# Creo Simulation, SOLIDWORKS, Autodesk Fusion vs Altium Develop Comparison

| | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.4 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 17 | 643 | 519 | 997 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (35.7% of reviews) | Small-Business (44.3% of reviews) | Small-Business (68.4% of reviews) | Small-Business (58.2% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | $680.00 1 Subscription Per Year | Starting at $1,990.00 Per Year | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Creo Simulation

**Not enough data**

### SOLIDWORKS

Pros:
- Ease of Use (34 reviews)
- Features (28 reviews)

Cons:
- Performance Issues (16 reviews)
- Slow Performance (15 reviews)

### Autodesk Fusion

Pros:
- Ease of Use (29 reviews)
- Features (21 reviews)

Cons:
- Difficult Learning (11 reviews)
- Learning Curve (11 reviews)

### Altium Develop

Pros:
- Ease of Use (269 reviews)
- Features (217 reviews)

Cons:
- Learning Curve (93 reviews)
- Expensive (88 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.5 (9 reviews) | 8.8 (535 reviews) | 8.8 (446 reviews) | 8.9 (818 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.7 (9 reviews) | 8.6 (540 reviews) | 8.6 (451 reviews) | 8.1 (836 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | Not enough data | 8.3 (112 reviews) | 8.8 (119 reviews) | 8.3 (374 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | Not enough data | 8.0 (47 reviews) | 8.5 (54 reviews) | 8.3 (137 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.3 (8 reviews) | 8.2 (475 reviews) | 8.4 (393 reviews) | 8.3 (732 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | Not enough data | 8.3 (47 reviews) | 8.8 (55 reviews) | 8.5 (131 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 7.1 (8 reviews) | 8.6 (529 reviews) | 9.0 (441 reviews) | 8.9 (799 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Creo Simulation

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### SOLIDWORKS

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### Autodesk Fusion

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Autodesk Fusion 

Price: $680.00 1 Subscription Per Year

Description: Autodesk Fusion is a cloud-based 3D modeling, CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB software platform for professional product design and manufacturing.

Key Features:
- Design and engineer products how you want to ensure aesthetics, form, fit, and function.
- Engineer, design, and create anything with comprehensive electronics and PCB design tools.
- Save time and money and get quality parts out the door faster.

[Browse all 4 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Altium Develop

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Altium Develop Pricing

Price: Starting at $1,990.00 Per Year

Description: Altium Develop offers subscription-based pricing starting at $1,990 per year per workspace, which includes one ECAD Design Author seat and a shared collaboration workspace for projects, libraries, and design data. Additional ECAD Design Author seats can be added for $995 per user per year, with support for up to four additional authors per workspace. The platform also includes unlimited free collaborator access for review, commenting, task management, and BOM visibility at no extra cost. This pricing model is designed to help teams scale design capacity through a per-seat subscription while enabling broad cross-functional collaboration without increasing overall costs.

Key Features:
- Unified Workspace & Collaboration: Cloud-based platform (Altium 365) for PCB design, schematics, MCAD models, and BOMs with real-time collaboration across teams
- Component & Library Management: Centralized component libraries with traceability, lifecycle management, and part request workflows
- Advanced PCB Design: Support for high-speed PCB design, HDI, rigid-flex, and 3D-MID using Altium Designer

[Learn more about Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Creo Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **SOLIDWORKS** | 8.7/10 | 53 |
| **Autodesk Fusion** | 8.7/10 | 180 |
| **Altium Develop** | N/A | N/A |

#### CAD to CAM

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **CAD-CAM Import** | Not enough data | 9.0 (42 reviews) | 8.9 (152 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **CAM Data Exchange** | Not enough data | 8.8 (42 reviews) | 8.8 (138 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **CAD/CAM Compatibility** | Not enough data | 8.9 (43 reviews) | 8.8 (148 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### CNC Programming

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **CNC Workflows** | Not enough data | 8.7 (39 reviews) | 8.7 (138 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **CNC Feature Recognition** | Not enough data | 8.6 (38 reviews) | 8.4 (130 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Programming Control** | Not enough data | 8.4 (37 reviews) | 8.4 (130 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Machining

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Job Set-up** | Not enough data | 8.6 (39 reviews) | 8.5 (135 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Operations** | Not enough data | 8.7 (39 reviews) | 8.7 (133 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Tooling and Toolpaths** | Not enough data | 8.8 (39 reviews) | 8.7 (135 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### General-Purpose CAD

