BIMserver vs VisualARQ

BIMserver stores and manages building-project information as IFC data, using structured model objects rather than treating the project as a collection of files. Users can check, version, merge, query, and filter models, arrange project structures, and generate IFC output on demand. Multi-user support lets people work on separate parts of a dataset, with notifications when a model or section changes. BIMserver is intended to serve as an IFC backend for other software, and developers can add plugins, services, and clients or embed it in their products. The listed service interfaces are SOAP, JSON, and Protocol Buffers. It is open-source and self-managed, with a free plan under the AGPL-3.0 license; some plugins and libraries use different licenses. It supports Linux, macOS, Windows, web, API, and self-hosted use. The project wiki points to GitHub Releases for downloads and includes an Ubuntu installation guide. For help, maintainers point users to the wiki, FAQ, issue tracker, and contributors, and list an email contact. The project says its open-source community has been active since 2013.

VisualARQ is architectural BIM software for Rhino 7 and 8, turning freeform geometry into BIM objects and supporting custom parametric objects. Its tools include walls, curtain walls, doors, windows, beams, columns, stairs, railings, slabs and roofs. It generates linked 2D plans, sections and elevations, real-time vector drawings, and dynamic quantity take-off reports that can be exported to Excel. The software supports IFC 2×3 and IFC 4 exchange and DWG export of page layouts. Grasshopper components and a RhinoCommon API support development with C#, VB.NET or Python. It also works with Rhino-compatible render engines including V-Ray, Enscape, Lumion and Twinmotion. VisualARQ works in Rhino for Windows only; the maker says there is no Mac version. Licenses are permanent, have no subscription fees and include free updates within the same major version. A fully functional 90-day evaluation is available, after which some features are disabled. Floating licenses use Cloud Zoo or Rhino Zoo.