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# MicroStation vs OpenBuildings Designer Comparison - What are their main differences?

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MicroStationOpenBuildings Designer[+ Add Product](#)

Reviews

**MicroStation** [

4/5(416)

](https://www.g2.com/products/microstation/reviews#reviews)

**OpenBuildings Designer** [

4.3/5(16)

](https://www.g2.com/products/openbuildings-designer/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**MicroStation**
Free Trial

**$2,135.00** Per Year · MicroStation 12-month Subscription

**OpenBuildings Designer**
Free Trial

**$2,686** Includes software, support, and installation on up to 3 machines but only for one concurrent user at a time. Local currency pricing available. · OpenBuildings Designer 12-month subscription

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**MicroStation**
4 months

Based on 8 responses

**OpenBuildings Designer**
Not enough reviews yet

Return on Investment

**MicroStation**
27 months

Based on 10 responses

**OpenBuildings Designer**
Not enough reviews yet

Perceived Cost

**MicroStation**
$$$$$

**OpenBuildings Designer**
Not enough reviews yet

Average Discount

**MicroStation**
7%

**OpenBuildings Designer**
Not enough reviews yet

Pros & Cons

**MicroStation**
[
Ease of Use (46)
](https://www.g2.com/products/microstation/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1127519&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
3D Modeling (36)
](https://www.g2.com/products/microstation/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1127713&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Difficult Learning (15)
](https://www.g2.com/products/microstation/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1128611&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Learning Curve (14)
](https://www.g2.com/products/microstation/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1128577&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**OpenBuildings Designer**
[
Customer Support (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/openbuildings-designer/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2010788&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Customization (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/openbuildings-designer/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2010789&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Expensive (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/openbuildings-designer/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2010783&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Integrations

**MicroStation**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_269a752fb4baefda8b9e83f98c7646dc/autocad.png "Product Avatar Image")

AutoCAD

](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_e05dfb940260dd616e5ada13519546be/bentley-view.png "Product Avatar Image")

Bentley View

](https://www.g2.com/products/bentley-view/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_c030d0ecd5afda98fd0804b2fe2a8e9e/bluebeam.png "Product Avatar Image")

Bluebeam

](https://www.g2.com/products/bluebeam/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_bf759656c2fc2418d024f021d5828442/esri-arcgis.png "Product Avatar Image")

Esri ArcGIS

](https://www.g2.com/products/esri-arcgis/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/microstation/integrations)

**OpenBuildings Designer**
Not enough data

Screenshots

**MicroStation**
 ![MicroStation screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/67652/expirable-direct-uploads_2F331f0046-8e53-4167-8722-ef225a88868e_2FCreate_Lifelike_renderings.png)

**OpenBuildings Designer**
 ![OpenBuildings Designer screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/140477/Collaborate-across-multi-discipline-teams.png)

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**MicroStation**

8.2

8.2358

**OpenBuildings Designer**

7.9

7.914

Ease of Use

**MicroStation**

7.7

7.7364

**OpenBuildings Designer**

7.7

7.714

Ease of Setup

**MicroStation**

7.6

7.6170

**OpenBuildings Designer**

6.7

6.75

Ease of Admin

**MicroStation**

7.1

7.182

**OpenBuildings Designer**
Not enough data

Quality of Support

**MicroStation**

7.7

7.7326

**OpenBuildings Designer**

8.2

8.213

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**MicroStation**

7.7

7.785

**OpenBuildings Designer**
Not enough data

Product Direction (% positive)

**MicroStation**

7.2

7.2350

**OpenBuildings Designer**

7.3

7.313

Features

Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM)[Hide 63 FeaturesShow 63 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

8.0

13

Design

Visualizing

Not enough data

8.3(won by default)

11

Rendering

Not enough data

8.2(won by default)

10

Drawing

Not enough data

8.1(won by default)

13

Editing

Not enough data

8.6(won by default)

13

Sequence Steps

Not enough data

7.3(won by default)

