cobiereport vs BIMvision COBie Exporter
Both turn an IFC into a COBie spreadsheet. The split is desktop plugin versus browser tab, and how you review the exported data.
Last reviewed
- cobiereport
- browser · €0–29
- BIMvision
- desktop · ~€45
What BIMvision COBie Exporter is
BIMvision is a free Windows desktop IFC viewer. It is extended with paid plugins, and the COBie Exporter is one of them: a one-time purchase (around €45 at the time of writing) that writes a COBie spreadsheet out of an opened model.
It is a capable, well-known viewer with a broad plugin ecosystem, and the export keeps the IFC GUIDs so rows trace back to objects in the model. Check the export against your project requirements before using it for handover.
Side by side
Where it runs
cobiereport · Browser-based, with no desktop app to install.
BIMvision · Windows desktop install, viewer plus the COBie plugin.
Quality feedback
cobiereport · Gap report PDF: completeness score, selected-field missing counts and prioritized gap summaries.
BIMvision · Exports the spreadsheet for review.
Cost
cobiereport · Free for 3 workbook exports a month, €29/mo for unlimited workbook exports.
BIMvision · Free viewer; the COBie plugin is a one-time fee (~€45). Some features are separate paid plugins.
Where the model goes
cobiereport · Raw IFC parsed locally. PDF generation and saved history send derived report metadata to the server.
BIMvision · Local desktop, so it also never leaves your machine.
Also gives you
cobiereport · A draft workbook plus the gap report, in one drop.
BIMvision · Full interactive 3D model viewing and a plugin ecosystem (clash, reports).
When BIMvision is the better call
- You want to inspect the model in 3D, not just process it. BIMvision is a real viewer first.
- You only ever need the spreadsheet and prefer a one-time fee to a subscription.
- You are already living in the BIMvision plugin ecosystem for clashes and reports.
Common questions
- Does BIMvision validate the COBie it exports?
- The COBie Exporter writes a spreadsheet from the model. Check its current validation features against your requirements. cobiereport adds a PDF summary of selected field completeness; it does not certify full COBie compliance.
- Can I use cobiereport without installing anything?
- Yes. IFC parsing and workbook generation run in your browser. The raw IFC stays local; PDF generation and saved history send derived report metadata to the server.
Other comparisons
Stop comparing. Drop the IFC.
Three free reports a month, no card required. See the workbook and the gaps for your own model in seconds.
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