SOLIDWORKS
TL;DR
SOLIDWORKS is Dassault Systèmes' parametric 3D CAD system for mechanical design, trusted by over 100,000 engineering teams to model parts, assemblies, and production drawings.
Key Facts
Pricing
Starting at $3,995 (Standard perpetual license)
SOLIDWORKS Standard
- Parametric 3D part & assembly modeling
- 2D drawings and detailing
- Design library of standard parts
- File and product data tools
SOLIDWORKS Professional
- Everything in Standard
- Advanced rendering (PhotoView 360)
- Automated cost estimation
- PDM workgroup integration
SOLIDWORKS Premium
- Everything in Professional
- Structural & thermal simulation
- Routing (pipe, tube, electrical)
- Advanced surface flattening
3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS
- Cloud-connected design
- Collaborative data management
- Role-based licensing
- Browser-based 3D modeling add-on
Additional Pricing Information
Quotes come through regional resellers rather than a public price list. Ballpark: Standard ~$3,995 perpetual + ~$1,995/year maintenance; Professional ~$5,500; Premium ~$8,000. Subscription-based 3DEXPERIENCE editions and a low-cost Maker license also exist.
Details
What is SOLIDWORKS?
SOLIDWORKS, developed by Dassault Systèmes, is one of the most widely adopted 3D mechanical CAD packages in the world. It covers the full product-development workflow: parametric part modeling, large assembly management, 2D production drawings, sheet metal and weldment design, integrated simulation, and CAM toolpaths. Its strength has always been approachability — engineers become productive in days rather than months, and its file format is the de facto exchange standard between manufacturers and their customers. Reviewers score it 8.8 out of 10 across 463 TrustRadius reviews, praising the modeling core while flagging workstation demands, clunky CAM, and license administration. Licensing runs through regional resellers, with perpetual licenses starting near $4,000 plus annual maintenance, or subscription-based cloud-connected editions under the 3DEXPERIENCE brand.
Key Features
- *Parametric 3D Modeling** — Feature-based part design that updates automatically when dimensions change
- *Assembly Design** — Build and manage products with thousands of components and interference checking
- *2D Drawings** — Production-ready drawing views generated directly from 3D models
- *Sheet Metal & Weldments** — Dedicated environments with flat patterns and cut lists
- *Simulation** — Structural, thermal, and motion analysis inside the same environment
- *Configurations** — One model, many variants for product families and sizes
- *Design Library** — Reusable standard parts, fasteners, and features
- *CAM Integration** — Toolpath generation for CNC machining (SOLIDWORKS CAM)
Who is it for?
- Mechanical engineers designing manufactured products
- Machine shops and job shops receiving customer CAD files
- Product teams needing design-through-manufacturing in one toolchain
- Aerospace and medical suppliers with AS9102/FAI documentation needs
- Engineering education programs and student competition teams
Who is it NOT for?
- Architects — Revit or ARCHICAD fit buildings better than machines
- Hobbyists wanting free tooling — FreeCAD or Fusion's personal tier cost nothing
- Teams needing real-time cloud collaboration out of the box — look at Onshape
- Mac-only studios — no native macOS version exists
- Complex organic surfacing specialists — Rhino or CATIA handle that class of work
The Bottom Line
SOLIDWORKS earned its place as the default mechanical CAD package honestly: it models fast, learns easy, and every supplier you'll ever deal with can open its files. For a product-design team, it's still the safest bet in mid-range CAD. Go in with eyes open about the money though — the sticker price is just the start, and maintenance, PDM, and simulation all bill separately. If your team lives in the browser or on Macs, Onshape will suit you better; if you push extreme surfaces, CATIA or Rhino are the right hammers. Everyone else modeling physical products should shortlist this first.
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