# Designcenter Solid Edge vs Inventor Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Designcenter Solid Edge excels in providing a comprehensive solution throughout the entire product development lifecycle. Users appreciate its ability to open models from various formats without the need for conversion, which streamlines the design process significantly.
- **Users say** that Inventor offers a highly customizable experience, allowing them to set up shortcuts and adjust text styles to fit their preferences. This level of personalization contributes to a more efficient workflow, especially for those who enjoy tailoring their tools to their specific needs.
- **Reviewers mention** that Designcenter Solid Edge is particularly user-friendly when it comes to viewing and editing drawing and part files. This feature is highlighted as a major advantage, helping users visualize their designs and understand how they will function in real-life scenarios.
- **According to verified reviews** , Inventor is praised for its robust solid modeling capabilities, making it easier for users to create assemblies with both part and assembly variations. Its user interface is noted for being intuitive, which benefits both beginners and experienced users alike.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** that Designcenter Solid Edge has a strong market presence among small businesses, with many users relying on it for machinery layouts and custom equipment designs. This focus on small to mid-sized enterprises allows it to cater effectively to their specific needs.
- **Users report** that while Inventor has a slightly higher star rating, it faces challenges in terms of recent user engagement, with no new reviews in the last 90 days. This lack of recent feedback may indicate a need for improvement or updates to maintain user satisfaction.



| | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.3 out of 5 | 4.4 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 606 | 440 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (53.8% of reviews) | Mid-Market (42.7% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | Starting at $90.47 Per Month | $2085 1 year | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Designcenter Solid Edge

Pros:
- Ease of Use (101 reviews)
- 3D Modeling (64 reviews)

Cons:
- Learning Curve (47 reviews)
- Difficult Learning (46 reviews)

### Inventor

Pros:
- Ease of Use (2 reviews)
- 3D Modeling (1 reviews)

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

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.4 (435 reviews) | 8.8 (376 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.3 (480 reviews) | 8.4 (377 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.2 (263 reviews) | 7.9 (107 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.4 (91 reviews) | 7.7 (99 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.2 (405 reviews) | 8.1 (346 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.8 (89 reviews) | 8.2 (94 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.4 (423 reviews) | 8.3 (371 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Designcenter Solid Edge

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Designcenter Solid Edge Design and Drafting XaaS

Price: Starting at $90.47 Per Month

Description: Get started quickly with part & assembly design, automated drawings, basic animation and rendering.

Key Features:
- 2D drafting
- Data import and reuse
- Basic 3D part design

[Browse all 4 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Inventor

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: 1 Year

Price: $2085 1 year

Description: Choose online store or reseller or call toll-free 1-844-821-0545.


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

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Designcenter Solid Edge** | 8.2/10 | 115 |
| **Inventor** | N/A | N/A |

#### CAD to CAM

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **CAD-CAM Import** | 8.6 (100 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **CAM Data Exchange** | 8.4 (94 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **CAD/CAM Compatibility** | 8.4 (95 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### CNC Programming

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **CNC Workflows** | 7.9 (85 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **CNC Feature Recognition** | 7.9 (83 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Programming Control** | 8.1 (82 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Machining

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Job Set-up** | 8.1 (93 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Operations** | 8.1 (93 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Tooling and Toolpaths** | 8.4 (92 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### General-Purpose CAD

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Designcenter Solid Edge** | 8.5/10 | 195 |
| **Inventor** | 8.2/10 | 38 |

#### Design

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Drawing** | 8.9 (183 reviews) | 8.6 (37 reviews) | 
| **Modeling** | 9.0 (187 reviews) | 8.9 (37 reviews) | 
| **Visualize ** | 8.7 (180 reviews) | 8.5 (38 reviews) | 
| **Rendering** | 8.1 (171 reviews) | 7.6 (35 reviews) | 

#### Edit

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **File Import ** | 8.5 (176 reviews) | 8.2 (37 reviews) | 
| **Push/Pull** | 8.3 (167 reviews) | 7.4 (36 reviews) | 
| **Views** | 8.6 (176 reviews) | 8.0 (37 reviews) | 
| **Grips ** | 8.4 (167 reviews) | 7.7 (36 reviews) | 

