Alternatives to SolidWorks
Industry-standard parametric CAD software for 3D design and product development. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
SolidWorks
Industry-standard parametric CAD software for 3D design and product development.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as SolidWorks.
Autodesk Fusion 360
Cloud-connected parametric CAD, CAM, and CAE platform with a free personal tier.
Autodesk Fusion 360 runs on Windows and macOS with CAD, CAM and simulation in one subscription and a free personal tier, but needs a cloud connection.
Solid Edge
Mainstream parametric CAD software with a free Community edition.
Solid Edge is Windows-only mainstream parametric CAD from Siemens with a free Community edition for students and hobbyists, and paid tiers for the full feature set.
Onshape
Fully browser-based parametric CAD platform with real-time collaboration.
Onshape runs entirely in the browser with real-time collaboration and version history, but requires an internet connection and its free tier makes projects public.
FreeCAD
A parametric 3D modeller for real objects: design by sketching constrained 2D shapes, then change the parameters later.
FreeCAD is free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux with parametric modeling and production drawings, though large assemblies can be slow and workbenches uneven.
Siemens NX
High-end CAD, CAM, and CAE suite used in aerospace and automotive design.
Siemens NX is a high-end CAD, CAM and CAE suite common in aerospace and automotive, with enterprise pricing and greater complexity than SolidWorks.
Shapr3D
Touch-first parametric CAD app originally built for iPad, now on desktop.
Shapr3D brings a touch and stylus-first parametric workflow to iPad, Windows and macOS, with a free tier that is limited compared to paid plans.
Alibre Atom3D
Design mechanical parts and assemblies with a desktop CAD application.
Alibre Atom3D is a paid Windows CAD application for parametric parts and assemblies aimed at hobby fabrication, with advanced capabilities reserved for other editions.
SolveSpace
A tiny parametric 2D and 3D CAD program built around a constraint solver, for designing real parts.
SolveSpace is a tiny free open source parametric CAD program with STEP export, but it is not suited to large assemblies and has thin documentation.
Also worth comparing
These listings name SolidWorks as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Alibre Design
Parametric 3D CAD software for designing mechanical parts and assemblies, with optional CAM add-ons.
SolidWorks is industry-standard parametric CAD with broad training resources and plugins, still Windows only, but its commercial licensing costs more for individuals and small studios.
Autodesk Inventor
Parametric 3D CAD software for mechanical design, simulation and engineering documentation.
SolidWorks is industry-standard parametric CAD with broad training resources and simulation add-ons, also Windows only and costly for individuals.
BricsCAD
Native-DWG CAD software with 2D drafting, 3D modeling, BIM, and mechanical variants.
SolidWorks is Windows-only paid parametric CAD with a larger plugin ecosystem, focused on mechanical design rather than DWG drafting and BIM.
DesignSpark Mechanical
A direct-modelling 3D CAD program with push-pull tools, aimed at engineers and makers without deep CAD experience.
SolidWorks is industry-standard parametric CAD for Windows with deep assembly and simulation features, but commercial licensing is costly and the learning curve is steep.
Dune 3D
Design constrained 3D parts with a parametric CAD editor.
SolidWorks is paid, Windows-only industry-standard parametric CAD with deep assembly and simulation add-ons.
IronCAD
Commercial 3D and 2D mechanical CAD software with drag-and-drop design and hybrid modelling.
SolidWorks is an industry-standard parametric CAD package on Windows with broad training resources and plugins, but its commercial licensing is costly for individuals.
VariCAD
A 3D and 2D CAD program for mechanical engineering design on Windows and Linux.
SolidWorks is industry-standard parametric CAD with broad training and plugin resources, but it runs only on Windows and its licensing is costly for individuals.
Zoo Design Studio
A mechanical CAD application on Zoo's own geometry engine, with a built-in conversational CAD agent.
SolidWorks is industry-standard commercial parametric CAD with deep assembly and simulation features, but it is Windows only and costly for individuals.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Rhinoceros
Create and edit precise freeform 3D models for design and fabrication.
OpenSCAD
A 3D modeller you write rather than draw: a script describes the object, and the program compiles it into a solid.
KeyShot
Commercial real-time 3D rendering software for producing product visuals from CAD data.
DraftSight
A commercial 2D CAD desktop application for drafting and editing DWG drawings, from Dassault Systèmes.
Mayo
An open-source 3D CAD viewer and converter for STEP, IGES, STL and other formats.
