IronCAD is a rising competitor in 3D design and manufacturing with an intuitive approach that allows you to edit the 3D model directly without opening up the 2D sketch. It’s a multipurpose CAD suite with an emphasis on flexibility. A key feature of this software is the TriBall cursor function, which was originally released under the banner of Trispectives in 1995. It’s a drafting, positioning, alignment, editing, and creation tool all in one.

IronCAD simplifies drawing, part, and assembly creation through its single-interface modular design and various catalogs of shapes, parts, materials, etc. It also offers an innovative approach to direct 3D editing, similar to 3D modelers, while maintaining a simultaneous parametric approach. Users describe it as an intuitive and interactive way of designing.

• Price: You can directly request a quote from the website, but the price range is generally upwards of $5,000 per seat. If you aren’t in need of sheet metal functionality and 2D drawings, you could go for the reduced IronCAD Inovate for around $1,700. The good thing; it’s a permanent license. No need for further payment.
• Functionality: Machine design, part and tool modeling, multiphysics, finite element analysis.
• Compatibility: Available on Windows only. It can import common file formats such as IGES and STEP. Add-ons can convert the native files of any other software (SolidWorks, Creo, CATIA, Solid Edge, Inventor, etc.).
• User support: IronCAD has a community forum on its website, as well as various tutorials. Technical support from the company itself or your reseller is also available. A free 30-day trial is available.

FreeCAD is a free and open-source parametric modeling and building information modeling (BIM) software, which includes finite element analysis (FEA) tools. The main design intent for FreeCAD is mechanical engineering product design, but it has been expanded to include other areas of product design, such as architecture or electrical engineering.

The constructive, solid geometry facilitates easy part creation. FreeCAD’s workbench concept allows for the display of dedicated tools required to complete certain design tasks as well as other key CAD tools, such as mesh repair and graphical modification operations. The downside: The assembly modules are rather convoluted.

• Price: FreeCAD, as the name suggests, is completely free.
• Functionality: FEA tools, BIM, geodata workbenches, path workbenches, 2D and 3D modeling.
• Compatibility: Available on Windows, Linux, Unix, and MacOS. Native SolidWorks files can’t be opened and imported, but associated files, such as DWG, DXF, STEP, IGES, SVG, STL, and many more can be imported.
• User support: The homepage offers multiple support links via the drop-down menu to the official FreeCAD forum as well as several other discussion boards, including Reddit, Discord, and GitHub.

Get Started!

FreeCAD Tutorial for 3D Printing: 8 Simple Steps

Rhino is a commercial NURBS-based 3D modeling software primarily targeted at industrial design and architecture, with branches to automotive and marine design as well as reverse engineering. NURBS-based modeling allows the user to achieve much more organic shapes, as every surface can be edited via control points (but this makes it harder than SolidWorks to re-modify once completed).

Rhino 7 offers uninhibited freeform modeling tools with the ability to easily read and repair meshes on imported files. Included in Rhino is Grasshopper, a visual programming language providing the foundation for everything from environmental analysis to robotic control. It’s simple to create complex and accurate surfaces as well as solid bodies with a wide range of model creation and editing tools, though not as easy to create parts that are ready for fabrication or manufacture.

• Price: A full Rhino 7 License is available for ~$1,000. Upgrading from a previous version costs ~$500.
• Functionality: Freeform modeling, parametric design, mesh editing, drafting, CAM, animation, and more.
• Compatibility: Rhino is available on Windows and MacOS. It’s compatible with numerous file formats, including SolidWorks part files and the more general 3D modeling file types IGES and STEP.
• User support: A community area called Serengeti offers tutorials and support, including video guides and events available through the forum. There are tons of outside resources available on the web for free, too. A free 90-day trial is available for you to try out the software.

Fusion 360 is another offering from Autodesk aimed at designers, engineers, and machinists that unifies design, engineering, and manufacture into a single entity. Fusion 360 aims to eliminate any previous disconnect within your product development process by offering integration between CAD, CAM, and CAE software tools. Their approach allows for the conceptualization of multiple design iterations within a single platform, with a multitude of modeling options available.

