Snaptrude is a browser-based design platform for architects. You can take a project from brief and program through massing, BIM and presentation sheets in one model that your team edits together. Use this guide for your first session: create an account, start a project, build a design with the Snaptrude Agent or by hand, then check areas, share and present. Each section points to a detailed article.
Before you start
Use Google Chrome. Chrome is the only browser Snaptrude validates. In Safari, Edge, Firefox, Opera or Brave, a banner recommends switching to Chrome. See System Requirements for hardware guidance.
Pick a plan. Snaptrude has Free, Starter, Pro, Organization and Enterprise plans. The Free plan allows 1 project and doesn't include exports. BIM Mode needs a Pro, Organization or Enterprise plan; see Plans and Billing.
Create your account
Go to app.snaptrude.com/signup.
Sign up with your Google or Microsoft account, or enter your email address and follow the verification steps.
Fill in your details. Organization size is required.
Finish sign-up to open your dashboard.
Your Snaptrude login also works on the Snaptrude Community site. If someone invited you to an organization, open their invite link and sign up from there so your account joins that organization.
Create your first project
On the dashboard, open the workspace, team or folder where the project should live.
Click New Project in the top-right corner.
Enter a Name, choose the Units (mm, cm, m, in or ft-in), then click Create.
Note: On the Free plan you can have 1 project. To create more projects, upgrade to a paid plan. See Plans and Billing.
Tip: To start from an existing Revit model, see Import a Revit model into Snaptrude.
Get to know the four modes
The top bar has four mode tabs: Program, Design, BIM and Present. They all work on the same model, so you can switch between them at any time.
Program Mode: a spreadsheet workspace for your space program, departments, targets and site analysis. It opens in a separate browser tab. You can type a program, use Import Excel, or ask the AI agent. The agent dropdown in Program Mode defaults to Auto.
Design Mode: massing and space planning with spaces, Space Types, stories, buildings and Design Proposals. Projects open in Design Mode.
BIM Mode (Pro, Organization and Enterprise): use Sketch to BIM to turn your massing into walls, Floor Slabs, roofs, doors, windows and stairs.
Present Mode: lay out sheets with plans, 3D views and diagrams, then export them.
Start from a prompt with the Snaptrude Agent
The Snaptrude Agent is the AI chat assistant inside your project. It works out which steps a request needs, such as site analysis, a program, massing or layouts, and runs them in order.
In your project, click the Agent button at the top of the far-left rail. The AI chat panel opens on the left of the screen.
Type what you want to design in the Ask anything box. If you're not sure where to start, click one of the suggested prompts in the empty chat (for example an apartment block, a parametric staircase or an office).
Optional: click Attach files to add a brief, RFP, drawing or image, or click Redline this view to draw on the canvas and show the agent what you mean.
Answer any follow-up questions the agent asks, then review what it builds in the model.
Keep refining in the same chat, or edit the model by hand.
Note: Agent requests use AI credits. Your credit balance shows under the chat box, next to Boosts, where you can turn on Fast mode (faster, but uses 2x credits) or Cloud processing. See AI Credits for how credits work.
Or draw the design yourself
Switch to Design Mode.
Use the tools in the top toolbar, such as Rectangle (
R) or Line (L), to draw a mass for the overall building form or draw individual spaces.Split masses into spaces and assign Space Types so they count against your program targets.
Add stories under Stories in the left panel, and use Design Proposals to compare options.
When the massing is ready, switch to BIM Mode and use Sketch to BIM to generate building elements.
See Drawing Spaces in Design Mode and Sketch to BIM for step-by-step instructions.
Check your areas and analysis
Open the Areas tab in the right panel to compare achieved areas in the model with the targets set in Program Mode, and break the numbers down by department, story or Space Type.
Use the Sustainability tab in the right panel to test orientation and massing early.
Share and review with your team
Click Share in the top-right corner of the project.
Enter the email address of the person to share with and click Send Invite.
Optional: click Copy Link to copy the project link, or Copy Slideshow Link to share a slideshow.
Note: By default, link access is Restricted: Only Those Added, with the Viewer role. Viewers can still add comments. To let someone edit, put the project in a team and add them to the team as a Creator or Editor. See Sharing and Permissions.
To leave feedback on the model, open the Comments tab in the right panel, click the spot in the 2D or 3D view and type your comment. Use @ to mention people who have access to the project.
Present your design
Switch to Present Mode.
Click + New Sheet to add a sheet.
From the Views tab in the left panel, drag plans, 3D views and elevations onto the sheet, then adjust their scale and view styles.
Click Export in the top-right corner and export the sheets as PDF, PNG or JPG.
Get help
Click Help (?) at the bottom of the far-left rail to ask a question or search help articles.
Related articles
System Requirements
Plans and Billing
AI Credits
Snaptrude Agent
Program Mode Overview
Drawing Spaces in Design Mode
Sketch to BIM
Area Panel
Sharing and Permissions
Comments
Present Mode: Sheets and Export
Import a Revit model into Snaptrude