Audience
Architects, engineers, construction professionals, CAD managers, BIM managers, project managers, drafters, documenters, visualization experts. Anyone who uses CAD to design, build and operate infrastructure assets, marine/naval, or industrial/plant drafting.
About MicroStation
MicroStation is the trusted CAD software purpose-built for the design, modeling, and management of global infrastructure projects. Known for its extreme scalability, MicroStation empowers engineering professionals to deliver precise 2D and 3D deliverables for projects of any size or complexity.
A key differentiator is its industry-leading interoperability; users can integrate a massive variety of data types, including DWG, IFC, and SHP, without the need for risky data conversions or translations. By providing a single environment for various project elements, it ensures secure and effective deliverables across the entire project lifecycle. Whether you are an engineer, architect, or GIS professional, MicroStation provides the flexibility and power needed to turn a vision into a sustainable reality while maintaining the highest standards of data integrity.
Pricing
Starting Price:
$1,208 per year
Pricing Details:
Pricing details:
MicroStation on SELECT
Starting Price: $1,208 per year
Best For: Organizations requiring flexible licensing and continuous support.
Key Features: This subscription includes license pooling, which allows users to share licenses across multiple computers. It provides access to software upgrades, technical support, and the ability to use "Term Licenses" to pay for additional software as needed without upfront perpetual costs.
MicroStation Virtuoso (Practitioner License)
Starting Price: $2,656 per year
Best For: Individual practitioners or teams that need both software and expert training.
Key Features: This 12-month named-user license is sold through Bentley’s Virtuosity eStore. It includes two "Virtuosity Keys" per license. These keys are credits that can be redeemed for expert services, such as 1-on-1 mentoring, customized training courses, and tailored on-demand learning to help users "hit the ground running."
MicroStation Enterprise 365
Starting Price: Custom Quote
Best For: Large organizations requiring comprehensive access to the Bentley portfolio.
Key Features: This program provides unlimited access to Bentley’s infrastructure applications. Licenses are typically managed on a "per-day" basis for named users or unique machines. It is designed to scale with the organization, offering global pricing and simplified administration for multidisciplinary teams.
MicroStation for Education
Starting Price: $0 for Students / $1,500 for Institutional Units
Best For: Students, educators, and academic institutions.
Key Features: Individual students and faculty members can generally access MicroStation for free through the Bentley Education portal. For university departments, an annual flat fee provides unlimited installations for use in labs and administrative units.
MicroStation on SELECT
Starting Price: $1,208 per year
Best For: Organizations requiring flexible licensing and continuous support.
Key Features: This subscription includes license pooling, which allows users to share licenses across multiple computers. It provides access to software upgrades, technical support, and the ability to use "Term Licenses" to pay for additional software as needed without upfront perpetual costs.
MicroStation Virtuoso (Practitioner License)
Starting Price: $2,656 per year
Best For: Individual practitioners or teams that need both software and expert training.
Key Features: This 12-month named-user license is sold through Bentley’s Virtuosity eStore. It includes two "Virtuosity Keys" per license. These keys are credits that can be redeemed for expert services, such as 1-on-1 mentoring, customized training courses, and tailored on-demand learning to help users "hit the ground running."
MicroStation Enterprise 365
Starting Price: Custom Quote
Best For: Large organizations requiring comprehensive access to the Bentley portfolio.
Key Features: This program provides unlimited access to Bentley’s infrastructure applications. Licenses are typically managed on a "per-day" basis for named users or unique machines. It is designed to scale with the organization, offering global pricing and simplified administration for multidisciplinary teams.
MicroStation for Education
Starting Price: $0 for Students / $1,500 for Institutional Units
Best For: Students, educators, and academic institutions.
Key Features: Individual students and faculty members can generally access MicroStation for free through the Bentley Education portal. For university departments, an annual flat fee provides unlimited installations for use in labs and administrative units.
Free Trial:
Free Trial available.
