Plannerly and Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) are both described as a Common Data Environment (CDE), but each is designed to solve a different problem. Autodesk ACC stores, shares, and manages the project files and the models, while Plannerly focuses on defining what information is needed, when it’s needed, and by whom, even before those files exist. The NBS Digital Construction Report 2025 states BIM adoption is at almost 88% among construction professionals, and that’s why it matters to grasp this difference before picking a CDE. This guide explores the Plannerly vs Autodesk ACC comparison, so beginners understand what each platform really does.

Table of Contents

What Is Plannerly?

Plannerly helps BIM managers and project teams plan, scope, and track information requirements through a workflow-driven CDE. It does not host large model files. Rather, it focuses on the planning aspects of BIM: BIM Execution Plans (BEPs), Level of Development (LOD), Level of Information (LOI), and Exchange Information Requirements (EIRs). People who are relatively new to BIM management also feel comfortable working with Plannerly, since it offers visual tools instead of using dense spreadsheets to manage the processes. Many teams struggle to keep scope documents synced between different stakeholders and rely on Plannerly to help with that.

Read more: Infrastructure BIM Specialist Interview Questions and Answers

Features and Use Cases of Plannerly

A few things stand out about how teams actually use Plannerly day-to-day:

BEP Templates – Pre-built templates help to create BEP-aligned Execution Plans quickly.
Scope Management – All model elements, LOD, and LOI in one visual dashboard rather than scattered spreadsheets.

Verification Tools – Submitted models get checked against agreed requirements, so gaps surface early instead of late.
Training Integration – Free BIM and ISO 19650 courses are built into the platform, letting new users learn while working.
Reduced Complexity – Centralized scope documents cut down on the manual tracking that trips up larger teams.

BIM managers who need clarity on deliverables before a single model gets uploaded tend to lean on these features the most.

Read more: BIM Architect Interview Questions and Answers

What Is Autodesk ACC?

Autodesk Construction Cloud (Autodesk ACC) stores, reviews, and manages project files and models from the cloud. It replaced Autodesk BIM 360 as the primary construction management solution from Autodesk and functions as the central hub for architects, engineers, and contractors to store and access shared project information. While Plannerly is about defining requirements, Autodesk ACC is about everyone having one place to put all the requirements. Some bigger companies that have several consultants working on the same project can rely on this as their single point of truth to prevent version conflicts and loss of files.

Features and Use Cases of Autodesk ACC

Several modules inside Autodesk ACC support the day-to-day work of running a project:

Document Management – Drawings, models, and files live in one place with version control intact.
Model Coordination – Clashes get reviewed, and models are coordinated directly inside the platform.
Field Management – Site teams log issues, punch lists, and daily reports from mobile devices.
Cost Management – Budgeting and change order tracking sit inside the same environment as the models.
Broad Integration – Autodesk ACC connects with Revit, Civil 3D, and Navisworks, linking design through to construction.

Teams that need a single hub for every project file across an entire build tend to gravitate toward this range of tools.

Difference Between Plannerly vs Autodesk ACC

Laid side by side, the gap between Plannerly and Autodesk Construction Cloud becomes easier to see.

Aspect	Plannerly	Autodesk ACC
Primary Role	Workflow and requirements planning	Model and document hosting
Best For	Defining BEPs, LOD, LOI, EIRs	Storing and coordinating files
Approach	Visual, template-driven	File- and module-based
ISO 19650 Focus	Built specifically around it	Supports it indirectly
Learning Curve	Beginner-friendly	Steeper for new users
Typical Users	BIM managers, information managers	Architects, engineers, contractors

Neither tool is trying to outdo the other here. One organises or develops the information; the other stores it.

How They Work Together

Typically, Plannerly software and Autodesk ACC don’t compete head-to-head on most projects, but rather, both are used in parallel. Plannerly ensures teams are clearly in sync on which data they require, when it is due, and who is responsible for each task. Autodesk ACC then becomes the archive; models and documents are stored, shared, and version controlled in it. Plannerly takes care of what to deliver, Autodesk ACC takes care of where to deliver it, and together they help to avoid scope and storage tangling in the same ball, especially when collaborating to ISO 19650. That division can cause requirements to be lost in folders and files, and a gap is only realized when a model is late.

A simple way to think about Plannerly vs Autodesk Construction Cloud: Plannerly is like an instruction manual, while ACC is like a filing cabinet. Projects go along more smoothly when both have a specific role to play.

Read more: 3D Modeler Salary for Civil Engineers

Where Can You Learn Both?

Reading about Plannerly and Autodesk ACC only goes so far – hands-on practice is what actually builds confidence. BuildAmbit’s Full-Stack BIM Professional Course, backed by RSP Design India, puts learners in front of both platforms through live studios and real project work.

Civil Engineering

7 months duration
Covers Autodesk Revit, Civil 3D, ETABS/STAAD.Pro, Tekla Structures, Navisworks, and Autodesk Construction Cloud, plus AutoCAD and Dynamo
Built for civil and structural graduates and professionals with up to 5 years of experience

Architecture

7 months duration
Live sessions cover Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, and Autodesk Construction Cloud; recorded sessions add Dynamo, Twinmotion, Navisworks, and Autodesk Forma
Suited to practicing architects moving into BIM and architecture graduates

Both Programs Include

Live studio sessions led by practicing mentors
A capstone project built around a real, RSP-executed portfolio piece
Portfolio development support
100% placement assistance

Conclusion

Plannerly and Autodesk ACC both address two sides of the same issue: one plans the information and the other stores and manages the information. There is no need to pick a winner in Plannerly vs Autodesk ACC. Knowing what each is built for is what actually helps a team set up the right workflow from the outset, rather than reworking it midway through a project. To keep building industry-relevant skills as the AEC world evolves, explore BuildAmbit’s learning programs powered by RSP Design India, built around real project workflows.

FAQs

1. Is Plannerly Free?

Plannerly offers free BIM and ISO 19650 training courses, along with a trial of its workflow software. Full access to its scope and verification tools typically requires a paid plan, priced around team size and project needs.

2. What Is Autodesk ACC Now Called?

Autodesk ACC is short for Autodesk Construction Cloud – the current name for what was previously Autodesk BIM 360. Autodesk rebranded and expanded the platform to bring design and construction tools into one connected system.

3. Is Plannerly a CDE?

Yes. Plannerly counts as a Common Data Environment, though its focus stays on workflow, scope, and information requirements rather than hosting large model files. Many teams pair it with a file-hosting CDE like Autodesk ACC for a complete setup, and learners exploring both often start with beginner-friendly resources like BuildAmbit’s BIM courses to see how each CDE fits into a real project.

4. Is ACC Different From BIM 360?

ACC is not a separate product; it’s the latest version of BIM 360. The construction management tools were incorporated into Autodesk Construction Cloud, where modules in cost, field, and design collaboration were introduced, while retaining the document management teams already trusted.

Explore What Shapes Real Careers in the AEC Industry

Full-Stack BIM Professional Course for Architects

Full-Stack BIM Professional Course for Civil Engineers

Full-Stack BIM Professional Course for MEP Engineers

Explore What Shapes Real Careers in the AEC Industry

Full-Stack BIM Professional Course for Architects

Full-Stack BIM Professional Course for Civil Engineers

Full-Stack BIM Professional Course for MEP Engineers