# SolidWorks Simulation, Inventor, MATLAB vs Onshape Comparison

| | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.4 out of 5 | 4.4 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.7 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 60 | 440 | 770 | 695 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Mid-Market (47.4% of reviews) | Mid-Market (42.7% of reviews) | Enterprise (41.8% of reviews) | Small-Business (79.0% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | $2085 1 year | No pricing available | $1,500.00 1 User Per Year | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### SolidWorks Simulation

Pros:
- Ease of Use (3 reviews)
- Accuracy (1 reviews)

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

### Inventor

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

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

### MATLAB

Pros:
- Ease of Use (19 reviews)
- Features (16 reviews)

Cons:
- Expensive (12 reviews)
- Slow Performance (10 reviews)

### Onshape

Pros:
- Ease of Use (28 reviews)
- Collaboration (22 reviews)

Cons:
- Missing Features (18 reviews)
- Lack of Features (10 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.3 (43 reviews) | 8.8 (376 reviews) | 9.0 (675 reviews) | 8.4 (597 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.4 (43 reviews) | 8.4 (377 reviews) | 8.3 (684 reviews) | 9.0 (601 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.3 (7 reviews) | 7.9 (107 reviews) | 8.6 (86 reviews) | 9.3 (179 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | Not enough data | 7.7 (99 reviews) | 8.4 (41 reviews) | 9.1 (127 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.4 (38 reviews) | 8.1 (346 reviews) | 8.6 (626 reviews) | 9.3 (587 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | Not enough data | 8.2 (94 reviews) | 8.4 (38 reviews) | 9.3 (126 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.3 (40 reviews) | 8.3 (371 reviews) | 8.8 (672 reviews) | 9.5 (578 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### SolidWorks Simulation

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### 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

### MATLAB

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### Onshape

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Onshape Standard

Price: $1,500.00 1 User Per Year

Description: For the individual user or small team who only needs basic data management.

Key Features:
- Part & Assembly Modeling
- Drawings
- Runs on Web & Mobile

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

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### General-Purpose CAD

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SolidWorks Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **Inventor** | 8.2/10 | 38 |
| **MATLAB** | N/A | N/A |
| **Onshape** | 8.4/10 | 240 |

#### Design

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Drawing** | Not enough data | 8.6 (37 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.8 (233 reviews) | 
| **Modeling** | Not enough data | 8.9 (37 reviews) | Not enough data | 9.3 (236 reviews) | 
| **Visualize ** | Not enough data | 8.5 (38 reviews) | Not enough data | 9.0 (231 reviews) | 
| **Rendering** | Not enough data | 7.6 (35 reviews) | Not enough data | 7.4 (194 reviews) | 

#### Edit

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **File Import ** | Not enough data | 8.2 (37 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.6 (230 reviews) | 
| **Push/Pull** | Not enough data | 7.4 (36 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.1 (195 reviews) | 
| **Views** | Not enough data | 8.0 (37 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.9 (225 reviews) | 
| **Grips ** | Not enough data | 7.7 (36 reviews) | Not enough data | 7.9 (198 reviews) | 

#### Collaboration

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Annotate** | Not enough data | 8.1 (36 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.2 (211 reviews) | 
| **Documentation ** | Not enough data | 8.6 (36 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.3 (221 reviews) | 
| **Data Extract** | Not enough data | 8.2 (36 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.1 (204 reviews) | 

### Additive Manufacturing

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SolidWorks Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **Inventor** | N/A | N/A |
| **MATLAB** | N/A | N/A |
| **Onshape** | 7.9/10 | 169 |

#### File Support - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **STL Compatible** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.6 (160 reviews) | 
| **3MF Compatible** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.9 (78 reviews) | 
| **OBJ Compatible** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.9 (100 reviews) | 

#### File Editing - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Mesh Repair** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 6.0 (84 reviews) | 
| **File Editing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.4 (125 reviews) | 

#### Software Integrations - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Standalone Slicer** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 5.7 (83 reviews) | 
| **Inetgrated 3D Modeling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.8 (130 reviews) | 

#### Software Type - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Cloud-based Platform** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.6 (160 reviews) | 
| **Downloadable Application** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 

#### Generative AI - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **AI Text-to-Image** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **AI Text-to-3D** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 

#### Building Preparation - Additive Manufacturing

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **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 |
|---|---|---|
| **SolidWorks Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **Inventor** | N/A | N/A |
| **MATLAB** | N/A | N/A |
| **Onshape** | 8.5/10 | 48 |

#### Metadata

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Repository** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.2 (40 reviews) | 
| **Taxonomy** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.8 (37 reviews) | 
| **Types** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.4 (37 reviews) | 

#### Data Management

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Version Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.2 (47 reviews) | 
| **Alignment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.3 (40 reviews) | 
| **Workflows** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.3 (43 reviews) | 
| **Lifecycle** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.0 (41 reviews) | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **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 |
|---|---|---|
| **SolidWorks Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **Inventor** | N/A | N/A |
| **MATLAB** | N/A | N/A |
| **Onshape** | 8.7/10 | 155 |

#### File Options

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Import files** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.9 (146 reviews) | 
| **Export files** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.1 (147 reviews) | 
| **View 2D files** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.1 (135 reviews) | 
| **View 3D files** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.3 (145 reviews) | 
| **Batch convert files** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.8 (98 reviews) | 
| **File size** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (133 reviews) | 

#### Tools

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Dimensioning tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.8 (149 reviews) | 
| **Change units** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.1 (142 reviews) | 
| **3D/solid modeling tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.1 (145 reviews) | 

#### Design

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Drawing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.7 (150 reviews) | 

