--- title: SDS/2 Reviews meta_title: 'SDS/2 Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how SDS/2 works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 3.3 review_count: 8 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-06-30' parent_category: name: CAD url: https://www.g2.com/categories/cad --- # SDS/2 Reviews **Vendor:** Design Data **Category:** [Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/building-design-and-building-information-modeling-bim) **Average Rating:** 3.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 8 ## About SDS/2 Structural Steel Detailing Software. Providing calculation for Connections of 3D model. ## SDS/2 Pros & Cons **What users dislike:** - Users find the **complexity** of SDS/2 challenging, with cumbersome initial setup and navigation issues throughout the software. (1 reviews) - Users find **difficult modifications** in SDS/2 hinder usability and complicate tasks, leading to frustration with basic functions. (1 reviews) - Users find the **learning curve steep** for SDS/2, citing complications in setup and navigation. (1 reviews) - Users find the **missing features** in SDS/2 frustrating, affecting the software’s promised capabilities and ease of use. (1 reviews) - Users often face **software instability** issues with SDS/2, making it frustrating to rely on its functionality. (1 reviews) ## SDS/2 Reviews ### 1. I've been using this SDS2 for 12 yrs.The reviews I have read are miss leading in my opinion. **Rating:** 1.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Michael H. | Detailer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 30, 2025 **What do you like best about SDS/2?** It does repetitive things pretty well. It does "simple" pretty well **What do you dislike about SDS/2?** This is a very long list The Highlights: The software is unstable -"Verify & Fix" is my constant companion It does not do all that it says it will ie: "Once For All" seldom works There are things in some member files that are not available to modify - greyed out In the MODEL I have the option to REPEAT a construction circle In the paper side I have the same option ... that does not work Initial Setup is cumbersome Navigating options for individual members is cumbersome Columns are pretty simple Getting Joists to do NOT STANDARD things is cumbersome Getting Beams to do NOT STANDARD things is also cumbersome The list goes on **What problems is SDS/2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** Not my department FYI The next screen asks for a screen shot of my SDS2. I've attempted to upload an image 4 times. It will not take it. Does not give a reason, just that it failed. ### 2. I'm a engineering consultnat who used SDS/2 for the past 6 years **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ganesh K. | Senior Consultant, Information Technology and Services, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 24, 2023 **What do you like best about SDS/2?** User friendly and clean UX is the best part of SDS/2. The softwares makes the life easy for the drafters by eliminating human errors as a part of semi-automation. The customer support is very responsive in the case of licensing issues and technical issues and there is a community forum for discussion. There are few features that we can integrate with is Tekla and other BIM models **What do you dislike about SDS/2?** Initial setup of the software is a bit long process where the license will be in the form of hardware usb. Other than these there is nothing that I dislike about SDS/2 **What problems is SDS/2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** Helped us is creating construction drawings with minimal errors. Creating 3D models is very easy and the connections between the structural members is automated. The initial setup for the connections is easy. The in 2D drafting, the dimensioning and other crucial details are given automatically for automated connections which reduces the work of the drafter. Compared to Tekla structures, the SDS/2 is much better in the steel detailing industry, it saves time and effort for creating the drawings. ### 3. sds 2 is the perfect steel detailing software . **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Vamshi B. | Modeller, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 30, 2024 **What do you like best about SDS/2?** i have been using since last 5 years as a modeller . to do connections and produce accurate fab dwgs for client standards. **What do you dislike about SDS/2?** i have faced while process the model if project was more heavy its some more time for processing the members the only draw back i saw in this software **What problems is SDS/2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** these is best for auto standard connection if the structrual dwgs are not accurate, we can apply it we can ask in approval for thw dwgs ### 4. SDS2 is a mistake **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Construction | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 28, 2023 **What do you like best about SDS/2?** SDS2 is a reasonably capable modeler. Some of the tools in the model will save modeling time. **What do you dislike about SDS/2?