BlenderBIM (Bonsai)

free / open-source Produce & Issue Documents

Free, open-source native IFC authoring add-on for Blender (formerly named BlenderBIM, renamed Bonsai in 2024). Built on the IfcOpenShell library, it lets users view, author, and enrich IFC BIM models directly inside Blender, covering modeling, drawing generation, and openBIM workflows. Distinct from the catalog's unrelated existing "Bonsai" entry (hellobonsai.com, a freelancer invoicing SaaS).

4.6 /5 composite score
Fully free, native-IFC, and open source with a full Python scripting API and an active community MCP server for AI-agent control, but the Blender + BIM combination carries a steep learning curve.
Worth it

Rubric Scorecard

How we grade →

Criterion Score Evidence
Value for the price 5/5 free / open-source, from $0, free tier Source →
Agent Friendliness 4/5 API: IfcOpenShell Python API (bundled); community-built "Bonsai MCP" server (not an official vendor MCP) exposes agent tools over this API Source →
Ease of adoption 5/5 desktop-install, steep learning curve Source →
Portability & lock-in 5/5 3 file formats, export: bulk Source →
Interoperability 4/5 1 integrations
Visit BlenderBIM (Bonsai) →

How we verified this: we checked BlenderBIM (Bonsai) against its live site and an independent source — github.com. Nothing on this page is listed from memory. See how we grade. Verified 2026-07-03.

Evidence

File formats

FormatDirectionSupport
IFC2X3 both full
IFC4 both full
IFC4X3 both partial -- Newer schema support still evolving per open GitHub issues.

Integrations

Bonsai MCP (community, for AI agents) (api-only)

Adoption

Deploymentdesktop-install
Self-serve signupyes
Implementation requirednone
SSO/admin requiredno
Training requiredtutorials
Learning curvesteep

Data export

Export mechanismbulk
Export scopeall-data

Ecosystem

Plugin marketplaceyes

Sources

PricingFormatsMCPAPI docsSignup

Also covers

BlenderBIM (Bonsai) also appears in these sub-categories:

2D CAD Drafting

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