Graphisoft BIMx vs Marmoset Viewer

Graphisoft BIMx brings layouts, 3D models, and BIM data together in a .bimx file for architects, engineers, construction teams, and clients. It supports game-like navigation through 3D models and links from Hyper-models to project documentation. BIMx Issues lets users mark up 2D and 3D views, with BCF-compliant issues. Presenter and Gallery support presentations and client exploration, while the Web Viewer can be embedded on a website. Users can inspect building-element details such as fire ratings and manufacturer-specific properties. Graphisoft says facility managers and owners can connect Facilities Management databases with models for maintenance. Models can be shared by web link through BIMx Model Transfer; private Hyper-model sharing is for Graphisoft Subscribers, SSA, and Forward users. BIMx is free on the web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Opening projects in the mobile and desktop apps requires a registered Graphisoft ID; without signing in, users can access sample content and one additional custom model. After sign-in, authentication can last up to one year with occasional online access, or up to seven days offline.

Marmoset Viewer is a physically based WebGL viewer for sharing interactive 3D presentations on the web. Scenes are created in Marmoset Toolbag and exported as optimized .mview packages to host or embed. Viewer supports animated scenes, refractive materials, shadowed fog, and shadow catcher objects. Developers can embed packages using a JavaScript library and embed utility; packages can also be uploaded to ArtStation, and a third-party WordPress plugin is available for uploads and embedding. A free standalone desktop app opens .mview files locally and is downloadable separately from Toolbag. The maker lists Windows, OS X, iOS, and Android support, but says Android support is less robust than Windows, OS X, and iOS. Global illumination, screen-space reflections, and ambient occlusion are not supported. Because models and textures must be sent to the browser for rendering, the maker says robust copy protection is essentially impossible. The standalone Viewer app is free, and Viewer is included with Toolbag versions 2.07 and newer. The listed format is .mview; measurement tools and annotation or markup are not available.