Tired of design changes slowing your projects?
If you’re looking at ALLPLAN, you’re probably struggling to find BIM software that actually supports the entire design-to-build process, and not just a few project phases.
In reality, the biggest headache is that project details fall through the cracks, leading to costly errors and delays that keep stacking up every day.
ALLPLAN aims to fix this by offering an integrated BIM workflow that unites architecture, engineering, and construction in one environment—while providing powerful automation, robust cloud-based collaboration, and streamlined design-to-fabrication tools.
Throughout this review, I’ll break down how ALLPLAN helps you catch problems early and deliver higher-quality projects faster.
In this ALLPLAN review, you’ll see how its features stack up, how pricing works, and what the real alternatives are—so you can make sense of your options.
You’ll walk away knowing the features you need to improve efficiency and actually solve the problems costing you time.
Let’s get started.
Quick Summary
- ALLPLAN is a BIM design software that supports architects, engineers, and construction pros throughout the entire design-to-build process.
- Best for AEC professionals needing precise structural, civil, and infrastructure modeling with integrated collaboration.
- You’ll appreciate its detailed reinforcement tools, flexible workflows, and cloud-based BIM collaboration via Bimplus.
- ALLPLAN offers subscription pricing starting at 119 EUR/month with a 14-day free trial and student access for non-commercial use.
ALLPLAN Overview
ALLPLAN has a deep history in AEC software. Based in Munich and a part of the Nemetschek Group, they’ve been building specialized BIM solutions since 1963.
They specialize in serving architects, engineers, and construction professionals. What I find compelling is their commitment to integrating the entire design-to-build workflow. This unified approach feels less fragmented than many alternatives you might be evaluating.
You can see their innovation in recent product updates. Through this ALLPLAN review, I’ll show how these aim to boost your team’s productivity and improve design quality.
Unlike generalist BIM tools, ALLPLAN doubles down on its primary strength: precision for structural and civil engineering. This focus results in robust, practical tools for detailing complex infrastructure, reinforcement, and precast elements.
They work with a wide range of organizations, from architects designing custom buildings to engineering firms tackling large-scale bridges, tunnels, and complex precast structures.
From what I’ve seen, their current strategy centers on powerful, integrated workflows that improve on-site constructability. This directly addresses your need for greater efficiency and less costly rework on the actual job site.
Now let’s examine their core capabilities in detail.
ALLPLAN Features
Struggling with disconnected AEC design tools?
ALLPLAN offers an integrated platform for the AEC industry, focusing on BIM workflows from concept to construction. These are the five core ALLPLAN features that solve critical design and construction challenges.
1. Allplan Architecture
Are your architectural designs lacking precision or flexibility?
Manual drafting and disconnected tools can lead to errors and slow down project delivery. This often makes adapting to design changes difficult.
Allplan Architecture empowers architects to create detailed 3D models from initial drafts, ensuring accuracy and efficient change management. From my testing, the object-oriented 3D design capabilities truly shine, allowing flexible workflows from 2D to full BIM. This feature helps you quickly detail variants and generate precise quantities.
This means you can streamline your design process, reduce errors, and deliver projects with greater confidence.
2. Allplan Engineering (Structural & Civil)
Need to ensure structural integrity and constructability on site?
Inaccurate structural detailing can lead to costly rework and even safety hazards. This often complicates the entire construction process.
Allplan Engineering provides robust tools for structural and civil detailing, ensuring accurate information for construction and fabrication. What I love about this is how it handles complex reinforcement detailing, ensuring constructability. It supports everything from buildings to large-scale infrastructure projects like bridges and roads.
So, as an engineer, you can confidently create precise designs that prevent accidents and ensure smooth execution on site.
3. Allplan Bridge
Is designing complex bridge structures a continuous headache?
Traditional methods often struggle with the parametric modeling required for modern bridge designs. This can limit innovation and efficiency.
Allplan Bridge is a specialized solution for innovative parametric modeling in bridge design, as shown in major projects. Here’s the thing – it simplifies the design and detailing of various bridge types, from slender to functional. This feature is crucial for handling the intricacies of bridge planning.
This means you can leverage advanced parametric capabilities to design unique and efficient bridge structures with ease.
4. Bimplus
Are interdisciplinary BIM projects causing collaboration chaos?
