MicroStation

The Right CAD For You

Don't settle, when you can have the perfect match.

Like most important partnerships in your life, CAD comes in different sizes with different benefits. You deserve the best-in-class. MicroStation is the CAD solution that you've been looking for that's trusted world-wide by architects and engineers like you.

We want to help you get to know MicroStation a little better. With our ten-part product demonstration, you can customize your journey based on what's most important to you.

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Customize Your Own Demo

Meet MicroStation

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We're The Stable Choice

AutoCAD’s native file format (DWG) has had 20 iterations in as many years, heavily compromising quality, and stability. We natively support DGN, the stable, timeless, format of choice for major infrastructure projects.

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WE deliver top performance

You’ve had enough of waiting too long for large files to open, only to find your system has crashed in the process. We deliver much better performance for large scale files.

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we'll help you look good

AutoCAD users need to buy Revit for PBR. MicroStation provides physically based rendering, PBR, materials and dynamic shadows in our modeling views. Our current rendering engine is the same as in the VUE standalone product, which was used in Avatar and Pirates of the Caribbean and is still one of the favorite products for CG studios.

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WE have real-world context

Most projects rarely ever start with a blank canvas. MicroStation does not require opt ins or permissions to allow you to use Background maps to set the context of your design. You can have real-world context in precise geolocated spaces that complement your designs with Point Clouds, Reality Meshes, Background maps and Reference data. Design with accurate real-world context, automatically, with geospatial information from hundreds of systems.

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wE work the way you work

AutoCAD does not provide user interface customization tools for other CAD software users. We provide user interface customization tools to enable faster learning, including AutoCAD commands. Productivity means adding hours back to your personal life.

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wE'RE all about communication

AutoCAD limits users file formats, and even tells users to download Bentley software to generate 3D PDFs. We support 7x more file formats than our competitors and natively generate 3D PDFs.

 

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The Details Matter

View our MicroStation vs. AutoCAD comparison chart to see a side-by-side comparison of features.

Don’t take our word for it, hear from users like you who use MicroStation.

"MicroStation does exactly what AutoCAD does, but better. The best things about this program are the interface and the software’s ability to handle large CAD files quickly. The developers at Bentley have put a lot of effort into making MicroStation streamlined and user-friendly."

Greg S.

“MicroStation has never fallen short. I have trained users that transition from another CAD product to MicroStation. While most people hate change, most users are dissatisfied until they realize that MicroStation can do everything that their previous product can do and more.”

Manuel C.

“I was an AutoCAD user, and I was not impressed with MicroStation, at first. I gave it a shot, and now I use MicroStation even when we are using AutoCAD for certain things, as it’s just better at it.”

Janko B.

Ready to get started?

Moving on from your old software might seem difficult, but it's easier than you think. Chat with our sales team to get special pricing on trading up from your existing CAD solution to MicroStation.

Learn more about special pricing >>
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FAQs

What is CAD software?

CAD software, or computer-aided design and drafting software, is used to help architects, engineers, designers, and mapping professionals build models and drawings throughout design, construction, and operation of buildings, bridges, roads, factories, processing plants, rail networks, mines, substations, tunnels, water and wastewater plants, and more.

What is MicroStation?

MicroStation is the computer-aided design (CAD) software that users worldwide trust for creating precise 2D and 3D drawings for infrastructure projects. Engineers, architects, and construction professionals openly collaborate to deliver inspiring projects, utilizing the industry-leading DGN file format.

MicroStation provides a comprehensive set of 3D CAD capabilities which include creating models and renderings, performing various analyses, animations, and more.

Is MicroStation hard to learn?

The average user reported three to six months with adequate training to become proficient in MicroStation. Every software purchase through Virtuosity comes as a bundle with “Keys” or training credits to ensure you get the training and expert services you need to get started right away. We call this bundle the Virtuoso Subscription.

Your purchase of MicroStation includes 3 Keys. You can redeem the Keys for expert services such as consulting, mentoring, customized instruction, one-to-one mentoring and/or on-demand learning.

Where can I get support for MicroStation, in the event I run into an issue with the software?

You can post your question(s) and receive peer-to-peer help as well as Bentley colleague support at our MicroStation Communities Support.

What is the difference between AutoCAD and MicroStation?

The differences between AutoCAD and MicroStation can be found on our comprehensive list of over 100 MicroStation features and capabilities. Check out the feature-by-feature comparison between MicroStation, AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. Compare now.

Where can I find out about the latest capabilities of MicroStation CONNECT Edition?

Check out the latest release announcement on our Bentley Communities forum.

How much is a MicroStation license?

A practitioner license for MicroStation costs $1,995 USD. Prices also vary by region. While there are various types of licensing available, a common choice is the 12-month practitioner license offered through Virtuosity, Bentley’s eCommerce store. When you purchase through Virtuosity, you get a Virtuoso Subscription. This means you get the software and “Keys” (tokens) to redeem for customizable training, mentoring, and consulting services.

How can I learn MicroStation for free?

You can learn about MicroStation for free by watching the tutorial videos. Additionally, you can request an evaluation license from our Virtuosity product sales engineer via the Chat Bot on this page.

Start your free 14-day trial

Contact our sales team for details about a special trade-up offer.