10

Dynamic Updating

Not enough data

7.8(won by default)

12

Collaboration

Multi User

Not enough data

8.9(won by default)

12

File Import/Export

Not enough data

9.0(won by default)

13

Annotating 

Not enough data

7.8(won by default)

13

Document Storage

Not enough data

8.8(won by default)

13

Secure Data Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

Construction

Fabrication

Not enough data

7.6(won by default)

7

Reinforcement Tools

Not enough data

6.1(won by default)

6

Clash Detection 

Not enough data

7.4(won by default)

12

Grading

Not enough data

7.6(won by default)

7

Earthwork

Not enough data

Not enough data

CAD Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

AI Text Generation

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Text Summarization

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Text-to-3D

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Common Data Environment (CDE) - Building Design and Building Information Modeling

Role-Based Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Centralized Data Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Change Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Subcontractor Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Project Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Task Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Bid Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Workflow Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Offline Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mobile Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Contract/License Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Cost Estimation - Building Design and Building Information Modeling

Lifecycle Cost Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Quantity Takeoff & Cost Estimation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Issue Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Conflict Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Project Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Electrical & Circuit Design - Building Design and Building Information Modeling

Clash Detection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Electrical System Modeling

Not enough data

Not enough data

MEP Coordination

Not enough data

Not enough data

Load Calculation & Analysis

Not enough data

Not enough data

Interoperability with BIM & CAD

Not enough data

Not enough data

Circuit Design Integration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Design Modeling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Scheduling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Audit Trail

Not enough data

Not enough data

Search/Filter

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

For AEC Industry

Not enough data

Not enough data

Project Accounting

Not enough data

Not enough data

Version Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Estimating

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting & Statistics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Updates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Visualization

Not enough data

Not enough data

3D Imaging

Not enough data

Not enough data

Civil Engineering Design[Hide 51 FeaturesShow 51 Features](javascript:void(0);)

7.7

70

Not enough data

Plan

Documentation 

8.2(won by default)

58

Not enough data

Sequence

7.6(won by default)

49

Not enough data

Annotate

8.2(won by default)

56

Not enough data

Collaborate 

7.7(won by default)

52

Not enough data

Design

3D Modeling

7.3(won by default)

52

Not enough data

3D Rendering 

7.2(won by default)

47

Not enough data

Drawing

8.7(won by default)

62

Not enough data

Editing 

8.6(won by default)

59

Not enough data

Construction

Fabrication

7.3(won by default)

44

Not enough data

Reinforcement

7.3(won by default)

42

Not enough data

Clash Detection

7.0(won by default)

39

Not enough data

Grading

7.6(won by default)

44

Not enough data

Earthwork

7.5(won by default)

45

Not enough data

Engineering

Hydraulic engineering

7.2(won by default)

38

Not enough data

Hydrologic engineering

6.9(won by default)

38

Not enough data

Transportation engineering

8.7(won by default)

48

Not enough data

Structural engineering

7.1(won by default)

38

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Mechanical

Not enough data

Not enough data

Process Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Product Data Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Configurable Workflow

Not enough data

Not enough data

Manufacturing Design Data

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

3D Imaging

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Import/Export

Not enough data

Not enough data

Civil

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Fields

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Capture and Transfer

Not enough data

Not enough data

Design Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Version Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Presentation Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Configuration Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Generation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Compliance Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Change Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Electrical

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mechatronics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Project Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Design Analysis

Not enough data

Not enough data

CAD Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Bills of Material

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Visual Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Visualization

Not enough data

Not enough data

File Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting/Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Project Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Library

Not enough data

Not enough data

General-Purpose CAD[Hide 52 FeaturesShow 52 Features](javascript:void(0);)

8.2

122

Not enough data

Design

Drawing

8.9(won by default)

95

Not enough data

Modeling

8.4(won by default)

92

Not enough data

Visualize 

8.1(won by default)

90

Not enough data

Rendering

7.6(won by default)

80

Not enough data

Edit

File Import 

8.2(won by default)

98

Not enough data

Push/Pull

8.0(won by default)

