Architecture & BIM Software Comparisons
Harth vs. Trimble Connect: Client Presentation vs. Project CDE (2026)
Trimble Connect is a common data environment for sharing project files, models and issues across a construction team; Harth is a browser AI workspace for rendering the design on its real site and sharing it 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/). Trimble Connect: [Trimble Connect storage limits and new plans](https://community.trimble.com/blogs/lindsay-renkel/2025/05/05/trimble-connect-storage-limits-new-plans), [Trimble Connect Pro and Innovate FAQ](https://community.trimble.com/blogs/lindsay-renkel/2025/05/05/trimble-connect-new-pro-and-innovate-plans-faq), [Trimble Connect supported file formats](https://help.trimble.com/doc/trimble-connect/trimble-connect/connect-for-browser/files-and-folders/supported-file-formats), [Import and export ToDos and BCFs](https://community.trimble.com/viewdocument/importexport-todos-and-bcfs).
Direct answer
Trimble Connect is a project common data environment: its free Personal plan covers 1 project, up to 5 invited members and 10 GB, with paid Pro and Innovate plans for teams. Harth is a browser AI workspace for the design stage that renders an imported IFC or RVT model on real terrain and shares the results 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 Trimble Connect — you need a common data environment for drawings, models and issues through construction.
- Choose Harth — you are still designing and want AI renders, site context and a curated client link.
The dated capability table further down lists every row with the page it came from.
When Trimble Connect is the better choice
Pick Trimble Connect when the project needs a common data environment through construction: one place for drawings, models from several consultants, issue tracking and field access, especially if the team already uses SketchUp or Tekla. It is built for the whole delivery team rather than for presenting a design.
When Harth is the better choice
Pick Harth earlier, when the design is still moving: AI renders from your own model, the building on real terrain with its neighbours, and a curated link for the client instead of a project folder. Harth does not try to be a construction CDE.
What to check before you rely on either
Trimble changed its plans on 20 May 2025, when Pro and Innovate replaced Business and Business Premium for new purchases, so confirm current per-user prices with Trimble. 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 Trimble Connect (31 October 2026)
| Capability | Harth | Trimble Connect | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs in | Web browser, no install | Web browser, Windows desktop and mobile apps | Harth homepage; Trimble Connect help |
| Model import | IFC (recommended), RVT, RFA, FBX; SketchUp SKP listed as coming soon | IFC, RVT, SKP, DWG, Tekla and Navisworks models in a 3D viewer; Trimble notes some may not render fully | Harth homepage FAQ; Trimble Connect supported file formats |
| AI rendering | Renders from a saved scene of your own model; several image models built in; masked edits | Not offered | Harth visualization page; Trimble Connect help |
| Site context | 3D satellite terrain, neighbouring buildings, boundary import, sun studies | Not offered as terrain import | Harth pricing table; Trimble Connect help |
| Team collaboration | Multiplayer, presence, voice, shared projects on every plan | Shared project files, model federation, ToDos with BCF 2.0 import and BCF 1.0 export | Harth pricing table; Trimble Connect ToDos and BCF help |
| Client sharing | Share links; PDF, image and 3D export; recorded walkthroughs. Boards and 360° views marked coming soon | Invited project members; the free plan allows up to 5 | Harth pricing table; Trimble Connect Knowledge Center |
| Price | Free plan (700 credits, about 20 renders a month); Plus US$59/month; Pro US$149/month | Personal free (1 project, 5 members, 10 GB); Pro and Innovate per named user (10 GB and 20 GB each) | Harth pricing page; Trimble Connect Knowledge Center, May 2025 |
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. Speckle: AI Workspace vs. Open-Source AEC Data Platform (2026)
- IFC vs. BCF: Model Data vs. Model Issues (2026)
Sources and method
Each vendor's own public pages, checked 31 October 2026. Harth: harth.build, Harth pricing, Harth collaboration, Harth visualization. Trimble Connect: Trimble Connect storage limits and new plans, Trimble Connect Pro and Innovate FAQ, Trimble Connect supported file formats, Import and export ToDos and BCFs.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
Is Trimble Connect free?
There is a free Personal plan with 1 project, up to 5 invited members and 10 GB of storage. Pro and Innovate are paid per named user with 10 GB and 20 GB of pooled storage per user; they replaced Business and Business Premium for new purchases on 20 May 2025.
Is Harth a common data environment?
No. Harth is a design-stage AI workspace: it imports the model to render it, place it on real terrain and share it with clients. Document control, RFIs and construction issue tracking belong in a CDE such as Trimble Connect.
Can clients open Harth without an account?
Harth's collaboration page says client boards open from a link with no account. Its pricing table still marks boards as coming soon as of 31 October 2026, while share links and exports are listed as available.
Related pages
- 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. Speckle: AI Workspace vs. Open-Source AEC Data Platform (2026)
Harth vs. Speckle: an open-source platform for moving and versioning AEC data between tools 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.
- IFC vs. RVT: Open Exchange vs. Native Revit (2026)
IFC vs. RVT: what each file carries, which IFC version Revit exports, how to open IFC in Revit, and when to share each format.