- Excellence rewarded worldwide
- Take it to the next level with Ohmycad
- What is the added value of Ohmycad?
- What is the difference between CATIA V5 and CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE?
- How to get trained on CATIA?
- Is CATIA right for startups and SMEs?
- What are CATIA’s main functions?
- Who is CATIA for?
- What is CATIA?
- How do you go from a test to an optimized price offer (TCO)?
- Compatibility: versions, old files, multi-station work
- SOLIDWORKS certifications: how to get free coupons?
- Who accompanies me after license activation?
- Compatibility: versions, old files, multi-station work
- What unofficial “free” alternatives should I avoid?
- How long is a realistic trial?
- Can I buy directly from Dassault Systèmes?
- How do I install SOLIDWORKS properly (desktop)?
- How much does SOLIDWORKS cost?
- Perpetual licenses vs. subscription: what to choose in 2026?
- Can I work without the cloud with SOLIDWORKS? (local/offline)
- Students/teachers: is there a free or discounted version?
- Does the Startup SOLIDWORKS program provide free access in the 1ʳᵉ year? What are the conditions?
- Is it possible to get SOLIDWORKS legally and free of charge?
- How can I test SOLIDWORKS free of charge (duration, conditions, steps)?
- Where is the data stored?
Ohmycad (ex-XDI): Your Dassault Systèmes Partner for SOLIDWORKS Cloud
Discover how Ohmycad, formerly known as XDI, is reinventing the integration of Dassault Systèmes solutions for agile businesses.
A historic partnership with Dassault Systèmes: From XDI to Ohmycad
Since our creation, our mission has been to propel French engineering to the pinnacle of innovation. Initially known as XDI (Nextcube), we have evolved to become Ohmycadwhile remaining a leading strategic partner for Dassault Systèmes.
This development reflects our commitment to modernity, the move to the Cloud and personalized support for start-ups and industrial SMEs.
Why is Ohmycad the partner of choice for Dassault Systèmes?
Our expertise is based not only on the resale of licenses, but also on an in-depth knowledge of the market.3DEXPERIENCE platform. As a certified integrator, we bridge the gap between the power of the Dassault Systèmes and the concrete flexibility needs of today’s design offices.
Excellence rewarded worldwide
As proof of our commitment, Ohmycad won 6 awards of excellence at 3DEXPERIENCE World. These awards recognize our ability to :
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Support the adoption of new Cloud design roles.
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Integrate tomorrow’s technologies, such asAI, into SOLIDWORKS.
Our vision with Ohmycad (ex-XDI) for Dassault Systèmes
Ohmycad (formerly XDI) was founded on a conviction: CAD must be accessible, mobile and collaborative. Working hand in hand with Dassault Systèmes, we have enabled hundreds of engineers to leave local servers for the power of the Cloud.
Whether through our SOLIDWORKS Cloud offering or our advanced simulation solutions, our identity is linked to our customers’ success on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Today, under the Ohmycad name, we are taking this XDI heritage even further.
Your advantages with a Dassault Systèmes integrator like Ohmycad
Working with us means benefiting from a complete ecosystem for your digital transformation:
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SaaS & Cloud expertise: No more cumbersome installation, move to a flexible subscription model.
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Digital Continuity: A single platform for design, data management (PDM) and simulation.
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Certified support: A team of experts who speak the same language as your engineers.
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Startup Special Offers: Preferential conditions to launch your products quickly.
Take it to the next level with Ohmycad
Would you like to migrate your current licenses to the Cloud or discover Dassault Systèmes solutions for the first time? Our experts are here to guide you.
Free 30-minute Expert Diagnosis: Let’s analyze your CAD needs and your eligibility for acceleration programs.
February 27, 2020: First working meeting in Barcelona with Dassault Systèmes teams. Over these 2 days, more than 1,500 companies will be contacted to present 3DEXPERIENCE, test the pitch, and document the initial arguments for SAAS and the Cloud in the Dassault Systèmes universe. In this photo: Pierre Marc (2nd from right) and Sébastien (1st from right) from XDI, and the Dassault Systèmes Barcelona team.
