Convert SSA/Forward to Archicad Collaborate

Our customers want us to be innovative and to benefit from state-of-the-art technology. Moreover, in a competitive landscape, we need a sustainable business model. While perpetual license & SSA was a sustainable business model until the 2010s, today, it is clear that sustainable means a subscription model, which guarantees that we can continuously invest in our solutions. The difference is not in pricing but in using the best available technology. At the same time, we respect the preferences of our customers, so our shift to Subscription is gradual.

Graphisoft’s “SSA/Forward to Subscription” conversion program is intended to be a multi-year program. The offering’s current conditions are valid through 2024, and the new terms outlined on this page will take effect in the first quarter of 2025.

At present, non-SSA/Forward licenses must be upgraded/brought into the SSA/Forward pool before they can take advantage of the conversion program’s benefits. Graphisoft may, at its discretion, offer direct conversion routes for non-SSA/Forward licenses at a later stage.

Customers can choose not to take advantage of the “SSA/Forward to Subscription” conversion program and continue using their perpetual license(s) of Archicad without SSA/Forward coverage once their SSA/Forward contract runs out in 2026. Customers with SSA/Forward terms ending beyond 2026 should consult with their local Archicad provider/Graphisoft Partner.

Customers will have a choice to upgrade their non-SSA/Forward Archicad perpetual licenses to the latest version of Archicad with SSA/Forward until the end of 2025. These customers will also be eligible to participate in Graphisoft’s SSA/Forward conversion program. Archicad perpetual licenses without active SSA/Forward still entitle customers to use their Archicad software for as long as customers have compatible hardware and operating system to run them onbut will not be updated with the latest software/hardware developments.

The current conversion program does not include DDScad. Graphisoft may offer a similar conversion program for DDScad in the future.

SSA/Forward customers can convert their SSA/Forward licenses to 3-year or 1-year Archicad Collaborate subscriptions. For 3-year upfront-paid subscriptions, Graphisoft guarantees price parity with SSA/Forward for the initial subscription term and the same discount percentage at the first renewal. Yearly paid subscription plans are available for a 10% markup compared to the 3-year upfront-paid option. SSA/Forward license pools may only be converted as “all or nothing.”

SSA/Forward customers can convert their SSA/Forward licenses to 1-year Archicad Studio subscriptions at the end of their SSA/Forward term. Graphisoft offers an SSA/Forward-level customer price for the initial subscription term and a maximum yearly price increase guarantee until 2028.

Optionally, SSA/Forward customers can convert their SSA/Forward licenses to 1-year Archicad Collaborate subscriptions at the end of their SSA/Forward term. Graphisoft offers Archicad Collaborate at a 20% marked-up price compared to the SSA/Forward level customer price in 2025 for the initial subscription term and a maximum yearly price increase guarantee until 2028.

Actual price increase percentages are market-specific and will be communicated through local channels later. SSA/Forward license pools may only be converted as “all or nothing”.

Archicad Studio, a complete Building Information Modeling (BIM) solution, is a subscription product for those looking for tailored solutions for independent work or local teamwork. It brings all the benefits of a well-known Archicad license to a subscription platform at an affordable price. Archicad Studio supports Teamwork locally and speaks your language. Archicad Studio will be available as an annual subscription.  

Archicad Studio benefits include: 

• Standard Archicad with the purchased local language pack — Standalone desktop app for macOS and Windows 
• Local teamwork with BIMcloud Basic — For cloud-based features, upgrade to Archicad Collaborate, additional cost applies 
• Includes subscription benefits — Maximize the value of your subscription with exclusive tools, training, support, and services such as the BIMx mobile app for iOS and Android

For customers converting in 2024, converted subscriptions will be renewed at the standard subscription list price after their maximum 3+3-year or 1+1+1-year conversion terms run out. Alternatively, customers may choose to fall back onto the perpetual path with their licenses. In such cases, their perpetual licenses will be upgraded to the then most up-to-date perpetual software – albeit without the SSA/Forward coverage going forward.

For customers converting in 2025, converted subscriptions will be renewed at a price adjusted with a similar magnitude price increase % as guaranteed until 2028 but without an exact % guarantee in the future. Customers may choose to fall back onto the perpetual path with their licenses during 2025-2028. In such cases, their perpetual licenses will be reset to the Archicad version they converted from subscription in the first place – albeit without the SSA/Forward coverage going forward.

Customers who decide to leave Graphisoft’s conversion program will revert to the perpetual license track without SSA/Forward and will not have the option to re-enter the conversion program.

When a customer enters the SSA/Forwaard to Subscription Conversion Program, they must surrender their perpetual Archicad licenses. In return, they will receive an equal number of Subscription(s). However, to ensure backward compatibility for customers’ projects created with Archicad 25 or earlier versions, Graphisoft will also provide the customer with a set of perpetual Archicad 25 licenses, called Compatibility Licenses, to be used for working on those earlier projects. Please note that the customer is strictly not allowed to use their Subscription and Compatibility Licenses simultaneously – they can use one or the other at any given time. Furthermore, the customer cannot sell, lease, or transfer a Compatibility License to a third party.

