List of the Top 16 Free Structural Engineering Software in 2025

SkyCiv Structural 3D is a cloud-based program that facilitates the design, analysis, and modeling of intricate 3D structures without any installation requirements, as it operates entirely online. Renowned as one of the top online structural analysis tools, it boasts a variety of powerful analytical features, including Linear and P-Delta analysis for cables, buckling plate analysis, and frequency response analysis. Additionally, SkyCiv Structural 3D comes equipped with integrated design checks for various materials and standards, such as steel, wood connections, and foundations, while adhering to regulations from AISC, NSD, AISI, EN, AS, CSA, BS, and many others. The versatility and comprehensive nature of this software make it an excellent choice for engineers and designers looking to enhance their structural projects efficiently.

Geomage is an international firm that specializes in the creation and supply of cutting-edge technologies tailored for seismic data processing and interpretation. Additionally, it provides a variety of software solutions and services to numerous companies within the oil and natural gas sectors. The company’s seismic-processing offerings are grounded in the groundbreaking MultiFocusing™ technology, which has been deployed across countless exploration locations worldwide, ensuring precise imaging and enhanced detail regarding subsurface structures and stratigraphy. Among its array of tools, the g-Viewer stands out as a powerful instrument for visualizing and selecting seismic datasets within a three-dimensional environment. The commercial version of this viewer supports the plotting of both 2D sections and volumetric data, thereby enriching the experience for its users. By integrating advanced features, the g-Viewer enhances the analytical capabilities of geoscientists and engineers alike.

Skanect makes it easy to create vibrant, color-rich 3D models of various subjects, including objects, people, and entire rooms, all while being budget-friendly and user-friendly. By converting your Structure Sensor or Structure Core depth sensor into an affordable 3D scanner, Skanect enables the quick generation of 3D meshes from real-world settings in just a few minutes. Dive into the fascinating world of 3D scanning today! In contrast to conventional techniques, Skanect captures high-density 3D data at an impressive speed of up to 30 frames per second. You can seamlessly move around with your Structure Sensor or Structure Core to collect a diverse range of perspectives, resulting in a real-time 3D mesh. The platform includes various predefined setups designed to accommodate multiple scanning scenarios, ensuring versatility for different applications. Sharing your 3D models online is incredibly simple, allowing anyone to jump into 3D scanning without needing professional expertise! Furthermore, by leveraging consumer-grade 3D cameras such as the Structure Sensor and Structure Core, Skanect greatly lowers hardware costs compared to previous 3D scanning methods. This technological advancement opens doors for a broader audience to delve into and interact with the world of 3D modeling, fostering creativity and innovation. Whether for personal projects or professional use, Skanect provides the tools necessary to bring your 3D visions to life.

The RFEM program for finite element analysis (FEA) facilitates rapid and straightforward modeling, along with structural and dynamic calculations, enabling the design and construction of various models featuring members, plates, walls, folded plates, shells, and additional solid elements. This modular software allows users to integrate the main RFEM program with relevant add-ons tailored to their specific needs. Designed as a comprehensive structural analysis tool, RFEM provides structural engineers with a 3D FEA solution that adheres to all contemporary civil engineering standards. Thanks to its efficient data input and user-friendly interface, users can easily model both simple and intricate structures. At the core of this modular software is the RFEM program, which serves as the foundation for generating structures, materials, loads, and plans for both spatial and planar structural systems that encompass plates, walls, shells, and members. Additionally, RFEM enables the creation of hybrid structures and allows for the modeling of contact elements, making it versatile for a wide range of applications in engineering design. This capability ensures that engineers can effectively simulate real-world conditions and interactions in their structural models.

Are you finding yourself spending excessive amounts of time on cross-section calculations each day? With Dlubal Software's RSECTION standalone application, you can efficiently determine the properties of various cross-sections and conduct stress analyses. This specialized program enables you to assess both thin-walled and solid cross-sections in significantly less time. By calculating section properties and performing stress evaluations, RSECTION streamlines your workflow. Furthermore, the smooth integration of RFEM, a finite element analysis software, and RSTAB, designed for structural frame and truss analysis, fosters effective collaboration. Both RFEM and RSTAB come equipped with libraries that include RSECTION cross-sections, allowing for easy importation of internal forces, thus enhancing your overall productivity. Overall, leveraging these tools can greatly reduce the time spent on calculations and improve project outcomes.

RSTAB is an advanced software tool that enables structural engineers to fulfill the demands of contemporary civil engineering projects. It offers capabilities for the calculation of 3D beams, frames, or trusses. By utilizing RSTAB, engineers can efficiently design structures composed of various materials, including steel, concrete, wood, and aluminum. The software simplifies the process of modeling structural frameworks, allowing for swift calculations of internal forces, deformations, and support reactions. Additionally, RSTAB includes design add-ons that help incorporate specific material and regulatory requirements, enhancing its versatility and effectiveness in engineering applications. This makes RSTAB an indispensable resource for professionals in the field of structural engineering.

