures and the Coming 2026 modules are unchanged (vendor claims). Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: unchanged in substance (Frank billed as an AI Architect that reads and writes the live Revit or ArchiCAD model, two-week onboarding, workflow memory, Preconstruction, Construction and Operations modules still Coming 2026, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 with native BIM files not sent to third-party LLM providers); the homepage also offers Request Early Access next to Book a Demo. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: unchanged in substance (Frank, two-week onboarding, workflow memory, Preconstruction, Construction and Operations still Coming 2026, ISO/IEC 27001:2022). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: still positioned around Frank, an AI architect for Revit and Archicad, with a skills library, workflow memory built in a two-week onboarding, several items marked Coming 2026, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and a statement that data is not used to train general models. Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (Frank, an agentic AI assistant working inside Revit and ArchiCAD for CD sets, 2D-to-3D modeling, validations against firm standards and agentic ADA checking; Design to Operations scope; ISO/IEC 27001:2022). Production claims are vendor statements and not used. Re-checked Oct 27, 2026 (also read for a compare): unchanged in substance (Frank, an agentic AI assistant inside Revit and ArchiCAD for CD sets, 2D-to-3D modeling, QA validations against firm standards and agentic ADA checking; Lifecycle Intelligence and Workflow Memory; ISO/IEC 27001:2022). Production figures are vendor claims and not used. Re-checked Oct 29, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (Frank, the AI Architect, inside Revit and ArchiCAD for CD sets, modeling, QA validations and ADA compliance; Lifecycle Intelligence and Workflow Memory; integrations including Revit, ArchiCAD, Procore and Trimble; ISO/IEC 27001:2022). The site navigation now carries a "Try Frank. It's free!" button that opens the contact form; the terms of the free use are not stated. Production figures are vendor claims and not used.
Who it's forAnyone in pre-design and schematic design: architects, urban planners and real estate developers (vendor wording). Terrain mass-balance insights are pitched at early cost estimation.Architecture firms' project architects, BIM and design-technology leaders, and firm leadership; a Contractors & Owners page frames design intelligence carried into the field (vendor wording).
Pricing (as publicly stated)Product page headline says "Starting at $59 / month"; the same page's FAQ lists $85 monthly, $700 annually, or $2,100 for 3 years, and says it is also included in the AEC Collection ($460 monthly, $3,675 annually, or $11,030 for 3 years). Free trial offered. We report both figures as published. (Checked Oct 15, 2026.) Re-checked Oct 17, 2026: unchanged (headline $59/month; FAQ $85 monthly, $700 annually or $2,100 for 3 years; AEC Collection figures unchanged); the page offers a 30-day free trial. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: unchanged (headline Starting at $59 / month; FAQ $85 monthly, $700 annually or $2,100 for 3 years; AEC Collection $460 monthly, $3,675 annually or $11,030 for 3 years; free trial). Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: unchanged (headline Starting at $59 / month; FAQ $85 monthly, $700 annually or $2,100 for 3 years; AEC Collection $460 monthly, $3,675 annually or $11,030 for 3 years; free trial; subscriptions include 8x5 support, SSO and usage reporting). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: unchanged, starting at $59/month; FAQ still lists $85 monthly, $700 annually or $2,100 for 3 years, the AEC Collection at $460, $3,675 or $11,030, and a 30-day free trial. The FAQ states a 30-day money-back window for annual and multi-year terms and 15 days for monthly. Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: unchanged (starting at $59/month on the page; FAQ $85 monthly, $700 annually or $2,100 for 3 years; AEC Collection $460 monthly, $3,675 annually or $11,030 for 3 years; free trial; subscriptions include 8x5 support, SSO and usage reporting). Re-checked Oct 27, 2026: unchanged (starting at $59/month on the page; FAQ $85 monthly, $700 annually or $2,100 for 3 years; AEC Collection $460 monthly, $3,675 annually or $11,030 for 3 years; free trial; 8x5 support, SSO and usage reporting). Re-checked Oct 29, 2026: unchanged (starting at $59/month on the page; FAQ $85 monthly, $700 annually or $2,100 for 3 years; AEC Collection $460 monthly, $3,675 annually or $11,030 for 3 years; free trial; 8x5 support, SSO and usage reporting).Not publicly listed. Pricing page (checked Oct 16, 2026) now describes credit-based pricing with no rigid tiers or fixed scopes: credits are consumed across the platform by the work you run (documentation, modeling, annotation, optimization), with different tasks consuming credits differently; a custom quote form asks for firm size and project types, and a quick estimate can be requested. No credit prices shown. Earlier note (Oct 15, 2026): Not publicly listed (pricing page is a quote form; vendor says engagements start with a pilot on your own projects). Re-checked Oct 17, 2026: unchanged (credit-based, custom quote form, no credit prices). Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: unchanged. (credit-based, custom quote, no credit prices). Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: unchanged (credit-based, no tiers, custom quote form asking firm size, project types, Revit use and US projects; quick estimate on request; no credit prices). Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: unchanged (credit-based, no tiers, custom quote form; no credit prices). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: still credit-based with no published tiers and a custom quote form; no change. Re-checked Oct 25, 2026: unchanged (credit-based with no rigid tiers or fixed scopes; custom quote form and a quick estimate on request; no credit prices). Re-checked Oct 27, 2026: unchanged (credit-based, no tiers; custom quote form and a quick estimate on request; no credit prices shown). Re-checked Oct 29, 2026: still credit-based with no rigid tiers or fixed scopes and no credit prices; the pricing page now has an Enterprise plans section for firms with multiple offices and departments (plan shaped around firm standards, governance, security review and custom workflows) and a "Just want to try Frank? Start free" link to the same contact form.
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Facts last checked: Oct 29, 2026. Prices change; check the vendor page before relying on them.

