Architecture & BIM Software Comparisons
Harth vs. Autodesk Viewer: Sharing a 3D Model With Clients (2026)
Autodesk Viewer is a free browser viewer whose shared links let anyone open a model for 30 days; Harth is a browser AI workspace that imports the model, renders it with AI on its real site and shares the result with clients.
On this page
Last updated October 31, 2026 · Each vendor's own public pages, checked 31 October 2026. Harth: [harth.build](https://harth.build/), [Harth pricing](https://harth.build/pricing/), [Harth collaboration](https://harth.build/platform/collaboration/), [Harth visualization](https://harth.build/platform/visualization/). Autodesk Viewer: [Autodesk Viewer: Share Designs](https://help.autodesk.com/cloudhelp/ENU/ADSKVIEWER-Help/files/ADSKVIEWER_Help_ShareDesigns_html.html), [Autodesk viewable file formats](https://help.autodesk.com/cloudhelp/ENU/Autodesk-360-Reference/files/GUID-488804D0-B0B0-4413-8741-4F5EE0FACC4A.htm), [Autodesk Viewer Tools](https://help.autodesk.com/cloudhelp/ENU/ADSKVIEWER-Help/files/ADSKVIEWER_Help_AutodeskViewerTools_html.html).
Direct answer
Autodesk Viewer is the free way to let a client open an RVT, IFC, DWG or SKP file in a browser; anyone with the link can view it, and the link expires after 30 days. Harth is a browser AI workspace, free to start, that imports the same model, renders it on its real site and shares renders and exports. According to Harth's product and pricing pages (31 October 2026), Harth imports IFC, RVT, RFA and FBX models, renders them with several built-in image models, places them on 3D satellite terrain with the neighbouring buildings, and shares results through links and PDF, image and 3D exports. Its free plan includes 700 credits a month (about 20 renders); Plus costs US$59 and Pro US$149 a month.
Content and cited inputs reviewed by Harth team · Published 2026-08-18 · Updated 2026-10-31.
Which option fits the project requirements?
Harth publishes this page and is one of the two products compared. Every row below is taken from each vendor's own public pages as they read on 31 October 2026; it is a documented capability check, not a hands-on benchmark.
- Choose Autodesk Viewer — the client only needs to open the native file, orbit it and measure, for free, within 30 days.
- Choose Harth — you want AI renders from your own model, the site around it and a shared team workspace.
The dated capability table further down lists every row with the page it came from.
When Autodesk Viewer is the better choice
Pick Autodesk Viewer when the client only needs to open the model, orbit it and take a measurement, and you do not want to pay for anything. It reads the native Autodesk formats directly, the link needs no client account, and nothing about the model changes on the way. Plan around the 30-day expiry: re-share or extend the view if the review runs longer.
When Harth is the better choice
Pick Harth when the meeting needs more than the raw model: AI renders taken from your own geometry, the building placed on real terrain with its neighbours, and one place where the team works on the model together. Harth is a workspace, not just a viewer, so it asks more of you up front (an import into a project) and gives the client a curated result rather than the whole file.
What to check before you rely on either
Harth's collaboration page describes client boards that open from a link with no client account, but its pricing table still marks boards, comments over the 3D model and 360° views as coming soon (31 October 2026). Share links, multiplayer, presence, voice and PDF, image and 3D export are listed as included on every plan. Autodesk's own help is the reference for the current format list and link lifetime.
Documented capability check: Harth vs Autodesk Viewer (31 October 2026)
| Capability | Harth | Autodesk Viewer | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs in | Web browser, no install | Web browser, no install | Harth homepage; Autodesk Viewer help |
| Model import | IFC (recommended), RVT, RFA, FBX; SketchUp SKP listed as coming soon | Autodesk lists RVT, IFC, DWG and SKP among viewable formats | Harth homepage FAQ; Autodesk viewable formats list |
| AI rendering | Renders from a saved scene of your own model; several image models built in; masked edits | None; it displays the model as uploaded | Harth visualization page; Autodesk Viewer help |
| Site context | 3D satellite terrain, neighbouring buildings, boundary import, sun studies | None beyond what is in the file | Harth pricing table; Autodesk Viewer help |
| Team collaboration | Multiplayer, presence, voice, shared projects on every plan | Comments plus markup, measure and section analysis tools | Harth pricing table; Autodesk Viewer Tools help |
| Client sharing | Share links; PDF, image and 3D export; recorded walkthroughs. Boards and 360° views marked coming soon | Anyone with the link can open the design; shared views expire after 30 days | Harth pricing table; Autodesk Viewer help (Share Designs) |
| Price | Free plan (700 credits, about 20 renders a month); Plus US$59/month; Pro US$149/month | Free | Harth pricing page; Autodesk Viewer |
Run the same check on your own project
- Export one real project model (IFC is the safest common format) and load it into both tools.
- Send the result to a colleague acting as the client, from a device with no design software installed.
- Record what they could open, what they could comment on, how long the link stays live, and what it cost on the plan you would actually buy.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all comparisons guidance
- Harth vs. Trimble Connect: Client Presentation vs. Project CDE (2026)
- Harth vs. Speckle: AI Workspace vs. Open-Source AEC Data Platform (2026)
- IFC vs. RVT: Open Exchange vs. Native Revit (2026)
Sources and method
Each vendor's own public pages, checked 31 October 2026. Harth: harth.build, Harth pricing, Harth collaboration, Harth visualization. Autodesk Viewer: Autodesk Viewer: Share Designs, Autodesk viewable file formats, Autodesk Viewer Tools.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
Is Autodesk Viewer free?
Yes. Autodesk Viewer is a free browser viewer. According to Autodesk's help, a shared design view can be opened by anyone with the link and expires after 30 days unless you remove it sooner.
Does Harth replace Autodesk Viewer?
Not for a quick look at a native file. Harth imports the model into a project so it can render it with AI, place it on real terrain and share curated results; Autodesk Viewer simply opens the file. Many teams would use a free viewer for raw files and a workspace like Harth for client presentations.
Do clients need an account to open the link?
Autodesk's help says anyone with the link can access a shared design. Harth's collaboration page says client boards open from a link with no account, though its pricing table marks boards as coming soon as of 31 October 2026.
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