#### Collaboration

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Annotate** | 8.5 (170 reviews) | 8.1 (36 reviews) | 
| **Documentation ** | 8.7 (176 reviews) | 8.6 (36 reviews) | 
| **Data Extract** | 8.3 (170 reviews) | 8.2 (36 reviews) | 

### Additive Manufacturing

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Designcenter Solid Edge** | 7.9/10 | 97 |
| **Inventor** | N/A | N/A |

#### File Support - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **STL Compatible** | 8.8 (86 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **3MF Compatible** | 8.3 (68 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **OBJ Compatible** | 8.3 (76 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### File Editing - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Mesh Repair** | 7.8 (76 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File Editing** | 8.5 (80 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Software Integrations - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Standalone Slicer** | 7.7 (66 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Inetgrated 3D Modeling** | 8.6 (83 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Software Type - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Cloud-based Platform** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Downloadable Application** | 8.4 (74 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text-to-Image** | 6.2 (28 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text-to-3D** | 6.2 (28 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Building Preparation - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Material Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Building Simulation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Slicing Optimization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Simulation & CAE

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Designcenter Solid Edge** | 8.1/10 | 104 |
| **Inventor** | 7.5/10 | 20 |

#### Design

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D/solid modeling Tools** | 8.7 (99 reviews) | 9.0 (20 reviews) | 
| **Drawing Tools** | 8.6 (98 reviews) | 8.6 (20 reviews) | 
| **Editing Tools** | 8.6 (96 reviews) | 8.7 (20 reviews) | 
| **Rendering tools** | 8.0 (95 reviews) | 7.6 (19 reviews) | 

#### Tools

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Fluid analysis** | 7.7 (81 reviews) | 5.6 (16 reviews) | 
| **Finite element analysis** | 8.0 (87 reviews) | 7.5 (19 reviews) | 
| **Multibody dynamics** | 7.8 (83 reviews) | 7.1 (17 reviews) | 

#### Work

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Discrete event modeling** | 7.8 (83 reviews) | 6.9 (15 reviews) | 
| **Continuous event modeling** | 7.7 (83 reviews) | 6.8 (15 reviews) | 
| **Mechanical event simulation** | 7.8 (84 reviews) | 7.2 (16 reviews) | 
| **Manufacturing process simulation** | 7.7 (77 reviews) | 7.6 (14 reviews) | 
| **Integrate** | 8.0 (84 reviews) | 7.6 (16 reviews) | 

#### Environment

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Hardware support** | 8.1 (89 reviews) | 7.7 (17 reviews) | 
| **Task** | 8.0 (90 reviews) | 7.7 (18 reviews) | 
| **Manage Multiple Profiles** | 7.9 (85 reviews) | 6.9 (18 reviews) | 
| **Command Clarity** | 8.6 (92 reviews) | 8.1 (19 reviews) | 

### Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Designcenter Solid Edge** | 7.8/10 | 129 |
| **Inventor** | 9.0/10 | 6 |

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

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **3D/solid modeling Tools** | 8.6 (108 reviews) | 9.0 (5 reviews) | 
| **Rendering Tools** | 7.7 (94 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Drawing Tools** | 8.4 (97 reviews) | 9.3 (5 reviews) | 
| **Editing Tools** | 8.3 (96 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Text Editing Tools** | 7.5 (91 reviews) | Not enough data | 

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

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Export Files** | 8.1 (96 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Import Files** | 8.2 (96 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File Interoperability** | 7.8 (102 reviews) | 9.3 (5 reviews) | 
| **Backwards compatibility** | 7.3 (91 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **File size** | 7.4 (100 reviews) | 8.3 (5 reviews) | 

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

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Custom Commands** | 7.8 (91 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Scripts** | 7.4 (89 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Menus** | 7.6 (90 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Interface** | 7.6 (97 reviews) | Not enough data | 

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

| Feature | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Hardware support** | 7.8 (94 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Task-based interfaces** | 7.9 (91 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Manage Multiple Profiles** | 7.7 (91 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Command Clarity** | 7.9 (105 reviews) | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (3):** [Simulation & CAE Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/simulation-cae), [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)