Where the vendor descriptions differ

  • When each is used: Forma Site Design works at the start, on site context, massing options and analyses before a design is set. SWAPP works later, producing documentation, 2D-to-3D modeling and validations against firm standards and ADA rules once there is a design to document (vendor descriptions).
  • What each lists: Forma Site Design lists site context and data, terrain editing with pad volume and mass balance, 3D Sketch, AI-powered Site Automation, housing, line-building and parking tools, sun, daylight, wind, microclimate, carbon, noise and other analyses, and Forma Board. SWAPP lists Frank and its skills library for documentation, modeling, QA and validations and ADA compliance, plus Lifecycle Intelligence and Workflow Memory.
  • How the AI is used: Autodesk describes AI-powered Site Automation that generates and compares site layouts and rapid machine-learning wind and noise predictions inside a wider product. SWAPP is AI-first: Frank works as an agentic assistant inside Revit and ArchiCAD.
  • Revit handoff: Forma Site Design exports to Revit as a geolocated model. SWAPP works in the Revit or ArchiCAD model itself and lists integrations including Procore and Trimble. Neither vendor page we read describes a direct connection between the two.
  • Security (vendor statements): Autodesk says subscriptions include SSO and usage reporting. SWAPP lists ISO/IEC 27001:2022.
  • Pricing (checked Oct 29, 2026): Autodesk shows Forma Site Design starting at $59/month on the page, with FAQ prices of $85 monthly, $700 annually or $2,100 for 3 years and a free trial; it is also in the AEC Collection ($460 monthly, $3,675 annually or $11,030 for 3 years). SWAPP is credit-based with no published tiers or credit prices; its pricing page has an Enterprise plans section and a Start free link, both through a contact form. See each tool page for detail.
  • Not used here: Autodesk customer quotes and time-saving figures, and SWAPP's production figures (vendor material).

Paraphrased from the sources listed above. Vendor claims are reported as claims.

What users say

The facts above come from vendor websites. Whether either tool is any good for your work is something only people who use them can say. These are member reviews, all ratings shown, never edited or removed for being negative.

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Questions to ask in your review

  • Whether a Forma massing exported to Revit is a useful starting point for SWAPP's documentation work
  • What SWAPP credits cost for a typical document set
  • What SWAPP's free use includes
  • What did you use it for, on what kind of work and project size?
  • How long did setup and training take, and who on your team did it?
  • What does it cost you in practice, compared with what the sales call said?

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