Softwr

Construction · head to head

Autodesk Revit vs Bentley MicroStation

Autodesk Revit logo

Autodesk Revit

Construction

BIM software for architects and engineers

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bentley MicroStation logo

Bentley MicroStation

CAD

CAD and modelling platform for infrastructure design, and the file format the rest of Bentley runs on

From
$2284/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Autodesk Revit exact subscription rates not shown on product page; pricing template contains placeholder {{PRICE}} variable; Bentley MicroStation bentley licensing has a history of usage-based true-ups, where running the software beyond your entitlement is permitted at the time and invoiced later, so finance teams get bills nobody in the design office authorised.
  • They diverge on capability: Autodesk Revit covers BIM modeling, Bentley MicroStation covers DGN modelling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Autodesk Revit and Bentley MicroStation actually diverge.

Attributes where Autodesk Revit and Bentley MicroStation differ
AttributeAutodesk RevitBentley MicroStation
Starting price$29/month$2284/year
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer user per year
CategoryConstructionCAD
Founded1982Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Windows), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Autodesk Revit

  • BIM modeling
  • Collaboration
  • Documentation
  • Rendering
  • Structural analysis
  • MEP design
  • Cloud worksharing
  • AutoCAD

Only in Bentley MicroStation

  • DGN modelling
  • DWG editing
  • Reality modelling
  • Drawing composition
  • Visualisation
  • MDL and .NET APIs
  • iTwin publishing

Both cover

  • Parametric components

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Autodesk Revit

  • 3D architectural design and BIM (Building Information Modeling) documentationnot Bentley MicroStation
  • Structural and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) engineering coordinationnot Bentley MicroStation
  • Construction scheduling and coordination workflows for project teamsnot Bentley MicroStation
  • AI-powered Autodesk Assistant for model queries and design analysisnot Bentley MicroStation
  • Carbon analysis and sustainability assessment with Forma integrationnot Bentley MicroStation

Bentley MicroStation

  • A civil consultancy bidding on state DOT or national highways work that mandates DGN deliverables and issues a MicroStation workspacenot Autodesk Revit
  • A rail or utility owner-operator maintaining decades of legacy DGN drawings that would lose data in a DWG round tripnot Autodesk Revit
  • An engineering firm standardising on OpenRoads or OpenBuildings, which require the MicroStation platform underneathnot Autodesk Revit
  • A survey or asset team draping design geometry over point clouds and reality meshes for existing-conditions worknot Autodesk Revit

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Autodesk Revit

  • Exact subscription rates not shown on product page; pricing template contains placeholder {{PRICE}} variable
  • Multiple pricing options (monthly, annual, 3-year term) available but actual costs require navigation to separate pricing flow

Bentley MicroStation

  • Bentley licensing has a history of usage-based true-ups, where running the software beyond your entitlement is permitted at the time and invoiced later, so finance teams get bills nobody in the design office authorised.
  • It is Windows only, with no macOS or Linux build and no browser client, which rules it out for studios that have standardised on Mac hardware.
  • The user base is far smaller than AutoCAD's, so hiring a MicroStation operator is harder and slower in most markets and contract staff command a premium.
  • Value depends almost entirely on whether your clients mandate DGN; outside infrastructure and government work you are paying several times the price of mainstream CAD for a format nobody asks you for.
  • Agency workspaces, seed files and configuration variables make deployment a specialist job, and a firm working for several agencies ends up maintaining multiple incompatible configurations.

Pricing, plan by plan

Autodesk Revit

$29/month
  • Revit$2545/month
    • Full BIM capabilities
    • Collaboration tools
  • AEC Collection$2975/month
    • Revit + AutoCAD + Civil 3D + more

Bentley MicroStation

$2284/year
  • Virtuoso Subscription$2284/year
    • Single-user MicroStation licence
    • Bentley Keys redeemable for training, mentoring or consulting
    • Bought through Bentley's eStore with a card
  • Practitioner or Enterprise licence$undefined/year
    • Term or perpetual licence sold direct by Bentley
    • Perpetual purchase requires an ongoing SELECT maintenance subscription
    • Volume and enterprise agreements with pooled licence usage

Which should you pick?

Choose Autodesk Revit if

  • You need bim modeling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want collaboration.
Autodesk Revit review

Choose Bentley MicroStation if

  • You need dgn modelling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want dwg editing.
Bentley MicroStation review

Questions people ask

Is Autodesk Revit or Bentley MicroStation better?
Neither clearly leads. Autodesk Revit starts at $29/month and Bentley MicroStation at $2284/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Autodesk Revit or Bentley MicroStation?
Autodesk Revit starts at $29/month and Bentley MicroStation at $2284/year.
Does Autodesk Revit or Bentley MicroStation run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Autodesk Revit best used for?
Autodesk Revit is most often used for 3d architectural design and bim (building information modeling) documentation, structural and mep (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) engineering coordination, construction scheduling and coordination workflows for project teams, ai-powered autodesk assistant for model queries and design analysis. Of those, 3d architectural design and bim (building information modeling) documentation and structural and mep (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) engineering coordination are not what Bentley MicroStation is typically brought in for.
What can Autodesk Revit do that Bentley MicroStation cannot?
Autodesk Revit covers BIM modeling, Collaboration, Documentation, Rendering. Bentley MicroStation covers DGN modelling, DWG editing, Reality modelling, Drawing composition. Both handle Parametric components.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Autodesk Revit: How much does Autodesk Revit cost per month?

Autodesk Revit is available on a monthly subscription, with a 15-day return policy for trial conversions. Specific rates are not published on the product page.

Source
Bentley MicroStation: Can MicroStation open and save DWG files?

Yes, it edits DWG natively rather than importing it. Fidelity is good but not perfect on complex dynamic blocks and some annotation styles, so a DWG-mandated deliverable is still safer produced in AutoCAD.

Autodesk Revit: What discount does Autodesk offer for annual Revit subscriptions?

Revit annual subscriptions save 33% compared to monthly pricing. Specific price points are not displayed on the homepage.

Source
Bentley MicroStation: Is there still a perpetual licence?

Yes, Bentley still sells perpetual licences alongside term and Virtuoso subscriptions, but a perpetual licence needs an annual SELECT subscription to receive updates and support, so it is not a one-off cost.

Autodesk Revit: Can I install Revit on multiple computers?

Revit subscriptions allow installation on up to 3 computers, but only one named user can sign in at a time. Multi-seat team pricing is not detailed on the site.

Source
Bentley MicroStation: Do I need MicroStation if I have OpenRoads Designer?

No. The Open products include the MicroStation platform, so buying both separately is duplicate spend.

Bentley MicroStation: What is a Bentley Key?

A prepaid token bundled with a Virtuoso subscription that you redeem for training, mentoring or consulting hours. Unused keys are a real cost if nobody in the team books the sessions.

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