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Creo Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **SOLIDWORKS** | 8.8/10 | 112 |
| **Autodesk Fusion** | 8.6/10 | 102 |
| **Altium Develop** | 8.4/10 | 82 |

#### Design

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Drawing** | Not enough data | 9.5 (107 reviews) | 9.1 (100 reviews) | 8.5 (75 reviews) | 
| **Modeling** | Not enough data | 9.4 (107 reviews) | 9.2 (100 reviews) | 8.3 (72 reviews) | 
| **Visualize ** | Not enough data | 9.2 (103 reviews) | 9.1 (99 reviews) | 8.6 (73 reviews) | 
| **Rendering** | Not enough data | 8.1 (100 reviews) | 8.8 (97 reviews) | 8.2 (71 reviews) | 

#### Edit

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **File Import ** | Not enough data | 8.5 (98 reviews) | 8.4 (96 reviews) | 8.0 (71 reviews) | 
| **Push/Pull** | Not enough data | 8.4 (90 reviews) | 8.7 (92 reviews) | 8.1 (65 reviews) | 
| **Views** | Not enough data | 9.3 (101 reviews) | 8.8 (94 reviews) | 8.8 (69 reviews) | 
| **Grips ** | Not enough data | 8.3 (85 reviews) | 8.7 (87 reviews) | 8.0 (63 reviews) | 

#### Collaboration

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Annotate** | Not enough data | 8.6 (94 reviews) | 8.1 (86 reviews) | 8.7 (67 reviews) | 
| **Documentation ** | Not enough data | 9.0 (96 reviews) | 8.1 (94 reviews) | 8.5 (68 reviews) | 
| **Data Extract** | Not enough data | 8.4 (90 reviews) | 8.3 (90 reviews) | 8.2 (64 reviews) | 

### CAD Libraries

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Creo Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **SOLIDWORKS** | 8.9/10 | 35 |
| **Autodesk Fusion** | 8.6/10 | 31 |
| **Altium Develop** | N/A | N/A |

#### Library

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Categorize** | Not enough data | 8.9 (29 reviews) | 9.1 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Search** | Not enough data | 8.6 (28 reviews) | 8.3 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Deduplication** | Not enough data | 8.4 (28 reviews) | 8.3 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Feedback** | Not enough data | 8.6 (23 reviews) | 8.5 (26 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### CAD

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Types** | Not enough data | 8.8 (24 reviews) | 8.6 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Models** | Not enough data | 9.4 (30 reviews) | 8.9 (29 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Compatibility** | Not enough data | 9.1 (29 reviews) | 9.1 (29 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Integration

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Catalogs** | Not enough data | 8.5 (26 reviews) | 8.6 (28 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **CAD & PLM** | Not enough data | 9.6 (29 reviews) | 8.7 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **ERP** | Not enough data | 8.6 (25 reviews) | 8.3 (20 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### CAD Data Exchange

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Creo Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **SOLIDWORKS** | 8.8/10 | 34 |
| **Autodesk Fusion** | 8.7/10 | 28 |
| **Altium Develop** | N/A | N/A |

#### Data

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **3D Format** | Not enough data | 9.3 (29 reviews) | 9.0 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Data Quality** | Not enough data | 8.8 (27 reviews) | 8.7 (23 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Extra Information** | Not enough data | 8.3 (26 reviews) | 8.4 (20 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Standard Format** | Not enough data | 9.0 (27 reviews) | 8.6 (23 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Translate** | Not enough data | 8.3 (24 reviews) | 8.6 (23 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Validation** | Not enough data | 8.7 (25 reviews) | 8.8 (22 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Logistics

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Integrate** | Not enough data | 9.1 (25 reviews) | 8.5 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Additive Manufacturing

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Creo Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **SOLIDWORKS** | 7.9/10 | 66 |
| **Autodesk Fusion** | 8.1/10 | 191 |
| **Altium Develop** | N/A | N/A |