• Price: There are 3 payment plans; ~$1,640 for a 3-year lease, ~$550 per year, or $70 on a monthly basis.
• Functionality: Multi-purpose 3D modeling capabilities, assemblies, electronics and PCBs, sheet metal, FEA, simulations, and manufacturing solutions to start.
• Compatibility: Available on MacOS and Windows. Autodesk has provided a helpful video on how to import SolidWorks files into Fusion 360. Other common file types (STEP and IGES) can be directly imported and modified.
• User support: Additional knowledge networks for each of the AutoCAD toolsets, video tutorials, and articles for learning as well as an official community forum are available through Autodesk. A free 30-day trial is available.

Autodesk Fusion

Commissions Earned Check price at

 

and 

Autodesk Inventor provides engineers and designers with professional-grade 3D CAD solutions, as well as an environment to seamlessly integrate 2D and 3D CAD data and quickly create realistic and solid designs.

With 3D and 2D data integrated into a single design environment, validating a product in form, fit, and function prior to manufacturing is a breeze. Parametric and free-form modeling tools are available in Inventor as well as add-ons for industry-specific items (although they may come at an additional cost).

• Price: There are a few options: ~$7,250 paid every 3 years, ~$2,420 paid annually, $300 paid monthly, or a new token-based “Flex” system for those who only need it for a couple of projects a year.
• Functionality: Model-based definition (MBD), GD&T, BOM, design automation, workflow systems, sheet metal, pipe modeling, simulation, and manufacturing solutions, just to name a few.
•  Compatibility: Available for Windows only. Inventor contains multi-CAD translation capabilities facilitating the use of SolidWorks parts (as well as others) and includes industry-standard DWG file drawings.
• User support: Autodesk has an official community forum as well as several tutorials and guides for Inventor on their website. Since Inventor is such a popular tool, there are several unofficial forums you can turn to for help. A free 30-day trial is available.

Autodesk Inventor

Commissions Earned Check price at

 

and 

AutoCAD is a commercial CAD and drafting application, with the first version released by Autodesk in 1982. It’s a well-established tool in the industry, so the community support is fantastic.

This software now offers industry-specific features, such as toolsets for architecture and mechanical engineering, with the associated parts libraries allowing the rapid design of piping, ducting, and circuiting. Also included in your subscription are the AutoCAD mobile app and the AutoCAD web app.

• Price: As per Autodesk’s usual, there are three payment plans for AutoCAD; ~$5,870 paid every 3 years, ~$1,960 paid annually, or $245 paid monthly as well as the token-based Flex payment option.
• Functionality: Various workflow benches (such as mechanical, electrical, etc.), 2D drawing, drafting and annotation capabilities, and 3D solid, surface, and mesh modeling.
• Compatibility: Available on Windows and MacOS. Part models can be imported and modified via the AnyCAD convert model tool, which supports SolidWorks, Creo, NX, and many other software. Assembly models can be imported in the same way, but the imported geometry can’t be modified.
• User support: Like the other Autodesk software, the official AutoCAD forum is a great resource as well as tutorials and guides provided by Autodesk. You’ll also be able to find endless user-based support in the form of unofficial forums, YouTube tutorials, and even formal classes. A free trial of 30 days is available.

Autodesk AutoCAD

Commissions Earned Check price at

 

and 

Onshape is the first fully cloud-based 3D CAD system with built-in version control and collaboration. The key obstacle that’s overcome with this is there are no downloads required and no updates.

The Onshape app allows editing and modeling on the go, with a real-time collaborative workflow possible thanks to its web-based application. Onshape focuses on 2D sketching, 3D modeling, and assemblies, with some rendering and simulation tools as well.

