Bonsai
Bonsai (formerly BlenderBIM) is a Blender add-on for authoring, drawing and managing native IFC building models.
Bonsai, formerly BlenderBIM, edits real IFC files: modelling, drawings, schedules, costing and clash checks.
Bonsai is an add-on that turns Blender into an IFC authoring tool, so every object you draw is stored as a real IFC element. It suits architects, engineers and BIM coordinators who want an OpenBIM workflow without a proprietary file format. Expect a learning curve, because it is Blender underneath.
What it is
You model walls, slabs, doors, windows and services in Blender, and the file you save is IFC, not an export. From the same model it generates annotated 2D drawings, schedules and reports, and supports costing, 4D scheduling, structural analysis and facility-management handover. Everything is scriptable through the IfcOpenShell Python API.
Who it's for
It suits OpenBIM-minded architects, engineers, researchers and coordinators who can invest time in learning a new interface and want to script their own tooling. It does not suit a team that needs a polished, vendor-supported package with guaranteed stability, because the site labels Studio alpha software.
Key features
Native IFC authoring
Objects, properties and relationships you create are written directly to IFC rather than converted on export.
Drawings from the model
Generate and annotate 2D drawings that stay linked to the 3D model, plus schedules and reports.
4D and 5D workflows
Link construction schedule tasks and cost items to elements for sequencing and estimation.
Structural and MEP
Define analytical models for structural solvers and author connected distribution systems.
Facility management data
Structure handover data with COBie and FM-ready specifications.
Python automation
The IfcOpenShell Python API lets you script and automate model edits.
Up and running in 3 steps
Our honest verdict
What's great
- The IFC file is the working model, so there is no round-trip translation between your authoring format and the exchange format.
- Architecture, structure and MEP share one model, with cost plans and construction schedules attached to the same elements.
- The wider IfcOpenShell family adds IFC clash detection, model diffing, IDS checking, BCF issue handling and a command-line converter.
- You can install it from Blender's own Get Extensions tab on Windows, macOS or Linux.
Where it falls short
- Bonsai Studio's own page calls it alpha software, and the current releases on GitHub are marked pre-release, so expect rough edges and changing behaviour.
- You must learn Blender's interface first; the add-on sits on top of it and is not a conventional drafting tool.
- There is no hosted plan or vendor support contract shown on the project's site, only community help and donations.
- Bonsai Web is marked coming soon, so sharing models in a browser is not available yet, and the Viewer is a separate app.
Pricing & license
Bonsai is free under its GPL licence, and the Bonsai site shows a donation goal rather than a paid plan (see https://bonsaibim.org/studio.html). The only cost is your own computer and training time.
Open remote AI-training roles
768 open remote AI-training roles, updated November 14, 2026; most pay $20–$175 an hour. Zekai lists them free; the application goes to the employer’s platform.
Alternatives
Use it, or have us set it up
FAQ
Is Bonsai the same as BlenderBIM?
Yes in practice: Bonsai is the current name of the IfcOpenShell add-on that was previously called BlenderBIM. The project lives inside the IfcOpenShell repository.
Do I need to pay for Blender or Bonsai?
The project's pages show no paid plan; Blender is free software and Bonsai is free, funded by donations. Your cost is the time to learn it.
Can I use it for production projects?
The Bonsai Studio page labels it alpha software, so decide based on your risk tolerance and keep your IFC files under version control or backed up.
