Bentley Licensing offers flexible, but often confused, options for the AEC and infrastructure market. With multiple licensing models designed to support everything from short-term project work to long-term enterprise environments, choosing the right option can have a major impact on cost control, software accessibility, and operational efficiency.
Building on Bentleys licensing overview and documentation, we’re breaking down each licensing model, explaining when it makes sense, and highlighting key decision factors to help you confidently choose the best fit for your organization.
Why Bentley Licensing Feels Complex
Unlike many software vendors that offer a single subscription-only model, Bentley supports multiple licensing structures to accommodate different usage patterns, business sizes, and project timelines. This flexibility is especially valuable for infrastructure-focused organizations that experience fluctuating workloads, multi-year projects, and evolving software needs.
Bentley’s licensing approach is designed to:
- Match cost to actual usage
- Support assigned user and shared access workflows
- Scale from a single engineer environment to global enterprise teams
- Include options for support and upgrade access depending on the selected model
Three Core Bentley Licensing Models
Annual License (12-month Subscription)
The annual license is Bentley’s most used option, particularly among small and mid-sized engineering firms.
Key characteristics:
- 12-month term, renewed annually
- Assigned to a specific user (not a floating license)
- Lower upfront cost than perpetual licenses
- Includes technical support and access to the latest software versions
- Training & mentoring benefits when purchased through a Bentley Channel Partner like CAD Journey
Best for:
- Firms with consistent, year-round software usage
- Teams transitioning away from perpetual licenses
- Organizations that need predictable annual costs and access to training
Annual licenses tend to be 30-50% more cost effective than Cloud Service Subscriptions when software is used regularly throughout the year.
Perpetual Licenses + SELECT
Perpetual licenses are Bentley’s most traditional licensing model and remains the best choice for organizations with long-term, stable use patterns.
Key characteristics:
- One-time license purchase
- Annual SELECT maintenance fee for support and updates
- Shared network license (no individual assignment required)
- 24/7 technical support and access to learning resources
- Ability to exchange licenses annually through SELECT benefits
Best for:
- Firms committed to Bentley for the long-term (6+ years)
- Teams requiring shared access across multiple users or machines
- Organizations seeking the lowest total cost of ownership over time
While the upfront investment is higher, perpetual licenses are often the most affordable over the long term when software usage is stable and predictable.
Cloud Services Subscription – Pay-as-you-go
Cloud Services Subscriptions (CSS) operates as a consumption-based model, like a pre-paid account.
Key characteristics:
- Prepay an estimated annual usage amount
- Monthly usage is tracked and deducted from the prepaid balance
- Charges are reconciled quarterly
- No license assignment required
- Ideal for short-term or infrequent software access
Best for:
- Occasional or emergency access to Bentley applications
- Firms with unpredictable project demands
- Short-term projects requiring specialized tools
While CSS offers maximum flexibility, it is to be cautioned that monthly usage is billed at a premium rate, making it significantly more expensive for consistent users compared to the Annual or Perpetual license types.
Bentley Licensing Models at a Glance
| Licensing Model | Cost Structure | User Assignment | Ideal Use-Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual License | Annual Recurring Subscription | Named User | Consistent yearly usage |
| Perpetual License | One-time + Annual SELECT fee | Shared License | Long-term, stable usage |
| CSS | Pay-as-you-use | No Assignment | Short-term, infrequent usage |
Factors to Consider Before Choosing your Bentley License
To avoid overpaying or under-licensing, we recommend asking yourself these questions:
- How often are you using the software?
- How many users will need to be in the software at the same time?
- How long is the project, and how many projects is the software needed for?
- Do we have training & support needs?
- What is our long-term software strategy & procurement policy?
Working through these questions can sometimes be complicated, and that is were CAD Journey can add significant value to your organization.
How CAD Journey Optimizes Bentley Licensing
CAD Journey specializes in helping organizations analyze real-world usage, forecast future needs, and align licensing strategies accordingly. We can assist with:
- Flexible billing & payment options
- License usage reviews and optimization
- Renewal planning and cost forecasting
- Training & upskilling
- Ongoing Bentley support
Bentley licensing options are intentionally flexible, and selecting the correct one can unlock substantial cost savings and efficiencies within your organization. While Annual Licenses dominate for most SMBs, Perpetual Licenses still deliver unmatched long-term value, and CSS remains an essential option for short-term needs.
The right choice isn’t one-size-fits-all but with the right guidance, it can become more straightforward.
If you’re unsure which Bentley licensing model is best for your organization, a licensing review with a Bentley expert, like the CAD Journey team, can quickly clarify the best path forward.