Merging submodels from different disciplines can be cumbersome, leading to errors and communication breakdowns. This often delays project timelines.
Bimplus, ALLPLAN’s open cloud platform, facilitates interdisciplinary cooperation on BIM projects by merging diverse submodels. What I found impressive is how the Task Board enables efficient task management and real-time updates, promoting early error detection. It truly functions as a common data environment, open to any construction software via IFC.
This means your team gets seamless collaboration and coordination, leading to fewer errors and more efficient project delivery.
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5. Allplan Precast
Struggling with manual processes for precast element fabrication?
Manually detailing precast walls and slabs can be time-consuming and prone to inaccuracies. This often hinders automated fabrication processes.
Allplan Precast is dedicated detailing software enabling highly automated fabrication of precast walls and slabs. From my evaluation, this is where ALLPLAN shines, offering precise precast design for efficient manufacturing. This feature ensures reliable project delivery for various structures, from buildings to stadiums, streamlining the entire workflow.
This means you can achieve highly automated production, significantly increasing efficiency and precision in precast construction projects.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Integrated BIM workflows enhance precision and efficiency across design and construction.
- ✅ Strong capabilities in structural and civil engineering detailing for complex projects.
- ✅ Bimplus offers robust cloud-based collaboration for interdisciplinary project teams.
- ⚠️ Steeper learning curve for advanced features compared to some popular alternatives.
- ⚠️ Interoperability with some external software might present occasional challenges.
- ⚠️ Initial design approach may not suit “sketch-like” rapid ideation phases.
You’ll actually appreciate how these ALLPLAN features work together, creating a cohesive design-to-build ecosystem rather than disparate tools you have to force together.
ALLPLAN Pricing
What will ALLPLAN pricing really cost you?
ALLPLAN pricing is structured as clear subscription tiers, mostly in EUR, making it quite transparent for individual plans while custom quotes cover larger or specific needs.
Plan | Price & Features |
---|---|
ALLPLAN Basic | From 119.00 EUR/month • Core design functionalities • Ideal for foundational tasks • Access to essential tools |
ALLPLAN CONCEPT | From 204.00 EUR/month • Enhanced conceptual design • Advanced visualization tools • Improved workflow efficiency |
ALLPLAN Professional | From 255.00 EUR/month • Comprehensive BIM capabilities • Structural and civil engineering tools • Detailed documentation features |
ALLPLAN Ultimate | From 343.00 EUR/month • Full ALLPLAN suite access • Specialized modules (e.g., Bridge, Road) • Maximum automation and collaboration |
1. Value Assessment
Great pricing value for your projects.
From my cost analysis, ALLPLAN’s tiered pricing clearly links features to your specific AEC needs, preventing you from overpaying for unused functionality. What impressed me is how the pricing scales with your project complexity, allowing you to choose the right tools for your specific discipline.
This means your budget gets allocated efficiently, ensuring you only pay for the robust capabilities you truly require.
2. Trial/Demo Options
Try before you buy, wisely.
ALLPLAN offers a 14-day free trial that provides full access to all editions for non-commercial use, which is excellent for evaluation. What I found regarding pricing is that they also offer a one-month paid subscription including support, which helps you thoroughly test for commercial purposes.
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This lets you fully evaluate the software before committing to a long-term plan, minimizing financial risk.
3. Plan Comparison
Choose the right plan for your team.
For basic drafting, ALLPLAN Basic works, but for serious BIM, you’ll want Professional or Ultimate due to their comprehensive toolsets. What stands out is how Ultimate offers specialized modules for complex projects like bridges or roads, justifying the higher pricing for dedicated engineers.
This approach helps you match pricing to actual usage requirements, ensuring you get the right features for your specific workflow.
My Take: ALLPLAN’s pricing strategy is transparent and flexible, catering to various AEC professionals from individual drafters to large engineering firms, ensuring you only pay for necessary tools.
The overall ALLPLAN pricing reflects predictable subscription costs aligned with feature sets.
ALLPLAN Reviews
What do customers really think?
This section analyzes real ALLPLAN reviews from various platforms to offer balanced insights into what actual users experience, helping you understand the software’s practical implications.
1. Overall User Satisfaction
Users report high efficiency gains.