MechaniCalc, developed by MechaniCalc, Inc., presents a suite of online calculators that focus on machine design and structural analysis. These tools provide detailed and precise analyses that align with industry standards while being intuitive and easy to use. By leveraging these calculators, users can significantly accelerate their design and analysis workflows, boosting both efficiency and assurance in their projects. The platform boasts a wide range of calculators designed to simplify mechanical engineering tasks. Each tool comes with thorough documentation that includes usage guidelines and validation examples, showcasing how the outputs of the calculators align with recognized textbook solutions for specific issues. Furthermore, the site contains extensive reference materials that delve into various mechanical engineering subjects and elucidate the methods applied in the calculators. Users benefit from unlimited access to all calculators and resources available on the website, along with the option to create custom materials and cross-sections for integration into the calculators. This feature enables engineers to adapt their design workflows to effectively meet the unique demands of their projects. With MechaniCalc, professionals are equipped not only with powerful tools but also with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions in their engineering endeavors.

progeBILLD is a sophisticated software solution tailored for MEP Building Services design, incorporating specialized modules for Electrical, Mechanical/Structural, and HVAC/Piping while also allowing the export of Bill of Materials data and including manufacturer libraries customized for various industries. This software prioritizes user experience, featuring an intuitive interface that enables users to jump straight into the design process without requiring extensive training. Among its many features, the Mechanical/Structural module of progeBILLD serves as a powerful tool for mechanical and structural project development, providing a plethora of libraries filled with standardized components such as steel profiles that comply with DIN, EN, ISO, and other relevant standards. Furthermore, the program enhances the design workflow through readily available objects and commands that assist in creating detailed schematics and multi-view drawings. Users can access a vast collection of industry-standard fasteners, which includes thousands of bolts, screws, nuts, and pins, making it an essential resource for any engineering endeavor. With its rich array of features and user-friendly design, progeBILLD is perfectly suited for professionals aiming to elevate their design proficiency and efficiency. In this way, it stands as a comprehensive solution for those seeking to innovate in the field of building services engineering.

MasterSeries PowerPad is a versatile software package for structural engineering analysis and design, making it an outstanding option for engineers who desire a wide range of design capabilities without a hefty price tag. By providing scaled-back versions of its main analysis and design tools, MasterSeries PowerPad makes a selection of established programs available for significantly less than one-third of their typical cost. At the core of PowerPad lies the powerful MasterFrame analysis module, which integrates smoothly with design modules for various materials, including steel, concrete, composite, and timber, facilitating a cohesive three-dimensional analysis and design environment. Furthermore, there is a free PowerPad (Student Edition) that allows students to access the commercial PowerPad Plus suite, enhancing their learning experience. Instead of simply offering basic templates, PowerPad includes simplified versions of real software applications, enabling users to perform straightforward designs for beams made of steel, concrete, and timber while also analyzing beams, trusses, plane frames, grillages, and space frames. This extensive array of features empowers engineers to complete a diverse range of design tasks efficiently and effectively. Moreover, the affordability and accessibility of PowerPad make it an ideal tool for both students and professionals aiming to enhance their structural design capabilities.

Home Designer Software emerges as the top choice for 3D interior design and home renovation, leveraging the sophisticated technology derived from Chief Architect's professional-grade architectural tools, thus catering perfectly to DIY enthusiasts. Discover the various features that position Home Designer as the ideal solution for realizing and visualizing your next home enhancement endeavor. Chief Architect serves as the preferred software for a variety of professionals, including architects, builders, remodelers, and interior designers. With its intelligent design capabilities, users can easily create construction documents, detailed floor plans, elevations, and eye-catching 3D visualizations, including all-encompassing 360-degree views. Tailored specifically for residential applications, this software provides tools that automatically generate crucial components such as roofs, foundations, and framing measurements. As you configure walls, windows, and doors, the application simultaneously builds a 3D model, which can be easily shared with homeowners, structural engineers, or subcontractors through the 3D Viewer app. This functionality not only enhances teamwork but also simplifies the design workflow, guaranteeing that every aspect is conveyed with precision, ultimately leading to a more successful project outcome. In addition to these features, users will appreciate the intuitive interface that makes the design process both enjoyable and efficient.

