Best Structural Engineering Software

Compare the Top Structural Engineering Software as of November 2025

What is Structural Engineering Software?

Structural engineering software is designed to provide engineers with the tools to efficiently and accurately analyze, design, and optimize building structures. This software often offers a wide range of calculations for steel, concrete, and timber designs, allowing the user to quickly conduct structural analysis. Structural engineering software also provides 3D modeling capabilities which enable visualization of layout plans as well as generate clear drawings. In addition, these programs are often accompanied by pre-defined library elements such as walls, beams, columns and slabs which save time during the design process. Finally, some packages may include an optimizer module that assists in finding the most economical structural design solution. Compare and read user reviews of the best Structural Engineering software currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly.

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    ActCAD Software

    ActCAD Software

    Jytra Technology Solutions

    ActCAD is a native dwg/dxf cad software suitable for professional 2D drafting and 3D modeling projects. ActCAD is trusted by over 30000 users in over 103 countries for more than 10 years. The interface, commands, icons, dialogs, shortcuts etc. are very much similar to other popular cad software tools available in market. Flexible license types available even for single license. There is no learning for existing cad users while saving 80% of the costs. ActCAD offers free email technical support without any limitations. ActCAD can be fully customized and programs can be developed using our free API toolkit. It supports popular programming languages like , lisp dcl, .net, C++ etc. Apart from all regular commands, ActCAD offers many productive tools like pdf to cad converter, Block libraries, Image to Cad converter, handling point sets between Cad and Excel and many more. ActCAD is suitable for any high end professional projects in the domains of Architecture, Civil, Mechanical,Automotive
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    Starting Price: $249.00/one-time/user
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  • 2
    SkyCiv Structural 3D

    SkyCiv Structural 3D

    SkyCiv Engineering

    SkyCiv Structural 3D is a cloud-based Structural Analysis software that allows users to model, analyze and design complex 3D structures. It is completely online; requiring no installation to use. SkyCiv Structural 3D offers the very best in online structural analysis. It includes the following: - Powerful Analysis: Linear, P-Delta, Cables, Buckling, Plates, Frequency, RS - Integrated Design checks for steel, wood, connections, foundations, wind (AISC, NSD, AISI, EN, AS, CSA, BS plus more...)
    Starting Price: $79/month/user
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    MicroStation

    MicroStation

    Bentley Systems

    MicroStation by Bentley Systems is the trusted computer-aided design (CAD) software built specifically for infrastructure design. It enables architects, engineers, and designers to create precise 2D and 3D drawings that bring complex projects to life—from bridges and highways to utilities and smart cities. With powerful tools for design, documentation, and visualization, MicroStation helps professionals deliver projects faster, more accurately, and with greater confidence. The software natively supports DGN, DWG, and point-cloud data, eliminating file conversion hassles and improving collaboration across teams. Its robust environment connects applications, data, and users to ensure seamless project delivery at any scale. MicroStation is the foundation of modern infrastructure design—reliable, interoperable, and built for professionals who build the world.
    Starting Price: $250 per month
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    RFEM

    RFEM

    Dlubal Software

    The FEA program RFEM allows for quick and easy modeling, structural and dynamic calculation, as well as the design of models with member, plate, wall, folded plate, shell, and solid elements. Due to the modular software concept, you can connect the main program RFEM with the corresponding add‑ons in order to meet your individual requirements. The structural analysis program RFEM provides structural engineers with a 3D FEA program that meets all requirements in modern civil engineering. Efficient data input and intuitive handling facilitate the modeling of simple and complex structures. The structural analysis program RFEM is the basis of a modular software system. The basic program RFEM is used to define structures, materials, and loads for planar and spatial structural systems consisting of plates, walls, shells, and members. The program also allows you to create combined structures as well as model solid and contact elements.
    Starting Price: €697.50 rent 1 month
  • 5
    AxisVM

    AxisVM

    InterCAD

    The primary applications of AxisVM are in the design of buildings, and industrial and geotechnical structures. Due to its powerful finite element solver and practical modeling tools, it has also been used in bridge design, and in the design of composite structures, machines, and vehicles. Besides the basic configurations, optional design modules are available for structures made of reinforced concrete, steel, timber, and masonry members and connections. In addition, thanks to the special elements and analysis capabilities, users have successfully applied AxisVM to the design of innovative and custom structures. Reports can be created based on tables, drawings, and detailed design calculations with additional headings and text lines. Reports are auto-updating, i.e. generated based on the most current model data and results.
    Starting Price: $500 one-time payment
  • 6
    ClearCalcs