From my review analysis, ALLPLAN consistently receives positive ratings for boosting productivity, particularly in detailed production drawings. What I found in user feedback is how ALLPLAN revolutionizes workflows, accelerating project completion and helping users meet tight deadlines more efficiently.
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This suggests you can expect significant time savings and improved project delivery.
2. Common Praise Points
Its precision in 3D models stands out.
Users consistently praise ALLPLAN’s exceptional precision in 3D models, especially for structural and civil engineering. Review-wise, its reinforcement tools are highly praised for detailed structural design, helping create flawless prefabricated walls and production drawings.
This means you can rely on ALLPLAN for highly accurate and detailed design work.
3. Frequent Complaints
Learning curve for advanced features.
While basic tasks are user-friendly, some ALLPLAN reviews suggest a steeper learning curve for advanced BIM functionalities. What stands out in user feedback is how interoperability with other software can present challenges, affecting workflow efficiency compared to some competitors.
These issues are often manageable with adequate training and strategic workflow planning.
What Customers Say
- Positive: “I find it a lot easy to grasp, even if you are a beginner user.” (G2)
- Constructive: “For continuous use of BIM software, other ‘more popular’ software might be considered.” (G2)
- Bottom Line: “ALLPLAN 2024 has been praised for revolutionizing workflows and providing evident productivity benefits.” (G2)
The ALLPLAN reviews collectively indicate strong capabilities for detailed design, balanced by considerations for complex feature adoption and interoperability.
Best ALLPLAN Alternatives
Navigating AEC software choices is tricky.
The best ALLPLAN alternatives include several strong options, each better suited for different business situations, project types, and budget considerations you might have.
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1. Autodesk Revit
Need broader industry collaboration?
Revit is known for its extensive third-party add-ons and wider user base, making it ideal for projects needing seamless integration across architecture, MEP, and structural disciplines. From my competitive analysis, Revit offers stronger overall industry collaboration capabilities, often a key differentiator for larger multidisciplinary teams.
Choose Revit if your projects demand wide adoption and a vast ecosystem of integrated tools and community support.
2. Bentley Systems MicroStation
Focused on large-scale infrastructure?
MicroStation excels in complex civil, road, and bridge design projects, offering powerful drafting and modeling capabilities for expansive infrastructure. What I found comparing options is that MicroStation provides advanced customization for civil design, especially useful for integrating complex geospatial data.
Consider this alternative when your primary focus is on large, intricate infrastructure projects requiring specialized civil capabilities.
3. Nemetschek Vectorworks
Prioritizing creative architectural design?
Vectorworks is often favored for its intuitive interface, design freedom, and strong 2D drafting, flexible 3D modeling, and rendering features. Alternative-wise, Vectorworks shines in architectural and landscape design for its presentation tools and creative flexibility over pure engineering detail.
Choose Vectorworks if your work leans more towards architectural design and you prioritize artistic freedom and presentation.
4. Bricsys BricsCAD BIM
Seeking a cost-effective .dwg solution?
BricsCAD BIM offers a familiar CAD interface with evolving BIM features, providing a budget-friendly option for users accustomed to .dwg workflows. From my analysis, BricsCAD BIM serves as a strong value alternative for teams already heavily reliant on .dwg files and seeking a lower entry cost.
If your team uses .dwg extensively or if budget is a major concern, BricsCAD BIM is a viable option.
Quick Decision Guide
- Choose ALLPLAN: Precision in structural, civil engineering, and precast detailing
- Choose Autodesk Revit: Broad industry collaboration and extensive ecosystem
- Choose Bentley Systems MicroStation: Large-scale, complex infrastructure projects
- Choose Nemetschek Vectorworks: Creative architectural and landscape design focus
- Choose Bricsys BricsCAD BIM: Cost-effective .dwg compatibility and BIM evolution
The best ALLPLAN alternatives really hinge on your specific project needs and disciplinary focus, not just feature lists.
ALLPLAN Setup
Worried about ALLPLAN’s setup process?
The ALLPLAN review reveals an improved, scalable deployment approach, but successful implementation still requires practical preparation. I’ll help set realistic expectations for your ALLPLAN setup.
1. Setup Complexity & Timeline
This isn’t just a simple download and go.
ALLPLAN’s installation has improved with a new MSI Setup, enhancing usability and scalability for larger networks. From my implementation analysis, initial setup can be straightforward for trials but full deployment with network integration needs more planning.