Back in 2020, the company was originally called Nextcube.IO. It was created byPierre Marc (CEO XDI) and Sébastien, 2 “veterans” of 3D CAD.
Sébastien and his brother Lenny (also an XDI shareholder) founded AvenAo (SOLIDWORKS integrator) in 2002. Sébastien and Lenny sold AvenAo to the Prodways group 4 years ago. Fascinated by engineering (Sébastien holds a DEA in mechanics and simulation from the Ecole Normale Supérieure, Lenny an engineering degree from ESILV), new business models and entrepreneurship, Sébastien and Lenny proposed to Prodways that they join forces to create the “new generation” 3D software integrator. It will be Nextcube.IO XD Innovation. Rather like Orange with Sosh, or Volkswagen with Porsche, the Prodways group will have 2 brands to integrate the best design and innovation tools: AvenAo and Ohmycad. Each brand has its own DNA, its own characteristics, its own “Persona”. Ohmycad’s DNA will be made up of cloud, SAAS, new uses, services for industrial startups, innovation… The idea is to start from scratch, reinvent, and (Re)ask questions. And that’s good!
Pierre Marc, an INSA engineer, was one of Sébastien and Lenny’s first AvenAo colleagues. He joined AvenAo as an intern over 10 years ago, and has never left :). Product engineer, salesman, agency manager, director, COO, he’s done it all at AvenAo, before embracing the ultimate challenge: becoming CEO of a startup! Bam! Pierre Marc is passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation. He’s in charge of Ohmycad’s day-to-day operations, strategy, customers and finances. It’s the big boss :)
So, as we said, we started out as Nextcube.IO. but why change the name after 15 days? Well, because Pierre Marc and Sébastien met a great entrepreneur, Soufiane, based in the US, in Denver, and who since 2017 has launched XD INNOVATION US. This company was the first to “twin” on the integration of 3DEXPERIENCE, in particular around CATIA technologies. XD Innovation US, for example, looks after the world’s biggest 3DEXPERIENCE Full Cloud customer: Canoo. XD Innovation US employs some 30 of the world’s leading engineers specializing in 3DEXPERIENCE integration. XD Innovation has received numerous Dassault Systèmes Awards ( Best US Integrator, Platinum partner …)
Soufiane, Pierre Marc and Sébastien decided to combine their destinies to create a world leader in the integration of the new 3DEXPERIENCE “Full Cloud” solutions: CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, DELAMIA… Nextcube.IO will henceforth be called Ohmycad. The idea is to combine strengths, skills and energy to boost the startup.
So far, so good… that was just a few days before the pandemic, the lockdown… Ohmycad still hadn’t launched its business, and hadn’t recruited its first employees…
To be continued :)
- All
- Buying locally
- Catia
- Cloud
- compatibility
- free license
- Free license
- Free Trial
- Low cost
- Solidworks
- Startup
- startup
- Subscription
- technical support
CATIA V5 is the legacy version, installed locally. CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE is the cloud version, integrated into a collaborative platform that centralizes data, roles, and business processes. It enables digital continuity and greater agility.
Self-learning modules, a resource center & technical knowledge base, certified training, and online courses are available via Dassault Systèmes and its partners such as Ohmycad.
Yes! Contrary to popular belief, CATIA is accessible to small structures, thanks to flexible cloud offers and targeted business roles. Ohmycad supports startups in their adoption of CATIA with training, support and tailored offers.
The CATIA solution enables you to design parts and products with great precision, thanks to advanced parametric and surface modeling, perfectly suited to complex mechanical design projects. It also facilitates the creation and management of complex assemblies, offering powerful tools for structuring, verifying and evolving multi-component assemblies. Kinematic and dynamic simulation functionalities enable the behavior of mechanisms to be analyzed, movements to be validated and performance to be anticipated right from the design phase. The design of sheet metal parts, plastics and industrial molds is supported by dedicated tools designed for industrialization and manufacturing. Native integration with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform connects design, simulation and data management in a single environment. Finally, cloud collaboration combined with centralized product data management (PDM) ensures efficient, secure, real-time collaboration between all teams. Ohmycad experts recommend upgrading from CATIA V5 to CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE to benefit from the full power of the cloud-based tool.
