{"id":118410,"date":"2026-11-13T15:47:35","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:47:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/logiciel-cao\/"},"modified":"2026-11-13T15:54:37","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:54:37","slug":"cad-software","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/logiciel-cao\/","title":{"rendered":"CAD software in 2026: 16 programs compared, prices included"},"content":{"rendered":"<hr>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>TL;DR:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>For mechanical design in a business setting, SOLIDWORKS, Inventor and Solid Edge are still the benchmarks, at \u20ac2,265 to \u20ac3,880 excl. VAT per year per seat.<\/li>\n<li>Fusion (\u20ac595 excl. VAT\/year) and Onshape (\u20ac1,410\/year) cost less and run without a powerful Windows PC. FreeCAD is free, commercial use included.<\/li>\n<li>For 2D drawings in DWG format, DraftSight, BricsCAD, or AutoCAD LT are sufficient, at a cost of a few hundred euros per year.<\/li>\n<li>CATIA, NX and Creo make sense for large assemblies and for industries that require them (aerospace, automotive).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr>\n<p><em>Updated November 13, 2026. Prices checked the same day on each vendor's website.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>For designing parts and machines in a business setting, SOLIDWORKS, Inventor, and Solid Edge remain the industry standards, costing between \u20ac2,300 and \u20ac3,900 (excluding tax) per year per workstation. Fusion and Onshape are less expensive and run without a high-performance Windows workstation; FreeCAD is free; and for 2D drafting in DWG format, DraftSight, BricsCAD, or AutoCAD LT get the job done for a few hundred euros per year.<\/p>\n<p>Ohmycad is a Dassault Syst\u00e8mes reseller: we sell SOLIDWORKS, CATIA, xDesign, and DraftSight. We wrote this comparison anyway so that it would also be useful to readers who don\u2019t plan to buy anything from us. <a href=\"#methode\">See how we compared<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"table-des-matieres\">Table of contents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#profil\">Which software for which profile<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#tableau\">Comparison table of 16 CAD software packages<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#methode\">How we compared<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cao-3d-poste\">Desktop 3D CAD software<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cao-cloud\">Cloud-based 3D CAD<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cao-gratuit\">Free CAD software<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dao-2d\">2D drafting: AutoCAD and its alternatives<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#choisir\">How to choose: 6 criteria that actually matter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#erreurs\">The Most Common Mistakes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"profil\">Which software for which profile<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Your situation<\/th>\n<th>Our pick<\/th>\n<th>Also worth a look<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Mechanical Engineering Design Firm: Machinery, Tooling, and Assemblies<\/td>\n<td>SOLIDWORKS<\/td>\n<td>Inventor, Solid Edge<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Small manufacturer that outsources machining or bending, 1 to 3 designers<\/td>\n<td>SOLIDWORKS Standard<\/td>\n<td>Fusion if budget comes first<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hardware startup<\/td>\n<td>Onshape or a startup program (SOLIDWORKS, Solid Edge)<\/td>\n<td>Fusion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Freelancer, personal use or maker<\/td>\n<td>Fusion (free for personal, non-commercial use)<\/td>\n<td>FreeCAD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Large assemblies, complex surfaces, aerospace, automotive<\/td>\n<td>CATIA<\/td>\n<td>NX, Creo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2D drawings and DWG files<\/td>\n<td>DraftSight<\/td>\n<td>BricsCAD, AutoCAD LT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You work on a Mac<\/td>\n<td>Fusion or Onshape<\/td>\n<td>Shapr3D, xDesign (browser)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"tableau\">Comparison table of 16 CAD software packages<\/h2>\n<p>Public subscription prices as of November 13, 2026, in euros (excluding tax) per year per user. When the publisher lists a price including tax, we have adjusted it to exclude tax. When no such distinction is made, we use the listed price.