• Price: Onshape starts at $1,500 per user, per year for the Standard package. There is a free version available, however it has slightly more limited functions and can only be used for public projects.
• Functionality: 2D design and drafting, 3D parametric modeling, GD&T, BOM, rendering functions, PCB studio, and simulations.
• Compatibility: The online nature of Onshape means that, as long as you are online, Onshape can be accessed, regardless of OS. DWG and DXF file formats along with other industry-supported CAD file formats, including SolidWorks files, are importable into Onshape.
• User support: The Onshape learning center provides a video library, webinars, e-books, and whitepapers, as well as a blog with tech tips and industry perspectives. A free trial can be requested on their webpage.

Solid Edge was developed by Siemens and is a product development CAD software focused on mechanical and electrical design, using synchronous technology to accelerate product design and improve design data reuse. Solid Edge allows easy access across a range of devices to cloud-enabled design, supporting sharing of design data with suppliers and manufacturers.

With the latest version, Solid Edge 2023, its user interface merged with Siemens NX. Many users have noted that a good workflow can be achieved with basic tools and modification of parts within an overall assembly. Solid Edge does, however, require some formal training from a reseller to become proficient in the design of complex components.

• Price: Solid Edge starts at ~$80 per seat, per month for the basic “Design and Drafting” package. The complete  CAD package starts at ~$200 per month, but there are free versions for students, startups, and education.
• Functionality: Complex 2D and 3D parts and assemblies, integrated electrical design, welding, CAM, simulation, and generative design.
• Compatibility: The software is only available for Windows for local design, but viewing is also possible (in particular with the AR features) on certain mobile devices. SolidWorks part files are compatible with Solid Edge, as are other 3D modeling file types, such as STL, OBJ, IGES, and STEP.
• User support: Solid Edge offers a support forum and help articles for a wide variety of users, from designers and engineers to students, hobbyists, and makers. A 45-day free trial is available.

Creo was developed by a company called PTC and, since 2009, has superseded its other packages, such as Pro/ENGINEER, CoCreate, and ProductView. The most recent versions, Creo 10 and Creo+, were released in April 2023. This brings Creo in line with SolidWorks on the software development front. Overall, Creo offers a powerful suite of tools that can be advantageous even in professional fields.

Its core modeling strengths include model-based definition (MBD), which allows for geometric dimensioning and tolerances (GD&T), as well as easily lifting a bill of material from the initial part design.

• Price: Creo offers five packages, with the Essentials bundle starting at ~$2,780 per year.
• Functionality: MBD, GD&T, BOM, direct modeling, 2D and 3D drawings, technical or freestyle surfacing, sheet metal, weld modeling, structural framework design, analysis features, integrated design animation, and augmented reality.
• Compatibility: Available on Windows only. SolidWorks part and assembly files as well as files for many other software types (STEP, IGES, and DXF included) can be directly imported and modified.
• User support: You’ve got official and unofficial forums and blogs, a PTC resource center, and even online education services via PTC University. A free 30-day trial is available.

CATIA (Computer Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application) is from the same maker of SolidWorks, Dassault Systèmes. It’s a more powerful, high-end software with a caveat; it has a price to match. It’s extensively used in the aerospace, marine, and automotive industry but entrepreneurs and startups may benefit from discount licensing options as well as some other benefits, so don’t overlook this option just yet.

CATIA integrates CAD, CAM, and CAE into a single suite. The specification-driven interface is easy to navigate and is capable of handling much more complex assemblies than SolidWorks. It also has advanced surfacing and texturing capabilities that allow professionals to bring their designs to life. If you’re looking for something just as powerful as SolidWorks, if not more, CATIA may just be the answer.

• Price: The pricing system is similar to SolidWorks. A perpetual license costs ~$13,000, but contact sales directly to request a discounted package for startups and small companies.
• Functionality: Solid and hybrid part design, mechanical, electrical, and architectural engineering system design, product data management, product lifecycle assessment, FEA, advanced surface modeling, and much more.
• Compatibility: Available only on Windows. CATIA can support common file formats, including IGES, STEP, STL, DWG, and DXF.
• User support: As one of the foremost CAD software, CATIA has extensive support, online forums, and video tutorials. To get the most out of the software, a training course is recommended.