What is MicroStation used for?

MicroStation is Bentley Systems' CAD and modeling software for designing, documenting and visualizing infrastructure projects of all sizes. It is a good fit for designing roads and rail projects, documenting utility and water infrastructure, and teaching infrastructure design in universities.

How much does MicroStation cost?

MicroStation doesn't publish fixed prices; pricing is quoted on request.

Is MicroStation open source?

No. MicroStation is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to MicroStation include FreeCAD and LibreCAD.

What are some alternatives to MicroStation?

MicroStation competes with AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit and BricsCAD. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source MicroStation alternatives.

MicroStation: features, pricing and alternatives

About MicroStation

MicroStation is computer-aided design software from Bentley Systems that is aimed at infrastructure projects. Engineering teams use it to model, document, view and visualize designs for roads, rail, utilities, water systems and other assets, and it serves as the foundation for several other Bentley applications.

Bentley's product line around it includes SYNCHRO 4D for construction planning, PLAXIS for geotechnical analysis, OpenRoads Designer for roadway design, PLS-CADD for overhead transmission, ProjectWise for project delivery, STAAD.Pro for structural analysis, OpenFlows Water and AutoPIPE. The company also offers free products for academic use, partner programs and professional services. MicroStation is a proprietary commercial product, with pricing information on the vendor's website.

Key features

CAD modeling for infrastructure design
Documentation and visualization of designs
Integration with Bentley engineering applications
Support for roads, rail, utilities and water
Free academic access for students and educators

Good fit for

→Designing roads and rail projects
→Documenting utility and water infrastructure
→Teaching infrastructure design in universities

Tags: cad; infrastructure; bentley; civil-engineering; 3d-modeling; bim; design

MicroStation: questions and answers

What is MicroStation used for?: MicroStation is Bentley Systems' CAD and modeling software for designing, documenting and visualizing infrastructure projects of all sizes. It is a good fit for designing roads and rail projects, documenting utility and water infrastructure, and teaching infrastructure design in universities.
How much does MicroStation cost?: MicroStation doesn't publish fixed prices; pricing is quoted on request.
Is MicroStation open source?: No. MicroStation is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to MicroStation include FreeCAD and LibreCAD.
What are some alternatives to MicroStation?: MicroStation competes with AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit and BricsCAD. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source MicroStation alternatives.