PLAXIS 2D Alternatives (September 2025)

PLAXIS 3D is geotechnical finite element analysis software for engineers to model, simulate, analyze and deploy staged construction in geotechnical projects.

RS3 is a complete 3D geotechnical finite element software package for rock and soil. RS3 is used for excavation design, tunnel design, and more!

Solve complex structural engineering problems with Ansys Structural FEA analysis software solution for implicit and explicit structural analysis.

Finite Element Analysis for Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering

Optimize design to ensure compliance, understand behavior, and accurately predict the performance of all types of offshore structures.

OpenRoads Designer is a road design software for plant documentation, surveying, stormwater design & analysis, visualization, geotechnical, underground utilities, and much more.

GEOVIA Surpac provides mining companies with customizable 3D mine planning and geological modelling software for either open pit or underground operations.

Subject your designs to real world conditions to raise product quality while reducing prototyping and physical testing costs.

Ansys provides high-performance, automated meshing software that produces the most appropriate mesh for FEA, CFD and other multiphysics solutions.

Site3D is a fully featured software product for the engineering design of road systems, roundabouts, residential developments and earthworks.

Simcenter 3D is a comprehensive, fully integrated CAE solution for complex, multidisciplinary product performance engineering including emag and structures.

PetraSim software is the graphical interface for the TOUGH2 family of simulators. Solve challenging subsurface flow problems with PetraSim

Ansys engineering simulation and 3D design software delivers product modeling solutions with unmatched scalability and a comprehensive multiphysics foundation.

Leverage digital design delivery, portfolio intelligence, data governance, and enhanced engineering work-in-progress capabilities to improve project performance and productivity.

Tekla Structural Designer is award-winning software that gives engineers the power to analyze and design buildings efficiently and profitably. Start your FREE 30 day trial now!

3D modeling software to create, edit, and modify CAD or STL files for design, reverse engineering, simulation, manufacturing, 3D printing, and sheet metal.

From 3D mapping to geophysical modelling, our geophysics software streamlines workflows and enhances analysis so you can drive insights with efficiency.

A leading online structural analysis and design software, offering a wide range of design and analysis software for any structures.

BricsCAD is a single, native-DWG platform with five product levels including 2D drafting, 3D modeling, BIM, and mechanical design toolsets.

Automate your civil and structural analysis calculations. Enhance QA processes and combine with your 2D frame analysis. Download a full FREE Tedds trial today.

nanoCAD - professional, cost-effective CAD Software with powerful 2D/3D modeling tools for viewing and drawing DWG files in engineering and architecture. Free download.

FlexSim provides software to model, simulate, analyze, and visualize (in 3D!) any system in manufacturing, material handling, healthcare, warehousing, supply chain, and more.

Simcenter is a flexible, scalable portfolio of the best predictive simulation software and test applications that support every step of your digital journey.

RoadEng is a clean, simple and highly interactive corridor design tool. Ideal for a variety of projects: rural road & highways, rail & pipeline, forest & resource roads, and stream reconstruction. Download a free trial!

Create masterful landscape projects with the all-in-one landscape software built to transform your design, presentation, irrigation, and documentation workflows.

Professional-grade 2D CAD software that can be used to create, edit, view, and markup any kind of 2D drawing or DWG file.

Bricsys 24/7 construction project management software is designed for CAD collaboration to help streamline workflows & improve productivity.

Autodesk Civil 3D is civil infrastructure design and documentation software. Buy a Civil 3D subscription from the official Autodesk store or a reseller.

Visualize 2D, 3D, and GIS data in a city-scale digital twin and share large-scale projects spanning entire cities down to street level with OpenCities Planner.

With Bentley View you can view over 50 file formats, including CAD and raster images as well as Bentley's uniquely powerful iModels.

Creo Elements/Direct is a comprehensive system for mechanical engineers and designers who create products using the ‘direct modeling’ approach to 3D CAD.

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ is a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software used to simulate products operating under real world conditions.

Design, analyze & visualize high-performance and sustainable buildings with OpenBuildings, Bentley's all-in-one BIM software.

RocFall2 is a 2D statistical analysis software program designed to assess slopes at risk for rockfalls.

