{"id":109531,"date":"2026-03-18T18:13:53","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T17:13:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/?p=109531"},"modified":"2026-07-30T17:15:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T17:15:05","slug":"solidworks-canada-pricing-offers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/solidworks-canada-tarifs-offres\/","title":{"rendered":"SOLIDWORKS Canada: Pricing &amp; Offers"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Price <span style=\"color: #fc3714;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.solidworks.com\/fr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SOLIDWORKS <\/a><\/span>2026: Why is a subscription more profitable than a perpetual license?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article was written by Steven Poirier from <a href=\"https:\/\/kotonavision.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kotona Vision.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>TL;DR<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Over a 5- to 10-year period, the perpetual license costs less upfront, but the 3DEXPERIENCE subscription is more cost-effective in practice.<\/li>\n<li>The subscription costs less than 5 % of the cost of a drafting and design position (60 to 80 k$ per year in Quebec).<\/li>\n<li>A perpetual license ties up cash flow and becomes a fixed asset; without maintenance, a single bug negates the cost savings.<\/li>\n<li>The subscription includes updates, AI, cloud-based PDM, and flexibility in the number of user licenses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">engineering sector and <b><\/b><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0.24px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);\"><b>computer-aided design<\/b>(CAD) is undergoing a major transformation in its software consumption model. For decades, the industry standard was based on purchasing a perpetual license: a heavy upfront investment allowing the long-term use of a fixed version of the program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0.24px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);\">However, with the acceleration of Industry 4.0, this \u201cstatic\u201d model is showing its limitations in the face of mobility needs, <b>collaboration cloud<\/b> and the interconnection of modern manufacturing systems. Today, Quebec and Canadian companies must choose between owning software assets and the flexibility of a scalable platform like the <b>3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS<\/b>. This choice should not be limited to a simple accounting calculation, but must integrate the return on investment (ROI) related to team productivity, access to artificial intelligence tools, and the reduction of server infrastructure costs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0.24px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);\">The challenge is to ensure your designers have tools that are always compatible with market standards and your clients' requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/solidworks\/\">Learn more about 3DEXPERIENCE<\/a><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: 36px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: -0.54px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);\">1. The shift in the software industry<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, the shift to subscriptions isn't exclusive to CAD; it follows the logic of leaders like Microsoft with Microsoft 365, or accounting and marketing software. Today's manufacturing companies need to manage:<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 More flexible and collaborative teams.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 Frequent software updates to avoid getting stuck on outdated versions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 Integration of platforms that are constantly evolving rather than fixed versions.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"3 Reasons to Adopt SOLIDWORKS Cloud ft. Dassault Syst\u00e8mes\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xcORbSTlClE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: 36px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: -0.54px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);\">2. Financial Analysis: Purchase vs. Subscription SOLIDWORKS<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moreover, it is true that over a 5 to 10-year horizon, a perpetual license is cheaper from a purely monetary standpoint. However, limiting the analysis to the invoice amount is a strategic error that obscures the operational reality of manufacturing companies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>The trap of upfront cost versus cash flow management<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Purchasing a perpetual license requires twice the cash outlay in the first year compared to a subscription. For many businesses, this capital outlay harms cash flow management, whereas <a href=\"\/en\/solidworks\/\">the subscription<\/a> allows for predictable and spread-out spending. Furthermore, the perpetual model becomes a \u201cfrozen asset\u201d: if your business slows down, you're still left with expensive licenses that are no longer used but continue to incur fees if you wish to keep them updated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>The 5% Rule: Software vs. Human Cost<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But to truly understand profitability, you need to shift your perspective. In Quebec, a graphic designer typically costs their company between $60,000 and $80,000 per year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this context:<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2013 A SOLIDWORKS subscription accounts for less than 5 % of the total cost of the workstation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The true cost to the company is not the software, but the time engineers spend working around the technical limitations of an outdated version.