SolidWorks is the leading standard in 3D parametric solid modeling!
Updated April 30, 2021

SolidWorks is the leading standard in 3D parametric solid modeling!

Chris Bartch | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with SOLIDWORKS

We use SolidWorks as our primary CAD application throughout the organization including both our engineering and production (CNC programing) departments.

Pros

  • Top of the line parametric solid modeling
  • Intuitive interface
  • Expansive feature set
  • Excellent handling of both large and small design projects.
  • Fantastic support network
  • Stable and reliable

Cons

  • Solidworks is continually improving its product, however, more focus could be put into traditional drawings as opposed to MBD.
  • Crashes can at times happen without warning or symptoms.
  • The newer focus on cloud-based applications is a bit late to the game and needs some work to bring it up to enterprise-class.
  • The ROI of SolidWorks occurred for our company likely within the first 6-12 months of its adoption (13 years ago). These days, it's hard to imagine running our business without it as it is the foundation for all of the products we manufacture.
In many scenarios, SolidWorks and Inventor actually compare fairly evenly to each other. However, I believe that where SolidWorks really stands out is the fact that it was designed from the start as a 3D parametric solid modeling application whereas Inventor comes from a company that has a decade's worth of background in 2D CAD. This means that I feel that SolidWorks generally has a more naturally intuitive approach to 3D CAD in its interface. Onshape did initially offer a very attractive alternative being a cloud-based solution, however, upon deeper evaluation, it just hadn't quite reached the level of an enterprise-class solution that a company like mine needed. The new forays into cloud-based solutions from Dassault do have the potential to get there since they have SolidWorks at its core, but I still believe that a desktop-based CAD suite, and especially a localized server-based data management solution to be the best for most users today.

Do you think SOLIDWORKS delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with SOLIDWORKS's feature set?

Yes

Did SOLIDWORKS live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of SOLIDWORKS go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy SOLIDWORKS again?

Yes

I believe SolidWorks to be the best all-around 3D parametric modeling software available on the market for most organizations. The only exception I can think of is you have a deeply entrenched AutoCAD culture, then perhaps Inventor would make an easier transition path into 3D. For brand new small companies that do not have the resources to put behind a full CAD suite, a cloud-based option like 3DExperience or OnShape may offer a solution. Otherwise, I believe that SolidWorks is, and should be, the go-to solution for most 3D CAD needs for most companies regardless of industry.

Using SOLIDWORKS

10 - Engineering & design, production management, and CNC programing.
1 - I support SolidWorks to all of our inhouse users.
  • 3D CAD
  • Data Management
  • CNC Programing
  • Expansion of data management solutions outside of the engineering department.
We have absolutely no reasons to not keep with SolidWorks for the foreseeable future.

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