**Unique to Designcenter Solid Edge (2):** [Additive Manufacturing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/additive-manufacturing), [Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/computer-aided-manufacturing-cam)



---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Designcenter Solid Edge | Inventor | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 53.8% | 35.0% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 30.4% | 42.7% | 
| **Enterprise** | 15.7% | 22.3% | 

### By Industry

#### Designcenter Solid Edge

- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 21.4%
- **Automotive:** 12.5%
- **Design:** 8.9%
- **Machinery:** 5.7%
- **Manufacturing:** 3.7%
- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 3.7%
- **Computer Software:** 3.7%
- **Aviation & Aerospace:** 3.2%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 2.3%
- **Higher Education:** 2.1%
- **Other:** 32.6%

#### Inventor

- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 24.9%
- **Machinery:** 7.8%
- **Design:** 7.1%
- **Construction:** 5.0%
- **Oil & Energy:** 3.8%
- **Utilities:** 3.8%
- **Automotive:** 2.6%
- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 2.6%
- **Industrial Automation:** 2.4%
- **Education Management:** 2.4%
- **Other:** 37.7%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Designcenter Solid Edge

- [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (643 reviews)
- [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (519 reviews)
- [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (695 reviews)
- [Creo](https://www.g2.com/products/creo-2025-08-26/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (200 reviews)
- [CATIA](https://www.g2.com/products/catia/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (256 reviews)
- [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1934 reviews)
- [Rhinoceros](https://www.g2.com/products/rhinoceros/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (192 reviews)
- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1325 reviews)
- [Blender](https://www.g2.com/products/blender/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (317 reviews)
- [FreeCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/freecad/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (61 reviews)

### Alternatives to Inventor

- [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)
- [Creo](https://www.g2.com/products/creo-2025-08-26/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (200 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 (256 reviews)
- [Rhinoceros](https://www.g2.com/products/rhinoceros/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (192 reviews)
- [FreeCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/freecad/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (61 reviews)
- [SolidWorks Simulation](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-solidworks-simulation/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (60 reviews)
- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1325 reviews)
- [Designcenter NX](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-nx/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (599 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Designcenter Solid Edge

- Title: [Is Solidworks or Solid Edge better?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-solidworks-or-solid-edge-better) — 4 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Solidworks"
- Title: [Is Solid Edge free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-solid-edge-free) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "No"
- Title: [What is Solid Edge used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-solid-edge-used-for) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "It is used for 3D modeling as well as drafting."
- Title: [What file type does Solid Edge use?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-file-type-does-solid-edge-use) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Solid Edge uses proprietary file formats with specific extensions similar to other 3D CAD systems.  Those are:
.ASM = Assemblies
.PAR = Parts
.PSM = Sheet..."
- Title: [Is Solid Edge good?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-solid-edge-good) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Very Good"

### Inventor

- Title: [What are some of the best practices for students working in groups to use Inventor?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-some-of-the-best-practices-for-students-working-in-groups-to-use-inventor) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Hi, to be honest with you, I would work with a consultant on that. It shouldn't take more than a day for a consultant to help with a report that will answer..."
- Title: [How do you handle the data creation problem?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-you-handle-the-data-creation-problem) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "You basically need to create each model from scratch in Inventor. You can copy your AutoCAD in Inventor and extrude the models but the models won't be..."
- Title: [Is integration with other Autodesk products being considered?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/15145-is-integration-with-other-autodesk-products-being-considered) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Autodesk published a video on how to export Inventor parts to Revit here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue7-WtyiUtI"
- Title: [Is there a good place to look for more advanced tutorials/examples for iLogic?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/13895-is-there-a-good-place-to-look-for-more-advanced-tutorials-examples-for-ilogic) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "I'm not aware of a flat out repository for examples, but there is a fantastic thread on the Inventor forum that showcases a ton of different examples. If you..."
- Title: [there is a form to get more realistic renders from inventor?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/12147-there-is-a-form-to-get-more-realistic-renders-from-inventor) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Max can load Inventor files natively, so that's certainly one option.

The render engine in Inventor is pretty good, though. There is a great deal of ..."

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