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VariCAD vs Autodesk Inventor: catalog facts
VariCAD	Autodesk Inventor
Best for: Mechanical engineers who need full CAD on Windows or Linux	Best for: Mechanical engineers and product designers doing professional 3D CAD work
Paid Paid license with all features included, plus a 30-day free trial.	Paid Sold as a subscription from Autodesk or an Autodesk partner.
Windows, Linux	Windows
Runs on Linux as well as Windows 3D modeling and 2D drawing in one program All 4 strengths for VariCAD Runs on Linux as well as Windows 3D modeling and 2D drawing in one program Sheet metal unbending, interference checks and BOM tools All features included in one license	Parametric modelling for mechanical parts and assemblies Includes simulation and documentation tools All 3 strengths for Autodesk Inventor Parametric modelling for mechanical parts and assemblies Includes simulation and documentation tools Actively maintained with yearly releases
Paid software after the 30-day trial No macOS version mentioned	Subscription only, no free tier Closed-source commercial software
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Not open source	Not open source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Offline features available	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for VariCAD varicad.com Catalog checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Autodesk Inventor autodesk.com/products/inventor/overview Catalog checked September 23, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.