Top 7 building LCA software for 2025

Comparison of top 7 building LCA software

1. One Click LCA 

One Click LCA provides the largest global LCA database with over 250,000 verified datasets, AI-powered automation for carbon assessments, and compliance with 80+ certifications, including LEED, BREEAM, and EN 15978. It integrates with 20+ BIM tools and supports early-stage carbon optimization through Carbon Designer 3D. One Click LCA is designed for versatility, serving a wide range of users from individual architects to large multinational firms.

Why choose One Click LCA?

• AI-powered automation – Streamline workflows, reduce errors, and improve data accuracy with AI-driven material mapping and seamless tool integration.
• World's largest construction LCA database with 250,000+ verified LCA datasets – Access up-to-date, high-quality data for accurate sustainability insights.
• Compliance with 80+ global and regional standards and certifications – Ensure regulatory alignment with EN 15978, Level(s), LEED, BREEAM, DGNB, and more.
• 20+ BIM and other integrations for streamlined LCA – Connect with Revit, Tekla, Archicad, Rhino, Grasshopper, SAP S/4HANA, Procore, Autodesk Takeoff, and more for efficient data exchange.
• Early-stage carbon optimization – Use Carbon Designer 3D for quick material assessments and low-carbon decision-making from project inception.
• Conduct product LCAs and create ISO and EN-compliant EPDs for manufactured products.
• Scale EPD creation with automated tools like One Click LCA’s API integration and internal verification features.
• Expert training and support – Learn through webinars, tutorials, and the One Click LCA Academy to maximize efficiency.

 2. PRé Sustainability (SimaPro) 

SimaPro is widely used for in-depth LCA modeling, allowing detailed scenario analysis and regulatory-compliant assessments based on ISO 14067 and 14040. It supports expert users with flexible data integration via an open API. While powerful for advanced users, SimaPro's complexity can present a learning curve for those new to LCA.

Why choose SimaPro?

• Comprehensive standards compliance – Supports ISO 14040, ISO 14044, ISO 14067, EN 15804, and other key global LCA standards, ensuring regulatory alignment.
• Flexible and customizable modeling – Perform multi-scenario comparisons to optimize material selection, supply chain choices, and sustainability strategies.
• Access to high-quality LCA databases – Integrates with Ecoinvent, Agri-footprint, and industry-specific datasets for reliable impact assessments. While comprehensive, these databases may not offer the breadth of coverage found in One Click LCA's purpose-built construction database.
• Integration with corporate sustainability tools – Connects with ERP systems, CAD software, and supply chain management platforms for streamlined data exchange and reporting.
• Cloud-based collaboration – Enables real-time data sharing and team collaboration through SimaPro Share & Collect.
• Custom API and data export – Provides flexible integration options and supports Excel, JSON, and other formats for seamless data processing.

3. Building Transparency (EC3) 

Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) is a free, open-access tool that helps construction professionals assess and reduce embodied carbon in building materials. By leveraging a large database of third-party verified EPDs, EC3 enables procurement teams, designers, and contractors to make informed, lower-carbon material choices. EC3's focus on embodied carbon makes it a valuable resource, particularly in the material selection phase. However, it does not offer the comprehensive whole-building LCA capabilities of One Click LCA.

Why choose EC3?

• Free and publicly available – Open-access platform designed to encourage industry-wide carbon reduction efforts.
• Extensive material carbon data – Access and compare 100,000+ verified EPDs to benchmark material choices and assess embodied carbon impacts.
• BIM and procurement compatibility – Supports integration with BIM models and cost estimation tools to streamline material selection.
• Supports AEC workflows – Connects with tools like Bentley iTwin, Procore, and Autodesk Construction Cloud for data-driven decision-making.
• Focused on supply chain emissions – Provides detailed insights into upfront embodied carbon, helping reduce emissions at the material sourcing stage.
• Built for industry collaboration – Developed by Building Transparency, with support from leading AEC organizations, to promote transparency and data accessibility.

4. Cerclos (eTool) 

eTool from Cerclos’s is a compliance-driven LCA software designed for whole-building assessments, regulatory reporting, and life-cycle costing (LCC). It supports major sustainability frameworks, including BREEAM, LEED, Green Star, and ISO standards, making it ideal for projects requiring detailed carbon analysis and cost optimization. eTool's strength lies in compliance-focused projects.  One Click LCA offers a wider range of compliance capabilities while also providing a range of features for diverse project needs. 

Why choose eTool?