#### File Support - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **STL Compatible** | Not enough data | 8.7 (61 reviews) | 9.0 (178 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **3MF Compatible** | Not enough data | 8.5 (47 reviews) | 8.7 (100 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **OBJ Compatible** | Not enough data | 8.4 (52 reviews) | 8.7 (142 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### File Editing - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Mesh Repair** | Not enough data | 7.5 (55 reviews) | 7.8 (144 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File Editing** | Not enough data | 8.6 (60 reviews) | 8.6 (171 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Software Integrations - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Standalone Slicer** | Not enough data | 7.6 (49 reviews) | 7.8 (127 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Inetgrated 3D Modeling** | Not enough data | 8.8 (58 reviews) | 9.1 (167 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Software Type - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Cloud-based Platform** | Not enough data | 7.7 (48 reviews) | 8.5 (173 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Downloadable Application** | Not enough data | 8.6 (53 reviews) | 8.9 (170 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **AI Text-to-Image** | Not enough data | 6.0 (20 reviews) | 6.0 (23 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text-to-3D** | Not enough data | 6.1 (20 reviews) | 6.1 (24 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Building Preparation - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Material Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Building Simulation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Slicing Optimization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Product Data Management (PDM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Creo Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **SOLIDWORKS** | N/A | N/A |
| **Autodesk Fusion** | N/A | N/A |
| **Altium Develop** | 8.5/10 | 44 |

#### Metadata

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Repository** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.4 (39 reviews) | 
| **Taxonomy** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **Types** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 

#### Data Management

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Version Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (43 reviews) | 
| **Alignment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **Workflows** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **Lifecycle** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **AI Image-to-Text** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 

### CAD Viewers

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Creo Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **SOLIDWORKS** | 9.0/10 | 49 |
| **Autodesk Fusion** | 8.7/10 | 117 |
| **Altium Develop** | N/A | N/A |

#### File Options

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Import files** | Not enough data | 8.9 (44 reviews) | 9.1 (111 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Export files** | Not enough data | 9.1 (43 reviews) | 8.7 (109 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **View 2D files** | Not enough data | 9.1 (43 reviews) | 8.3 (105 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **View 3D files** | Not enough data | 9.3 (44 reviews) | 9.3 (112 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Batch convert files** | Not enough data | 8.3 (35 reviews) | 7.9 (73 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File size** | Not enough data | 8.3 (41 reviews) | 8.4 (101 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Tools

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Dimensioning tools** | Not enough data | 9.5 (43 reviews) | 8.3 (112 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Change units** | Not enough data | 9.1 (41 reviews) | 8.8 (109 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **3D/solid modeling tools** | Not enough data | 9.2 (43 reviews) | 9.2 (109 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Design

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Drawing** | Not enough data | 9.4 (43 reviews) | 8.8 (111 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### PCB Design

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Creo Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **SOLIDWORKS** | 8.2/10 | 15 |
| **Autodesk Fusion** | 8.5/10 | 36 |
| **Altium Develop** | 8.6/10 | 726 |

#### Design

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **PCB layout editing** | Not enough data | 7.9 (12 reviews) | 8.5 (31 reviews) | 9.1 (684 reviews) | 
| **Schematic editor** | Not enough data | 7.8 (12 reviews) | 8.4 (32 reviews) | 9.2 (677 reviews) | 

#### Tools

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **3D modeling tools** | Not enough data | 9.2 (13 reviews) | 9.1 (34 reviews) | 7.6 (632 reviews) | 
| **Component placement** | Not enough data | 8.7 (13 reviews) | 8.8 (34 reviews) | 8.9 (661 reviews) | 

#### Library

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Component libraries** | Not enough data | 8.2 (13 reviews) | 8.3 (32 reviews) | 8.3 (677 reviews) | 

#### Platform

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Board size** | Not enough data | 8.6 (13 reviews) | 8.6 (33 reviews) | 9.1 (661 reviews) | 
| **Layers** | Not enough data | 8.1 (12 reviews) | 8.5 (32 reviews) | 9.2 (664 reviews) | 

#### Customization

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Custom commands** | Not enough data | 7.8 (12 reviews) | 7.8 (33 reviews) | Feature Not Available | 
| **Custom interface** | Not enough data | 8.3 (12 reviews) | 8.2 (32 reviews) | 7.8 (583 reviews) | 

### Simulation & CAE

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Creo Simulation** | 8.6/10 | 11 |
| **SOLIDWORKS** | 8.2/10 | 64 |
| **Autodesk Fusion** | 8.4/10 | 127 |
| **Altium Develop** | N/A | N/A |

#### Design

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **3D/solid modeling Tools** | 9.0 (7 reviews) | 9.2 (62 reviews) | 9.1 (116 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Drawing Tools** | 8.8 (7 reviews) | 9.0 (62 reviews) | 8.8 (117 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Editing Tools** | 8.3 (7 reviews) | 8.8 (62 reviews) | 9.0 (116 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Rendering tools** | 8.1 (7 reviews) | 7.7 (60 reviews) | 8.6 (108 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Tools

