Bonsai vs IDEA Architecture
Bonsai
bonsaibim.orgIDEA Architecture
4mbim.comSide by side
| Figure | Bonsai | IDEA Architecture |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · Building Information Modeling Software | 8.0 (#3) | 7.9 (#5) |
| Spec score · Architecture Software | 8.0 (#14) | 8.0 (#17) |
| Integrations | Studio is built on Blender and powered by IfcOpenShell; its workflows include Python scripting and an API. | The IDEA BIM model includes disciplinary models for cooperation with FineMEP and FineGREEN. |
| Product | Bonsai is a family of open source apps for authoring, reviewing, and sharing IFC models. | IDEA Architecture is 64-bit BIM software for 2D and 3D architectural design, rendering, animation, scheduling and costing. |
Plans
IDEA Architecture
- IDEA - Scaricare la Versione€1,395, paid once
- IDEA HK - Hardlock Key€1,495, paid once
- IDEA - Versione Cloud€1,595, paid once
In their own words
Bonsai
Bonsai is a free, open-source family of applications for creating, reviewing, and sharing IFC models. Bonsai Studio is an IFC authoring platform built on Blender. It supports modeling, documentation, coordination, and BIM data management across disciplines. Studio can generate and annotate linked 2D drawings, then produce schedules and reports from model data. Bonsai Viewer is a separate free desktop application for reviewing IFC models, drawings, and data without the authoring environment. Viewer includes model search and filtering, clash detection, BCF issue management, federation of multiple models, and cloud synchronization for models and issues. Bonsai reads and writes native IFC and states that it has no proprietary formats or lock-in. Studio is powered by IfcOpenShell and includes Python scripting and an API. Listed workflows cover structural-analysis solver connections, MEP systems, 4D scheduling, 5D cost estimation, and COBie facility-management data. Studio and Viewer support Windows, macOS, and Linux. The Studio page labels the software alpha.
IDEA Architecture
IDEA Architecture has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.