** This is the least effective detailing program I have used in 20+ years. While the modeler works, the detailing options are easily 15 years out of date. I STRONGLY recommend not using this software. BOM's are weak, orthographic views are misalligned, there is no variablility in section to main view size, and views are IN NO WAY associative to the model. This was a HUGE and expensive mistake for my company. **What problems is SDS/2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** None what so ever. We hoped it would save time and improve accuracy, but the near-total disconnect from the model to the drawings causes a huge number of problems. Views not being associative makes them more like snapshots than interactive views. It doesn't have any sketching capacity, and - this is true - it is SUCH a weak detailer it literally doesn't produce circles - only multi segmented polygons tight enough to aesthetically demonstrate circles - not great when you need a center point. Material callouts aren't associative (like the views). THIS PROGRAM IS A MISTAKE. ### 5. Civil construction **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Civil Engineering | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 11, 2023 **What do you like best about SDS/2?** sds2 is very precise to use and easy to learn for beginners. **What do you dislike about SDS/2?** sds2 doesn't create an automatic project back file. It makes difficult to model connections. **What problems is SDS/2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** It gives the exact result and saves more time than other design software. ### 6. Powerful, Classic and Handy but Need updates. **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Dharmendra S. | Steel Detailer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 23, 2021 **What do you like best about SDS/2?** There are limited softwares in Steel detailing. But this is the oldest and most powerful software and also very handy to use. It gives you more free hand to work on. **What do you dislike about SDS/2?** The interface mostly need some more updates, because if we see comparative softwares in market, we found more updates and great backhand support online. Also fewer people reach. **What problems is SDS/2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is very helpful to create steel models and to create shop drawings which are essential to fabricate and erect a structure. Also you can do more modifications in 2D. ### 7. Most precise **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Civil Engineering | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 25, 2021 **What do you like best about SDS/2?** Structural steel detailing on SDS/2 increases the accuracy, speed, trust And it's user friendly features **What do you dislike about SDS/2?** Sds/2 is all over good, but SDS/2 doesn't automatically create project backup files. **What problems is SDS/2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** It's easy to create multiple view of different and typical members. It's job standard features are mostly used in regular works that gives best results. ### 8. steel structural designing **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Design | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 22, 2021 **What do you like best about SDS/2?** sds2 is very precise to use and easy to learn for beginners. **What do you dislike about SDS/2?** sds2 doesn't create an automatically project back file. its make difficult in model connections. **What problems is SDS/2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** it gives exact result and save more time than other designing software ## SDS/2 Discussions - [What is SDS/2 used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-sds-2-used-for) - [View SDS/2 pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/sds-2/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-07-04+02%3A45%3A44+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=01f872b8-7306-48ab-af6f-d62607d91b82&secure%5Btoken%5D=5211434bed9f12da4c31daa1ef44745b2716e4f041f21a540e12f678da1511b5&format=llm_user) ## SDS/2 Features **Design** - Visualizing - Rendering - Drawing - Editing - Sequence Steps - Dynamic Updating **Collaboration** - Multi User - File Import/Export - Annotating - Document Storage **Construction** - Fabrication - Reinforcement Tools - Clash Detection - Grading - Earthwork **Generative AI** - AI Text Generation - AI Text Summarization - AI Text-to-3D **Common Data Environment (CDE) - Building Design and Building Information Modeling** - Role-Based Access - Centralized Data Management **Cost Estimation - Building Design and Building Information Modeling** - Lifecycle Cost Tracking - Quantity Takeoff & Cost Estimation **Electrical & Circuit Design - Building Design and Building Information Modeling** - Clash Detection - Electrical System Modeling - MEP Coordination - Load Calculation & Analysis - Interoperability with BIM & CAD - Circuit Design Integration ## Top SDS/2 Alternatives - [Tekla Structures](https://www.g2.com/products/tekla-structures/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (59 reviews) - [Revit](https://www.g2.com/products/revit/reviews) - 4.6/5.0 (918 reviews) - [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (1,836 reviews)