    ClearCalcs

    ClearCalcs

    ClearCalcs is a cloud structural engineering software that enables engineers and designers to streamline their repetitive calculations with easy-to-use calculators for beams, columns, foundations, and more. With calculators available for the US standards, Eurocode, Australian standards, New Zealand standards, and Canadian standards, ClearCalcs is a one-stop shop for improving your productivity and design capability. Calculations can be linked together with one click, saving on time and errors, copy-pasting loads, and reports print to a simple, one-page PDF for easy checking.
    Starting Price: $79.00 USD / month
  • 7
    ArtiosCAD
    The world’s most popular structural design software for packaging. The world’s most popular structural design software for packaging, ArtiosCAD is designed to boost productivity for packaging professionals handling structural design, product development, virtual prototyping and manufacturing operations. With ArtiosCAD you don’t need to be a math genius to create challenging designs. The software handles all the metrics for you. It builds a perfectly fitting package around any imported 3D CAD product model. This way you’ll be able to focus solely on your creativity. ArtiosCAD saves hours of design work by turning custom designs into resizable design templates and adding them to your corporate library. A full integration of structural design and graphic design with production files also eliminates costly mistakes downstream in the workflow. Fold your design in 3D to check for inconsistencies before going to print.
    Starting Price: $206.67 per user per month
  • 8
    Altair SimSolid
    By performing structural analyses on fully featured CAD assemblies within minutes, SimSolid is the game-changing simulation technology for designers, engineers, and analysts. It eliminates geometry preparation and meshing: the two most time-consuming, expertise-extensive and error-prone tasks performed in a conventional structural simulation. Multiple design scenarios can be simulated quickly under real-life conditions. Early CAD models, in any common format, can be used. SimSolid tolerance of imprecise geometry means that, unlike CAD-embedded simulation tools, there is no need to simplify complex geometries before analyzing designs. SimSolid supports all typical connections (bolt/nut, bonded, welds, rivets, sliding) and analysis of linear static, modal, thermal properties, along with more complex coupled, nonlinear, transient dynamic effects.
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    SwiftComp

    SwiftComp

    AnalySwift

    SwiftComp is a revolutionary multiscale, multiphysics composite simulation code that quickly and easily delivers the accuracy of 3D FEA at the efficiency of simple engineering models. In doing so, SwiftComp reduces barriers for engineers by enabling them to model composites as easily as metals using conventional structural elements in their FEA codes (without losing accuracy while capturing all the microstructural details). SwiftComp provides unified modeling for 1D (beams), 2D (plates/shells), or 3D structures, calculating all the effective properties. Use SwiftComp either independently for virtual testing of composites or as a plug-in to power your conventional structural tools with high-fidelity composites modeling. SwiftComp can compute the best structural model for use in macroscopic structural analysis, as well as perform dehomogenization to compute the pointwise stresses in the microstructure. SwiftComp directly interfaces with ABAQUS, ANSYS.
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    Digimat

    Digimat

    e-Xstream engineering

    e-Xstream engineering develops and commercializes the Digimat suite of software, a state-of-the-art multi-scale material modeling technology that speeds up the development process for composite materials and structures. Digimat is a core technology of 10xICME Solution and is used to perform detailed analyses of materials on the microscopic level and to derive micromechanical material models suited for multi-scale coupling of the micro- and macroscopic level. Digimat material models provide the means to combine processing simulation with structural FEA. This means to move towards more predictive simulation by taking into account the influence of processing conditions on the performance of the finally produced part. As an efficient and predictive tool Digimat helps its users to design and manufacture innovative composite materials and parts with great efficiency in time and costs.
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    FloCAD

    FloCAD

    C&R Technologies

    FloCAD® is a fluid dynamics software add-on module for Thermal Desktop®, together they provide a complete thermohydraulic software tool for fully integrated fluid flow and heat transfer analysis. With FloCAD, the mechanics of building fluid flow models is very similar to that of building thermal models, with many of the commands applicable to both types of models. FloCAD models can be free-form (non-geometric), sketchpad style flow network modeling for abstraction and simplification, or they can be geometry-based by including objects such as pipe centerlines and cross-sections, complexly shaped vessels, or convection to finite difference of finite element representations of thermal structures. As a generalized pipe flow software tool, FloCAD captures the pressure drops in a piping network due to bends, valves, tees, changes in flow area, etc.
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    Structural Engineering Library
    Structural and civil engineers are under tremendous pressure these days. You're expected to do more with less - and do it faster - all while creating the same safe, budget-friendly, code-compliant designs you've always created. So much pressure! Tighter budgets, shorter timelines, and ever-changing code requirements. Then clients ask for design changes at the same price! Structural Engineers are highly skilled, our work is exacting and we are liable for our mistakes. Competitive pressure and heavier workloads take their toll on highly technical, detailed work. Where can I get relief? Work more? Hire help? Take on fewer projects? You are asking yourself "How do I increase my high quality engineering designs without overworking my team or losing profits by excess hiring?" The Structural Engineering Library (SEL). The industry's most complete, well proven, widely used integrated system for creating daily structural engineering calculations.
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    PROFIS Engineering Suite
    Hilti PROFIS Engineering Suite is a user-friendly, cloud-based software that makes designing structural connections faster and easier in construction projects with time saving productivity features. Design connections for multiple base materials and applications. Design anchors in multiple base materials such as concrete, masonry, and concrete over metal. Not just for anchors, PROFIS Engineering designs post-installed rebar, base plates, and diaphragm shear fasteners for metal deck attachments. Help save time with productivity features such as Smart Design anchor layout, import loads, running multiple load combinations and developing design templates. New to PROFIS Engineering? Sign up for a free 30-day trial of the premium version or try the free standard version.
  • 14
    Scia Engineer
    SCIA Engineer is an integrated, multi-material structural analysis software and design tool for all kinds of structures. Its wide range of functionality makes it the ideal partner for the design of office buildings, industrial plants, bridges or any other project, all within the same easy-to-use environment. Powerful CAD-like modeling, advanced types of calculation, code-compliant multi-material design and customizable reports. Typical situations can be automated with built-in or user-defined parametric templates for various geometries and powerful load generation tools. SCIA Engineer provides the most comprehensive implementation of Eurocodes, including National Annexes, U.S. codes and other international standards. Seamless exchange of models with other project stakeholders, through the powerful bi-directional links with Allplan, Revit and Tekla Structures, Open BIM's IFC or third-party plug-ins.
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