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\" style=\"overflow-x:auto\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Software (vendor)<\/th>\n<th>Main use<\/th>\n<th>2D \/ 3D<\/th>\n<th>Desktop or cloud<\/th>\n<th>License<\/th>\n<th>Admission price for the general public<\/th>\n<th>Native format<\/th>\n<th>Learning curve<\/th>\n<th>Best for<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>SOLIDWORKS (Dassault Syst\u00e8mes)<\/td>\n<td>Parts, assemblies, drawings, sheet metal<\/td>\n<td>3D + drawings<\/td>\n<td>Windows<\/td>\n<td>Subscription or perpetual<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac3,480\/year (Standard); perpetual \u20ac6,300 + \u20ac1,824\/year maintenance<\/td>\n<td>.sldprt \/ .sldasm<\/td>\n<td>Moderate<\/td>\n<td>Engineering firms, industrial SMEs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>CATIA (Dassault Syst\u00e8mes)<\/td>\n<td>Large products, surfaces, integrated disciplines<\/td>\n<td>3D<\/td>\n<td>Windows + 3DEXPERIENCE cloud platform<\/td>\n<td>Subscription or perpetual<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac7,080\/year (entry-level cloud plan)<\/td>\n<td>.CATPart \/ .CATProduct (V5)<\/td>\n<td>Long<\/td>\n<td>Aerospace, automotive, large OEMs and their suppliers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Inventor (Autodesk)<\/td>\n<td>Mechanical design, machines<\/td>\n<td>3D + drawings<\/td>\n<td>Windows<\/td>\n<td>Subscription<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac2,265\/year (\u20ac2,718 incl. VAT)<\/td>\n<td>.ipt \/ .iam<\/td>\n<td>Moderate<\/td>\n<td>Engineering firms already using AutoCAD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Solid Edge (Siemens, Designcenter line)<\/td>\n<td>Mechanical design, sheet metal<\/td>\n<td>3D + drawings<\/td>\n<td>Windows<\/td>\n<td>Subscription<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac3,879.69\/year (Standard), price listed by the publisher<\/td>\n<td>.par \/ .asm<\/td>\n<td>Moderate<\/td>\n<td>Industrial SMBs, sheet metal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Creo (PTC)<\/td>\n<td>Mechanical design, large assemblies<\/td>\n<td>3D<\/td>\n<td>Windows<\/td>\n<td>Subscription<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac4,180\/year (Design Essentials)<\/td>\n<td>.prt \/ .asm<\/td>\n<td>Long<\/td>\n<td>Manufacturers with complex products<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>NX, now Designcenter X (Siemens)<\/td>\n<td>High-end design, integrated CAD and CAM<\/td>\n<td>3D<\/td>\n<td>Desktop; Essentials runs in the browser<\/td>\n<td>Subscription<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac2,260.52\/year (Essentials); \u20ac7,633.24\/year (Standard), prices listed by the publisher<\/td>\n<td>.prt<\/td>\n<td>Long<\/td>\n<td>Automotive, aerospace, special machinery<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>TopSolid (TOPSOLID, formerly Missler)<\/td>\n<td>Integrated CAD and CAM<\/td>\n<td>3D + drawings<\/td>\n<td>Windows<\/td>\n<td>Not published<\/td>\n<td>Not published, quote only<\/td>\n<td>.top<\/td>\n<td>Moderate<\/td>\n<td>Machining shops, sheet metal fabrication, woodworking<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>xDesign (Dassault Syst\u00e8mes)<\/td>\n<td>3D design in the browser<\/td>\n<td>3D<\/td>\n<td>Browser<\/td>\n<td>Subscription<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac2,400\/year<\/td>\n<td>Data stored on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform<\/td>\n<td>Fast<\/td>\n<td>Teams on Macs or light PCs, startups<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fusion (Autodesk)<\/td>\n<td>CAD, CAM and simulation in one tool<\/td>\n<td>3D + drawings<\/td>\n<td>Windows, Mac, browser<\/td>\n<td>Subscription<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac595\/year (\u20ac714 incl. VAT)<\/td>\n<td>.f3d<\/td>\n<td>Fast<\/td>\n<td>Freelancers, small companies, prototyping<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Onshape (PTC)<\/td>\n<td>100% browser-based CAD, multi-user collaboration<\/td>\n<td>3D + drawings<\/td>\n<td>Browser, iOS, Android<\/td>\n<td>Subscription<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac1,410\/year (Standard), price listed by the publisher<\/td>\n<td>No local files; data stored in the publisher's cloud<\/td>\n<td>Fast<\/td>\n<td>Startups, distributed teams<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Shapr3D<\/td>\n<td>Direct modeling, concept design<\/td>\n<td>3D<\/td>\n<td>iPad, Mac, Windows<\/td>\n<td>Subscription<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac150\/year (Solo, \u20ac179.99 incl. VAT)<\/td>\n<td>.shapr<\/td>\n<td>Very fast<\/td>\n<td>Product designers, early 3D sketches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>FreeCAD (open source)<\/td>\n<td>Free parametric CAD<\/td>\n<td>3D + drawings<\/td>\n<td>Windows, Mac, Linux<\/td>\n<td>Free (LGPL)<\/td>\n<td>0 \u20ac<\/td>\n<td>.FCStd<\/td>\n<td>Long<\/td>\n<td>Makers, zero budgets, Linux users<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>AutoCAD (Autodesk)<\/td>\n<td>2D and 3D drafting in DWG format<\/td>\n<td>2D + 3D<\/td>\n<td>Windows, Mac, web<\/td>\n<td>Subscription<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac1,840\/year (\u20ac2,208 incl. VAT); LT (2D) \u20ac480\/year (\u20ac576 incl. VAT)<\/td>\n<td>.dwg<\/td>\n<td>Moderate<\/td>\n<td>Draftsmen, site plans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>DraftSight (Dassault Syst\u00e8mes)<\/td>\n<td>2D drafting in DWG format<\/td>\n<td>2D (3D in Premium)<\/td>\n<td>Windows, Mac<\/td>\n<td>Subscription<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac324\/year (Professional)<\/td>\n<td>.dwg<\/td>\n<td>Fast for an AutoCAD user<\/td>\n<td>2D drawings, working with existing DWG files<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>BricsCAD (Octave)<\/td>\n<td>2D and 3D DWG, mechanical module<\/td>\n<td>2D + 3D<\/td>\n<td>Windows, Mac, Linux<\/td>\n<td>Subscription or perpetual<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac330\/year (Lite); \u20ac998\/year (Mechanical)<\/td>\n<td>.dwg<\/td>\n<td>Fast for an AutoCAD user<\/td>\n<td>DWG drafting, tight budgets<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>ZWCAD (ZWSOFT)<\/td>\n<td>DWG drafting<\/td>\n<td>2D + basic 3D<\/td>\n<td>Windows<\/td>\n<td>Perpetual<\/td>\n<td>\u20ac799 one-time (Standard), maintenance not included<\/td>\n<td>.dwg<\/td>\n<td>Fast for an AutoCAD user<\/td>\n<td>Low-cost 2D seats<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>This comparison covers the design of parts, machines, and technical drawings. Blender, Maya, and Cinema 4D (animation and rendering), Revit and ArchiCAD (architecture), and Rhino (design surfaces) address other needs: we do not include them here.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"methode\">How we compared<\/h2>\n<p>Each price was retrieved on November 13, 2026, from the publisher\u2019s sales page in France, where available. No reseller prices, no estimates: TopSolid does not publish pricing, so the field remains blank. Dassault Syst\u00e8mes prices are taken from the official 2026 price list. The \u00abentry-level price\u00bb is that of the least expensive edition sold for professional use; this is not necessarily the edition you will choose.<\/p>\n<p>The software reviews reflect what we see in pre-sales and among our customers who are switching from another tool. We sell Dassault Syst\u00e8mes software, and we\u2019re sharing this information so you can take it into account. Each software program on the list has at least one use case for which we would recommend it.<\/p>\n<p>Next price update: March 2027.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"cao-3d-poste\">Desktop 3D CAD software<\/h2>\n<p>These are the tools used by engineering firms. They run on Windows workstations, are parametric, and include drafting and assembly management features. They differ less in terms of what they can do than in terms of their ecosystem, price, and the skills available on the market.<\/p>\n<h3>SOLIDWORKS<\/h3>\n<p>Dassault Syst\u00e8mes' 3D CAD software for mechanical design. It covers part design, assembly, sheet metal, welding, and drafting, with modules for simulation, CAM, and PDM. It can be learned in a few weeks, and many schools offer training in it, which makes recruitment easier.<\/p>\n<p>Its drawback: it only runs on Windows, and its starting price is higher than that of Fusion or Onshape. Expect to pay \u20ac3,480 per year (excluding tax) for the Standard plan, \u20ac4,152 for Professional, and \u20ac5,496 for Premium, or a one-time purchase starting at \u20ac6,300 plus maintenance fees.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Verdict<\/strong> : the default choice for a mechanical engineering firm looking for a comprehensive tool and trained candidates. <a href=\"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/official-3dexperience-solidworks-price-list\/\">See all SOLIDWORKS 2026 prices<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Autodesk Inventor<\/h3>\n<p>SOLIDWORKS' direct competitor at Autodesk. It integrates well with companies that already use AutoCAD for drafting and manage their data in Vault. Functionally, the two cover the same scope.<\/p>\n<p>It is available only as a subscription: \u20ac2,265 per year, excluding tax (listed price: \u20ac2,718, including tax). Autodesk also offers a pay-as-you-go option using tokens (Flex).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Verdict<\/strong> : the right choice if you are already in the Autodesk ecosystem. If not, test it against SOLIDWORKS on your own parts before you decide.<\/p>\n<h3>Solid Edge<\/h3>\n<p>Siemens' mechanical CAD software, now sold under the Designcenter brand. What sets it apart is synchronous technology, which lets you edit imported geometry that has no feature history. It is popular for sheet metal work.<\/p>\n<p>The Standard Edition is priced at \u20ac3,879.69 per year (Siemens does not specify whether this is before or after tax). Siemens offers a free Community Edition for personal, non-commercial use, and one year free for eligible startups.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Verdict<\/strong> : a real alternative for SMBs that rework a lot of supplier files.<\/p>\n<h3>PTC Creo<\/h3>\n<p>The successor to Pro\/ENGINEER, one of the first parametric CAD programs. It can handle large assemblies and complex products, though it takes longer to learn.<\/p>\n<p>Only the Design Essentials edition is available for purchase online: \u20ac4,180 (excluding tax) per year for a named-user license, and \u20ac5,120 for a floating license. Higher-level editions must be purchased through PTC or a reseller.