# CATIA vs Inventor Nastran Comparison

| | CATIA | Inventor Nastran | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.2 out of 5 | 4.0 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 255 | 23 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Enterprise (49.6% of reviews) | Enterprise (40.9% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### CATIA

Pros:
- 3D Modeling (3 reviews)
- Design Experience (3 reviews)

Cons:
- Complex Interface (2 reviews)
- Complex UI (2 reviews)

### Inventor Nastran

Pros:
- Ease of Use (1 reviews)
- Setup Ease (1 reviews)

Cons:
- Assembly Issues (1 reviews)
- Meshing Issues (1 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | CATIA | Inventor Nastran | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.7 (219 reviews) | 7.5 (22 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 7.3 (222 reviews) | 7.1 (22 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.2 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 7.7 (11 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 7.7 (195 reviews) | 6.6 (22 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 7.8 (13 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.1 (217 reviews) | 7.3 (22 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### CATIA

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### Inventor Nastran

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Simulation & CAE

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **CATIA** | N/A | N/A |
| **Inventor Nastran** | N/A | N/A |

#### Design

| Feature | CATIA | Inventor Nastran | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D/solid modeling Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Drawing Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Editing Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Rendering tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Tools

| Feature | CATIA | Inventor Nastran | 
|---|---|---|
| **Fluid analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Finite element analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multibody dynamics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Work

| Feature | CATIA | Inventor Nastran | 
|---|---|---|
| **Discrete event modeling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Continuous event modeling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Mechanical event simulation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Manufacturing process simulation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Integrate** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Environment

| Feature | CATIA | Inventor Nastran | 
|---|---|---|
| **Hardware support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Task** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Manage Multiple Profiles** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Command Clarity** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **CATIA** | 8.4/10 | 9 |
| **Inventor Nastran** | N/A | N/A |

#### Tools - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Feature | CATIA | Inventor Nastran | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D/solid modeling Tools** | 9.2 (8 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Rendering Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Drawing Tools** | 9.2 (6 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Editing Tools** | 8.7 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Text Editing Tools** | 8.0 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### File Options - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Feature | CATIA | Inventor Nastran | 
|---|---|---|
| **Export Files** | 9.3 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Import Files** | 8.7 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File Interoperability** | 8.0 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Backwards compatibility** | 8.3 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File size** | 7.9 (7 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Customization - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Feature | CATIA | Inventor Nastran | 
|---|---|---|
| **Custom Commands** | 8.7 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Scripts** | 8.0 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Menus** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Interface** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Environment - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Feature | CATIA | Inventor Nastran | 
|---|---|---|
| **Hardware support** | 7.0 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Task-based interfaces** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Manage Multiple Profiles** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Command Clarity** | 7.7 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Simulation & CAE Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/simulation-cae)

**Unique to CATIA (1):** [Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/mechanical-computer-aided-design-mcad)



---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | CATIA | Inventor Nastran | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 21.7% | 22.7% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 28.7% | 36.4% | 
| **Enterprise** | 49.6% | 40.9% | 

### By Industry

#### CATIA

- **Automotive:** 26.3%
- **Aviation & Aerospace:** 21.7%
- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 13.8%
- **Design:** 9.6%
- **Airlines/Aviation:** 5.0%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 3.3%
- **Higher Education:** 2.5%
- **Defense & Space:** 1.7%
- **Computer Software:** 1.3%
- **Medical Devices:** 1.3%
- **Other:** 13.8%

#### Inventor Nastran

- **Automotive:** 31.8%
- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 13.6%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 13.6%
- **Staffing and Recruiting:** 9.1%
- **Oil & Energy:** 9.1%
- **Research:** 4.5%
- **Mining & Metals:** 4.5%
- **Machinery:** 4.5%
- **Entertainment:** 4.5%
- **Aviation & Aerospace:** 4.5%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to CATIA

- [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (695 reviews)
- [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (643 reviews)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (599 reviews)
- [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (519 reviews)
- [Inventor](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (440 reviews)
- [Creo](https://www.g2.com/products/creo-2025-08-26/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (200 reviews)
- [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1930 reviews)
- [Designcenter NX](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-nx/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (527 reviews)
- [Rhinoceros](https://www.g2.com/products/rhinoceros/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (191 reviews)
- [FreeCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/freecad/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (61 reviews)

### Alternatives to Inventor Nastran

- [Ansys Fluent](https://www.g2.com/products/ansys-fluent/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (122 reviews)
- [Ansys Mechanical](https://www.g2.com/products/ansys-mechanical/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (92 reviews)
- [SolidWorks Simulation](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-solidworks-simulation/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (60 reviews)
- [Abaqus](https://www.g2.com/products/abaqus/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (54 reviews)
- [COMSOL Multiphysics®](https://www.g2.com/products/comsol-multiphysics/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (36 reviews)
- [Altair OptiStruct](https://www.g2.com/products/altair-optistruct/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (34 reviews)
- [Simcenter Femap](https://www.g2.com/products/simcenter-femap/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (16 reviews)
- [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (643 reviews)
- [MATLAB](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (770 reviews)
- [SimScale](https://www.g2.com/products/simscale/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (279 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### CATIA

- Title: [What is CATIA used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-catia-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "It is high-end CAD software used for creating 3D data in manufacturing industry."
- Title: [What is inside Catia software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-inside-catia-software) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "CAD 3D models from product industry and engineering"
- Title: [What is Catia software used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-catia-software-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "CATIA software is commonly used for:
1. Plastic and Metal parts design.
2. Wire harness design.
3. Drafting and Drawing
4. Mould and Die design.
5...."
- Title: [If CATIA provide solution for fluid dynamics problem it will be good](https://www.g2.com/discussions/31774-if-catia-provide-solution-for-fluid-dynamics-problem-it-will-be-good) — 1 comment, 2 upvotes
  > **Top comment:** "Catia has computational fluid dynamic (CFD)
You have to add in floEFD into your catia. 
It can be added from version 5 or above. 

Similarly you can also..."

### Inventor Nastran

No discussions available for this product.

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/catia-vs-inventor-nastran)