Integrations
MicroStation Content Hub
Case Studies and Customer Success Stories
Videos and Screen Captures
Product Details
Platforms Supported
Windows
Training
Documentation
Live Online
Webinars
In Person
Support
24/7 Live Support
Online
MicroStation Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does MicroStation have an API?
Yes, MicroStation has an API and supports custom integrations using Python 3.12, Microsoft Visual Studio (C++, .NET), and VBA.
Q: What kinds of users and organization types does MicroStation work with?
Users: MicroStation is used by engineers, architects, construction professionals, CAD/BIM managers, BIM coordinators, project managers, drafters, documenters, and visualization experts.
Organization Types: It serves engineering firms, large organizations, and university departments requiring multidisciplinary team collaboration for infrastructure, marine, naval, or industrial design projects.
Q: What languages does MicroStation support in their product?
MicroStation supports multiple languages, selectable during installation or via preferences, with official language packs provided by Bentley Systems.
• English (English)
• čeština (Czech)
• Deutsch (German)
• español (Spanish)
• suomi (Finnish)
• français (French)
• Italiano (Italian)
• 日本語 (Japanese)
• 한국어 (Korean)
• polski (Polish)
• português (Brasil) (Portuguese (Brazil))
• Türkçe (Turkish)
• 简体中文（中国大陆）(Chinese (Simplified, Mainland China))
• 繁體中文（台灣）(Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan))
Q: What kind of support options does MicroStation offer?
MicroStation offers continuous technical support through the SELECT subscription, as well as expert services including 1-on-1 mentoring, customized training, and tailored on-demand learning via Virtuosity Keys.
Q: What other applications or services does MicroStation integrate with?
It integrates with the Bentley ecosystem (ProjectWise, iTwin, OpenRoads), GIS platforms (Esri ArcGIS, Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles, Cesium), and standard file formats like AutoCAD DWG and IFC. It also connects with visualization tools such as LumenRT and ContextCapture.
Q: Does MicroStation have a mobile app?
MicroStation itself does not have a mobile app. Bentley provides a separate mobile application for viewing models and documents. Bentley View is the mobile companion for MicroStation and other Bentley design tools. It is available on iOS and Android and supports viewing i models, DGN, DWG, and PDF files.
Q: What type of training does MicroStation provide?
Bentley provides expert-led training including 1-on-1 mentoring, customized training courses, tailored on-demand learning, and short videos, designed to help users get started quickly.
Q: Does MicroStation offer a free trial?
Yes, a free trial is available, and individual students or faculty members can access the software for free through the Bentley Education portal.
Q: How much does MicroStation cost?
The starting price for MicroStation on SELECT is $1,208 per year; MicroStation Virtuoso is $2,656 per year; and the Education version is $1,500 for institutional units. Large organizations can request a custom quote for the Enterprise 365 plan.
Q: What pricing for support is available for MicroStation?
Technical support is included in the MicroStation on SELECT subscription, which starts at $1,208 per year.
Q: What kinds of users and organization types does MicroStation work with?
MicroStation works with these users and organization types: Mid Size Business, Small Business, Enterprise, Freelance, Nonprofit, Government, and Startup.
Q: What languages does MicroStation support in their product?
MicroStation supports these languages: Chinese (Simplified), Czech, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish.
Q: What kind of support options does MicroStation offer?
MicroStation offers support via 24/7 live support and online.
Q: What other applications or services does MicroStation integrate with?
MicroStation integrates with: OpenBuildings Designer, ArcGIS, OpenCities Map, Cesium, ContextCapture, DWG TrueView, ERDAS IMAGINE, LumenRT, OpenBridge Designer, OpenRoads Designer, Prevu3D, ProjectWise, ProSteel, ProStructures, and Visual Studio.
Q: What type of training does MicroStation provide?
MicroStation provides training in the form of documentation, live online, webinars, and in person.
Q: Does MicroStation offer a free trial?
Yes, MicroStation offers a free trial.
Q: How much does MicroStation cost?
Pricing for MicroStation starts at $1,208 per year.
