SOFiSTiK
SOFiSTiK is a structural engineering and BIM software family from Germany that ties finite element analysis, member design, reinforcement workflows, and bridge or infrastructure modeling to open exchange through IFC and SAF.
SOFiSTiK sits where heavy civil meets building structures: the same vendor stack can follow a bridge axis model, a tunnel layout, or a multi story concrete frame, then keep the engineering story connected to CAD and BIM hosts instead of freezing it in a one off solver file. That breadth is why owners of large portfolios often evaluate it when they want one partner for both transport structures and vertical construction.
The firm states it serves more than 5,000 customers with a team of roughly 100 people (SOFiSTiK company pages, 2026). That scale is modest compared with global CAD giants, yet it explains the product tone: direct support from engineers who ship analysis kernels, Revit extensions, and AutoCAD based detailing in one roadmap.
Openness is a repeated theme in official materials. SOFiSTiK documents IFC support and the SAF structural analysis format, plus routes through Rhino and Grasshopper, Dynamo packages, and Excel for handoffs (SOFiSTiK BIM workflow pages, 2026). The Revit centered "Analysis + Design" line stores calculation data in the host model so discipline partners see the same enriched geometry inside Autodesk Revit (SOFiSTiK Analysis + Design product page, 2026).
Commercial access is not sold like a simple SaaS seat on the public English pages. Expect package choices for FEM levels, UI suites, and network licensing, then a quote from sales for your region. A 30 day trial is advertised for the wider product range (SOFiSTiK global English homepage, 2026), which is the practical path to benchmark performance on your own models before procurement.
Specifications
Pricing
Platforms
Used for
Used by
Tasks
Pros and cons
Pros
- Single vendor story from solver grade FEM through Revit integrated design and reinforcement oriented apps.
- Explicit IFC and SAF positioning for teams that must prove openBIM delivery on public contracts.
- Documented trial window for hands on evaluation (SOFiSTiK global English homepage, 2026).
Cons
- No transparent public price list on the English marketing site; expect scoped quotes and license modules.
- Host based products such as Revit extensions inherit the Windows first reality of those CAD platforms.
- Learning curve is real: parametric text input and deep solver options reward specialists more than casual users.
Key features
FEM for buildings and bridges: Packages for 3D finite element analysis and design aimed at structural and infrastructure projects, including bridge and tunnel focused tooling in the BIM line.
Analysis + Design for Revit: Run analysis and reinforced concrete member checks inside Autodesk Revit with results stored on the BIM elements (SOFiSTiK product page, 2026).
IFC and SAF exchange: Import and export open BIM geometry and analytical models, including SAF noted from SOFiSTiK 2022 onward (SOFiSTiK BIM workflow pages, 2026).
Rhino and Grasshopper paths: Official copy positions a strong link between Rhino NURBS modeling, Grasshopper scripts, and SOFiSTiK solvers for freeform projects.
Dynamo and Excel links: Dynamo package for Analysis + Design workflows and Excel based transfer of forces and results for checks outside the core UI (SOFiSTiK product pages, 2026).
Pricing
Commercial license (quote)
Contact sales
SOFiSTiK publishes module based FEM and UI suite concepts but not a public price grid on the English marketing pages; request a regional quote. Indicative currency shown as EUR based on the German vendor origin; confirm on your order documents.
Trial (30 days)
30-day trial
Free
Vendor advertises a 30 day trial for the structural and BIM software range on the global English homepage (SOFiSTiK global English homepage, 2026); confirm eligibility and included modules at download time.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a SOFiSTiK license cost per year?
The public English marketing site does not list fixed annual prices for named bundles. SOFiSTiK sells tiered FEM packages and companion licenses such as UI suites, so procurement teams should request a written quote for the modules and network seats they need. Treat any internet forum price as unreliable.
Does SOFiSTiK offer a free trial?
Yes. The global English homepage advertises a free 30 day trial that covers the structural engineering and BIM software range (SOFiSTiK global English homepage, 2026). Install the trial build your firm cares about, for example Analysis + Design for Revit or a FEM package, then validate solvers on a representative project model.
Which file formats does SOFiSTiK support for BIM exchange?
Official BIM workflow pages highlight IFC and SAF for analytical model exchange, plus import paths from AutoCAD, Revit, and Rhino (SOFiSTiK BIM workflow pages, 2026). SAF is emphasized as a way to pull analytical models from many upstream systems into SOFiSTiK solvers.
Can SOFiSTiK run structural analysis inside Revit?
The Analysis + Design for Revit application performs 3D structural analysis and reinforced concrete member design within Revit, including Eurocode oriented checks for slabs, columns, and continuous beams (SOFiSTiK Analysis + Design product page, 2026). Results stay attached to the BIM elements so the wider team consumes one model.
How does SOFiSTiK relate to IDEA StatiCa on steel bridge projects?
SOFiSTiK markets joint learning sessions that combine SOFiSTiK bridge analysis with IDEA StatiCa connection design on steel bridges (SOFiSTiK webinar listings, 2026). In practice that signals a complementary workflow: global member and bridge analysis in SOFiSTiK, then connection level design where IDEA StatiCa is the chosen specialist tool.
Who is SOFiSTiK built for in day to day practice?
The English site addresses structural engineers who need finite element analysis, BIM linked design, reinforcement planning, and infrastructure modeling across buildings and civil works. It also speaks to teams pushing scripted workflows through Rhino, Grasshopper, Dynamo, and Excel rather than only menu driven modeling.