A Free Solibri Alternative
for IFC Validation
IFC Viewer Online is a free, browser-based IFC validator with 44 quality rules, full IDS 1.0 validation, a Health Score from 0 to 100, and full privacy — your files never leave your browser. No install. No account. Works on Mac, Windows and Linux. Try it live on a sample model below.
Live tool · in your browser
Validate an IFC file — right here, no install
Coming from Solibri? Run the real validator on a sample model below, then drop your own file. It parses, scores and checks the IFC entirely in your browser via WebAssembly — exactly like Solibri did on your desktop, except nothing is uploaded and there is nothing to install.
Comparison
IFC Viewer Online vs Solibri
An honest comparison for BIM Coordinators who use Solibri for pre-delivery IFC checks — where the browser tool is enough, and where Solibri still wins.
| Feature | Solibri Desktop · paid (free non-commercial tier) |
IFC Viewer Online Free · Open source |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Paid licence (contact sales) · free non-commercial tier | Free forever — all use cases |
| Installation required | Desktop install (Windows / Mac) | No install — browser only |
| Runs anywhere (any OS) | Desktop app only | Any browser — Mac · Windows · Linux |
| File upload to server | Processes locally | Zero upload — WebAssembly in browser |
| File size limit | ~500 MB | Up to ~2 GB |
| Validation rules | Rule-based (requires setup) | 44 rules — zero configuration needed |
| Health Score | Not available | 0–100 score · instant |
| GUID auto-fix | View only | One-click fix + export corrected IFC |
| 3D viewer | Yes | Yes — WebGL, SSAO, section planes |
| BCF export | BCF 2.1 | BCF 2.1 export from issues |
| Shareable report | Not available | Share Health Score via URL — zero server |
| Full geometry clash detection | Yes (polygon-level) | Bounding-box only |
| IDS validation | Yes (paid tier) | Full IDS 1.0 — free, in browser |
| Multi-user collaboration | Yes (paid tier) | On roadmap |
Health Score
One number. Zero configuration.
Solibri's rule-based approach is powerful but requires setup per project. IFC Viewer Online runs 44 checks automatically and gives every model a Health Score from 0 to 100 — in under 30 seconds, with zero configuration.
No ruleset to configure
44 rules run automatically. No XML, no .smc files, no per-project setup. Open a file and get a score.
Results in under 30 seconds
A background Web Worker processes rules concurrently. Issues stream in as each check completes — the UI stays responsive throughout.
Share the report
Click Share Report to copy a URL that encodes the full Health Score and issue list. Open it in any browser — no account required.
Fix, not just read
GUID duplicates auto-fix with one click. Edit names and property values inline. Export the corrected IFC — all in the browser.
44 validation rules
What gets checked
Rules span schema quality, spatial hierarchy, ISO 19650 compliance, LOD completeness, and coordination checks.
GUID checks
Duplicate GlobalIds, invalid base64 format. Most common export error from Revit, ArchiCAD, Tekla. Auto-fixable with one click.
Spatial hierarchy
IfcSite → IfcBuilding → IfcBuildingStorey chain. Orphan elements with no spatial containment. Missing project context.
Naming & ISO 19650
Empty Name / LongName attributes. Generic placeholders. Naming convention patterns configurable per project.
Property sets
Missing required Psets for walls, slabs, columns, beams. Empty or null property values that break downstream QTO.
LOD completeness
Verifies expected property sets are present at LOD 200 / 300 / 400 for common structural element classes.
Schema & geometry
IFC schema version compatibility, unit assignments, type assignments, material associations, degenerate geometry.
FAQ
Questions
Is IFC Viewer Online a good Solibri alternative?
For individual BIM Coordinators who need to check IFC models before delivery — yes. It runs 44 validation rules in your browser with zero setup, gives a Health Score from 0 to 100, and lets you fix GUID errors and export a corrected IFC without a server. It also supports full IDS 1.0 validation — load a buildingSMART .ids file and check your model against it locally. It does not aim to replace Solibri's enterprise rule authoring, COBie checking or full BCF lifecycle, but for the core pre-delivery check workflow it is a practical, free, and private option — and the two work well side by side.
Can it replace the Solibri IFC viewer for inspecting models?
Yes — for viewing and inspecting an IFC, it is a full replacement: WebGL 3D navigation, section planes, isolate/hide, a spatial tree, and click-to-inspect property sets, all in the browser. Drop a file and it loads in seconds with nothing uploaded. Solibri remains stronger for geometric (polygon-level) clash detection and very large federated models where desktop RAM is the limit.
Does IFC Viewer Online work on Mac?
Yes. Because it runs in the browser, IFC Viewer Online works on Mac, Windows, and Linux — Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari are all supported. No plugin, no installation required, no operating-system restriction.
Can I use it with confidential models under NDA?
Yes. All processing happens in your browser via WebAssembly — no data is ever transmitted to any server. You can safely use it with confidential project models under NDA. There is no service agreement to review with your client.
Is there a file size limit?
There is no hard limit — the validator handles files up to ~2 GB. Performance depends on your device. Files under 200 MB load well on most modern hardware. Parsed geometry is cached in the browser's Origin Private File System (OPFS) so subsequent loads of the same file are instant.
Does it have BCF export like Solibri?
Yes. After running validation, you can export all issues as a BCF 2.1 file for coordination with Navisworks, BIMcollab, and other BCF-compatible tools. Individual issues can also be added to a BCF topic directly from the issue panel.
Try the free Solibri alternative now.
44 rules · Full IDS 1.0 · Health Score 0–100 · No install · No upload · Mac, Windows & Linux
Open IFC Viewer Online →