BIMsurfer
BIMsurfer is an open-source JavaScript library and WebGL viewer for building information models in a browser.
What BIMsurfer is
BIMsurfer is an open-source JavaScript library and WebGL viewer for building information models in a browser. Version 3 requires WebGL 2.0 and includes measurement tools plus support for up to six section planes. The project lists IFC, glTF, and 3D Tiles among supported formats, with partial 3D Tiles support in version 3. Its model loader uses BIMserver, and the repository includes an example connecting to the BIMserver API. Developer, minimal-demo, and API examples are provided, along with API documentation references. A separate version 2 route can view static files generated by IfcOpenShell and is built around open standards such as glTF. The repository describes version 3 as rebuilt from scratch and still in beta; the releases page lists no official releases. BIMsurfer is distributed under the MIT License, permitting use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale under its conditions. It is free at no cost, with web, API, and self-hosted options listed.
Good
- Open-source MIT-licensed code
- WebGL 2.0 rendering
- Measurement tools and six section planes
- BIMserver API connection
- Free at no cost
Watch out
- Version 3 is beta
- No official releases are listed
- 3D Tiles support is partial
- WebGL 2.0 is required
Who it suits
It suits developers and BIM users needing an open-source browser viewer for IFC and related model formats. Users should be comfortable with a beta project and WebGL 2.0 requirement.
Verdict
BIMsurfer offers a free, developer-oriented way to view BIM models on the web, with measurement and sectioning features. Its beta status, absent releases, and BIMserver-oriented loader matter when evaluating adoption.
Plans and prices
From BIMsurfer's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| BIMsurfer (MIT-licensed source code) | Free | No official release; v3 is beta and requires WebGL 2.0 |
The facts
Each one read from BIMsurfer's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- 3D Tiles
- Version 3 has partial support for 3D Tiles.checked 4 Oct 2026
- BIMserver connection
- The v3 model loader uses BIMserver, and its developer example connects to the BIMserver API.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Current version
- The repository describes v3 as a beta rebuilt from scratch and says there is no official release yet.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The index page provides developer, minimal demo, and API examples for the JavaScript library.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Library and API
- The repository describes BIMsurfer 3 as a JavaScript library and includes API examples and documentation references.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is distributed under the MIT License, which permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale subject to its stated conditions.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Measurements
- Version 3 includes measurement features.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Other versions
- The README says v2 can view static files generated by IfcOpenShell and is built around open standards such as glTF.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- BIMsurfer is a WebGL-based IFC model viewer for BIMserver.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Release availability
- The GitHub releases page states that there are no releases.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Rendering
- Version 3 requires WebGL 2.0 and is designed for high performance.checked 4 Oct 2026
Money
- Section planes
- Version 3 supports up to six section planes.checked 4 Oct 2026
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