Nemetschek licensing is the set of licence terms used by the software brands of the Nemetschek Group, which serves architecture, engineering, construction and operation (AEC/O). The group lists twelve brands, among them ALLPLAN, Bluebeam, Graphisoft, Maxon, Solibri and Vectorworks. It says its structure lets these subsidiaries “act entrepreneurially”.[1] For a licence manager the practical result is that there is no single Nemetschek licence agreement. Each brand has its own contracting entity, end user licence agreement, licence technology and maintenance program.
This article covers the four design and BIM brands most often found in software inventories: Graphisoft (Archicad), Vectorworks, ALLPLAN and Solibri. Bluebeam and Maxon have their own vendor pages on this wiki. All four brands have moved from perpetual licences with annual maintenance to subscriptions. They did so on different dates and with different rules for the perpetual estates they leave behind.
| Brand | Contracting party (cited terms) | Current sales model | Licence enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphisoft | Graphisoft SE, Budapest[2] | Subscription only from 2026[3] | Cloud licence on a Graphisoft ID; legacy CodeMeter hardware or software keys[10] |
| Vectorworks | Vectorworks, Inc.[4] | Monthly or annual subscription; subscription only in all markets by 2025-01-01[5] | Serial number series E (online activation), G (network server), B (dongle, retired)[4] |
| ALLPLAN | ALLPLAN Deutschland GmbH (and national subsidiaries)[6] | Subscription; perpetual only as ALLPLAN AEC from 2024-10-01[9] | Allplan ID through Connect 2.0 from Allplan 2025[11] |
| Solibri | Solibri Oy[7] | Named or concurrent subscriptions; tokens for automation[8] | Solibri account and OrgAdmin licence pools |
Editions
Each brand sells tiers rather than separately licensed modules:
- Graphisoft sells Archicad Studio and Archicad Collaborate. The plans differ mainly in Teamwork: Studio uses BIMcloud Basic, while Collaborate includes BIMcloud Software-as-a-Service.[3] MEP Designer and DDScad Electrical are separate plans.[3] See Graphisoft Archicad licensing.
- Vectorworks sells Fundamentals, Architect, Landmark, Spotlight and Design Suite, which includes all of them. Vision is not sold on its own; it is requested for Spotlight or Design Suite licences.[5] See Vectorworks licensing.
- ALLPLAN sells configurations such as ALLPLAN Basic, Architecture, Engineering and AEC. After 2024-09-30 only the AEC configuration remained available as a perpetual licence.[9] See ALLPLAN licensing.
- Solibri sells Starter, Essential, Advanced and Premium subscriptions, and Security+ for offline environments. See Solibri licensing.
Metrics
The brands use four kinds of unit:
- One user or one machine at a time. The Archicad EULA limits use to “a single computer at a time”. Its Cloud License can be used on one machine at a time, with no concurrent use.[2] A Vectorworks Series E license may be installed on two computers but operated on only one at a time.[4] The ALLPLAN single user licence allows many installations and use on one workstation at a time.[6]
- Named users. A Solibri named User may use the software only through the User Credentials created for that user.[7] Archicad cloud licences are assigned to a person’s Graphisoft ID.[10]
- Concurrent users from a pool. Units of this kind are the Vectorworks Series G site license, the ALLPLAN multi-user licence on a licence server, the Solibri Concurrent Subscription Seat and Archicad Collaborate licences assigned to a group (floating license).[4][7][10]
- Consumption. Solibri Tokens are a prepaid currency consumed per successful Autorun or Web Checker run.[8]
Counting / floors
The legacy key and serial number systems still matter for counting, because perpetual licences remain in use. Graphisoft’s key-based licences come on a “single license” key or on a “NET” key that holds several licences.[10] The first character of a Vectorworks serial number sets the licence terms: B, G, or E for anything else.[4] A Vectorworks network licence needs at least 5 seats.[5] A legacy Solibri Perpetual Concurrent License pool should currently have at most five potential users per licence.[12]
Concurrent use is enforced by a licence server or a cloud service. Vectorworks network licences run on the Vectorworks Site Protection Server, which is built on Reprise License Manager.[13] From Allplan 2025, licences are drawn from Connect 2.0 when the application starts and returned when it closes.[11]
Virtualization & partitioning
None of the cited documents prices processors, cores or virtual machines. The common thread is a ban on providing the software to third parties as a hosted service. The Archicad EULA prohibits “Archicad as a Service” unless a separate Service Provider License Agreement is in force.[2] Vectorworks bars service bureau, time share and subscription services.[4] ALLPLAN excludes Application Service Providing and cloud computing applications for third parties.[6] Solibri limits use to the customer’s own internal business operations.[7] Remote or network use by the licensee’s own staff is allowed where it does not create simultaneous use beyond the licences held.
Cloud / BYOL
Bring-your-own-licence programs for public clouds are not described in the cited terms. Graphisoft’s BIMcloud SaaS comes with Archicad Collaborate,[3] and ALLPLAN subscriptions include ALLPLAN Cloud services such as Bimplus, ALLPLAN Share and ALLPLAN Exchange, with 10 GB of storage.[14] These services are part of the subscription rather than separately licensed.
Programs
Each brand ran a maintenance program for perpetual licences. All four now restrict re-entry after a lapse:
| Program | Brand | Status | Lapse rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphisoft Forward / SSA | Graphisoft | Sold to existing customers until 2025-12-31; conversion program to 2027-03-31[3] | Unconverted contracts lapse; pools convert “all or nothing”[3] |
| Vectorworks Service Select | Vectorworks | Not available for new perpetual licences | Since 2023-01-01, agreements that are not renewed cannot be reinstated[5] |
| ALLPLAN Serviceplus | ALLPLAN | Continues for perpetual licences | After 2024-09-30, cancelling means keeping the current version permanently[9] |
| Solibri SSA | Solibri | Legacy perpetual licences only | Solibri may charge SSA fees for the lapsed period[12] |
Each brand also runs its own subscription terms: Graphisoft’s Part B terms, the Vectorworks purchasing policy, the ALLPLAN Subscription Contract and the Solibri Terms of Service.
Audits and compliance
Two of the four brands publish an explicit audit clause. Graphisoft may run a remote electronic audit, or an on-site audit on seven days’ written notice, and charges the audit fees if it finds non-compliance.[2] Solibri requires records to be kept for three years after the agreement ends. It may inspect them at most twice a calendar year and shifts the audit costs to the customer if non-compliance is found.[7] Graphisoft also uses technical protection measures. If it detects an unlicensed copy and the licence is not legalised within at most 14 days, the program switches to demo mode.[2] The Vectorworks agreement reserves the right to build technical restrictions into the software to ensure compliance.[4]
Out of scope
- Bluebeam, Maxon, dRofus, RISA, NEVARIS, Crem Solutions, Spacewell and GoCanvas licensing.
- Prices. No brand price list was used as a catalog source.
- National partner and distributor terms of sale, which can differ by country. Vectorworks notes that its policies can vary by country and refers customers outside the US to local partners.[5]