You’ll need to plan for time beyond the basic installation, especially for configuring it to your specific workflows.
2. Technical Requirements & Integration
Expect specific hardware and software considerations.
ALLPLAN is Windows-based, so your systems need to meet specified hardware and software requirements before installation. What I found about deployment is that its extensive import/export formats (IFC, DXF, DWG) facilitate integration, but cloud connectivity and SAF exchanges still require proper configuration.
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Prepare your IT environment and verify system compatibility upfront to avoid technical hurdles during implementation.
3. Training & Change Management
User adoption is critical for maximizing ROI.
While the interface is user-friendly for basic tasks, unlocking ALLPLAN’s advanced BIM capabilities requires dedicated training. From my analysis, investing in comprehensive training programs ensures your team can leverage powerful features and avoid productivity dips.
Plan for ongoing user training and change management efforts to fully integrate ALLPLAN into your daily workflows.
4. Support & Success Factors
Access to knowledgeable support matters for deployment.
ALLPLAN offers technical support from experienced professionals and an extensive FAQ knowledge base for rapid problem-solving. From my implementation analysis, leveraging these resources is key to a smooth rollout, even if G2 ratings suggest slight variations in support quality.
Factor in proactive engagement with support and internal champions to ensure continuous assistance throughout your ALLPLAN journey.
Implementation Checklist
- Timeline: Weeks to months depending on scope and team size
- Team Size: Project lead, IT support, and key department users
- Budget: Training, professional services, and potential hardware upgrades
- Technical: Windows compatibility, network setup, and data integration
- Success Factor: Comprehensive user training and active change management
Overall, a successful ALLPLAN setup requires proactive planning and resource allocation but delivers significant design and collaboration efficiencies.
Bottom Line
Should your business choose ALLPLAN?
This ALLPLAN review synthesizes who benefits most from its comprehensive features, highlighting strengths and limitations to guide your decision-making with confidence.
1. Who This Works Best For
AEC professionals needing integrated “Design to Build” solutions.
ALLPLAN is ideal for architectural, structural, and civil engineering firms focused on precise 3D modeling, detailed drawings, and BIM workflows. What I found about target users is that firms requiring complex structural and reinforcement detailing will find this software exceptionally powerful for their project needs.
You’ll succeed with ALLPLAN if your projects demand high accuracy and a unified approach from design to construction.
2. Overall Strengths
Precision and comprehensive interdisciplinary BIM capabilities.
ALLPLAN delivers exceptional precision in 3D modeling, especially for structural and civil engineering, with advanced reinforcement detailing and strong prefabrication tools. From my comprehensive analysis, its integrated cloud collaboration via Bimplus significantly enhances teamwork and real-time data exchange across project phases.
These strengths directly translate into improved productivity and reduced errors for businesses handling complex building and infrastructure projects.
3. Key Limitations
Learning curve for advanced features and interoperability issues.
While basic tasks are user-friendly, some users report a steeper learning curve for ALLPLAN’s advanced functionalities and occasional challenges with file interoperability compared to rival software. Based on this review, support quality has been rated slightly lower than some competitors, which might impact problem resolution.
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I find these limitations manageable if you allocate sufficient training time and leverage their support resources, rather than being deal-deal-breakers.
4. Final Recommendation
ALLPLAN earns a strong recommendation for specialized AEC firms.
You should choose this software if your business prioritizes a precise, integrated BIM solution covering the entire design-to-build process, particularly for complex structural and civil engineering. From my analysis, your ideal fit involves detailed engineering and prefabrication, where its strengths truly shine compared to general design tools.
My confidence level is high for businesses deeply invested in the entire building lifecycle with a need for accuracy and integration.
Bottom Line
- Verdict: Recommended for specialized AEC firms with complex project needs
- Best For: Architects, structural engineers, and civil engineers focused on BIM
- Business Size: Small to large enterprises managing projects of varying complexity
- Biggest Strength: Precise 3D modeling and comprehensive structural detailing
- Main Concern: Steeper learning curve for advanced features and some interoperability issues
- Next Step: Request a demo to evaluate its fit for your specific project workflows
This ALLPLAN review shows clear value for specialized AEC businesses, while also highlighting crucial considerations for integration and user proficiency before you decide.