79

Not enough data

Views

8.2(won by default)

86

Not enough data

Grips 

8.3(won by default)

84

Not enough data

Collaboration

Annotate

8.3(won by default)

87

Not enough data

Documentation 

8.1(won by default)

86

Not enough data

Data Extract

8.1(won by default)

82

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Image Editing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Animation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reference Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Secure Data Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Configuration Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Annotations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Drag & Drop

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Synchronization

Not enough data

Not enough data

For 3D Printing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Modeling & Simulation

Not enough data

Not enough data

For Manufacturers

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multiple Format Support

Not enough data

Not enough data

Workflow Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Version Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Sketching and Annotation Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multiple Projects

Not enough data

Not enough data

For Architects

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Library

Not enough data

Not enough data

Bill of Materials Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Design Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Rules-Based Workflow

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting/Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Visualization

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Capture and Transfer

Not enough data

Not enough data

Projections

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real Time Comparisons

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Generation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Component Library

Not enough data

Not enough data

Compliance Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Branding

Not enough data

Not enough data

File Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Updates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Configurable Workflow

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![MicroStation](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/05ee8271621c339872bbde4631dfcc12/microstation.svg "MicroStation")](https://www.g2.com/products/microstation/reviews)

MicroStation

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

34.4%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

31.9%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

33.7%

[![OpenBuildings Designer](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/8ac86ed64f0d526f5ba908356cc54616/openbuildings-designer.svg "OpenBuildings Designer")](https://www.g2.com/products/openbuildings-designer/reviews)

OpenBuildings Designer

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

43.8%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

43.8%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

12.5%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

34.4%

43.8%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

31.9%

43.8%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

33.7%

12.5%

Reviewers' Industry

[![MicroStation](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/05ee8271621c339872bbde4631dfcc12/microstation.svg "MicroStation")](https://www.g2.com/products/microstation/reviews)
MicroStation

Civil Engineering

39.8%

Architecture & Planning

11.4%

Construction

8.5%

Design

6.6%

Transportation/Trucking/Railroad

3.4%

Other

30.2%

[![OpenBuildings Designer](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/8ac86ed64f0d526f5ba908356cc54616/openbuildings-designer.svg "OpenBuildings Designer")](https://www.g2.com/products/openbuildings-designer/reviews)
OpenBuildings Designer

Architecture & Planning

25.0%

Construction

18.8%

Civil Engineering

18.8%

Higher Education

12.5%

Utilities

6.3%

Other

18.8%

Alternatives

**MicroStation Alternatives**

 ![AutoCAD](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1531166548/autocad.svg "AutoCAD")

[
AutoCAD
](/products/autocad/reviews)

 ![SketchUp](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/fcc93ca191f4edc5826c62935fefbf14/sketchup.svg "SketchUp")

[
SketchUp
](/products/sketchup/reviews)

 ![SOLIDWORKS](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/87a0eaa40f8b9a14542c077a348a699d/solidworks.svg "SOLIDWORKS")

[
SOLIDWORKS
](/products/solidworks/reviews)

 ![Civil 3D](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/6ecbb854fb2e62f14aa524f7f1d450a6/civil-3d%282%29.svg "Civil 3D")

[
Civil 3D
](/products/civil-3d/reviews)

**OpenBuildings Designer Alternatives**

 ![Revit](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/cd17ee1624d3f48179b4871898b136de/revit.svg "Revit")

[
Revit
](/products/revit/reviews)

 ![Archicad](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/8f4e8d9d02c774088c07c555e579c0ca/archicad.svg "Archicad")

[
Archicad
](/products/archicad/reviews)

 ![SketchUp](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/fcc93ca191f4edc5826c62935fefbf14/sketchup.svg "SketchUp")

[
SketchUp
](/products/sketchup/reviews)

 ![Vectorworks Architect](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/8196c57a3b61067bbf3f7950a9f62adb/vectorworks-architect.svg "Vectorworks Architect")

[
Vectorworks Arch
](/products/vectorworks-architect/reviews)