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Verdict<\/strong> : relevant when your customers or your parent company already work in Creo.<\/p>\n<h3>NX (Designcenter X)<\/h3>\n<p>Siemens' high-end products, which are used in the automotive, aerospace, and special-purpose machinery industries\u2014often with integrated CAM\u2014have been renamed by Siemens: the product line is now called Designcenter X.<\/p>\n<p>The entry-level Essentials edition runs in the browser and costs \u20ac2,260.52 per year. The Standard edition, which Siemens says is its best-selling version, costs \u20ac7,633.24 per year (excluding or including tax\u2014not specified).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Verdict<\/strong> : Consider this if your industry requires it. For a startup SME, it\u2019s more than you need.<\/p>\n<h3>CATIA<\/h3>\n<p>Dassault Syst\u00e8mes\u2019 software has its roots in the aerospace industry. It handles products consisting of several thousand parts, Class A surfaces, and integrated disciplines (electrical, composites, piping). It is the industry standard among many aerospace and automotive manufacturers\u2014and, consequently, among their suppliers.<\/p>\n<p>The entry-level cloud offering starts at \u20ac7,080 per year, excluding tax. CATIA V5 remains available for those who need to work with that format.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Verdict<\/strong> : the right tool when the project or client requires it. For standard mechanical parts, you\u2019d be paying for unnecessary complexity. See our comparison for more details <a href=\"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/catia-vs-solidworks\/\">CATIA vs SOLIDWORKS<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>TopSolid<\/h3>\n<p>Software from the French company TOPSOLID (formerly Missler Software). It combines CAD, CAM, and data management in a single environment, which appeals to machine shops that design and machine under one roof.<\/p>\n<p>TOPSOLID does not publish prices: everything goes through a quote. Students can get a license for \u20ac24 incl. VAT per year if their school is registered.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Verdict<\/strong> : Something to seriously consider if your business is primarily manufacturing.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"cao-cloud\">Cloud-based 3D CAD<\/h2>\n<p>No complicated setup, no license server, and often all you need is a Mac. In exchange, your data is stored with the software provider: check where it\u2019s hosted and how to retrieve it if you leave.<\/p>\n<h3>3DEXPERIENCE xDesign<\/h3>\n<p>Dassault Syst\u00e8mes' browser-based 3D CAD, connected to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. It runs on Mac and PC alike and shares data with SOLIDWORKS and CATIA on the same platform. \u20ac2,400 excl. VAT per year. <a href=\"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/10-tips-for-getting-to-know-cao-with-xdesign\/\">10 things to know to get started with xDesign<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Verdict<\/strong> : Dassault Syst\u00e8mes' gateway for a Mac-based team.<\/p>\n<h3>Autodesk Fusion<\/h3>\n<p>CAD, CAM, simulation, and electronics in a single subscription, available on Windows, Mac, and in a web browser. At \u20ac595 per year (excluding tax; \u20ac714 including tax), it\u2019s the most affordable all-in-one professional tool on this list. A free version is available for individuals earning less than $1,000 per year for non-commercial use.<\/p>\n<p>Its limits show up on large assemblies and when several designers work on the same data.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Verdict<\/strong> : the best value for money for a freelancer or small business. If your business grows, plan to transition to a design office tool.<\/p>\n<h3>Onshape<\/h3>\n<p>PTC's fully browser-based CAD software, with built-in version control and support for simultaneous collaboration. \u20ac1,410 per year for the Standard edition, \u20ac2,350 for the Professional edition (prices listed by the publisher). The free plan is for non-commercial use only and makes your documents public. Startups can obtain free licenses upon application.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Verdict<\/strong> : excellent for a team spread across several sites. Less suited if you have to keep your files on premises for contractual reasons.<\/p>\n<h3>Shapr3D<\/h3>\n<p>A direct modeling tool designed for the iPad and stylus, also available on Mac and Windows. You can create a shape in just a few minutes. \u20ac150 per year (excluding tax) for the Solo plan, \u20ac179.99 (including tax). For detailed drawings and complex assemblies, it is not a substitute for a design office tool.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Verdict<\/strong> : a tool for concept and product design, often used in conjunction with another.