CATIA is designed for engineers, designers, project managers and manufacturers who need a robust, collaborative and scalable design environment. It is used by large corporations as well as SMEs and innovative start-ups. Ohmycad offers a startup program to make industrial software accessible even to cash-poor companies, and provides free access to CATIA for 1 year (with no commitment). Users are often former users of software such as Solidworks who find themselves technically limited when it comes to technical design.
CATIA (Computer-Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application) is a 3D CAD software developed by Dassault Systèmes. It is used to design, model and simulate complex products in a wide range of sectors, including aerospace, automotive, energy and architecture. It is renowned for its geometric precision and modeling power. CATIA is the CAD software of choice when your design assemblies are getting too heavy for tools such as Solidworks or Autocad, Fusion or Solidedge.
After theSolidWorks trial, depending on your needs (number of users, modules, offline/cloud constraints, PDM flow) we align a SolidWorks 2026 pricing offer adapted to your structure and usage (subscription vs. perpetual). The aim: to reduce your total cost of ownership and secure your time-to-production.
With Ohmycad, you can install locally, work with older Solidworks versions, multiply workstations (depending on licenses), collaborate via links to share your 3Ds, and add Simulation/PDM/Render as needed. Best practices in the Knowledge Base and blog. Test Solidworks free of charge!
If your company has an active license, you are entitled to certification vouchers (CSWA/CSWP…) twice a year. The Ohmycad tutorial explains how to create accounts, collect vouchers and prepare for exams.
With Ohmycad, you can install locally, work with older versions, multiply workstations (depending on licenses), collaborate via links to share your 3D, and add Simulation/PDM/Render as needed. Best practices in the KB and blog.
Avoid cracks and dubious sites: beyond the legal risks, they expose you to malware, data loss and lack of support. Prefer legal channels: free trial, Solidworks for Startup program, education versions if eligible – you stay compliant and productive. (Reinforce E-E-A-T in the article with this warning).
Start with the 24-hour online test to validate environment and performance, then request an evaluation key if required (longer scenarios, real files, import/export tests, Simulation). Ohmycad offers a quick audit to set objectives and metrics before purchase.
Yes, for individuals/students and corporate customers. For companies (startups, SMEs),solidworks are purchased via certified partners (such as Ohmycad), who provide guidance, configuration and support (licenses, modules, deployment).
Download the official installer from SOLIDWORKS, connect the 3DEXPERIENCE ID, accept the contract, choose the appropriate Service Pack, then follow the wizard (check disk space, serial number(s)). For multiple deployments: admin images via the manager. Step-by-step guide in the Ohmycad Knowledge Base.
Yes, current licenses integrate Dassault Systèmes’ Outscale cloud infrastructure (SecNumCloud/ISO 27001), but you can install locally, work offline, and remain compatible with earlier versions as required. With Ohmycad, you can test Solidworks free of charge for a few days!
Yes, SOLIDWORKS Student (via schools or individual offers) is offered by Dassault Systèmes. For professional or startup use, opt for the free trial and/or the Solidworks for Startup program piloted by Ohmycad. (Please note the target audience on the page to avoid licensing confusion).
Yes: year 1 on SOLIDWORKS free of charge (and -90% on apps), then -70% year 2, -50% year 3, subject to eligibility (start-ups, admission criteria, etc.). The program includes support (CAD/PDM project manager, support, training) and is non-binding. This is the recommended route for early-stage startups.
Yes, in specific cases: via thefree trial (24-hour online access, followed by a temporary key), and via the Solidworks for Startup program (year 1 free under certain conditions), in official partnership with Dassault Systèmes. In all other cases, “free” access does not comply with licensing requirements and may expose you to legal and security risks. To test in good standing: free trial, then personalized evaluation according to your use.
Ohmycad offers a 24-houronline solidworks test (full functionality). Depending on returns, a temporary ~15-day key can be issued. All you have to do is enter your pro details, then access the test environment. It’s the official, fast way to evaluate performance, with no obligation.
All data is stored in Dassault Systèmes datacenters in Yvelines, France.