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Fluid analysis** | 8.1 (7 reviews) | 8.0 (54 reviews) | 7.2 (63 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Finite element analysis** | 9.0 (8 reviews) | 7.9 (56 reviews) | 8.4 (81 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Multibody dynamics** | 8.6 (7 reviews) | 7.4 (49 reviews) | 8.1 (73 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Work

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Discrete event modeling** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | 7.6 (41 reviews) | 8.0 (66 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Continuous event modeling** | 8.6 (6 reviews) | 7.8 (42 reviews) | 8.2 (67 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Mechanical event simulation** | 8.8 (8 reviews) | 8.3 (51 reviews) | 8.4 (83 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Manufacturing process simulation** | 9.2 (6 reviews) | 8.1 (44 reviews) | 8.4 (76 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Integrate** | 9.0 (8 reviews) | 8.4 (47 reviews) | 8.2 (72 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Environment

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Hardware support** | 8.6 (6 reviews) | 8.3 (53 reviews) | 8.6 (97 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Task** | 8.3 (6 reviews) | 8.4 (51 reviews) | 8.6 (87 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Manage Multiple Profiles** | 8.1 (6 reviews) | 8.2 (49 reviews) | 8.4 (84 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Command Clarity** | 8.8 (7 reviews) | 8.6 (53 reviews) | 9.1 (102 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Creo Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **SOLIDWORKS** | 8.4/10 | 45 |
| **Autodesk Fusion** | 8.9/10 | 22 |
| **Altium Develop** | 8.0/10 | 23 |

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

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **3D/solid modeling Tools** | Not enough data | 9.4 (36 reviews) | 8.8 (20 reviews) | 8.3 (20 reviews) | 
| **Rendering Tools** | Not enough data | 8.7 (28 reviews) | 8.7 (19 reviews) | 8.1 (19 reviews) | 
| **Drawing Tools** | Not enough data | 9.2 (30 reviews) | 9.1 (19 reviews) | 8.7 (17 reviews) | 
| **Editing Tools** | Not enough data | 9.1 (26 reviews) | 9.1 (20 reviews) | 8.4 (18 reviews) | 
| **Text Editing Tools** | Not enough data | 7.7 (25 reviews) | 8.7 (19 reviews) | 7.7 (17 reviews) | 

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

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Export Files** | Not enough data | 8.6 (31 reviews) | 9.2 (22 reviews) | 8.4 (18 reviews) | 
| **Import Files** | Not enough data | 8.6 (27 reviews) | 9.1 (21 reviews) | 8.2 (17 reviews) | 
| **File Interoperability** | Not enough data | 8.3 (29 reviews) | 8.9 (19 reviews) | 8.0 (17 reviews) | 
| **Backwards compatibility** | Not enough data | 8.0 (26 reviews) | 9.3 (19 reviews) | 8.5 (17 reviews) | 
| **File size** | Not enough data | 7.3 (32 reviews) | 8.7 (19 reviews) | 9.2 (16 reviews) | 

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

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Custom Commands** | Not enough data | 8.4 (23 reviews) | 8.5 (19 reviews) | Feature Not Available | 
| **Custom Scripts** | Not enough data | 8.4 (24 reviews) | 8.8 (20 reviews) | 7.2 (15 reviews) | 
| **Custom Menus** | Not enough data | 7.6 (24 reviews) | 8.4 (19 reviews) | 7.4 (16 reviews) | 
| **Custom Interface** | Not enough data | 8.2 (24 reviews) | 8.9 (19 reviews) | 7.6 (16 reviews) | 

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

| Feature | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Hardware support** | Not enough data | 8.0 (27 reviews) | 8.8 (18 reviews) | 8.3 (17 reviews) | 
| **Task-based interfaces** | Not enough data | 8.4 (23 reviews) | 9.0 (19 reviews) | 8.2 (15 reviews) | 
| **Manage Multiple Profiles** | Not enough data | 7.9 (23 reviews) | 8.5 (19 reviews) | 8.2 (16 reviews) | 
| **Command Clarity** | Not enough data | 9.0 (27 reviews) | 9.3 (18 reviews) | 8.8 (16 reviews) | 

---
## Categories

**Unique to Creo Simulation (1):** [Simulation & CAE Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/simulation-cae)

