Architecture & BIM Software Comparisons
Harth vs. Speckle: AI Workspace vs. Open-Source AEC Data Platform (2026)
Speckle is an open-source (Apache-2.0) platform that moves and versions model data between authoring tools; Harth is a browser AI workspace that renders the model on its real site and shares results 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/). Speckle: [Speckle pricing](https://speckle.systems/pricing), [Speckle viewer documentation](https://docs.speckle.systems/developers/viewer/), [Speckle server on GitHub](https://github.com/specklesystems/speckle-server).
Direct answer
Speckle and Harth solve different problems. Speckle is open-source (Apache-2.0) infrastructure for moving and versioning BIM data between tools, with a free plan of 1 project and 3 users. Harth is a browser AI workspace where an imported IFC or RVT model is rendered, placed on real terrain and shared with clients. 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 Speckle — you need to move, version or automate model data between authoring tools, or must self-host.
- Choose Harth — you want to render the design with AI, see it on its real site and present it to a client.
The dated capability table further down lists every row with the page it came from.
When Speckle is the better choice
Pick Speckle when the problem is data: getting geometry and parameters from Revit, Rhino or Archicad into another tool, keeping versions, building dashboards, or running automation against the model. It is open source under Apache-2.0 and the server can be self-hosted, which matters to firms with strict data-residency rules.
When Harth is the better choice
Pick Harth when the problem is the design conversation: rendering the model with AI, seeing it on real terrain with the neighbouring buildings, working on it together in the browser and sending the client something polished. Harth is not an interoperability layer, and Speckle is not a rendering or presentation tool.
Can you use both?
Yes. Speckle can sit behind the authoring tools as the data pipeline while Harth is where the team and client review the design. 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.
Documented capability check: Harth vs Speckle (31 October 2026)
| Capability | Harth | Speckle | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs in | Web browser, no install | Browser web app plus connectors inside authoring tools; server can be self-hosted | Harth homepage; Speckle docs and GitHub |
| Model import | IFC (recommended), RVT, RFA, FBX; SketchUp SKP listed as coming soon | Connectors and file importers for the main authoring tools, all included on the free plan | Harth homepage FAQ; Speckle pricing |
| AI rendering | Renders from a saved scene of your own model; several image models built in; masked edits | Not offered | Harth visualization page; Speckle pricing |
| Site context | 3D satellite terrain, neighbouring buildings, boundary import, sun studies | Not offered | Harth pricing table; Speckle pricing |
| Team collaboration | Multiplayer, presence, voice, shared projects on every plan | Shared projects with version history (30 days on the free plan) | Harth pricing table; Speckle pricing |
| Client sharing | Share links; PDF, image and 3D export; recorded walkthroughs. Boards and 360° views marked coming soon | Public links for versions and dashboards; embeddable open-source viewer | Harth pricing table; Speckle pricing; Speckle viewer docs |
| Price | Free plan (700 credits, about 20 renders a month); Plus US$59/month; Pro US$149/month | Explore plan free (1 project, up to 3 users); custom plans priced on projects, syncs and versions | Harth pricing page; Speckle pricing |
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. Autodesk Viewer: Sharing a 3D Model With Clients (2026)
- Harth vs. Trimble Connect: Client Presentation vs. Project CDE (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. Speckle: Speckle pricing, Speckle viewer documentation, Speckle server on GitHub.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
Is Speckle free and open source?
Speckle is licensed under Apache-2.0 and its server can be self-hosted. The hosted Explore plan is free for 1 project and up to 3 users with 30-day version history; larger plans are priced on projects, syncs and versions.
Do Harth and Speckle compete?
Only at the edges. Both run in the browser and both show a model, but Speckle's job is moving and versioning AEC data between tools, while Harth's is AI rendering, site context and sharing design work with clients.
Which file should I bring into Harth?
Harth recommends IFC, which Revit, Archicad and Vectorworks export natively, and also imports RVT, RFA and FBX. Direct SketchUp SKP import is listed as coming soon in Harth's FAQ as of 31 October 2026.
Related pages
- ASCE 7-16 vs. ASCE 7-22: What Changed? (2026)
ASCE 7-16 vs. 7-22: tornado loads (Ch. 32), reliability-targeted snow, multi-period seismic spectra, which IBC edition uses each, and USGS values compared.
- CAD vs. BIM: What's the Real Difference? (2026)
CAD vs. BIM for architects: drawings vs. a data-rich model, whether Revit and AutoCAD are BIM or CAD, which to learn, and when each fits.
- Harth vs. Autodesk Viewer: Sharing a 3D Model With Clients (2026)
Harth vs. Autodesk Viewer for showing clients a model in the browser: free 30-day view links vs an AI workspace with rendering, site context and share links.
- Harth vs. Trimble Connect: Client Presentation vs. Project CDE (2026)
Harth vs. Trimble Connect: a construction common data environment for files, models and issues vs a browser AI workspace for rendering, site context and client sharing.
- IBC vs. IRC: Which Building Code Applies? (2026)
IBC vs. IRC: the IRC covers houses, duplexes and townhouses up to 3 stories (R101.2); the IBC covers everything else. Decision tree and worked examples.
- IFC vs. BCF: Model Data vs. Model Issues (2026)
IFC vs. BCF: IFC shares the model, BCF shares issues about it. What a .bcf file contains, BCF 2.1 vs 3.0, and how to open one.