Advice for Manufacturers Buying a Revit License: Revit LT vs Revit

Advice for Manufacturers Buying a Revit License: Revit LT vs Revit

Our manufacturer clients occasionally ask us, “We’re looking at buying a Revit license – what do you recommend?”

Whether it’s reviewing the Revit content we’ve developed for your products, creating pre-built project typology-based assemblies, or even collaborating with consultants in a Revit project environment, having your own Revit license can be a valuable investment.

But here’s the thing: you don’t always need the full price, ‘bells-and-whistles’ version of Revit to achieve what you need.

What is Revit LT?

Revit LT is a streamlined, lower-cost version of Autodesk Revit, designed for creating, viewing, and managing BIM models – with most of the core functionality of Revit, without some of the more advanced features.

Why We Often Recommend Revit LT First

For most building product manufacturers, Revit LT (the ‘light’ version of Revit) covers the core functionality you’re likely to use.

In simple terms, Revit LT allows you to:

• Open, view, and navigate Revit project files (.RVT)
• Place, manipulate and configure your Revit families (BIM content)
• Check how your products are set out in a design
• Review the parametric data embedded in your content
• Export views, schedules, and basic documentation if needed

And the biggest plus? It’s significantly more affordable than a full Revit license; often less than half the cost.

When Is ‘Full Revit’ Needed?

There are some limitations in Revit LT that you should be aware of. Usually these are deal-breakers for design firms, but for manufactures seeking to interact with their Revit families or collaborate in a project model they usually don’t matter too much. The main differences between a full version of Revit and Revit LT that might be most relevant to a manufacturer are:

1. No Support for Revit Add-Ins:
   • Revit LT does not allow you to install third-party add-ins or plug-ins.
   • This can be a dealbreaker if you plan to use any advanced tools for automation, content management, visualisation or custom workflows.
   • However, most manufacturers we work with don’t require plug-ins for their basic collaboration needs – so this limitation is usually a non-issue early on.
2. No Worksharing / Collaborative Worksets:
   • Revit LT doesn’t support multi-user collaboration inside the same model at the same time.
   • Again, if you’re just reviewing or viewing models, this won’t be a problem.
3. Limited Advanced Features:
   • LT doesn’t include some advanced modelling tools like conceptual massing or in-place families.
   • Most manufacturers never touch these unless they’re deep in custom BIM creation…. which, let’s face it, is what we here at IGS Group (IGS BIM Solutions) handle for you!

What Version of Revit Do You Actually Need?

If like most building product manufacturers your primary use cases are:

• Viewing and understanding how your products are placed within a designer’s model
• Reviewing and QA-ing the Revit families IGS has created for you
• Supporting designers with some simple placement or model edits

…then Revit LT is almost always the best first step.

It keeps your investment down, gets you familiar with the software, and allows you to collaborate more meaningfully without overspending.

When Might You Need to Step Up?

We’ve seen a few situations where a manufacturer might eventually need full Revit. This could be the case if:

• You want to develop your own Revit assets in-house (beyond basic tweaks)
• You’re planning to build advanced BIM workflows using third-party tools or add-ins
• You’re integrating Revit with broader digital platforms like ERP or product configurators that rely on plug-ins

But for almost all manufacturers,  Revit LT should do the job.

One last (but very important) thing….Don’t Underestimate the Learning Curve!

Even though Revit LT is a “lighter” version, it’s still Revit – and Revit is fundamentally different from traditional CAD or 3D modelling tools manufacturers may have previously worked with.

If you’re used to software like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Inventor or SketchUp, it’s worth knowing that Revit is a vastly different environment to work in, as it’s not just a drafting or modelling software – it’s a Building Information Modelling (BIM) system. That means it’s built for designing and coordinating a visual database of a building design, not just creating geometry.

Some key differences to be aware of:

• Model Management: Revit uses a single, coordinated file where 3D models, 2D views, schedules, and data are all linked. Edits in one place update everywhere – unlike isolated files in CAD.
• Families; Not 3D Objects or Blocks: Revit families are parametric and data-rich, not just 3D shapes. Placing your products means embedding and controlling data, behaviours, conditions, and settings into the project.
• BIM Workflows: Everything is built as a building element (walls, doors, fixtures), not just lines or shapes. Even simple tasks like product placement require understanding how it interacts with the rest of the model, both as a geometric element and the data within it.
• Automated Schedules: Schedules and tags are generated live from the project model’s data – no manual drafting – so data accuracy matters.
• Loading Content: Loading families is more than inserting geometry; you’re configuring how parametric content behaves in the project environment.

While Revit includes modelling and drafting, it’s a building database with a visual interface – and that’s a big shift from traditional CAD and design tools.

It’s nothing to fear, but don’t expect to be ‘up and running’ immediately, and be sure to factor in some training or external support to get comfortable and ensure the software delivers what you need.

If you’re unsure whether Revit LT will cover your needs – or whether full Revit might be worth the investment – drop us a line. We’re always happy to have a chat and steer you in the right direction.