Updated October 2026 for Archicad 30. The original version of this article compared Linespire Reflect with the Stable Diffusion-based AI Visualiser in Archicad 28. Archicad 30 has since moved to newer image models, so we've rewritten the comparison.
Quick Overview
Archicad 30 ships an updated AI Visualiser that offers a choice of image engines, from fast and lightweight to more advanced, including Google's Nano Banana Pro. It is available on the Archicad Studio, Collaborate, and Max subscription plans, and draws on a monthly pool of AI credits shared with Graphisoft's other AI features.
Linespire Reflect is a native Archicad addon — installed as a .apx or .bundle file — that captures 3D views from within Archicad and renders them with Google's Nano Banana Pro, with AI upscaling to 4K. It works with Archicad 23 to 30 on its paid plans, including perpetual licences, runs on both Windows and Mac, and requires no GPU hardware.
In other words, the two tools can now use the same AI model. The meaningful differences are who can use them, how credits work, and how each fits into a rendering workflow.
What Changed in Archicad 30
The AI Visualiser first appeared in Archicad 28 using a Stable Diffusion-based model, which was known in the Archicad community for loosely interpreting geometry rather than reproducing it. Archicad 30 replaces that with a choice of newer engines, including Nano Banana Pro, alongside image-from-composition, texture generation, edit-and-refine, and 4× upscaling.
That's a genuine improvement, and it closes much of the gap in raw image quality. If you're already on an Archicad 30 subscription, you now have a capable AI renderer built in. The questions that remain are practical ones.
Access and Version Support
The updated AI Visualiser is only available in Archicad 30, and only on the Studio, Collaborate, and Max subscription plans. Architects on perpetual licences, or on Archicad 27, 28, or 29, don't get the new models. Staying on an older version for project or office reasons means staying with an older visualiser, or none at all.
Linespire Reflect supports Archicad 23 to 30 (Windows) and 26 to 30 (Mac) on its Pro plan and above, regardless of licence type. An office running a mix of versions, or still finishing projects in an older release, gets the same rendering quality in every seat.
Credits: Shared Pool vs Dedicated Render Credits
Archicad 30 introduces AI credits. Studio and Collaborate include 50 credits per licence per month, and Max includes 250, all added to a company-wide pool. That pool is shared across every Graphisoft AI feature — the AI Visualiser, AI Assistant, and Archicad MCP. Graphisoft notes that image generation uses more credits per action than a text answer, but does not publish a fixed per-image cost. When the pool runs out, AI features stop until the next monthly renewal.
For an office that leans on the AI Assistant, that can leave fewer credits for rendering than the headline numbers suggest — and it makes the number of images you'll get each month hard to predict.
Linespire Reflect credits are only for rendering, and one credit equals one image. You know exactly how many renders you have each month, and they don't compete with anything else.
Workflow Comparison
Both tools are native to Archicad, which means neither requires file exports or app-switching. That's a genuine advantage they share over traditional rendering solutions like Enscape or Twinmotion.
Archicad 30's AI Visualiser is a broad toolkit: it generates images from a model view, sketch, or diagram, creates tileable textures, edits selected parts of an image, and upscales results. It also links to the AI Assistant, which can generate concept images and hand them over to the Visualiser.
Linespire Reflect is focused on one job: turning an Archicad 3D view into a client-ready render. Users capture a view from the addon panel, optionally add a text prompt and a reference image for style or mood, and receive a photorealistic render in seconds at 1K or 4K. Every render is saved to your render history, so earlier versions are always there to go back to.
Linespire Reflect also includes Animate, which has no equivalent in Archicad's visualiser. It turns a finished render into a short video clip, with camera moves like a slow orbit, push-in, or aerial rise, or a transition between two renders. It's a quick way to add motion to a client presentation without setting up a walkthrough in a separate rendering tool.
One consideration worth noting: AI-generated renders are inherently variable, whichever tool you use. Consistency across multiple views of the same building takes intentional effort. Uploading a reference image when generating is the most effective way to maintain a consistent look across a project.
Pricing Comparison
Archicad's AI Visualiser is included within the Studio, Collaborate, and Max subscription plans, with usage limited by the monthly AI credit pool. For architects already on one of those plans and on Archicad 30, it adds no direct cost. For those on perpetual licences or older versions, accessing it means moving to a current subscription and upgrading.
Linespire Reflect has a transparent credit-based pricing model:
- Free Trial: 5 render credits, no credit card required
- Pro: $29/month — 100 credits/month, 2 activations, Archicad 23 to 30
- Studio: $79/month — 400 credits/month, 5 activations (suited to small-medium firms)
- Enterprise: $199/month — 1,200 credits/month, 10 activations
One credit equals one image generation. Credits do not roll over between months. The free trial allows any Archicad user to test the output quality before committing to a plan.
Side-by-Side Summary
AI models: Both now use Google's latest image models. Archicad 30 offers a choice of engines including Nano Banana Pro; Linespire Reflect uses Nano Banana Pro.
Archicad version support: Linespire Reflect supports Archicad 23 to 30. The updated AI Visualiser is Archicad 30 only.
Licence requirement: The AI Visualiser requires a Studio, Collaborate, or Max subscription and is not available on perpetual licences. Linespire Reflect works with any licence and starts free with a 5-credit trial.
Credits: Archicad uses a shared monthly pool (50 or 250 per licence) across all AI features, with no fixed per-image cost published. Linespire Reflect credits are for rendering only — one credit, one image.
Feature scope: Archicad's visualiser covers more ground (textures, sketches, AI Assistant integration). Linespire Reflect is focused on rendering Archicad views, with reference images, render history, 4K output, and Animate for short video clips.
Hardware: Neither tool requires a GPU — both are cloud-processed. Both run on Windows and Mac.
Which Should You Use?
If your whole office is on Archicad 30 with a Studio, Collaborate, or Max subscription, and you only need occasional renders, the built-in AI Visualiser is now a solid option and worth trying first.
Linespire Reflect is the better fit if you're on a perpetual licence or an older Archicad version, run a mix of versions across the office, or render often enough that a shared AI credit pool becomes a constraint. You get the same class of AI model, a predictable number of renders each month, a workflow built specifically around producing client-ready images from Archicad, and the option to turn those images into short animations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Archicad 30's AI Visualiser use the same AI as Linespire Reflect?
Largely, yes. Archicad 30's updated AI Visualiser offers a choice of image engines, including Google's Nano Banana Pro. Linespire Reflect renders with Nano Banana Pro too. The differences between the two tools are now mostly about access, version support, credits, and workflow rather than the underlying model.
Does Linespire Reflect work with older versions of Archicad?
Yes. Linespire Reflect supports Archicad 23 to 30 (Windows) and 26 to 30 (Mac), including perpetual licences. The updated AI Visualiser with Nano Banana Pro is only available in Archicad 30 on the Studio, Collaborate, and Max subscription plans.
How do Archicad AI credits compare with Linespire Reflect credits?
Archicad plans include a monthly pool of AI credits (50 per licence on Studio and Collaborate, 250 on Max) shared across all Graphisoft AI features, and image generation uses more credits than a text answer. Linespire Reflect credits are only for rendering: one credit equals one image, with 100 to 1,200 credits a month depending on the plan.
Do I need a GPU to use either tool?
No. Both tools process renders in the cloud, so no GPU hardware is required on the user's machine.
Can I try Linespire Reflect before paying?
Yes. Linespire Reflect offers a free trial with 5 render credits — no credit card required. It's the fastest way to assess the output quality on real Archicad models.