Revit add-ins are small programs installed into Revit to speed up repetitive work: numbering sheets in bulk, changing parameters on thousands of elements, exporting schedules to Excel. Many are free, but some that used to be free now charge, and Revit 2027 has even moved where add-ins are installed.
This article covers three things: free add-ins worth knowing on Revit 2027, where Revit loads add-ins from, and how to disable or remove an add-in when Revit will not start. To write your own add-in, read what is the Revit API; to learn Revit properly from the start, see the Learn Revit course path.
What Revit add-ins are, and where the Add-Ins tab is
An add-in is an extension written with the Revit API that runs inside Revit. It differs from Dynamo in that the user only clicks a button instead of building a graph, and from a macro in that it is installed as a separate program. A detailed comparison is in Dynamo.
Once installed, an add-in shows up in one of two places: on the Add-Ins tab, between the Manage and Modify tabs, or on its own tab named after the add-in. According to Autodesk's help, Revit LT cannot run add-ins (Autodesk: installing add-ins).
Revit 2027 already includes many tools that used to be separate downloads, such as batch printing, sending a model with its links (eTransmit), worksharing monitoring, Dynamo and the Twinmotion link. On a fresh installation, the Add-Ins tab holds only eTransmit and the FormIt family converter.
Free Revit plugin options: pyRevit, DiRoots, Naviate
| Add-in | How free | Revit support | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| pyRevit | Free, open source | 2027 from the 6.x releases | Appears as its own pyRevit tab |
| DiRootsOne | Partly free, the rest paid | 2018–2027 | Many tools for parameters, sheets and views |
| RevitLookup | Free, open source | 2027 supported | Inspects element data, for BIM and API users |
| Naviate Discover | Free, registration required | Not stated clearly | A small tool pack from Naviate |
pyRevit is an open-source toolkit under GPL-3.0 with hundreds of small buttons for daily work (GitHub: pyRevit). The 6.x releases have been updated for Revit 2027, including the new install location (GitHub: pyRevit releases). There are two installers: per user and for all users on the machine.
DiRootsOne brings DiRoots' tools together and runs on Revit 2018 to 2027 (DiRoots: DiRootsOne). From 23 October 2024, DiRoots moved to a freemium model: some tools remain fully free, while familiar ones such as SheetLink are now paid (DiRoots: transition notice). According to the notice, ParaManager, OneFilter and SheetGen stay fully free: ParaManager edits parameters in bulk through a table, OneFilter selects elements by rules, and SheetGen creates sheets in bulk. The free list can change, so check the product page before installing.
RevitLookup does not help you model, but it is a good inspection tool when a model behaves strangely. It shows every parameter and relationship of an element, which is useful when a schedule or filter does not pick up an element (GitHub: RevitLookup).
The Naviate Revit tools from Symetri include a free pack called Naviate Discover, available after registration (Symetri: Naviate Discover). The free Naviate Rebar Extension exists only for Revit 2022; later releases use the paid Naviate Rebar. Rebar add-ins are discussed in beam reinforcement.
Installing add-ins: vendor installers and the Design & Make Marketplace
There are two routes. The first is downloading an .exe or .msi installer from the vendor's site, as with pyRevit, DiRootsOne and RevitLookup. The second is Autodesk's app store, formerly the Autodesk App Store. Since April 2026 it has been renamed the Design & Make Marketplace, and the old address redirects to the new one (Autodesk Platform Services: Design & Make Marketplace).
Close Revit before installing; installers often cannot write files while Revit is open. After installing, open Revit and check that the new tab appears. Pick the right Revit year when downloading. An add-in for Revit 2026 does not simply run on Revit 2027; Revit 2027 moved to .NET 10, so vendors must rebuild their add-ins.
Where Revit loads add-ins from: the Addins folders in Revit 2027
Each add-in registers with Revit through an .addin file, an XML file holding the name, identifier and path to the add-in's library (Autodesk: add-in registration). Revit reads these files at start-up, from two places.
| Scope | Folder in Revit 2027 |
|---|---|
| Per user | %AppData%\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\2027 |
| All users on the machine | C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Revit\Addins\2027 |
A notable change in 2027: the all-users location moved from C:\ProgramData to C:\Program Files, and Revit 2027 ignores .addin files left in the old place (Autodesk Developer Blog: Revit 2027 API). Most older guides online still point to ProgramData; following them on 2027 leaves the add-in invisible.
How to uninstall a Revit add-in, or disable it with the Add-Ins Manager
From Revit 2025.3, the Add-Ins Manager lets you switch individual add-ins on and off without removing them (Autodesk: Add-Ins Manager). In Revit 2027 the button is on the Manage tab, Extensions panel.
The dialog lists third-party add-ins with their vendor and loading time; Disable all Add-Ins turns them all off. Changes take effect only at the next Revit start, as the note at the top of the dialog says. Loading time is worth checking when Revit starts slowly; other causes of a slow Revit are in heavy Revit models.
To remove an add-in completely:
- Uninstall it through Settings › Apps (or Programs and Features) like any program, if it came with an installer.
- If it is not in the program list, delete its .addin file from the two Addins folders above.
- If Revit will not start because of a faulty add-in, run the Add-Ins Manager on its own from the Start menu (Revit Add-Ins Manager) to disable it without opening Revit.
Safety warnings when installing add-ins
When an add-in is not digitally signed, Revit asks whether to load it, with three choices: always load, load once, or do not load. Choose always load only for add-ins downloaded from the vendor's official site. If you are unsure, choose load once and check the vendor first.
In a company, installing add-ins for all users gives the whole team the same toolset and versions. When an add-in corrupts a project file or crashes Revit, the manager only needs to disable it on each machine with the Add-Ins Manager. From Revit 2025.4 there is also an administrator edition of the Add-Ins Manager for managing many machines (Autodesk: Admin Add-Ins Manager).
Do not use cracked copies of paid add-ins. Add-ins run with full rights inside Revit and can read all model data; an add-in of unknown origin is the easiest way for malware to reach your computer and your project files. In a company, let the BIM Manager decide the shared list of add-ins and install them for all users, instead of everyone installing their own.
Whether Revit add-ins are allowed on company projects is a company decision. It is usually made by the BIM Manager. Many firms keep an approved list of add-ins installed for all users, so every project file behaves the same on every machine, and review the list when moving to a new Revit release.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Revit plugin different from a Revit add-in?
No. The two words are used for the same thing; Autodesk's documentation says add-in.
Is DiRoots still free?
Partly. Since 23 October 2024 DiRoots has a free tier with some tools and a paid tier for the rest.
I installed an add-in but cannot see its tab. Why?
Check three things: whether the add-in matches your Revit year, whether its .addin file is in the right Revit 2027 folder, and whether it is disabled in the Add-Ins Manager. Revit LT does not run add-ins.
Do add-ins slow Revit down?
They can. Every add-in loads when Revit starts, and some also react to events while you work. The Add-Ins Manager shows each add-in's loading time; disable the ones you rarely use and Revit starts faster.
Can I copy an add-in from a Revit 2026 folder into 2027?
No. Revit 2027 uses .NET 10, so an add-in built for 2026 generally does not load. Install the version the vendor released for 2027.
What does "Failed to initialize the add-in" mean?
Revit found the .addin file but could not load the library, usually because the add-in does not match the Revit release or files are missing. Install the add-in for the right Revit year, or disable it in the Add-Ins Manager.