SCIA Engineer
Belgian multi-material structural analysis and design software with 20 national standards
Quick Overview
| Company | SCIA nv |
|---|---|
| Category | Structural Engineering Software |
| Headquarters | Hasselt, Belgium |
| Founded | 1974 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Belgium (EU) |
| Data Location | not stated on the pages we read |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Multi-material structural analysis and design, 20 national standards, smart reporting with company templates, BIM solutions, model exchange with Tekla Structures, 30-day trial |
| Pricing | Webshop with editions and subscription options, prices not shown on the pages we read |
| Best For | Engineering offices that need a Belgian vendor with local support and many national design codes |
| Replaces | STAAD.Pro |
Detailed Review
SCIA nv is a Belgian company at Corda 2, Kempische Steenweg 309/0.03, 3500 Hasselt, and its terms of use name Belgian law and the court of Hasselt. SCIA states that it has developed structural engineering software since 1974.
SCIA says its software is localised in 13 languages, supports 20 national standards and is distributed in more than 50 countries. The home page names more than 8,000 users and a team of more than 120 people.
What SCIA Engineer covers
SCIA describes SCIA Engineer as multi-material structural analysis and design software for any type of structure. The product page mentions modelling, analysis and optimisation, plus reporting with company templates that update in one click.
A customer quote on the SCIA site describes moving the model to Tekla Structures and back. SCIA also lists BIM solutions for federated and integrated model workflows.
Support, trial and purchase
SCIA states that 92% of its customers are satisfied with its support, and it offers local support through a network of offices and resellers. A 30-day free trial of SCIA Engineer is advertised on the site.
SCIA runs a webshop with several editions and subscription options. The webshop uses Digital River GmbH as reseller, according to the privacy policy.
SCIA Engineer compared with STAAD.Pro
SCIA Engineer gives engineers a Belgian contracting entity under Belgian law, where STAAD.Pro terms follow Pennsylvania law. STAAD.Pro lists public prices from €3,238, while SCIA Engineer prices were not visible on the pages we read.
Limitations to Consider
SCIA does not show prices or hosting locations on the pages we read, so budget comparison with STAAD.Pro needs a quote or a webshop visit. The privacy policy names Revulytics Inc, Google Ads and Twitter among tracking tools, which matters if US processors are a concern. For a German alternative with component calculations see Frilo.
Who Should Use SCIA Engineer
Structural engineers in Europe who want a Belgian vendor, many national design codes and local support.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Belgian company with address and court named in the terms
- 20 national standards stated by SCIA
- 30-day free trial advertised
- Model exchange with Tekla Structures mentioned by a customer
- Editions and subscriptions in a webshop
Cons
- Prices not shown on the pages we read
- Data location not stated
- Webshop runs through Digital River GmbH as reseller
- Privacy policy lists US tracking services
Alternatives to SCIA Engineer
Other European structural engineering software worth comparing before you decide:
See all European structural engineering software or compare them directly against STAAD.Pro on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. SCIA Engineer is made by SCIA nv in Hasselt, Belgium, and covers multi-material structural analysis and design. STAAD.Pro is made by Bentley Systems in the United States.
SCIA states that its software supports 20 national standards and is localised in 13 languages. The pages we read do not list the standards one by one.
SCIA advertises a 30-day free trial of SCIA Engineer on its site. Prices for the paid editions were not visible on the pages we read.