Autodesk offers a 30-day free trial of Inventor. All you need to do to get started is make an Autodesk account. The trial version is no different than the full version of Inventor, except that after 30 days the license will expire and you won’t have access to the software anymore.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to access the full version of Inventor 2026 free for 30 days:

1. Click DOWNLOAD FREE TRIAL.
2. Confirm that your system can handle the software by clicking NEXT.
3. Select your intended usage of Inventor – students and educators will be redirected to Autodesk’s education pages.
4. Choose your language. And click NEXT.
5. Enter your personal information to create an Autodesk account. Alternatively, sign in to your existing Autodesk account.
6. Enter your business information. And click NEXT.
7. Read the Trial Notice and click BEGIN DOWNLOAD.
8. Install, and start using the free trial.

Where Cubes Become Engines

SolidWorks vs Inventor: The Differences

If, after your 30-day trial, you’re still in love with Invent and you’re not an educator or student, you have to subscribe to continue the relationship.

• $2,500 /year
• $310 /paid monthly
• $7,505 /paid every three years

Fortunately, if you’re a student or an educator and would like to use Inventor for educational purposes, in accordance with Autodesk’s terms of service, you may download and install a free copy of Inventor on up to two devices. The educational license, thanks to Autodesk’s Education Community, gives you free access to the all of the software’s features for 3 years.

1. Go to the Autodesk Education Community.
2. Choose Autodesk Inventor Professional.
3. Create an Autodesk account. Alternatively, sign in to your existing Autodesk account.
4. Then, click DOWNLOAD NOW.
5. Select the desired version, your operating system, and your preferred language.
6. The displayed serial number and product key are sent to your email address. And click BROWSER DOWNLOAD.
7. Next, install the free version.
8. When installing the CAD software, enter the serial number, and product key to unlock it.
9. When you start the program the first time, activate the license.

With Autodesk Inventor, you get a highly professional product development suite that offers a large array of tools for 3D mechanical design, simulation, 2D documentation, and manufacturing preparation. At its core, this CAD platform provides powerful parametric modeling tools, meaning that you define constraints and parameters for your design with values that can be modified later. When these values are changed, the software intelligently reshapes your entire model to adapt, preserving design intent and streamlining revisions.

Inventor’s capabilities go well beyond what most free or entry-level 3D modeling tools can offer. One standout feature is iLogic, a built-in programming language that enables users to automate design behavior by embedding logical rules into parts, assemblies, and drawings. With iLogic, complex assemblies can be automatically configured, reducing repetitive tasks and making designs more intelligent and customizable.

Another major strength is AnyCAD technology, which supports a highly collaborative workflow across different CAD platforms. Instead of requiring file conversions, AnyCAD establishes live associativity with non-Inventor parts, allowing changes made in the original files — even from software like Solidworks or CATIA — to update automatically inside Inventor projects. This greatly simplifies working in mixed CAD environments and keeps projects synchronized without losing fidelity.

Inventor is especially geared toward engineering teams collaborating on large, complex projects, such as the development of entire vehicles, industrial machinery, and consumer products. For example, the integrated Shape Generator tool introduces a new way of designing parts: users can define the design space and the areas where forces will be applied, and Inventor automatically generates a lightweight, structurally optimized shape based on those parameters — bringing a form of generative design into traditional workflows.

Beyond core modeling, Inventor includes specialized environments for sheet metal design, welded frames, and tube and pipe routing, which are essential in industries like manufacturing, aerospace, and construction. Its simulation tools allow for virtual testing of parts and assemblies under real-world conditions, including stress analysis, motion simulation, and frame analysis. This helps engineers verify performance early in the design process, minimizing costly physical prototyping.

Inventor also offers a 3D Print Environment that prepares models for additive manufacturing, with features for adjusting model orientation, breaking down parts to fit build volumes, and adding assembly features like guide pins. For more advanced additive manufacturing needs, Inventor integrates with Autodesk Netfabb for support structure generation, lattice design, and print simulations.

