![]() ![]() ![]() In 20 years, the way we do CAD may be entirely revolutionized by brain-nanites, and we won’t even need Solidworks or Inventor…you never know… Other Price Considerations: If we take it forward a few more years, Inventor will start to be the more expensive option. You might still say, “But Solidworks is still more expensive!” Yes, but not by much, and you don’t know if the pricing would change at some point. If I stretch this comparison out by another 6 years, the two numbers become much closer together: Why am I calling it a tie? Because I predict that in the next few years, Dassault Systems will offer the same pricing style as Autodesk with similar pricing. ![]() *This is assuming you don’t have to pay the subscription fee for the first year. Either monthly, annually, or every three years.Ĭost of Inventor over 6 years = $5630/3-years x 2 = $11,260Ĭost of Solidworks over 6 years = $8000 for premium license + Annual Subscription ($1600) x 5* = $16,000 Autodesk used to offer their software with perpetual licenses, but these days they charge only a subscription fee. I’m considering the use of these programs over the long-term, let’s say over 6 years. Yes, believe it or not, I’m calling this one a tie. (You know, the word “Tie” looks so weird when you see it so many times…) In-Depth considerations 1. Signing up for a real class carries a lot of weight. Solidworks tends to have a more “viral” presence, but that doesn’t mean it is effective to learn from Youtube. The best renderings require plugins to help. You have to crunch some numbers on this one, but it is a tieĬompatible with other members of the Autodesk family ![]() Let’s look at a few criteria to judge these programs and see how they stack up: Criterion You’ve just created a project from scratch. Provided you have access to manufacturing capability, you can send this data over to a factory and have your invention prototyped! Having scrutinized the prototype, you can probably find a few more areas of improvement, so just modify the 3D model one more time. Then when you’re satisfied with the design, you can simulate how a CAM device would produce the parts. After testing, you can refine the design a little. You then test them out using the simulation tools. Having done that, you put them together in an assembly. Then, when you have measurements and conceptual drawings, you can model the individual pieces in Solidworks or Inventor. Comparison At a GlanceĪfter you get a conceptual idea, you need to refine it until you have a good idea of how all your parts would fit together. Autodesk started to realize how popular Solidworks was becoming, so they developed the Inventor as a direct competitor. Dassault System acquired Solidworks in 1997 for $310 million in stocks. Solidworks was initially a product of Solidworks Corporation, developed in 1995. As far as I’m concerned, it is suitable for this competition to continue for years to come.Ī Brief History of Solidworks and Inventor These two are fantastic competitors, and they push one another to become better. Every honest comparison I’ve read from others has always touted the same idea they are both very similar, and it comes down to personal preference. I thought, “How am I going to prove whether Solidworks is better than Inventor, or vice versa?” However, as I thought about it, I realized the answer is straightforward. This article, pitting Solidworks against Inventor, seemed like a challenge, and I wasn’t sure how to do it. Inventor?” I’ve written several articles comparing different CAD apps, and so far, it has been easy to distinguish one from another. When I first started writing this article, I thought to myself, “Oh no! Please don’t make me do this! Solidworks vs. I can only give you my opinion, so here it is Neither is better than the other. There you go! I said it! Wanna fight about it? Come on, put up your fists, let’s go! I’ll repeat it, whether you like it or not Neither Solidworks nor Inventor is better than the other. I would be willing to bet money that at least one thing in your home was designed using Solidworks or Inventor. Most of the things in your house were probably designed by someone using CAD software. These two apps are incredibly similar, and it is no secret that they are the key competitors in the 3D CAD/CAM product design arena. In this article, I am going to compare Solidworks by Dassault System versus Inventor by Autodesk.
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