LINEAR Solutions
LINEAR Solutions is a modular MEP and building-services engineering suite for Windows that embeds natively in Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, and LINEAR CADinside so teams can model, size, and document heating, cooling, ventilation, water, gas, and electrical networks without leaving the host CAD or BIM file.
European MEP consultancies often split work between calculation spreadsheets, schematic CAD, and a federated Revit model, then spend hours reconciling the three. LINEAR markets itself as the opposite: calculation and drafting tools that stay inside Revit or AutoCAD (or its own CADinside core) so pipe and duct sizing, load results, and geometry read back to the same elements your coordinators clash against.
The portfolio reads like a checklist for technical building services: separate Revit and AutoCAD tracks for heating, cooling, ventilation, potable water, wastewater, gas, and electrical, plus specialty items such as a void manager for openings. LINEAR’s public FAQ adds commercial detail many vendors hide: suite bundles cost about twenty percent more than single modules, optional subscription maintenance runs about twenty percent of the purchase price per year, and rental licenses renew annually from the delivery month unless you cancel in time.
Adoption stories on the German site include a BIM lead estimating that planner labor dropped roughly forty to sixty percent after standardizing on LINEAR (LINEAR customer quote on linear.eu). Those numbers are self-reported, not independent benchmarks, yet they signal why firms pitch the stack when bidding detail-heavy technical rooms.
Getting started is deliberately high-touch. A thirty-day trial exists, but LINEAR states that Revit or AutoCAD must already be licensed separately because Autodesk hosts are not bundled, and a regional advisor helps scope which modules ship for the evaluation. Academic full licenses are available through a separate student program page, which is useful if you are comparing teaching stacks rather than commercial rollout.
Specifications
Pricing
Platforms
Used for
Used by
Tasks
Pros and cons
Pros
- Deep trade coverage (heat, cool, air, water, gas, electrical) from one vendor roadmap.
- Runs inside Revit or AutoCAD, which matches how many European consultancies already deliver IFC projects.
- Transparent FAQ on suite uplift, subscription maintenance percentage, rental rules, and supported Windows versions.
- Advisor-led trial with E-learning access during the thirty-day evaluation.
Cons
- No public price list; every quote flows through a LINEAR advisor per the FAQ.
- Autodesk Revit or AutoCAD must be licensed separately before you can evaluate LINEAR modules.
- Windows 10 or 11 64-bit only; no macOS native support on the FAQ page.
- Minimum twelve-month rental term, which may feel heavy for short pilot projects.
Key features
Native Revit and AutoCAD hosts: LINEAR states its tools run inside Autodesk platforms without import or export detours.
LINEAR CADinside: Optional third host platform using LINEAR’s integrated CAD kernel when listed on the vendor site.
Hydronic and air systems: Heating, cooling, and ventilation modules with network sizing called out on product pages.
Water and gas: Potable water, wastewater, and gas pipe network tools paired with calculation workflows.
Electrical discipline: Dedicated electrical Revit track referenced in the trial form alongside mechanical trades.
Suite packaging: FAQ notes suite licensing across trades for about twenty percent premium over single modules.
Licensing flexibility: Purchase, rental (minimum one year per FAQ), subscription maintenance, leasing partner, and network administration options.
Partner content hub: Filtered component libraries for pumps, valves, heat generators, and similar equipment.
Pricing
Modular license (quote from advisor)
Contact sales
LINEAR FAQ: price is individual per module mix; contact advisor. Suite bundles add about 20% vs separate modules (vendor FAQ, linear.eu).
Always-up-to-date maintenance (annual)
per year
Free
LINEAR FAQ cites maintenance at 20% of purchase price per year for perpetual licenses with updates via Installation Center. Confirm on quote.
Rental license (minimum term)
per year
Free
FAQ states minimum rental duration 1 year, auto-renews annually from delivery month unless cancelled. Request advisor pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does LINEAR Solutions cost per seat?
LINEAR’s German FAQ states that pricing depends on the module mix and that you must contact the assigned advisor for an individual quote. The same FAQ adds that bundling modules as a suite adds roughly twenty percent compared with buying separate single-trade licenses. Always request a written offer because maintenance, rental, and purchase paths differ.
Does LINEAR run on Mac or only Windows?
The official FAQ lists Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 11 as supported operating systems. Hardware tables live in the Revit knowledge base topic linked from that FAQ. macOS is not named as a supported host, so Mac studios would need a Windows environment.
Which CAD or BIM hosts does LINEAR support for MEP modeling?
LINEAR documents native support for Autodesk Revit, Autodesk AutoCAD (including verticals), and its own LINEAR CADinside kernel. The FAQ promises support for at least the last four major releases of Revit and AutoCAD, with the exact matrix published under Services, Knowledge Base. The free trial page repeats that Revit or AutoCAD must be installed because Autodesk licenses are not part of the LINEAR trial media.
Can I export IFC from LINEAR for coordination meetings?
LINEAR positions the stack for BIM-conformant TGA planning inside Autodesk hosts where IFC exchange is normally handled through Revit or AutoCAD workflows. The site emphasizes clash-aware technical models rather than a separate IFC editor, so your coordination pattern should assume the host platform owns IFC publication while LINEAR enriches MEP elements inside that model.
LINEAR vs other Revit MEP add-ons: how should a firm choose?
LINEAR competes in the European MEP-in-Revit market by stressing native in-model calculation, modular licensing, and advisor-led rollout. Rivals differ in national code libraries, calculation methods, and rental terms, so most teams shortlist two vendors and run the same pilot project twice. Use LINEAR’s thirty-day trial with your own templates before you commit to a multi-year rental.
Who is LINEAR Solutions built for?
Marketing copy addresses building-services engineers planning heating, cooling, ventilation, water, gas, and electrical systems in BIM workflows. Testimonials include BIM managers at mid-sized engineering offices, which matches a buyer profile of multidisciplinary MEP consultancies rather than single-discipline contractors alone.
Is there a free trial and what does it include?
The German trial page advertises thirty days with either the full suite or selected modules, access to the E-learning campus, Installation Center downloads, and an advisor who configures the scope. Autodesk products remain excluded, so you must already hold or borrow valid Revit or AutoCAD seats before installation.