ActCAD Software vs. Solid Edge

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
ActCAD Software
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
ActCAD is a 2D & 3D CAD software with two product options: - ActCAD Standard for 2D Drafting Power Users - ActCAD Professional for 2D Drafting & 3D ACIS Modeling Users - ActCAD Prime for 2D Drafting, 3D Modeling, and AEC Objects (walls, doors, windows, staircases, roofs, floors, etc.) ActCAD can be used for applications across domains of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) including Structural, Electrical, and…
$199
one-time fee per user
Solid Edge
Score 7.8 out of 10
N/A
Solid Edge is a software solutions for product development — 3D design, simulation, manufacturing, data management, and cloud collaboration. Solid Edge aims to combine the speed and simplicity of direct modeling with the flexibility and control of parametric design.
$110
per month
Pricing
ActCAD SoftwareSolid Edge
Editions & Modules
ActCAD 2023 Standard
$199
one-time fee per user
ActCAD 2023 Prime
$349
one-time fee per user
Design and Drafting XaaS
$110.00
per month
Foundation XaaS
$267.00
per month
Classic XaaS
$335.00
per month
Premium XaaS
$481.00
per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
ActCAD SoftwareSolid Edge
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
YesNo
Entry-level Setup Fee$199 one-time fee per userNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
ActCAD SoftwareSolid Edge
Top Pros
Top Cons

No answers on this topic

Best Alternatives
ActCAD SoftwareSolid Edge
Small Businesses
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.3 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.3 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.3 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.3 out of 10
Enterprises
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.7 out of 10
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.7 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
ActCAD SoftwareSolid Edge
Likelihood to Recommend
8.8
(3 ratings)
8.6
(16 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
5.3
(2 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
User Testimonials
ActCAD SoftwareSolid Edge
Likelihood to Recommend
ActCAD LLC
Some dimensions move for no apparent reason. 3d modeling could be improved upon. As a 2D program I use it daily and prefer it to 3D modeling programs for drawing details.
Read full review
Siemens AG
Well Suited for:
  • Integrated designs performed by multiple designers simultaneously (designs requiring a Product Lifecycle Management system);
  • Designs requiring a high degree of parameterisation;
  • Large companies where specific standards and best practices are applied to all models and drawings created.
Not Well Suited for:
  • Personal use in designing one-off models and drawings;
  • Small business use where very few of the expensive features are actually used.
Read full review
Pros
ActCAD LLC
  • This is one of the most complete packages that I've used, very intuitive, thus saying user-friendly is somewhat on the mild side, as it is a pleasure to use
  • Functionality is straightforward and all pertinent information are right on the screen
  • Its ease-of-use cuts down on documentation time thus allowing me to spend more time where it's really needed
Read full review
Siemens AG
  • It has very good user interface in classic or ordered environment.
  • In 2D or drafting, you can give any Geometric tolerancing and symbols to any dimension. There is a wide range of options available.
  • You can convert any files in step file (.stp) and can open it in other designing applications easily.
  • After converting 3D drawings in 2D you can make changes in 2D drawing by converting it in the draft. You can also add details like cross-sections and detailed view.
  • You can directly make threads without creating holes.
Read full review
Cons
ActCAD LLC
  • My major complaint is sometimes the dimensions do not stay where I place them.
  • 3D modeling is complicated for me.
  • Need to specify wall types and be able to create custom walls.
  • Need to have a roof manager to make trusses or hand-stack framing.
Read full review
Siemens AG
  • Being used to 2-key and 3-key commands from the keyboard, it would be nice if this was more robust in Solid Edge. The capability of programming keystroke commands exists in Solid Edge, but it would be more user friendly in that regard.
  • Editing hatches can be a challenge.
  • I'm not a fan of the ribbon bar, but that seems to be a feature across software platforms in Windows.
Read full review
Usability
ActCAD LLC
No answers on this topic
Siemens AG
As mentioned previously, Siemens Solid Edge is not the most user-friendly of products at all. It requires intense training to make sure that the basics are understood, and after that, there are numerous other training interventions needed to be able to perform expert-level CAD functions. The GUI is not intuitive, as many other packages are, and the features built-in are not well defined. The process to use many of these features is counter-intuitive and requires a mind-shift.
Read full review
Support Rating
ActCAD LLC
No answers on this topic
Siemens AG
I have been involved with support and training of Solid Edge for 24 years. Given that I based my business model on support, and have been successful for all these years, I know excellent support. Siemens support for Solid Edge, "GTAC", is the definition of support for a product in every aspect.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
ActCAD LLC
It's the best alternative to cost-prohibitive CAD software.
Read full review
Siemens AG
FreeCAD is often better than Solid Edge 2021 when converting files, but I hope this changes with 2023 NX is overall more powerful, but that is to be expected (and you cant add it above because it is too short for whatever reason).
Read full review
Return on Investment
ActCAD LLC
  • Its ease-of-use allows me more time to focus on project needs and completion
Read full review
Siemens AG
  • It took about 20 hours of use to get the basics of Synchronous Technology, and with just a basic competency I was able to make useful changes to the design. One of those changes was impossible to do our other CAD program.
  • My use lately has mostly been on personal time and self-driven, so learning other aspects and features of Solid Edge has been slower. Creating a drawing for a part required a few hours to learn and do the first time, but luckily there were YouTube videos for examples. With practice, I would expect the time to reflect what it takes in SolidWorks (about 30 minutes).
Read full review
ScreenShots

ActCAD Software Screenshots

Screenshot of ActCAD 2023 PrimeScreenshot of ActCAD 2023 StandardScreenshot of STL FileScreenshot of KML/KMZ FileScreenshot of 3D PDF ExportScreenshot of Sheet set Manager