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Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler vs Vectorworks

Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler logo

Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler

CAD

Photogrammetry engine formerly sold as ContextCapture, now inside Bentley's iTwin line

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vectorworks logo

Vectorworks

CAD

Design software for the AEC industry

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler the rename from ContextCapture is more than cosmetic: licensing moved into Bentley's subscription and consumption model, and existing perpetual users should confirm what a renewal converts to before assuming continuity of cost.; Vectorworks pricing not visible on homepage; no rate disclosure in cached vendor content
  • They diverge on capability: Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler covers Aerial triangulation, Vectorworks covers BIM modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler and Vectorworks actually diverge.

Attributes where Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler and Vectorworks differ
AttributeBentley iTwin Capture ModelerVectorworks
Starting priceOn request$29/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, CloudWindows, MacOS
FoundedUnknown1985

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

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 Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler

  • Aerial triangulation
  • Dense mesh reconstruction
  • Point cloud fusion
  • Orthophoto and DSM output
  • 3D Tiles and 3MX export
  • Distributed processing
  • Retouching and editing
  • Georeferencing and control

Only in Vectorworks

  • BIM modeling
  • 2D/3D design
  • Documentation
  • Rendering
  • GIS integration
  • Entertainment design
  • Landscape tools
  • Lumion

What people use each for

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

Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler

  • A highway authority reconstructing a corridor from drone imagery for design work in OpenRoadsnot Vectorworks
  • A survey firm delivering city-scale textured meshes to a municipal client for planning and visualisationnot Vectorworks
  • An engineering consultancy fusing terrestrial laser scans with drone photography of a bridge for condition assessmentnot Vectorworks
  • A team publishing streamable 3D Tiles of a construction site so stakeholders can view it in a browsernot Vectorworks

Vectorworks

  • BIM (Building Information Modeling) design for architecture and constructionnot Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler
  • 3D landscape design and site planning with terrain modelingnot Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler
  • Stage lighting and event production design softwarenot Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler
  • CAD architectural drawing and technical documentationnot Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler
  • 2D/3D drafting for interior design and kitchen/bath layoutsnot Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler

Where each one falls short

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

Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler

  • The rename from ContextCapture is more than cosmetic: licensing moved into Bentley's subscription and consumption model, and existing perpetual users should confirm what a renewal converts to before assuming continuity of cost.
  • Consumption-based entitlements make the cost of a large reconstruction hard to predict in advance, which is awkward when you are quoting a fixed-price deliverable to a client.
  • The desktop engine is Windows only and reconstruction is compute-hungry, so meaningful throughput needs either serious workstation hardware or paid cloud processing.
  • Bentley does not publish a plain rate card and pricing varies by region, reseller and existing agreement, so two firms buying the same thing can pay very different amounts.
  • Value compounds inside the Bentley ecosystem, and a firm whose design work happens in Autodesk or Esri tools pays for a positioning it will not use while getting the same mesh a cheaper standalone photogrammetry package would produce.

Vectorworks

  • Pricing not visible on homepage; no rate disclosure in cached vendor content

Pricing, plan by plan

Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler

On request
  • iTwin Capture Modeler$undefined/year
    • Subscription entitlement through Bentley licensing
    • Consumption charged against Bentley Keys on some agreements
    • Reality Modeling WorkSuite bundles Modeler with reality data management

Vectorworks

$29/month
  • Architect$2495/month
    • BIM
    • Architecture tools
  • Landmark$2495/month
    • Landscape design
    • GIS
  • Design Suite$3295/month
    • All modules combined

Which should you pick?

Choose Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler if

  • You need aerial triangulation.
  • You work on Windows, Cloud.
  • You also want dense mesh reconstruction.
Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler review

Choose Vectorworks if

  • You need bim modeling.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS.
  • You also want 2d/3d design.
Vectorworks review

Questions people ask

Is Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler or Vectorworks better?
Neither clearly leads. Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler starts at On request and Vectorworks at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler or Vectorworks?
Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler starts at On request and Vectorworks at $29/month.
Does Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler or Vectorworks run on more platforms?
Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler runs on Windows, Cloud. Vectorworks runs on Windows, MacOS.
What is Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler best used for?
Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler is most often used for a highway authority reconstructing a corridor from drone imagery for design work in openroads, a survey firm delivering city-scale textured meshes to a municipal client for planning and visualisation, an engineering consultancy fusing terrestrial laser scans with drone photography of a bridge for condition assessment, a team publishing streamable 3d tiles of a construction site so stakeholders can view it in a browser. Of those, a highway authority reconstructing a corridor from drone imagery for design work in openroads and a survey firm delivering city-scale textured meshes to a municipal client for planning and visualisation are not what Vectorworks is typically brought in for.
What can Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler do that Vectorworks cannot?
Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler covers Aerial triangulation, Dense mesh reconstruction, Point cloud fusion, Orthophoto and DSM output. Vectorworks covers BIM modeling, 2D/3D design, Documentation, Rendering.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler: Is ContextCapture discontinued?

The name is. The product continues as iTwin Capture Modeler within Bentley's iTwin family.

Vectorworks: How much does Vectorworks cost?

Vectorworks pricing is not displayed on its homepage. The vendor directs users to contact a distributor or reseller for subscription rates.

Source
Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler: Does it still support a perpetual licence?

New buyers should expect subscription or consumption-based entitlements. Confirm the exact conversion path if you hold an older perpetual licence.

Vectorworks: Does Vectorworks offer a free trial?

Vectorworks directs potential users to contact a distributor to inquire about trial versions. Trial availability is not mentioned on the website.

Source
Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler: Can it process laser scan data as well as photographs?

Yes. It fuses point clouds with imagery in a single reconstruction.

Vectorworks: What is the cost of Vectorworks training and education?

Vectorworks University offers customizable training through online seminars, regional classes, and onsite sessions, but pricing is not published on the website.

Source
Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler: Do I need other Bentley software to use it?

No, output formats are usable elsewhere, but the commercial and workflow case is strongest if you already run MicroStation or OpenRoads.

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