• Pre-configured LCA templates – Simplifies assessments with built-in models, improving accuracy, efficiency, and regulatory reporting.
• Integrated life cycle costing (LCC) – Supports BREEAM ‘LCC MAN02’ credits by combining environmental impact analysis with financial cost assessments.
• Supply chain and material impact analysis – Identifies high-carbon materials and processes, helping teams implement effective decarbonization strategies.
• Centralized data management for collaboration – Keeps all LCA and cost data in a single platform, reducing duplication and enabling seamless project coordination.

5. Makersite 

Makersite combines AI, digital twins, and automated LCA modeling to assess environmental, cost, and compliance risks across the supply chain. It enables real-time, cradle-to-gate impact assessment, automated EPD generation, and seamless integration with ERP, PLM, and BIM systems via an open API. Makersite excels in supply chain analysis. One Click LCA offers similarly robust integrations while also providing a more comprehensive suite of tools for the entire building lifecycle.

Why choose Makersite?

• AI-driven LCA – Uses machine learning to automate LCA modeling, delivering real-time environmental impact insights across the supply chain.
• Digital twin integration – Creates scalable, real-time supply chain models for cradle-to-gate impact assessment and regulatory compliance.
• Automated, scalable EPD generation – Leverages 150+ global databases to generate EPDs with minimal manual effort, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
• Multi-criteria impact assessment – Evaluates carbon footprint, toxicity, cost, and compliance risks in a single platform to support data-driven decision-making.
• Seamless third-party integrations – Connects with BIM, PLM, and ERP systems via an open API, ensuring efficient data exchange across design and procurement workflows.
• Regulatory and corporate sustainability compliance – Supports CSRD, ISO 14040/44, and ESG reporting, helping organizations meet global sustainability and supply chain due diligence requirements.
• Cloud-based automation and accessibility – Enables real-time LCA assessments from anywhere, with automated data processing to accelerate decision-making.

6. Preoptima 

Preoptima enables whole-life carbon assessments and early-stage design optimization, enabling architects and developers to minimize embodied carbon before construction begins. Its AI-driven platform provides real-time impact analysis, helping teams align with regulatory and planning requirements. Preoptima excels at early-stage design optimization. One Click LCA offers similar capabilities for early-stage analysis while also providing comprehensive tools for all phases of the building lifecycle.

Why choose Preoptima?

• AI-driven carbon assessments – Automates whole-life carbon analysis with built-in datasets, templates, and real-time impact calculations.
• Regulatory-aligned reporting – Supports RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) 2nd edition and other frameworks for early-stage compliance.
• Advanced planning and compliance tools – The PACER tool (launching in 2025) will help UK planning authorities streamline WLCAs, integrating with CONCEPT for enhanced modeling.
• Seamless design integration – Upcoming Revit and SketchUp plugins will allow direct imports of geometry and material data, improving efficiency and accuracy.
• Scenario modeling for low-carbon design – Provides instant feedback on carbon impact, helping teams compare different materials, layouts, and structural options.
• Supports net-zero strategies – Enables data-driven decision-making for carbon reduction, aligning with corporate ESG goals and decarbonization strategies.

7. Sphera (GaBi) 

GaBi offers end-to-end automation, an extensive LCA database, and integration with ERP and PLM systems for streamlined sustainability reporting and risk management. GaBi is a robust solution for large organizations with complex needs. One Click LCA offers similar integration capabilities while also providing a user-friendly interface and a broader range of features specifically tailored for the building industry.

Why choose GaBi?

• Extensive LCA database – Includes 20,000+ process datasets and 1,000+ pre-built models, ensuring accurate supply chain impact assessment. While extensive, GaBi's database may not offer the same level of construction-specific data as One Click LCA's purpose-built database.
• Automation and integration – Seamlessly connects with ERP, PLM, and procurement systems, automating data imports from supplier records and bills of materials.
• Multi-industry application – Used across construction, manufacturing, energy, and consumer goods sectors for in-depth environmental impact analysis.
• Supply chain risk management – Helps organizations identify, analyze, and mitigate environmental and regulatory risks in global supply chains.
• User-friendly tools for all expertise levels – Offers an LCA Calculator for non-experts and a Training Center to support learning and adoption.
• Regulatory and corporate sustainability compliance – Supports ISO 14040/44, EN 15804, CSRD, and ESG reporting, helping companies meet global sustainability regulations.

Choosing the right LCA software depends on your needs — whether it’s early-stage carbon assessments, automated EPD generation, or supply chain analysis. Some tools focus on specific tasks, while others offer broader capabilities for compliance, data integration, and carbon impact assessment.

One Click LCA provides the most comprehensive solution. It offers AI-powered automation, the world’s largest LCA database with 250,000+ data points, and seamless integration with 20+ BIM and ERP systems. It supports early-stage carbon assessments, ensures compliance with 80+ global standards, streamlines carbon calculations for buildings and products, and simplifies EPD creation at scale.