MicroStation
Civil engineering design software
General-purpose CAD software
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- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$2,448.00 per year
Free Trial
Free version unavailable
Small
Medium
Large
- Public sector and nonprofit organizations
- Professional services (engineering, legal, consulting, etc.)
- Construction
What is MicroStation
MicroStation is a general-purpose CAD platform used to create, edit, and manage 2D drafting and 3D models for infrastructure, buildings, and industrial projects. It is commonly used by civil, structural, and plant design teams that need DGN/DWG-based design deliverables and coordination across disciplines. The product supports model-based design workflows, references, and standards management, and it integrates with Bentley’s broader infrastructure engineering applications.
Strong DGN/DWG interoperability
MicroStation works natively with DGN and supports DWG workflows, which helps teams exchange deliverables with mixed CAD environments. It provides robust reference/attachment handling for large, multi-file projects. This is useful in infrastructure programs where multiple contractors and disciplines contribute separate models and drawings.
Scales to large projects
The platform is designed for complex, long-lived projects with extensive external references, standards, and shared resources. It includes tools for managing levels, cells, and design libraries to keep output consistent across teams. This makes it a common base CAD layer in organizations that also use specialized civil and plant design applications.
Ecosystem integration for infrastructure
MicroStation integrates with Bentley’s infrastructure design and analysis portfolio, enabling workflows that move from base CAD to discipline-specific design. It supports common infrastructure deliverables such as plan sets, annotation, and model coordination. This can reduce rework when projects rely on Bentley tools for roads, utilities, or hydraulic modeling.
Steeper learning curve
MicroStation’s interface concepts and configuration (workspaces, standards, and libraries) can require more initial setup and training than lighter CAD tools. Teams migrating from other CAD platforms often need time to adapt to different terminology and workflows. This can slow onboarding for occasional users or small teams.
Discipline features require add-ons
While MicroStation provides general CAD capabilities, many specialized civil engineering, roadway, and utility design functions typically come from separate Bentley applications. Organizations may need additional products and licensing to match end-to-end discipline workflows. This can increase total cost and complexity compared with suites that bundle more vertical functionality.
Collaboration depends on stack
Advanced collaboration, model management, and cloud-based coordination often rely on additional Bentley services and project configuration. Without those components, teams may fall back to file-based exchange and manual controls. This can be a limitation for distributed teams that expect out-of-the-box cloud collaboration features.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Virtuoso Subscription (12-month practitioner) | Special Price USD 2,448.00 (US eStore listing) | Includes a 12‑month practitioner license sold through Bentley's eStore (Virtuosity). Purchase includes Keys (training/consulting credits). Price varies by region; advertised on Bentley/virtUosity eStore. cite |
| Perpetual License + SELECT (one-time purchase + annual maintenance) | Price not listed on site (contact sales) | Bentley offers perpetual licenses with annual SELECT maintenance (support, upgrades, license exchange). Official product pages describe the option but do not publish list prices. cite |
| Enterprise (Enterprise License Subscription / Enterprise 365) | Custom pricing (contact sales) | Enterprise/ELS or Enterprise 365 offerings are available with global/volume pricing; Bentley requires contacting sales for quotes. Official pages present this as a custom/quote-based option. cite |
Notes:
- Regional/reseller pricing: Bentley’s eStore shows region- and currency-specific prices (example: EUR price shown on Virtuosity; JPY on region page). Prices vary by country and currency. cite
- Education / Learning licenses: Bentley provides free learning licenses to eligible students and educators via the Bentley Education program (not a permanent public commercial free tier). cite
- Free trial / evaluation: Bentley’s product and eStore pages include a "Free Trial" / evaluation license option (request via product page/chat). cite
Seller details
Bentley Systems, Incorporated
Exton, Pennsylvania, USA
1984
Public
https://www.bentley.com/
https://x.com/bentleysystems
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bentley-systems/