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Immediate profitability calculation<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The theoretical savings achieved with a purchasing license amount to approximately 26 $ per month over a 4-year period. However, this savings disappears as soon as you factor in the productivity losses associated with a lack of maintenance and cloud tools:<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Technical support<\/b>Without quick access to an expert, one hour lost on a bug nullifies the monthly savings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>AI Automation<\/b>The absence of automated drawing and conversion functions represents several hours of unnecessary manual work each month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>\u2013 Infrastructure<\/b>Working without PDM Cloud forces the company to invest in its own servers and manually manage file version conflicts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In short, if the subscription allows you to gain just one hour of productivity per month, it immediately becomes more profitable than the purchase option.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: 36px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: -0.54px; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);\">3. The Realities of Canada's Industrial Landscape<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The experience with Canadian manufacturers illustrates three common situations where the perpetual model becomes a hindrance:<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>The complex interconnection:<\/b> A customer may find themselves stuck using SOLIDWORKS 2019 because their ERP software is no longer compatible with recent versions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Resource waste<\/b>Purchasing perpetual licenses can lead to a stockpile of unused software during business slowdowns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>The rigidity of the modules<\/b>: Wanting to add a specific extension (e.g., simulation) to a purchased license often incurs very high upgrade and maintenance fees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS solution addresses this with automatic updates and flexible adjustment of the number of subscriptions.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Why is the $261\/month savings a myth?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consequently, the theoretical savings from the purchase amount to approximately 26,100 per month (126,810 over 4 years). However, the lack of maintenance and modern tools results in massive indirect costs:<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bug fixes: Without technical support<a href=\"https:\/\/kotonavision.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kotona Vision<\/a>), a designer wastes time looking for solutions on their own.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 Lack of AI and automation: The absence of tools for generating plans or batch conversion results in hours of manual work each month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Material costs: Without cloud PDM, the company has to invest in its own servers and manage version conflicts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Monthly indirect cost report: These limitations result in an estimated loss of 49,100\/month, which immediately offsets the 26,100 savings realized on the license.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. The case of the discount <i>day <\/i>Arrears<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A customer who wishes to renew a perpetual license after several years of inactivity is often required to pay the full amount of any unpaid maintenance fees (back payments), which can exceed 5,000 $.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recovery scenario analysis: switching to subscription <a href=\"\/en\/shop\/\">3DEXPERIENCE,<\/a> Customers can take advantage of attractive terms: no late fees and significant discounts (up to 50% off for the first 3 years).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b><span data-fusion-font=\"true\" style=\"font-size: 29px;\">Conclusion: Prioritize<\/span><i><span data-fusion-font=\"true\" style=\"font-size: 29px;\">productivity<\/span><\/i><span data-fusion-font=\"true\" style=\"font-size: 29px;\">on the initial cost<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A design engineer in Quebec earns between $60,000 and $80,000 per year. The cost of <a href=\"\/en\/contact-us\/\">Software<\/a> accounts for less than 5% of that amount. The real question for a company isn\u2019t which software costs the least, but which one allows the team to work without wasting time on low-value-added tasks (searching for files, manual updates, bugs). If the subscription saves just one hour of productivity per month, it is already more cost-effective than the perpetual license.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/testimony\/\">They trust us!<\/a><\/div>\n\n<h2>Frequently asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Is it better to buy SOLIDWORKS or subscribe to it?<\/h3>\n<p>Based on the invoice alone, the perpetual license is cheaper over a 5- to 10-year period. But once you factor in productivity features (support, AI, cloud-based PDM), the 3DEXPERIENCE subscription becomes more cost-effective.<\/p>\n<h3>How much does the software cost per workstation?<\/h3>\n<p>Less than 5 % of the annual cost of a design drafter, estimated at between 60,000 and 80,000 $ in Quebec. The real cost is the time wasted on an outdated version.<\/p>\n<h3>What are the hidden costs of a perpetual license?<\/h3>\n<p>Tied-up cash, a lack of updates and AI, server infrastructure that needs to be managed, and maintenance backlogs that can sometimes exceed 5,000 $ just to update a license.<\/p>\n<h3>What happens if you renew an old perpetual license?<\/h3>\n<p>It is often necessary to pay off overdue maintenance fees. By switching to a subscription plan, you can avoid these overdue fees and take advantage of significant discounts during the first few years.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prix SOLIDWORKS 2026 : Pourquoi l\u2019abonnement est-il plus rentable que la licence perp\u00e9tuelle ? Cet article a \u00e9t\u00e9 r\u00e9dig\u00e9 par Steven Poirier de Kotona Vision. TL;DR Sur 5 \u00e0 10 ans, la licence perp\u00e9tuelle co\u00fbte moins cher sur la facture, mais l&rsquo;abonnement 3DEXPERIENCE est plus rentable en pratique. L&rsquo;abonnement repr\u00e9sente moins de 5 % du [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":117509,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_breakdance_hide_in_design_set":false,"_breakdance_tags":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[391],"tags":[456,409,412,399],"class_list":["post-109531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-archives-xdi","tag-prix-solidworks-2026","tag-solidworks-3dexperience","tag-solidworks-en-ligne","tag-solidworks-for-startups"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=109531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=109531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}