Finally, Inventor ties into cloud-based collaboration through Autodesk Fusion Team, allowing teams to review, share, and manage designs across distributed locations in real-time.

Like its competitors, Solidworks and CATIA, Inventor is a highly advanced piece of 3D modeling software. It demands both extensive training and a strong foundation in mechanical design principles to unlock its full potential, but in return, it delivers a comprehensive, scalable platform capable of tackling the most sophisticated design challenges.

Autodesk Inventor System Requirements

• Operating System: Windows only. 64-bit Microsoft Windows 11 and Windows 10.
• CPU: Recommended is 3.0 GHz or greater, 4 or more cores. Minimum is 2.5 GHz or greater
• CPU for Complex and Large Assemblies: 3.30 GHz or greater, 4 or more cores
• Memory: Recommended is 32 GB RAM or more. Minimumis 16 GB RAM for less than 500-part assemblies
• Memory for Complex and Large Assemblies: 64 GB RAM or greater
• Disk Space: Installer plus full installation: 40 GB
• Graphics: Recommended is 8 GB GPU with 106 GB/S Bandwidth and DirectX 11 compliant. Minimum is 2 GB GPU with 29 GB/S Bandwidth and DirectX 11 compliant

Crack, hack, jailbreak, there’s no shortage of online schemes claiming to deliver a free backdoor to a full version of Inventor. So before you spend hours sliding down the internet rabbit hole of paid links and clickbait, we’ll tell you the truth: it doesn’t exist.

Autodesk didn’t get to be one of the largest, most trusted, and most respected software companies in the world by having flaws in its code. Plus, the company’s battalion of lawyers is typically all over these internet fraudsters with cease-and-desist orders faster than you can slice a benchy.

Attempting to crack software for free use is not only illegal (a violation of licensing, copyright, and intellectual property laws) and ethically wrong, but it typically doesn’t even work. Cracked software opens you up to malware, which is its intention, and without proper licensing is prone to unexpected errors and frequent crashes.

If you can’t afford Inventor just yet at this point in your career, there are free and lower-cost alternatives below.

Without a doubt one of the best free alternatives to Autodesk Inventor, FreeCAD is an open-source and highly extensible free 3D CAD software. It offers full parametric modeling and has a range of features that can easily stand in comparison with commercial software from the likes of Autodesk.

Due to the modular architecture, FreeCAD is invaluable in many engineering and architecture workflows. For example, it lets you perform sophisticated simulations such as self-weight analysis.

It may not have the same polished user experience as Autodesk Inventor, but looking beyond this there’s enough here to accomplish sophisticated projects.

Onshape is an engineering-grade CAD software made by former Solidworks developers and available as a cloud service. It has much in common with Inventor and boasts robust collaboration tools that make it an attractive option for teams and organizations.

The program seeks to integrate the entire engineering workflow into one tool. Moreover, its comprehensive feature set lends you the full might of parametric modeling and the option to simulate assemblies of complex many part designs.

Using the free license lets you work on up to ten projects simultaneously. Note though that Onshape is, inherently, a paid-for service. Students, Educators, and hobbyists have access to a free license of the program, subject to some limitations and conditions.

Even in its basic version, nanoCAD is an impressive piece of free CAD software. It’s yet another example of how one company did something right and inspired others to follow in its tracks: The user interface takes its cues from Autodesk’s AutoCAD, sousers familiar with Autodesk’s ecosystem of software should feel at home here.

True to its claim of professionalism, nanoCAD supports parametric modeling, which is handy as you can revisit older designs, and adapt them to new tasks in a breeze. Moreover, it can automate a great many routine tasks.

The program’s interface is uncluttered, making it accessible for hobbyists. Still, users have a rich feature set at their disposal. The free CAD software’s functionality can be extended by various plugins. In case your projects are more demanding, you should take a look at nanoCAD’s paid versions.