MicroStation Product Features
3D Architecture
2D Drawing
Supported
Animation
Supported
BIM Modeling
Supported
Component Library
Supported
Data Import / Export
Supported
Landscape Design
Supported
Virtual Tour
Supported
3D Modeling
2D Drawing
Supported
Animation
Supported
Annotations
Supported
Bill of Materials
Supported
Character Modeling
Supported
Collaboration Tools
Supported
Component Library
Supported
Data Import / Export
Supported
For Architects
Supported
For Manufacturers
Supported
Reference Management
Supported
Simulation
Supported
For 3D Printing
Not Supported
Architectural CAD
2D Drawing
Supported
3D Modeling
Supported
Architectural Symbol Library
Supported
Automatic Formatting
Supported
Comparison View
Supported
Design Templates
Supported
Drafting
Supported
BIM Modeling
Not Supported
Architecture
2D Drawing
Supported
3D Modeling
Supported
BIM Modeling
Supported
Bills of material
Supported
Building Information Modeling
Supported
Contact Management
Supported
Document Management
Supported
Drafting
Supported
Manufacturing Design Data
Supported
Presentation Tools
Supported
Visualization / Presentation
Supported
Client Management
Not Supported
Contract Management
Not Supported
Project Management
Not Supported
Proposal Management
Not Supported
Quotes/Proposals
Not Supported
CAD
2D Drawing
Supported
3D Modeling
Supported
Civil
Supported
Collaboration
Supported
Database Connectivity
Supported
Design Analysis
Supported
Design Export
Supported
Document Management
Supported
Electrical
Supported
Hole Making
Supported
Mechanical
Supported
Presentation Tools
Supported
Spiral Output
Supported
Structural Engineering
Supported
User Defined Cycles
Supported
2 1/2-Axis Milling
Not Supported
3-Axis Milling
Not Supported
4-Axis Milling
Not Supported
5-Axis Milling
Not Supported
Mechatronics
Not Supported
Simulate Cycles
Not Supported
Toolpath Simulation
Not Supported
Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE)
CAD/CAM Compatibility
Supported
Import / Export Files
Supported
Integrated 3D Modeling
Supported
Finite Element Analysis
Not Supported
Fluid Dynamics
Not Supported
Manufacturing Process Simulation
Not Supported
Mechanical Event Simulation
Not Supported
Multibody Dynamics
Not Supported
Thermal Analysis
Not Supported
Engineering
2D Drawing
Supported
3D Modeling
Supported
Chemical Engineering
Supported
Civil Engineering
Supported
Collaboration
Supported
Design Analysis
Supported
Design Export
Supported
Document Management
Supported
Electrical Engineering
Supported
Mechanical Engineering
Supported
Presentation Tools
Supported
Structural Engineering
Supported
Mechatronics
Not Supported
Public Works
Compliance Management
Supported
Document Management
Supported
Fixed Asset Management
Supported
Billing & Invoicing
Not Supported
Contract Management
Not Supported
Customer Database
Not Supported
Equipment Maintenance
Not Supported
Job Costing
Not Supported
Project Management
Not Supported
Service Request Management
Not Supported
Work Order Management
Not Supported
MicroStation Verified User Reviews
Write a Review-
Probability You Would Recommend? 10 out of 10
"Choice after trial" 5 out of 5 stars Posted 2021-06-06
Pros: Integrated package with lots of features and a tremendously more intuitive and user friendly interface and lots of power in modeling, and it reads and works on so many other software formats. I can open a DWG, do my work, save t, and nobody knows I did it on MicroStation. They just see the work done. Although expensive, it is not more expensive than the other serious packages but so much more efficient. It saves me hours and my productivity is paying off so quickly against the cost.
Cons: They don't know how to market their product. It is not cheap but it is not more expensive than the real industry rivals.
Overall: I used to use the most common CAD package on my system and I was pretty good at using it. Once I had 10 hours of training on this, I cannot even understand why I did not do this training earlier. I still have that other software taking space on my hard drive. Not using it. It is all Microstation for me.
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