Autodesk Forma Building Design
Pricing. You can try it free before you buy. Pricing is tailored to your team. Reach out to the vendor for a quote. See full pricing · Updated November 3, 2026
Autodesk Forma Building Design is cloud schematic-design software that lets teams shape building options, test performance live, and continue into Revit with native BIM geometry, included with AEC Collection, Revit, or Forma for Buildings subscriptions.
Forma Building Design targets the schematic phase before heavy BIM modeling. Architects sketch massing, facades, floor plans, and unit mixes in the browser, run sun, daylight, and embodied carbon checks while designing, then push the chosen option into Revit as a geolocated native model.
Autodesk positions it for larger residential and mixed-use projects where repetition across facades and plans makes early optioneering worth the effort. Forma Board sits in the same Forma for Buildings story for comparing options with stakeholders.
Licensing is bundled, not standalone. Autodesk's overview states Forma Building Design is included with Revit subscriptions, the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Collection, and Forma for Buildings. Autodesk does not show a separate dollar price on the overview page. A 30-day trial is listed on autodesk.com/free-trials for eligible products.
If you already use Forma Site Design for parcel-level planning, that product covers site context and feasibility, while Forma Building Design covers schematic design on the block.
Specifications
Pricing
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Used for
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Pros and cons
Pros
- Keeps early building studies in the same Forma cloud story as Site Design
- Analysis runs while you design instead of after export
- Revit teams receive native geometry rather than rebuilding massing
- No separate SKU on Autodesk pages when you already own eligible bundles
Cons
- Requires an eligible Autodesk subscription; it is not sold alone on the overview page
- Detailed documentation still happens in Revit or other authoring tools
- Dollar pricing is tied to parent subscriptions, not a public standalone list price
- Browser workflows still need IT review for data residency and access control
Key features
Schematic massing: Shape buildings in the browser with automations for facades, floor plans, and units.
Live analysis: Sun hours, facade daylight potential, and embodied carbon while you iterate.
Revit handoff: Send the selected option to Revit as native geometry with site context.
Forma Board: Compare options and capture review feedback in a shared visual workspace.
Bundled access: Included with AEC Collection, Revit, and Forma for Buildings subscriptions per Autodesk.
30-day trial: Listed on Autodesk's free trials page for eligible accounts.
Pricing
30-day trial
30-day trial
Free
Listed on autodesk.com/free-trials for eligible Autodesk accounts.
Included with AEC Collection
Contact sales
No separate product fee; requires an active AEC Collection subscription.
Included with Revit
Contact sales
Included with eligible Revit subscriptions per Autodesk's overview.
Included with Forma for Buildings
Contact sales
Part of the Forma for Buildings bundle on autodesk.com.
Prices come from each vendor’s public listings and can change. Double-check the current price on the vendor site before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Forma Building Design cost?
Autodesk includes Forma Building Design with Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Collection, Revit, and Forma for Buildings subscriptions. Autodesk does not list a standalone dollar price on the overview page. Check your contract or Autodesk account for the bundle you already own.
Is there a free trial for Forma Building Design?
Autodesk lists Forma Building Design on autodesk.com/free-trials. Trials typically run 30 days for eligible accounts and require an Autodesk sign-in. Convert to a paid subscription through the same bundles that include the product.
What is the difference between Forma Site Design and Forma Building Design?
Autodesk describes Forma Site Design for wider site planning and feasibility on a parcel, while Forma Building Design focuses on schematic building design for specific blocks, including unit mix and performance studies before BIM production.
Does Forma Building Design run on Mac?
Forma Building Design is browser-based according to Autodesk's overview, so teams access it from supported web browsers without a local install. Revit, where detailed design continues, remains a Windows-centric desktop app in most offices.
Can Forma Building Design export to Revit?
Yes. Autodesk documents a direct connection that turns the chosen schematic option into a geolocated native Revit model with site context and families for windows, slabs, and walls.
Forma Building Design vs Snaptrude: which fits schematic work?
Both target early design in the browser. Forma Building Design is tightly coupled to Autodesk Revit and Forma subscriptions, while Snaptrude is a separate browser-based BIM authoring platform. Teams already on Revit and AEC Collection often evaluate Forma Building Design first.
Tutorials and learning
Sources
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