As part of our conversion program’s benefits, we are providing compatibility back to Archicad 8.1 by leaving converted perpetual licenses as Archicad 25 perpetual licenses in your hands. This way, you can open/edit projects that are up to 15 years old while still benefiting from Archicad Collaborate’s cloud licensing.

Customers’ existing (earlier purchased) licenses are independent of the “SSA/Forward to Subscription” conversion program, so Graphisoft’s standard subscription terms and conditions (including pricing) apply to those licenses.

Graphisoft’s subscription products run using modern “cloud licensing” technology. Thus, licenses can be freely assigned to individuals using the Graphisoft license management portal. As an additional benefit, Archicad Collaborate subscription customers can also assign their licenses to a group of users as a license pool, where users can fetch these licenses on a first-come-first-serve basis. Users can also go offline with named cloud licenses for up to 7 days.

For clarity: “private cloud” means you can host BIMcloud on your own servers, in a data center of your choosing, or even in your local office. And yes, Graphisoft is working on a solution to provide this option with the same cloud licensing technology. Part of the package will be “bring your own license” functionality, meaning that users can collaborate on a different BIMcloud as guests but using their own license from their own company. We will provide you with an ETA for these options later.

In 2024, Graphisoft offers the opportunity to convert their perpetual Archicad licenses on SSA/Forward licenses mid-term as well. In such a case, the parties will need to reach a financial settlement, the process and mechanics of which may vary depending on the market. Mid-term changes in SSA/Forward contracts require the mutual agreement of all parties, so such conversion will only happen at the customer’s request and with the support of the involved Graphisoft Partner. Starting in 2025, Graphisoft will offer the opportunity to convert SSA/Forward licenses at their renewal term only. Customers with SSA/Forward term beyond 2025 should consult their local Archicad provider.

Perpetual license in software means that you have a perpetual right to use the software for which you purchased it (i.e., the version that you purchased it for). This means any perpetual license of Archicad purchased before December 31, 2025, gives you the right to use the software “as is” for as long as you have compatible hardware and operating system to run them on. The counterpart to “perpetual” is not “cloud” licensing (that’s a technical solution – see next question), but rather “subscription” licensing, which gives you the right to use the software (the most up-to-date version of it) as long as you have an active subscription.

Cloud licensing is a specific technical solution to software licensing. It is called “cloud” because the license is hosted by the vendor (Graphisoft) in the cloud, and the customer can manage access through a web interface. By default, cloud licenses are “named” licenses, meaning they are each connected to a specific user. As mentioned above, Graphisoft also offers a network/floating type licensing for Archicad Collaborate customers. This table gives an overview of license types vs. licensing technologies:

Licensing is about access to software, not access to content created by the software. This means Archicads running with cloud licenses can open projects created with Archicads running physical key-based licenses and vice versa. The same is true for Archicads running with perpetual vs. subscription licenses. Thus, companies with a mixed license pool (perpetual and subscription) will be able to open, edit, and work on the same project.

Naturally, subscription products provide more frequent updates for license holders because they allow more agile delivery of innovation and bugfixes. This, however, doesn’t mean “forced” updates—the control (and responsibility) of updating remains with the customers. This also supports customers who prefer to keep their differently licensed Archicads on the same build to ensure compatibility.

According to the recent announcement by Graphisoft, SSA/Forward contracts will be serviced until their term expires in 2026. Customers with SSA/Forward terms ending beyond 2026 will be served till the end of their original SSA/Forward term beyond 2026. This extension only applies to multi-year SSA/Forward contracts purchased before Graphisoft official announcement on September 30, 2024.

Customers can choose to renew their SSA/Forward contract in 2025. Such contracts will be offered a last chance to convert to a subscription in 2026, albeit at the then-applicable conditions and price points.

Existing customer means customers who own at least one perpetual license of Archicad (no SSA/Forward coverage is required!). Trial, Educational, and subscription-only customers do not fall into this category and will not be able to purchase perpetual licenses beyond 2024. Existing customers are also eligible to upgrade their old version Archicad licenses with SSA/Forward until the end of 2025.

Individual subscription contracts (subscription licenses purchased at the same time) can only be managed as one unit at the current moment. That is, cancellation applies to all licenses under the same contract; additional subscription purchases will create an additional contract. For additional/new subscription purchases, the actual subscription list price always applies.

Graphisoft set up a dedicated cross-functional support team to help customers with migrating tasks related to legacy BIMcloud SaaS setups. Customers operating smaller/simple BIMcloud tenants will receive help in the form of migration process guides, and customers operating larger/complex BIMcloud tenants will receive help in the form of migration assistance at a pre-scheduled term.