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"cao-gratuit\">Free CAD software<\/h2>\n<p>FreeCAD is the only truly free software on this list, even for commercial use. It is open source (LGPL license), parametric, and runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. On the other hand, it takes longer to learn, and there is no vendor support.<\/p>\n<p>The other free offers all come with conditions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fusion<\/strong> : personal, non-commercial use, revenue under $1,000 a year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Onshape<\/strong> : non-commercial use, public documents.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Solid Edge Community Edition<\/strong> : for personal, non-commercial use; its files cannot be opened in the paid versions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Education<\/strong> : Autodesk, Siemens, PTC, Onshape and Shapr3D offer free licenses to students and teachers, usually for one renewable year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For SOLIDWORKS, legal options exist too, each with its own conditions: we cover them in <a href=\"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/how-to-get-solidworks-for-free-and-legally\/\">how to get SOLIDWORKS for free, legally<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Our take<\/strong> : for learning or a personal project, free is enough. To sell parts, check the license terms before your first customer quote.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"dao-2d\">2D drafting: AutoCAD and its alternatives<\/h2>\n<p>If what you need is to produce and edit drawings in DWG format, there is no point paying for 3D CAD. The market is simple: AutoCAD is the benchmark, and several alternatives use the same commands for much less.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>AutoCAD<\/strong> : \u20ac1,840 per year, excluding tax (\u20ac2,208 including tax), with a suite of industry-specific tools. AutoCAD LT, limited to 2D, costs \u20ac480 per year, excluding tax (\u20ac576 including tax).<\/li>\n<li><strong>DraftSight<\/strong> (Dassault Syst\u00e8mes): \u20ac324 per year (excluding tax) for the Professional edition. Interface and commands similar to AutoCAD; available for Windows and Mac. See also <a href=\"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/draftsight-solidworks-industrial\/\">DraftSight with SOLIDWORKS<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>BricsCAD<\/strong> (Octave): \u20ac330 excl. VAT per year for Lite, \u20ac998 for Mechanical, maintenance included. The only one on the list that also runs on Linux. A perpetual license is available.<\/li>\n<li><strong>ZWCAD<\/strong> : \u20ac799 excl. VAT one-time for Standard, perpetual license, maintenance not included. Windows only.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Our take<\/strong> : A draftsman who comes from AutoCAD can adapt to DraftSight or BricsCAD in just a few days. For every ten workstations, the cost difference between AutoCAD and DraftSight exceeds \u20ac15,000 (excluding tax) per year.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"choisir\">How to choose: 6 criteria that actually matter<\/h2>\n<p><strong>1. What you design.<\/strong> Machined parts and assemblies consisting of a few hundred components do not require the same tools as car bodies or airplanes. That is the first filter.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. What your customers and suppliers use.<\/strong> Exchanging data via STEP works, but you lose the design history. If your client uses CATIA or NX, that\u2019s a major drawback.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Data management.<\/strong> As soon as two designers work on the same files, you need a PDM or a cloud platform. Check what is included and what is an option. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/pdm-technical-data-management\/\">PDM guide<\/a> explains the topic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Three-year cost.<\/strong> License, maintenance, training, workstation. Software that costs \u20ac1,000 less but requires two additional weeks of training isn't actually cheaper.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. The workstation.<\/strong> SOLIDWORKS, Inventor, Solid Edge and Creo need a Windows PC. On a Mac, look at Fusion, Onshape, Shapr3D or xDesign.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. Available skills.<\/strong> Software that your future candidates have learned to use in school reduces training time. Ask schools in your area what they teach.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"erreurs\">The Most Common Mistakes<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Choosing on license price alone.<\/strong> The job, the training, and the time lost during the first few months cost more than the difference between the two degrees.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Buying the most powerful tool \"to be safe\".<\/strong> A tool designed for the aerospace industry slows down an engineering firm that manufactures frames and housings. You pay the price for that complexity every day.