HydroCAD, hydrology and hydraulics software for modeling stormwater runoff and designing stormwater management systems

Streamline your construction projects with our advanced structural BIM software. Tekla Structures software makes workflows permanently more cost-efficient.

CPillar is a quick, interactive, and easy-to-use analysis tool for evaluating the stability of surface or underground crown pillars, and laminated roof beds.

Ansys Fluent is the industry-leading fluid simulation software known for its advanced physics modeling capabilities and unmatched accuracy.

Road, Site, and Subdivision design automation in less time with minimal resources. Carlson RoadNET highway design. Import and export to various file formats including Civil3D, LandDesktop, AutoCAD (dwg, dgn, dxf)

Civil Designer is the preferred civil engineering software package offering a completely integrated civil Infrastructure design solution

Discover why CAESAR II is the preferred pipe stress analysis solution of engineers around the world.

Kingdom® software provides geoscientists and asset teams the functionality needed for all aspects of their portfolio management from prospect to production, basic and advanced interpretation to microseismic analysis and geosteering resulting in faster interpretation and modeling sharing of complex data and more confident decision making.

ZWCAD is a fast and powerful 2D CAD solution offering unparalleled compatibility with the industry standard file format DWG.

Improve design efficiency with Transoft Solutions' Vehicle Swept Path Analysis software, ideal for optimizing vehicle tracking and analysis. Try it now!

Goes Beyond 3D CAD Design to Encourage Innovation Across the Extended Enterprise.

Explore Ansys LS-DYNA, an explicit dynamics solver that simulates the extreme materials deformation response of structures to periods of severe loading.

Manage your construction projects efficiently with virtual construction, planning, and model-based workflows, field to office.

OpenFlows WaterCAD is an easy-to-use hydraulic modeling application for the analysis, design, and operation of water distribution systems.

Use Geosoft Oasis montaj to view, QA/QC, transform, and analyse all raw data with powerful 2D and 3D modelling capabilities.

AFT pipe flow analysis and modeling software is used by engineers in over 80 countries. Learn more and download a free demo.

See how Ansys computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation software enables engineers to make better decisions across a range of fluids simulations.

Magics is the most powerful workflow automation and 3D printing data and build preparation software including both CAD and mesh tools.

Highest rated 3D CAD software for business on Capterra - it's powerful, easy to use, and affordable. 3D design and manufacturing suite. Hobby version available.

Ansys HFSS 3D electromagnetic simulation software for designing and simulating high-frequency electronic products such as antennas, PCBs, IC packages, etc.

Create your products using the latest 3D product design and manufacturing software, including Inventor, AutoCAD, and Fusion 360, together at one great price.

ActCAD IntelliCAD Software, AutoCAD Alternative, ActCAD 2D & 3D CAD Software. ActCAD is a 2D drafting and 3D modeling CAD software meant for engineers, architects and other technical consultants. It is a native DWG & DXF CAD software to create and edit drawings.

Ansys Granta EduPack offers a unique set of teaching resources that supports your materials education curricula for engineering and design.

IronCAD is intuitive 3D CAD software that increases efficiency and can be used standalone or to complement an existing design environment.

Pro/ENGINEER is now PTC Creo, but it's not just a name change it's so much more! Creo is a suite of solutions offering integrated 3D CAD/CAM/CAE software.

PV*SOL is the industry's leading 3D solar software with the most detailed configuration and shade analysis for PV systems.

Pro/ENGINEER is now PTC Creo, but it's not just a name change it's so much more! Creo is a suite of solutions offering integrated 3D CAD/CAM/CAE software.

FreeCAD, the open source 3D parametric modeler

PV Elite provides engineers, designers, and inspectors with solutions that match their pressure vessel and heat exchanger design needs.

CMS IntelliCAD is the intelligent, powerful and affordable full-featured 2D 3D DWG, DXF, DWF compatible CAD Software.

Analyze orientation based geological data with Dips. Analyze and visualize structural data following the same techniques used in manual stereonets.

SimScale is a full-cloud CAE simulation software that helps you perform CFD, FEA, and thermal simulations for CAD models in the cloud.

TransCAD transportation planning software combines GIS and state-of-the-art methods for solving problems in planning, management, and operations.