**Unique to SOLIDWORKS (10):** [Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/mechanical-computer-aided-design-mcad), [General-Purpose CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/general-purpose-cad), [Simulation & CAE Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/simulation-cae), [CAD Viewers](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad-viewers), [Sketching Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/sketching), [PCB Design Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/pcb-design), [Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/computer-aided-manufacturing-cam), [CAD Libraries](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad-libraries), [CAD Data Exchange Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad-data-exchange), [Additive Manufacturing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/additive-manufacturing)

**Unique to Autodesk Fusion (10):** [CAD Viewers](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad-viewers), [Additive Manufacturing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/additive-manufacturing), [CAD Data Exchange Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad-data-exchange), [CAD Libraries](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad-libraries), [Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/computer-aided-manufacturing-cam), [Simulation & CAE Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/simulation-cae), [Sketching Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/sketching), [Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/mechanical-computer-aided-design-mcad), [General-Purpose CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/general-purpose-cad), [PCB Design Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/pcb-design)

**Unique to Altium Develop (4):** [General-Purpose CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/general-purpose-cad), [PCB Design Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/pcb-design), [Product Data Management (PDM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/product-data-management-pdm), [Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/mechanical-computer-aided-design-mcad)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Creo Simulation | SOLIDWORKS | Autodesk Fusion | Altium Develop | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 35.7% | 44.3% | 68.4% | 58.2% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 35.7% | 33.8% | 21.7% | 29.6% | 
| **Enterprise** | 28.6% | 21.9% | 9.9% | 12.2% | 

### By Industry

#### Creo Simulation

- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 28.6%
- **Automotive:** 21.4%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 14.3%
- **Design:** 14.3%
- **Oil & Energy:** 7.1%
- **Computer Software:** 7.1%
- **Biotechnology:** 7.1%

#### SOLIDWORKS

- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 23.2%
- **Design:** 11.7%
- **Automotive:** 6.6%
- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 5.9%
- **Medical Devices:** 5.8%
- **Machinery:** 5.6%
- **Higher Education:** 4.6%
- **Aviation & Aerospace:** 4.5%
- **Oil & Energy:** 3.0%
- **Consumer Goods:** 2.2%
- **Other:** 26.8%

#### Autodesk Fusion

- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 16.1%
- **Design:** 13.9%
- **Automotive:** 8.2%
- **Higher Education:** 5.0%
- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 4.0%
- **Consumer Goods:** 3.6%
- **Construction:** 2.8%
- **Machinery:** 2.4%
- **Medical Devices:** 2.4%
- **Manufacturing:** 2.2%
- **Other:** 39.6%

#### Altium Develop

- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 22.2%
- **Automotive:** 10.9%
- **Consumer Electronics:** 10.1%
- **Aviation & Aerospace:** 6.4%
- **Medical Devices:** 6.2%
- **Industrial Automation:** 4.1%
- **Research:** 3.4%
- **Higher Education:** 3.2%
- **Computer Hardware:** 3.0%
- **Design:** 2.5%
- **Other:** 28.0%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Creo Simulation

- [Ansys Mechanical](https://www.g2.com/products/ansys-mechanical/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (92 reviews)
- [Abaqus](https://www.g2.com/products/abaqus/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (54 reviews)
- [MATLAB](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (770 reviews)
- [Inventor](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (440 reviews)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (599 reviews)
- [SimScale](https://www.g2.com/products/simscale/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (279 reviews)
- [Ansys Fluent](https://www.g2.com/products/ansys-fluent/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (122 reviews)
- [COMSOL Multiphysics®](https://www.g2.com/products/comsol-multiphysics/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (36 reviews)
- [Inventor Nastran](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor-nastran/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (23 reviews)
- [CATIA](https://www.g2.com/products/catia/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (255 reviews)

### Alternatives to SOLIDWORKS

- [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (695 reviews)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (599 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 (1934 reviews)
- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1324 reviews)
- [Designcenter NX](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-nx/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (527 reviews)
- [IronCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/ironcad/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (43 reviews)
- [CATIA](https://www.g2.com/products/catia/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (255 reviews)
- [MATLAB](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (770 reviews)

### Alternatives to Autodesk Fusion

- [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (695 reviews)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (599 reviews)
- [Creo](https://www.g2.com/products/creo-2025-08-26/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (200 reviews)
- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1324 reviews)
- [Designcenter NX](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-nx/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (527 reviews)
- [CATIA](https://www.g2.com/products/catia/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (255 reviews)
- [MATLAB](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (770 reviews)
- [DraftSight](https://www.g2.com/products/draftsight/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (208 reviews)
- [Blender](https://www.g2.com/products/blender/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (316 reviews)
- [Rhinoceros](https://www.g2.com/products/rhinoceros/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (191 reviews)