AxisVM is a key player in the design industry, focusing on structures such as buildings, industrial facilities, and geotechnical projects. Its powerful finite element solver, paired with user-friendly modeling tools, makes it suitable for bridge design and the development of composite structures, machinery, and vehicles. In addition to standard features, users can opt for specialized design modules that cater to reinforced concrete, steel, timber, and masonry components and connections. The software also offers unique elements and analytical capabilities that support the creation of bespoke and innovative structures. Users can create comprehensive reports that include tables, drawings, and thorough design calculations, all of which can be personalized with specific headings and text. Moreover, these reports are updated automatically to align with the most recent model data and outcomes, which significantly improves accuracy and efficiency. This ensures that all project documentation stays fully aligned with the current progress, allowing for seamless updates and adjustments as needed. Such capabilities empower users to maintain a high level of professionalism and organization throughout their design processes.

Simright Simulator provides the ability for users to import CAD models and conduct structural analysis seamlessly within a web browser, which enhances its user-friendliness significantly. Individuals lacking prior experience in CAE analysis can quickly execute simulations without difficulty. This versatile tool is designed to tackle complex structural issues across multiple sectors through its online interface. Employing CAE technology, it effectively reduces the costs tied to physical experiments, thereby enabling users to make better-informed decisions. Additionally, its easy accessibility allows a broader range of individuals to take advantage of advanced analysis features, which in turn boosts both productivity and innovation across various fields. The convenience of accessing such powerful tools online also fosters a collaborative environment where ideas can be shared and developed more efficiently.

LIRA-SAPR is an all-encompassing software solution that leverages BIM technology for the analysis and design of various mechanical and building engineering structures. It offers capabilities for both dynamic (forces and displacements) and static analyses, as well as the selection and examination of sections for steel and reinforced cement (RC) structures. Additionally, users can generate preliminary drawings for steel frameworks and individual RC components, enhancing the efficiency of the design process. This robust software serves as an invaluable tool for engineers seeking to optimize their structural designs.

SwiftComp is a cutting-edge composite simulation software that merges multiscale and multiphysics functionalities, delivering the accuracy of 3D finite element analysis (FEA) while retaining the straightforwardness of conventional engineering models. This revolutionary tool streamlines the modeling process for engineers, enabling them to handle composites as effortlessly as metals while preserving precision and capturing detailed microstructural features. It provides cohesive modeling for one-dimensional structures (such as beams), two-dimensional forms (like plates or shells), and three-dimensional configurations, effectively calculating the necessary material properties. Users can employ SwiftComp for virtual composite testing independently or complement existing structural analysis tools, thus incorporating high-fidelity composite modeling into their workflows seamlessly. In addition, SwiftComp is proficient in identifying the most suitable structural model for macroscopic analysis and boasts capabilities for dehomogenization, facilitating the calculation of pointwise stresses within the microstructure. It integrates effortlessly with well-established software like ABAQUS and ANSYS, which broadens its applications in engineering projects significantly. Ultimately, SwiftComp not only improves the efficiency of composite material modeling but also enhances the overall effectiveness of various engineering applications, making it an essential tool for engineers in the field.

VABS serves as a popular instrument for conducting cross-sectional analyses, enabling quick and uncomplicated calculations of beam properties and the retrieval of three-dimensional fields in composite beams, commonly utilized in components like helicopter and wind turbine blades. It is unique in its capacity to disentangle a complex 3D slender solid with intricate microstructures into a basic engineering beam model. Developed by AnalySwift, which has its roots in aerospace, tools specifically designed for composite beams, including those used in helicopter rotor blades, propellers, high aspect ratio wings, and various wing section designs, as well as plates, shells, and three-dimensional frameworks, have emerged. VABS has been applied in the wind turbine sector for several years, consistently delivering rapid and accurate modeling results for wind turbine blades. Additionally, SwiftComp broadens its functionality, providing solutions for plates, shells, and 3D composite configurations. As the automotive industry increasingly adopts composite materials in vehicle construction, there is a significant opportunity to apply both SwiftComp and VABS for modeling a wide spectrum of structural forms, including beams, plates, and shells, further enhancing their usability. The adaptability and efficiency of these tools render them essential across various engineering fields, thus fostering innovative designs in multiple industries.

Specifically tailored for component manufacturers, MiTek® Structure distinguishes itself as a robust solution that delivers exceptional capabilities in structural modeling, editing, and estimating. Its cutting-edge formula builder empowers designers to create and store custom formulas, which can be categorized into sets for use across various projects or individual elements. Users can generate estimates by applying these formulas to modeled components, while also facilitating the design and modification of plan options directly from the job file. This includes the capability to incorporate every type of member, from accessories to walls, with a high degree of customization, addressing particular junction requirements suited to unique sites. The platform allows users to model a unit once and replicate it numerous times, while the interconnected system guarantees that any changes made to the base model can be selectively reflected across all instances. This efficient approach not only boosts productivity but also preserves the integrity and uniformity of the design throughout multiple projects. Furthermore, the user-friendly interface ensures that even those new to the software can quickly adapt and benefit from its extensive features.