CAD and technical document viewer comparison
Both Windows applications can open, measure and print DWG drawings—but their strengths are different. Compare CAD model viewing with markup, conversion, batch processing and PDF document tools.
Bentley View is a capable free viewer for CAD drawings and 3D engineering models. It is especially attractive to organizations working with Bentley formats and infrastructure data.
ViewCompanion Premium is designed for users who receive a mixture of 2D CAD drawings, plot files, scanned documents and PDFs—and need to review, annotate, compare, convert, print or batch process them in one desktop application.
Free CAD and model viewer
A strong choice for viewing and navigating infrastructure drawings and models, particularly DGN, IFC and Bentley-oriented project data.
Best fit: DGN, IFC, Bentley hypermodels and detailed 3D model review.
Drawing and document workflow
A practical choice for reviewing and processing 2D CAD drawings, PDFs, plot files and scanned technical documents in everyday engineering workflows.
Best fit: Mixed-format 2D technical documents and repeatable PDF, conversion and printing workflows.
The right choice depends less on which viewer has the longest format list and more on what you need to do after opening a file.
| Capability | ViewCompanion Premium | Bentley View |
|---|---|---|
| Windows desktop application | Yes | Yes |
| DWG and DXF viewing | Yes | Yes |
| DGN viewing | No | Yes; a core strength |
| IFC and advanced 3D model review | No | Yes |
| PDF viewing | Yes | Not the main workflow |
| DWF and DWFX support | Yes | No |
| HPGL/2, PLT and CGM support | Yes | No |
| TIFF and scanned technical documents | Yes | Raster viewing available |
| Distance and area measurement | Yes | Yes |
| 3D volume measurement | No | Yes |
| Persistent annotations and markup | Yes | No |
| Drawing and document comparison | Yes | No |
| Batch conversion | Yes | No |
| Batch printing | Yes | No |
| PDF merge, split and page tools | Yes | No |
| OCR and searchable PDF creation | Yes | No |
| PDF/A conversion | Yes | No |
| License | Commercial perpetual license | Free CAD viewer |
Add comments, stamps, shapes, dimensions and other annotations to supported documents as part of a review workflow.
Compare revisions and visually identify additions, removals and changes in supported drawing and document formats.
Convert or print groups of files without opening and processing every document manually.
Merge, split, rotate, watermark, optimize, OCR and convert PDFs to PDF/A for longer-term archiving.
A mixed-format workflow: ViewCompanion Premium is most useful when a job includes combinations of PDF, DWG, DXF, DWF, DWFX, TIFF, CALS, CGM, HPGL/2 or PLT files rather than primarily DGN or 3D model data.
An honest distinction
If you mainly work with DGN drawings, IFC models, Bentley hypermodels, reality meshes or complex 3D infrastructure data, Bentley View is likely the more appropriate viewer—and it is free.
Use the free evaluation version to verify drawing display, fonts, layouts, measurements, annotations and conversion output with the files you actually receive.
Not for every workflow. Bentley View is particularly strong for DGN, IFC and 3D model viewing. ViewCompanion Premium is designed for 2D drawing and document workflows involving DWG, PDF, DWF, TIFF, CGM, HPGL/2 and other supported formats, with markup, comparison, batch processing and PDF tools.
Yes. Bentley Systems offers Bentley View as a free CAD viewer for Windows.
Yes. Both Bentley View and ViewCompanion Premium can open, measure and print DWG drawings.
No. If DGN viewing is an essential requirement, Bentley View is the appropriate choice between these two products.
ViewCompanion Premium is designed for workflows that combine technical drawing viewing with PDF annotation and processing, file comparison, batch printing and batch conversion.
Yes. It includes annotation, measurement and drawing comparison tools for supported formats.
Trademark notice: Bentley, Bentley View, MicroStation and DGN are trademarks or registered trademarks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated. ViewCompanion Premium and Software Companions are not affiliated with or endorsed by Bentley Systems.
Comparison information is based on publicly available product information and is provided for general guidance. Features and requirements may change. Last reviewed: September 2026.