Compare Designcenter Solid Edge and FreeCAD 
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (53.9% of reviews)
Small-Business (68.5% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $90.47 Per Month
No pricing available
Designcenter Solid Edge
Star Rating
(581)4.3 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (53.9% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $90.47 Per Month
Free Trial is available
Browse all 4 pricing plansFreeCAD
Star Rating
(59)4.1 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (68.5% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Not enough data
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about FreeCADSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Designcenter Solid Edge excels in user satisfaction, boasting a significantly higher overall score compared to FreeCAD. Users appreciate its intuitive interface, stating it is "extremely easy for a beginner to pick up and start working," making it a great choice for those new to CAD.
- According to verified reviews, Designcenter Solid Edge offers a streamlined workflow that enhances productivity. Users highlight features like "fast 'find and drop' reuse," which allows them to quickly grab the right parts without interrupting their creative flow, a feature that many find invaluable for repeat projects.
- Reviewers mention that while FreeCAD is a powerful tool, especially for beginners, it lacks the extensive support and community engagement that Designcenter Solid Edge benefits from. Users appreciate FreeCAD's free access and its capabilities for 3D modeling and engineering drawings, but some feel it may not be as robust for more complex tasks.
- Users say that Designcenter Solid Edge shines in its ease of use, with a score that reflects its user-friendly design. The software's straightforward UI and helpful symbols make it accessible, allowing users to focus on their projects rather than getting bogged down by complicated navigation.
- Reviewers highlight that FreeCAD's open-source nature is a double-edged sword; while it offers free access and a decent range of features, the lack of recent updates and community support can leave users feeling unsupported. Some users appreciate its capabilities for architectural design management but note that it may not meet all professional needs.
- According to recent user feedback, Designcenter Solid Edge's quality of support is a significant advantage, with users reporting positive experiences and effective assistance when needed. In contrast, FreeCAD users have expressed concerns about the availability of support, which can be a critical factor for those relying on software for professional projects.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Designcenter Solid Edge
Solid Edge Design and Drafting XaaS
Starting at $90.47
Per Month
Get started quickly with part & assembly design, automated drawings, basic animation and rendering.
- 2D drafting
- Data import and reuse
- Basic 3D part design
FreeCAD
No pricing availableFree Trial
Designcenter Solid Edge
Free Trial is available
FreeCAD
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.4
423
8.4
43
Ease of Use
8.3
463
7.7
44
Ease of Setup
8.2
248
8.3
5
Ease of Admin
8.4
90
Not enough data
Quality of Support
8.2
393
8.0
35
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.8
88
Not enough data
Product Direction (% positive)
8.3
412
8.1
43
Features by Category
CAD to CAM
8.6
99
Not enough data
8.4
93
Not enough data
8.4
94
Not enough data
CNC Programming
7.9
84
Not enough data
8.0
82
Not enough data
8.1
81
Not enough data
Machining
8.2
92
Not enough data
8.1
92
Not enough data
8.4
91
Not enough data
Design
8.9
178
8.4
23
9.0
180
8.2
26
8.7
174
8.0
23
8.2
167
7.5
21
Edit
8.5
172
8.4
24
8.3
162
7.2
21
8.5
171
8.0
23
8.4
163
7.5
23
Collaboration
8.5
166
8.2
20
8.7
171
7.7
22
8.2
166
8.2
21
File Support - Additive Manufacturing
8.7
84
Not enough data
8.2
66
Not enough data
8.2
74
Not enough data
File Editing - Additive Manufacturing
7.7
74
Not enough data
8.5
78
Not enough data
Software Integrations - Additive Manufacturing
7.6
64
Not enough data
8.6
81
Not enough data
Software Type - Additive Manufacturing
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.4
72
Not enough data
Generative AI - Additive Manufacturing
6.0
26
Not enough data
6.0
26
Not enough data
Building Preparation - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
File Options
Not enough data
8.3
19
Not enough data
8.4
19
Not enough data
8.1
18
Not enough data
7.9
18
Not enough data
6.9
14
Not enough data
7.9
18
Tools
Not enough data
7.3
19
Not enough data
7.5
19
Not enough data
7.8
19
Design
Not enough data
8.0
19
Design
8.6
96
Not enough data
8.6
96
Not enough data
8.5
94
Not enough data
7.9
94
Not enough data
Tools
7.6
80
Not enough data
8.0
86
Not enough data
7.7
82
Not enough data
Work
7.8
83
Not enough data
7.7
83
Not enough data
7.8
83
Not enough data
7.7
77
Not enough data
8.1
83
Not enough data
Environment
8.1
89
Not enough data
8.0
90
Not enough data
7.9
85
Not enough data
8.5
91
Not enough data
Tools - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.5
101
Not enough data
7.7
93
Not enough data
8.4
96
Not enough data
8.3
93
Not enough data
7.4
90
Not enough data
File Options - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.1
94
Not enough data
8.2
93
Not enough data
7.8
94
Not enough data
7.4
90
Not enough data
7.5
96
Not enough data
Customization - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
7.9
90
Not enough data
7.4
88
Not enough data
7.6
90
Not enough data
7.6
96
Not enough data
Environment - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
7.8
93
Not enough data
7.9
90
Not enough data
7.6
90
Not enough data
7.9
100
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Designcenter Solid Edge and FreeCAD are categorized as Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD) and General-Purpose CAD
Unique Categories
Designcenter Solid Edge is categorized as Additive Manufacturing, Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), and Simulation & CAE
FreeCAD is categorized as CAD Viewers
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Designcenter Solid Edge
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
FreeCAD
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
21.1%
Automotive
12.7%
Design
9.0%
Machinery
5.9%
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
3.9%
Other
47.5%
Design
14.8%
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
14.8%
Information Technology and Services
7.4%
Industrial Automation
7.4%
Automotive
5.6%
Other
50.0%
Discussions
Is Solidworks or Solid Edge better?
4 Comments
HJ
Solidworks is far better in terms of productivity and user friendly mostly for repetitive models or library parts. Read more
How can solid edge be improved? Making it available for the higher version of the OS.
2 Comments
EK
Hello Mahalakshmi,
The most recent version, Solid Edge 2021, has been certified to run on the Windows 10 Enterprise or Professional (64-bit only) version...Read more
CAD Services That Will Bring You to the Future – Cadsourcing
1 Comment
WH
You can check here for more details!
https://cadsourcing.com/cad-services-that-will-bring-you-to-the-future/Read more
Does anybody have any experience with the FEA module in FreeCad?
1 Comment
JB
The FEA module is quite usable in its current state. You should be able to do the tasks you mentioned. Follow the wiki and tutorials first to get the hang of...Read more
FREECAD FOR PROFESSIONAL
1 Comment
AJ
hi.
i just want to know that can i use FreeCAD for professional uses for free or it is open for practice/student only
Read more
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