Overview

The core Design application covers parametric modeling, sculpting, animation, sheet metal, framing and 3D-print export, with a built-in render engine. The broader portfolio adds simulation for assessing performance, efficiency and durability. This is a substantial toolkit for product development, not a lightweight modeling app.

Design is installed locally and can connect to the cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform. SOLIDWORKS xDesign instead provides browser-based modeling tools without local installation. The Design application can also be used offline, so cloud connectivity is not a prerequisite for every work session.

Key features

Design, analysis and collaboration

Standard covers parts, assemblies and drawings, while higher tiers progressively add rendering, analysis and routing tools. With Cloud Services, teams can share and mark up designs remotely, store models securely and manage revisions. The 3DEXPERIENCE cloud platform carries ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO/IEC 27017:2015 certifications, has been audited under AICPA SOC 2 Type 2 standards, and is registered for CSA STAR Level 1.

Eligible commercial Design and Design with Cloud Services customers also receive AURA and LEO virtual companions and listed AI competencies without an additional license. Online purchases include technical support and getting-started resources. These provisions strengthen the case for a supported, connected workflow, but do not reduce the price of the core software.

Pricing

SOLIDWORKS uses a freemium model, with commercial plans billed yearly for a single user. Prices exclude local taxes.

Design Standard with Cloud Services: $2,820 USD per year. The machine-locked, single-device license includes parts, assemblies, drawings, cloud collaboration, revision management and technical support. It is the entry point for individual users who can work on one machine; that lock is a real constraint for people who regularly switch devices.
Design Professional with Cloud Services: $3,456 USD per year. It adds a CAD component library, photorealistic rendering, tolerance stack-up analysis, cost estimation and CAD standards checking. It makes more sense for users who need those production and validation tools than for occasional basic modeling.
Design Premium with Cloud Services: $4,716 USD per year. In addition to Professional, it includes electrical cable and harness routing, pipe and tube routing, linear static analysis, motion analysis and advanced surface flattening. This tier is aimed at more complex engineering workflows; buyers should weigh those additions against the substantial annual outlay.
SOLIDWORKS for Makers: $48.00 USD per year, billed yearly, for personal, non-commercial use. It includes 25 GB of 3DEXPERIENCE cloud storage, which cannot be expanded, and has no free trial. Its low price is attractive for hobby projects, but commercial work is expressly excluded.

A free student tier provides SOLIDWORKS Design Standard to students, described as the same professional 3D CAD software used by leading companies. A free trial is also offered. Orders can be cancelled and refunded within 15 days after purchase. Do not confuse either option with a commercial plan: the Makers license is also non-commercial.

Platforms

Client SOLIDWORKS products support Windows 10 and Windows 11 64-bit; eDrawings for Mac supports specified macOS releases. The portfolio's browser-based xDesign works on any device without local installation. Platform labels span macOS, web and Windows, but the main installed Design client is not a macOS application.

Who it's for

SOLIDWORKS is a strong fit for product designers, engineers and organizations whose work spans component modeling, assemblies, drawings and, at higher tiers, simulation or specialized routing. Its markets include industrial, medical, scientific, consumer, educational, technology and transportation organizations. The community of more than 8 million users worldwide and a partner program with hundreds of partners point to a broad ecosystem, while certified Gold Products integrate within the SOLIDWORKS interface.

It is a weaker fit for casual users seeking inexpensive commercial modeling, people who need a portable license across multiple devices, or anyone whose projects are strictly personal but likely to become commercial. The Makers restriction and Standard's device lock make those boundaries important before purchase.

Pros and cons

Pro: A wide range of product-design workflows—from parts and assemblies to sheet metal and framing—sits alongside simulation tools.
Pro: Higher tiers add concrete capabilities such as rendering, tolerance analysis, cost estimation and motion analysis, allowing teams to match spend to workflow needs.
Pro: Cloud collaboration and revision management connect remote teams, while offline use remains possible for the installed Design application.
Con: The $2,820 USD per year Standard plan is costly for a single user, and its license is locked to one device.
Con: The $48.00 USD per year Makers option is limited to personal, non-commercial projects and caps cloud storage at 25 GB with no expansion.
Con: The installed client's Windows support excludes macOS; Mac users need to consider the browser-based option or eDrawings' narrower role.

Alternatives

Consider Onshape if a browser-based, multi-platform option is preferable and a free, non-commercial plan with publicly accessible documents fits your work. Shapr3D is worth comparing for macOS and Windows access, including a free Basic plan limited to two projects and a Pro plan at $299.00 USD per year.

Rhino 3D is another paid option with a free plan and trial. For other choices, browse 3D CAD Software, CAD software or 3D modeling software. Readers focused on electrical work can also compare the Electrical Design Software category.

Other alternatives include Autodesk Inventor, OwlCAD, Creo, AVEVA E3D Design and nanoCAD.

Verdict

Choose SOLIDWORKS if your work depends on a deep product-design workflow and you can justify a yearly license for the tools your team needs. Its combination of CAD, simulation options and cloud-connected revision management is compelling for engineering work. Look elsewhere if the annual cost, single-device Standard license or Makers non-commercial restriction conflicts with how you need to work.

	Geomagic Freeform	SOLIDWORKS
Free trial		Yes
Paid from		$4/mo
Platforms		macOS, Web, Windows
Free plan		Yes
Paid from		$2,820/user/mo
Platform access		both
Sculpting tools		Yes
Animation tools		Yes
Parametric modeling		Yes
Render engine		built-in
3D print export		Yes
Assembly design		Yes
Sheet-metal tools		Yes
Cloud collaboration		Yes
Modeling dimension		3D
Simulation tools		Yes

Geomagic Freeform vs SOLIDWORKS

Geomagic Freeform

SOLIDWORKS