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Underestimating data migration.<\/strong> Switching from one software program to another does not transfer the build history. Plan ahead for how you will handle your old files.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Forgetting the conditions of free licenses.<\/strong> Selling a work created under a non-commercial license may result in a compliance requirement from the publisher.<\/p>\n<section class=\"omc-faq\" aria-labelledby=\"omc-faq-article\">\n<p class=\"omc-faq__eyebrow\">FAQ<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"omc-faq__title\" id=\"omc-faq-article\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<details class=\"omc-faq__item\">\n<summary>Is there good free CAD software?<\/summary>\n<p>Yes, FreeCAD, free even for commercial use. Fusion, Onshape and Solid Edge have free versions, but they are limited to personal or non-commercial use.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"omc-faq__item\">\n<summary>Which CAD software runs on a Mac?<\/summary>\n<p>Fusion, Shapr3D, and BricsCAD can be installed on a Mac. Onshape and xDesign run in a browser. SOLIDWORKS, Inventor, Solid Edge, and Creo require Windows.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"omc-faq__item\">\n<summary>What is the difference between CAD and 2D drafting?<\/summary>\n<p>2D drafting (computer-aided drafting) produces drawings, mostly in 2D. CAD (computer-aided design) models the part in 3D, then generates the drawings, bills of materials and manufacturing data from it.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"omc-faq__item\">\n<summary>How much does professional CAD software cost?<\/summary>\n<p>Between \u20ac600 and \u20ac4,200 excl. VAT per year for most of the tools in this comparison. Fusion sits at the low end of the range, SOLIDWORKS, Solid Edge and Creo at the high end. High-end packages (CATIA, NX Standard) go above \u20ac7,000 per year.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"omc-faq__item\">\n<summary>Which CAD software is best for beginners?<\/summary>\n<p>If you want to learn on your own, try Fusion or FreeCAD, which are free under certain conditions. If you\u2019re aiming for a career in a design office, try SOLIDWORKS, which many companies use and many schools teach.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"omc-faq__item\">\n<summary>Cloud or desktop CAD: which should you choose?<\/summary>\n<p>The cloud eliminates the need for installation and makes it easier to work across multiple locations. The desktop version is better suited for large assemblies and keeps your files on your own computer. Many companies combine the two.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"omc-faq__item\">\n<summary>Can you open a SOLIDWORKS file in another program?<\/summary>\n<p>Yes, using a neutral format such as STEP or Parasolid. The geometry is transferred, but the construction history and parameters are not.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details class=\"omc-faq__item\">\n<summary>Can you switch CAD software without losing your files?<\/summary>\n<p>Geometry, yes\u2014by exporting to STEP. Assembly trees and associative drawings, no\u2014plan to keep a license for the old tool or to recreate the parts you modify frequently.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>Torn between SOLIDWORKS, CATIA and another tool? Estimate the exact cost of your setup with our <a href=\"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/price-simulator\/\">price simulator<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/contact-us\/\">talk to an engineer<\/a> who will tell you honestly if another package would suit you better.<\/p>\n<p>After the purchase, we'll stay here: <a href=\"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/ohmycare-package\/\">Ohmycare<\/a> for day-to-day support, and <a href=\"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/training\/\">training<\/a> to build up your teams' skills.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>16 logiciels de CAO compar\u00e9s en 2026 : SOLIDWORKS, Inventor, Fusion, CATIA, FreeCAD, AutoCAD\u2026 Usage, prix publics relev\u00e9s le 13\/11, licence et profil type, par un revendeur qui l&rsquo;assume.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":118409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_breakdance_hide_in_design_set":false,"_breakdance_tags":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[498],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-118410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutoriels-astuces"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118410","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\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118410"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":118411,"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118410\/revisions\/118411"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohmycad.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}