OpenBuildings Designer vs Trimble Connect

OpenBuildings Designer8.9Visit Trimble Connect8.5Visit

Higher score OpenBuildings Designer #5 in BIM Software 8.9/10 Paid ✓ 5 of 5 features Visit site

vs

Trimble Connect #9 in BIM Software 8.5/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 5 of 5 features Try Trimble Connect

• OpenBuildings Designer fits best

  Large multidisciplinary engineering projects

• Trimble Connect fits best

  Affordable cloud coordination for project teams

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Side by side

Feature	OpenBuildings Designer 8.9/10 Visit ↗	Trimble Connect 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.9	8.5
Ranking	#5 in BIM Software	#9 in BIM Software
Best for	Large multidisciplinary engineering projects	Affordable cloud coordination for project teams
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$3,844/yr	$12.99/user/mo
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Windows	Web, Windows
Support	Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs · 24/7	Email, Tickets, Community, Docs
Integrations	10 integrations	7 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features OpenBuildings Designer 5/5 · Trimble Connect 5/5
IFC support	✓	✓
Cloud collaboration	✓	✓
Clash detection	✓	✓
Quantity takeoff	✓	✓
API access	✓	✓
Specs
Discipline coverage	Multi-discipline	Multi-discipline
Mobile access	None	Viewer
Our review
Pros	Covers architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical modeling Combines clash detection, energy analysis, and generative design Exchanges IFC, COBie, DWG, RFA, and SketchUp data	Free plan plus a $12.99/user/month Business tier 2D and 3D viewing, annotations, clash sets, IFC, and mobile access REST API and integrations with Trimble, SketchUp, and other tools
Cons	Annual licensing starts at $3,844 per license Runs on Windows with no mobile access May be more scope than focused design teams need	Primarily a common data environment rather than a BIM authoring platform Advanced BIM tools require Business Premium or higher plans Plan families use different monthly and annual pricing structures
Our verdict	OpenBuildings Designer is multidisciplinary BIM software from Bentley Systems for architects, structural engineers, mechanical and electrical designers, and construction teams. It brings 3D building modeling, coordinated documentation,… Read the review →	Trimble Connect is a cloud-based common data environment for architecture, engineering, construction, geospatial, and related project teams. It centralizes project files and model data, supports 2D and 3D viewing, and provides comments,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• OpenBuildings Designer — where it wins

  • Covers architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical modeling
  • Combines clash detection, energy analysis, and generative design
  • Exchanges IFC, COBie, DWG, RFA, and SketchUp data

  Where it doesn't

  • Annual licensing starts at $3,844 per license
  • Runs on Windows with no mobile access
  • May be more scope than focused design teams need

• Trimble Connect — where it wins

  • Free plan plus a $12.99/user/month Business tier
  • 2D and 3D viewing, annotations, clash sets, IFC, and mobile access
  • REST API and integrations with Trimble, SketchUp, and other tools

  Where it doesn't

  • Primarily a common data environment rather than a BIM authoring platform
  • Advanced BIM tools require Business Premium or higher plans
  • Plan families use different monthly and annual pricing structures

• OpenBuildings Designer8.9/10 · Paid

  A deep multidisciplinary BIM suite for large engineering projects, priced for specialist teams.

  Visit siteFull verdict →
• Trimble Connect8.5/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A capable common data environment with model coordination, clash detection, and API access.

  Try Trimble ConnectFull verdict →