SOLIDWORKS® Electrical 3D enables you to easily integrate your electrical schematic designs into your SOLIDWORKS 3D product model.

Explore Ansys Twin Builder, a powerful digital twin platform for modeling, simulating and analyzing virtual system prototypes and predictive maintenance.

ARCHLine.XP is an architectural design software for BIM (Building Information Modeling), including features for interior design and decoration projects.

Access the world's most technologically advanced 3D design solution for the process plant, marine, and power industries.

Open, Measure and Convert CATIA, Siemens NX, Creo, SolidWorks, SolidEdge, Inventor, Rhino, JT, STEP, IGS, VDA, X_T, SAT [Free Trial Now]

Intuitive, customizable and backed by unmatched technical support, CHEMCAD is the leading chemical engineering simulation software that adapts to your specific needs. Start solving simple and complex chemical processes with incredible efficiency today.

How much time do you waste to cover the various design aspects in your architectural project? Discover Edificius: Architecture Design Software. Use it for free!

Design & Engineering Simulation solutions from Dassault Systèmes help companies accelerate product development and advance new innovations through virtual prototyping

Autodesk is a global leader in design and make technology, with expertise across architecture, engineering, construction, design, manufacturing, and entertainment.

Micro Drainage is a tool for civil engineers working on surface water and external drainage calculations. It is the industry standard software for the detailed design of fully integrated storm-water and foul-water drainage systems. Learn more.

Autodesk is a global leader in design and make technology, with expertise across architecture, engineering, construction, design, manufacturing, and entertainment.

Autodesk is a global leader in design and make technology, with expertise across architecture, engineering, construction, design, manufacturing, and entertainment.

Autodesk is a global leader in design and make technology, with expertise across architecture, engineering, construction, design, manufacturing, and entertainment.

Optimize system performance early in the design stages to boost engineering productivity with Amesim system simulation software.

Revit software helps MEP engineers, detailers, and fabricators model, analyze, and iterate systems design in BIM to support better performance and sustainability.

3D Cityplanner: gebiedsontwikkelingsprojecten visualiseren, analyseren en simuleren. (Automatisch) gebouwen en gebieden ontwerpen is nog nooit zo eenvoudig geweest.

The Art of Surface Modeling

The 3D Rendering Software and animation that takes your visual to the next level. Discover why KeyShot is the #1 3D rendering software for your animation, architecture, game design, and visual effects.

Insight building performance analysis software empowers architects and engineers to design more energy-efficient buildings with advanced simulation engines.

Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS Corp. develops and markets 3D CAD design software, analysis software, and product data management software. SOLIDWORKS is the leading supplier of 3D CAD product design engineering software.

CADWorx® Plant Professional is a powerful and versatile solution that redefines plant design and automation.

Tecplot 360 integrated postprocessing environment allows you to analyze detailed flow-field data while producing exceptional visual output

IRONCAD DRAFT is 2D mechanical drafting software with unique 3D integration, enabling users who work in 2D CAD software to view, render & reference 3D models.

ALLPLAN a Nemetschek Company - offers 3D CAD software for structural, civil and precast concrete engineering

Enable discipline experts to work together and make the best possible decisions from exploration to production

IMSI Design is a leader in affordable, general-purpose 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) and home design desktop software, and a pioneer in mobile solutions for the AEC (Architectural, Engineering, and Construction) industry.

Autodesk Maya is 3D visual effects software for character creation, rigging, animation, and simulation. Buy a subscription from the official Autodesk store or a reseller.

Learn More about how Spatial's 3D InterOp allows 3D data translation of 3D formats including ACIS, Parasolid, and CATIA. 3D InterOp is a powerful 3D CAD data translation solution.

Aquaveo: Water resources software and engineering consulting services for modeling groundwater, surface-water, and watershed hydraulics & hydrology.

Transform your product development with CATIA: From concept to manufacturing, all in one powerful platform.

Vuframe® offers fast, photorealistic 3D models and interactive solutions for the mechanical engineering industry, enhancing product presentations, training, and sales with cutting-edge digital experiences.

3Dflow is committed to providing cutting-edge computer vision software components for 3D modeling from photos, 3D video processing and image synthesis.