Best Building Information Modeling Software - BIM in 2025

Building Information Modeling (BIM) software is used by professionals in the architecture, engineering, construction and other industries to design and manage buildings and infrastructure. There are numerous good quality platforms in this niche. So how do you do educated comparisons to select the best building information modeling software for your needs? We make your work easier with this buyer’s guide which provides details about the key features and aspects that mark the best building information modeling software programs from the run-of-the-mill ones.

The ideal way to start your quest is to sign up for the free trial or demo of popular tools. Top building information modeling tools providers offer this inconvenience to help you check out their application’s main features and do a general comparison with other products in the category. We recommend you try out Autodesk BIM 360, SketchUp, Procore, ARCHICAD, and Vectorworks Architect. These software solutions have received impressive rankings and ratings in our building information modeling tools reviews.

Building information modeling software tools find use in a range of industries including:

• Infrastructure
• Construction
• MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing)
• Plant design
• Structural engineering
• Architecture

1. Autodesk BIM 360: A full-featured project management tool for the construction sector. It enables BIM, field, and project managers to deliver their projects more quickly while working within the project budget. Plus, the software helps them to adhere to project specifications, safety rules, and industry standards. It offers the features you need to resolve issues quickly, improve communications, design and implement effective schedules, and coordination your team’s activities in a more efficient manner.
2. SketchUp: An intuitive CAD tool you can use to create and edit 2D and 3D concepts. It allows you to create 3D models of landscapes, furniture, interiors and more. The software is easy to use and at the same time offers robust features and timely support. Key features include animations, a layer manager, textures, and lighting effects.
3. Procore: A popular construction management platform that streamlines and mobilizes project communication and documentation. It offers access to data in real time which minimizes costly risks and delays, and increases profits. This software is utilized to manage a range of construction projects including industrial plants, office buildings, apartment complexes, university facilities, retail centers and more. The reason for its success is the vendor listens closely to customer issues and creates easy-to-use solutions for them.
4. ARCHICAD: A leading BIM program made for architects, designers, interior designers, and urban planners. This innovative tool can easily manage the needs of modern BIM functions and architectural 2D/3D designs from the planning stage to project completion. You can deploy it in the cloud or on premise, and the software functions well on Windows, Mac, and mobile devices. Top features include faster 2D navigation, workflow and productivity improvements, expression-based properties, façade design, and parametric custom profiles.
5. Vectorworks Architect: A complete architecture solution with BIM tools. It provides modeling, documentation, and drafting capabilities, and enables you to do all tasks from a single window. The platform’s features help to improve your creative workflow from the initial conceptualization stage to the actual building phase. With this software, you can minimize costs, streamline your processes, and work more efficiently and productively.

There are 2 main types of this software: closed BIM and open BIM.

1. Closed BIM. In this environment, all project team members use the same type of software and export files in the same format, which means there is no need for conversions.
2. Open BIM. Here, project members are free to utilize various versions of BIM software with neutral file formats. As a result, this process is spawning numerous open standards that are being developed to improve the sector.

1. Reporting and analysis. Get operable insights from the data offered by BIM models. You can generate detailed reports to find issues during the design stage, create project deadlines during the planning stage, and prepare project budget during the estimating stage.
2. Document/content storage and data management. You can store project info such as phasing plans, requests for information (RFIs), customer requirements, drawings and more along with the BIM model. Advanced solutions allow you to store data and models for multiple projects.
3. Change management. Monitor known problems and empower users to raise alerts on new issues. Ask for approvals for model alterations. This facilitates version control and generates an audit trail, keeping all team members in the loop and enabling to them comprehend model progressions, what type of changes were made, and why.
4. Collaboration. A sole BIM model stores the metadata for all procedures and links teams across all stages of the project span, from architects to estimators to general contractors. Design changes can affect the project schedule and cost. To minimize this impact, all teams can monitor and stay updated in real time on changes made.
5. Workflow/process management. You can set workflows for each process in the different phases of the project lifecycle to keep team members informed and updated. These stages include design, modeling/visualization, model simulation and analysis, model review, model-based costing and takeoff, and others.

1. Capture reality. Today, there is a wealth of data generated on project sites thanks to Earth images and advanced mapping tools. This info includes digital elevation and aerial imagery, and laser scans of infrastructure, which helps to accurately capture reality and streamline project plans. BIM software allows you to compile and share this data in a model – which is not possible on paper.
2. Save effort and money. Shared BIM models minimize the need for duplication and rework of drawings. The model allows each discipline to connect and annotate its data to the project. BIM drawing tools are linked to a database, which facilitates fast counting of components that helps to save significant money and labor.
3. Exercise control. BIM software has autosave features and links to project history. You can access previous versions in the model’s progress which is a great help in avoiding disasters caused by corrupt or missing files that can impact productivity and delay project completion.
4. Enhance collaboration. Cloud-based BIM solutions like Autodesk BIM 360 enable team members to share project models and manage integration with their colleagues. They can use review and markup features to stay updated on the design’s evolution and be ready to execute after the concept is finalized for construction.
5. Simulate and visualize. BIM software’ simulation tools enable designers to visualize aspects such as calculating the energy performance of a building and sunlight in different seasons. The platform can apply rules based on best practices and physics, and perform effective modeling analysis to help project team members achieve top performance.

BIM and AR/VR. AR/VR (augmented reality/virtual reality) is helping to boost the capabilities of BIM software. VR enables you to study complex 3D models in a new manner. AR helps you to test how an element fits in a building and anticipate issues before they occur. These capabilities provide a fresh perspective on designs and will become more effective in the future as the AR/VR field is developing swiftly.

BIM and Internet of things (IoT). A lot of users are utilizing smart devices in their homes and IoT is expected to revolutionize the way modelers and installers function. BIM software can store data on the IoT gadgets used in the facility being constructed and ensure it is fully up to date. This allows you to design a building with ready-to-deliver materials that are sent directly to the construction site.

Tracking and monitoring. As a number of team members collaborate on a project, it is essential to ensure the BIM software you use has robust audit trail and version control capabilities. Plus, you need to set workflows based on changes and approvals to be able to track who did what alterations and when.

Large file sizes. BIM files are large and can exceed 200MB which makes it hard to download them to mobile devices or send them via email. Therefore, it is a challenge for users to reduce file sizes and handle file size restrictions while exporting/importing data.