Safexpert Alternative: modern CE software for mechanical engineering
A Safexpert alternative for SMEs in mechanical engineering is CE-Copilot: a cloud-native, AI-assisted CE software from €119 per month (cancel monthly), with no installation and with import of existing Safexpert projects. For users whose focus is on operating instructions, WEKA Manager CE is another established option.
Safexpert by IBF Solutions has for years been one of the best-known CE software solutions in the German-speaking countries. Anyone comparing Safexpert experiences or looking for an alternative today mostly looks at cloud-based, AI-assisted tools that are simple to use. This overview describes what Safexpert is and how CE-Copilot, as a modern web platform, differs from classic desktop CE software.
Why use CE software at all?
CE marking is a complex process with many requirements: directive research, application of standards, systematic risk assessment, technical file and declaration of conformity. Anyone doing this manually in Word and Excel risks inconsistencies and a high time investment.
Specialised CE software structures the process, guides you systematically through the typical work steps and supports you in producing the CE documentation. The technical review and the legal responsibility for conformity remain with the manufacturer. The question is therefore usually not whether, but which software fits your own requirements.
CE software at a glance
Safexpert (IBF Solutions)
Safexpert is an established desktop CE software from the Austrian vendor IBF Solutions and is widely used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It covers the CE process from directive research through to documentation and is operated as an on-premise application with its own standards database. Safexpert costs consist of purchase licences plus an annual maintenance contract; IBF publishes the current prices in its own online shop.
WEKA Manager CE (WEKA MEDIA)
WEKA Manager CE is another established solution, known for an extensive library of templates and text modules, among other things for operating instructions. The software is provided as a desktop application; it is sold as an annual subscription whose scope and cost depend on the modules chosen. You will find a separate comparison under WEKA Manager CE Alternative.
CE-Copilot
CE-Copilot is the cloud-native, AI-assisted alternative: in the core workflow, a generative AI (Claude by Anthropic) proposes directives, harmonised standards (from a database of 3,600+ standards), hazards and protective measures as a reviewable draft that a competent person checks and approves. The platform runs in the browser without installation, can be cancelled monthly and publishes its prices: €119 / €229 / €399 per month (final prices), the Business plan (€399) for teams with five user profiles, roles and audit trail, Enterprise for larger organisations (more profiles, exclusive special features) on request, 14 days free trial (Starter feature set). The legal responsibility for CE marking remains with the manufacturer.
“The risk assessment suggestions based on the machine described beforehand save a lot of time and speed up the process considerably compared with other software.”
Safexpert vs. CE-Copilot: the differences in detail
At its core, the comparison Safexpert vs. CE-Copilot is a comparison of two software generations: classic desktop CE software with purchase licence and maintenance contract on the one side, cloud-native CE software with AI assistance and a monthly subscription on the other. The table therefore compares the categories, not a single product.
| Criterion | CE-Copilot | Classic desktop CE software |
|---|---|---|
| AI in the core workflow | Yes: AI drafts standards, hazards and measures as a reviewable draft (powered by Claude) | Risk workflow often rule- or question-based with text modules |
| Deployment | Pure web app, browser from anywhere, no installation | Frequently locally installed desktop or on-premise software |
| Contract model | Cancel monthly (annual payment optional, up to 16 % less) | Frequently purchase licence plus annual maintenance, or annual contract |
| Prices | Transparent and bookable directly from €119 per month | Predominantly “price on request” or quotation via sales |
| Getting started and demo | Live demo without login plus 14-day trial without credit card | Trial or installation version, webinar or demo on request |
| MD 2006/42/EC and MR 2023/1230 | Both covered, date-driven switch-over (cut-over 20 January 2027) | Machinery Regulation capability common; automatic switch-over varies |
Note: the column “Classic desktop CE software” describes general, widespread characteristics of classic CE tools as a category, not a specific product and not all solutions on the market. The scope of features and the terms of individual vendors differ and change continuously; please check with the respective vendor.
Why cloud and AI help with CE marking
Cloud-native architecture
Classic desktop software comes with typical issues: installation and updates, limited collaboration in the team, no availability on the road, and IT approvals for additional software. CE software in the cloud addresses this: it is ready to use immediately, without local update effort and accessible from any device with a browser.
AI-assisted support
Instead of researching manually through many standards, the AI proposes relevant standards based on the machine description; hazards and protective measures are provided as a draft. This does not replace the expertise of the CE officer: selection and approval remain with the user. It does, however, speed up the process, because standards, hazards and measures are available in structured form as reviewable proposals.
Up and running quickly
For SMEs without a large CE department in particular, a low entry threshold counts. A web app can be tried out immediately without installation. A live demo of the standards finder is available at CE-Copilot without registration.
Switching without re-entering data: the Safexpert import
The most common reason to stay with a CE software once introduced is the existing projects. CE-Copilot takes them over: you import existing Safexpert projects via the Excel data export (data export of the risk assessment in tabular form), with a preview of the recognised columns, a check report and clear marking of all items that need to be confirmed by a competent person.
- Hazards, measures (three-step method), hazard zones, life phases and standard references land in the right places in the project.
- The risk evaluation is transferred, with documentation, to the 2D matrix (severity × probability). The original values are preserved in the import report.
- Imported items carry the badge “Imported, to be reviewed” until you have confirmed each one technically.
- And back again? You export your projects at any time in structured form as Excel or JSON (no lock-in).
Available from the Professional plan. The page Safexpert import in detail shows the procedure in four steps.
Which solution suits whom?
Safexpert is particularly suited to:
Companies with a dedicated CE team that already work with Safexpert and whose processes are built on it. Safexpert can also fit organisations that prefer an on-premise solution for internal reasons.
WEKA Manager CE is particularly suited to:
Users with a strong focus on operating instructions and text modules who already work in the WEKA ecosystem. The extensive template library can speed up getting started.
CE-Copilot is particularly suited to:
SMEs and mid-sized companies looking for a modern, intuitive solution. Companies introducing CE software for the first time that do not want a high entry hurdle. Teams that collaborate across sites. And everyone who wants to use AI assistance to speed up the CE process.
Conclusion: the CE software landscape is changing
Safexpert and WEKA Manager CE have shaped the market for CE software over many years and offer proven solutions. At the same time, the new Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, which applies from 20 January 2027 (full text on EUR-Lex), brings new requirements (cybersecurity, digital operating instructions), and the general trend is towards cloud and AI.
CE-Copilot uses these possibilities to simplify the CE process: an AI-assisted assistant makes suggestions along the workflow and can noticeably reduce the effort. The decision and the responsibility remain with you. Try it for free and decide for yourself.
Try CE-Copilot for free
See for yourself: start without a credit card and experience how AI-assisted CE marking works day to day.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Safexpert alternative
What is the best Safexpert alternative?
Can I bring existing Safexpert projects into CE-Copilot?
What does CE-Copilot cost compared with Safexpert?
Is there a cloud version of Safexpert?
Does CE-Copilot support the new Machinery Regulation 2023/1230?
Can I export my data from CE-Copilot again?
More guides
CE software compared
What sets CE-Copilot apart from classic CE software.
CE marking guide: step by step
The complete guide to the CE process.
EU Machinery Regulation 2027
All changes and deadlines at a glance.
Risk assessment per EN ISO 12100
Complete guide to a standard-compliant risk assessment.
WEKA Manager CE Alternative
WEKA, Safexpert and CE-Copilot compared.