### Alternatives to Altium Develop

- [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1934 reviews)
- [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (695 reviews)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (599 reviews)
- [Designcenter NX](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-nx/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (527 reviews)
- [Inventor](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (440 reviews)
- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1324 reviews)
- [Autodesk EAGLE](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-eagle/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (77 reviews)
- [KiCad EDA](https://www.g2.com/products/kicad-eda/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (68 reviews)
- [PADS Professional](https://www.g2.com/products/pads-professional/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (64 reviews)
- [ZWCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/zwcad/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (349 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Creo Simulation

- Title: [Is Creo a simulation software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-creo-a-simulation-software) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Creo is a product design CAD software. However, once you complete your CAD Design and if you have relevant license of Creo Simulation, you can get your..."

### SOLIDWORKS

- Title: [What is SOLIDWORKS used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-solidworks-used-for) — 3 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "A person can use SolidWorks for many things, Part modeling, Assembly Testing, rendering, Creating working animation of any machine or product. Start..."
- Title: [How to stop or cancel a ongoing command.](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-to-stop-or-cancel-a-ongoing-command) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "By pressing escape key."
- Title: [best use o this software](https://www.g2.com/discussions/35425-best-use-o-this-software) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Making 2D sketches and extruding them to make 3d sketches."
- Title: [Where is the Features toolbar in Solidworks?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/where-is-the-features-toolbar-in-solidworks) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Right-click in the window border, click Toolbars, and select or clear a toolbar name.
Click Tools > Customize. On the Toolbars tab, select the toolbars to..."
- Title: [What are features in Solidworks?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-features-in-solidworks) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Solidworks have so many feature like sketch tool, Part modeling, Assembly modeling, Drawing Tool, Sheet metal, weldments, Surface modeling, Rendering Tool,..."

### Autodesk Fusion

- Title: [Does Fusion 360 require cloud credits?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/cloud-credits) — 2 comments, 1 upvote *(includes official response)*
  > **Top comment:** "Each annual subscription comes with 100 cloud credits. Cloud credits are needed for advanced simulation, generative design, and cloud-rendering."
- Title: [What do I need to run Fusion 360?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/system-requirements-7d07ee73-2cf0-420d-bb26-c8985e5c3cc8) — 2 comments, 1 upvote *(includes official response)*
  > **Top comment:** "Operating System	Apple® macOS™ Mojave v10.14;Apple® macOS™ High Sierra v10.13; Apple® macOS™ Sierra v10.12
Note: Support for Mac® OS® X v10.11.x (El..."
- Title: [What is Fusion 360 used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-fusion-360-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Fusion 360 is a start-to-finish product design and development tool.
Fusion's core product offerings include CAD/CAM/CAE and PCB design capabilities. With..."
- Title: [Is Fusion 360 still free for hobbyists?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/fusion-360-is-fusion-360-still-free-for-hobbyists) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Yes, you just have to use the Educational Version. And you can only have 10 editable/active projects. If you want more than 10 projects, you have to make..."
- Title: [Is Fusion 360 a CAD software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-fusion-360-a-cad-software) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Yes, and so much more."

### Altium Develop

- Title: [Who uses Altium?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/who-uses-altium) — 3 comments *(includes official response)*
  > **Top comment:** "Altium Designer is used mainly by those who create and work with printed circuit boards or PCBs. All electrical products, computers, toasters, remotes, and..."
- Title: [Is Altium Designer free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-altium-designer-free) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "No, Altium Designer is not free but there is a free viewer that can be downloaded. "
- Title: [What is Altium Designer used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-altium-designer-used-for) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Altium Desinger is a complete PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design software package, which includes Schematic Capture, PCB Layout, Libraries, Manufacturing..."
- Title: [Is there a way to modelize in 3D the Pcb designs?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/36429-is-there-a-way-to-modelize-in-3d-the-pcb-designs) — 3 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "No or Yes, you can only place 3D bodies for components in PCB and get 3D view of your design. I think by placing components are your will. yes you can..."
- Title: [What is Altium 365 used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-altium-365-used-for) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Create circuit design & PCB Design"

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/creo-simulation-vs-solidworks-vs-autodesk-fusion-vs-altium-develop)