HOOPS Exchange review
A broad CAD/BIM conversion SDK for engineering software teams.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
HOOPS Exchange is a software development kit for adding 2D and 3D CAD and BIM data handling to engineering applications. It is designed for development teams building desktop, mobile, or web products that need to import, adapt, inspect, and export engineering data. The SDK covers more than 30 native and standard formats, including CATIA, NX, Creo, SOLIDWORKS, Inventor, Revit, IFC, STEP, JT, STL, and OBJ. Its data model reaches beyond basic file conversion, with access to assembly structures, part relationships, B-rep geometry, tessellation, PMI, views, markups, metadata, and persistent IDs.
Its ecosystem fit is a central strength. HOOPS Exchange can work alongside Parasolid, ACIS, Open Cascade, and Polygonica for geometry processing, while OpenGL, DirectX, Vulkan, Unity, and Unreal support application and visualization workflows. Geometry repair, sewing, healing, and adaptation address common needs when imported models require preparation before viewing or export. Output options include STEP, JT, 3D PDF, STL, glTF, and other formats, with advanced interactive 3D PDF publishing for document-oriented delivery. APIs for C, C++, and C# provide a defined path into native engineering software stacks.
The product is paid and does not include a free plan, but it offers a 60-day evaluation period. That gives development teams time to assess format coverage, geometry processing, assembly access, and export requirements before committing. HOOPS Exchange is a strong fit when an application needs broad CAD/BIM interoperability across web, desktop, and mobile environments. Teams seeking an AI-focused converter, a free product, or API support outside C, C++, and C# should consider a different option. For engineering software developers, its breadth and access to structured model data make it more suitable than a basic file-format converter.
HOOPS Exchange pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Imports and exports 30+ CAD and BIM formats
- Exposes assemblies, B-rep, tessellation, PMI, and metadata
- Supports web, desktop, mobile, and C, C++, and C# APIs
- Where it doesn't
- Paid product with no free plan
- API support is limited to C, C++, and C#
- AI features are not included
HOOPS Exchange fact sheet, pricing and score →
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