nTop vs Virtual Steel
| nTop | Virtual Steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Paid from | Free | — |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows | Windows |
| Modeling method | parametric | direct |
| Assembly design | Yes | — |
| Surface modeling | Yes | — |
| Supported platforms | Windows 11; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.9 for nTop Automate | Windows |
| File import and export | CAD: STEP, Parasolid, CATIA V5, Creo, Inventor, Siemens NX, SolidWorks, ACIS; mesh: STL, OBJ, PLY, 3MF, OFF; CAE: Abaqus, ANSYS, LS-DYNA, Nastran, Patran, CGNS, UNV; other: implicit, LTXC, CSV, VDB, PNG, CLI and manufacturing slice formats | IFC, DXF, AKT, GEO, MBA, SDNF, STP (DSTV), STEP (214), STL, SMR, NC (DSTV), E57, XLS, CSV |
| Free plan | — | No |
Both are listed in Best 3D CAD Software. On The Geeks Club, nTop scores higher on our published basis.