### PCB Design

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SolidWorks Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **Inventor** | N/A | N/A |
| **MATLAB** | N/A | N/A |
| **Onshape** | N/A | N/A |

#### Design

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **PCB layout editing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Schematic editor** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Tools

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **3D modeling tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Component placement** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Library

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Component libraries** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Board size** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Layers** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Customization

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Custom commands** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Custom interface** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Simulation & CAE

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SolidWorks Simulation** | 8.3/10 | 25 |
| **Inventor** | 7.5/10 | 20 |
| **MATLAB** | 8.5/10 | 219 |
| **Onshape** | 6.8/10 | 23 |

#### Design

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **3D/solid modeling Tools** | 9.1 (22 reviews) | 9.0 (20 reviews) | 8.4 (147 reviews) | 9.0 (22 reviews) | 
| **Drawing Tools** | 9.0 (21 reviews) | 8.6 (20 reviews) | 8.2 (164 reviews) | 8.7 (23 reviews) | 
| **Editing Tools** | 8.9 (22 reviews) | 8.7 (20 reviews) | 8.1 (166 reviews) | 8.6 (23 reviews) | 
| **Rendering tools** | 8.0 (21 reviews) | 7.6 (19 reviews) | 8.0 (141 reviews) | 7.7 (22 reviews) | 

#### Tools

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Fluid analysis** | 8.0 (20 reviews) | 5.6 (16 reviews) | 8.4 (127 reviews) | 3.7 (22 reviews) | 
| **Finite element analysis** | 8.3 (22 reviews) | 7.5 (19 reviews) | 8.5 (150 reviews) | 5.8 (22 reviews) | 
| **Multibody dynamics** | 8.5 (19 reviews) | 7.1 (17 reviews) | 8.4 (132 reviews) | 5.6 (20 reviews) | 

#### Work

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Discrete event modeling** | 7.5 (19 reviews) | 6.9 (15 reviews) | 8.8 (159 reviews) | 5.3 (20 reviews) | 
| **Continuous event modeling** | 7.6 (19 reviews) | 6.8 (15 reviews) | 8.9 (161 reviews) | 4.4 (20 reviews) | 
| **Mechanical event simulation** | 8.4 (20 reviews) | 7.2 (16 reviews) | 8.7 (145 reviews) | 6.0 (19 reviews) | 
| **Manufacturing process simulation** | 8.1 (18 reviews) | 7.6 (14 reviews) | 8.3 (135 reviews) | 4.8 (20 reviews) | 
| **Integrate** | 8.5 (20 reviews) | 7.6 (16 reviews) | 8.4 (141 reviews) | 6.8 (19 reviews) | 

#### Environment

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Hardware support** | 8.2 (19 reviews) | 7.7 (17 reviews) | 8.4 (163 reviews) | 8.0 (18 reviews) | 
| **Task** | 8.2 (17 reviews) | 7.7 (18 reviews) | 8.7 (162 reviews) | 8.1 (17 reviews) | 
| **Manage Multiple Profiles** | 7.8 (16 reviews) | 6.9 (18 reviews) | 8.4 (138 reviews) | 8.3 (17 reviews) | 
| **Command Clarity** | 8.3 (21 reviews) | 8.1 (19 reviews) | 8.8 (177 reviews) | 8.4 (18 reviews) | 

### Data Science and Machine Learning Platforms

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SolidWorks Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **Inventor** | N/A | N/A |
| **MATLAB** | 8.4/10 | 124 |
| **Onshape** | N/A | N/A |

#### System

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Data Ingestion & Wrangling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (75 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Model Development

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Language Support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (97 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Drag and Drop** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.6 (94 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Pre-Built Algorithms** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.0 (108 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Model Training** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.6 (98 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Model Development

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feature Engineering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.7 (79 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Machine/Deep Learning Services

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Computer Vision** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.7 (90 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Natural Language Processing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.3 (78 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Natural Language Generation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.2 (76 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Artificial Neural Networks** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.6 (91 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Machine/Deep Learning Services

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Natural Language Understanding** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (69 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Deep Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.7 (77 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Deployment

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Managed Service** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.4 (82 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Application** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.7 (93 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Scalability** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.4 (93 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Generation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.0 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.3 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text-to-Image** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.5 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Data Science and Machine Learning Platforms

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.7 (10 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-step Planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.7 (10 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.8 (10 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.0 (10 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Natural Language Interaction** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.8 (10 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.7 (10 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Decision Making** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.0 (10 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SolidWorks Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **Inventor** | N/A | N/A |
| **MATLAB** | N/A | N/A |
| **Onshape** | 7.7/10 | 17 |

#### New Product Introduction

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Ideation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.0 (17 reviews) | 
| **Time-to-market** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.0 (17 reviews) | 
| **Cost estimating** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 6.9 (16 reviews) | 
| **Product approval** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.2 (15 reviews) | 

#### CAD

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **CAD Models** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.3 (17 reviews) | 
| **CAD Options** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.0 (17 reviews) | 
| **Conversion** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.3 (16 reviews) | 

#### Collaboration

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Supplier alignment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.9 (17 reviews) | 
| **Communication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.3 (17 reviews) | 
| **Development** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (17 reviews) | 
| **Document Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (17 reviews) | 

#### Product Data Management

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Product Metadata** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **Data Quality** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.2 (15 reviews) | 
| **Version Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (16 reviews) | 

#### Bill of Materials

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **BOM management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.8 (16 reviews) | 
| **Multi-level BOM** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.8 (15 reviews) | 
| **BOM Types** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (14 reviews) | 
| **BOM visualization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.1 (15 reviews) | 

#### Engineering Change Management

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **ECR Workflows** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (14 reviews) | 
| **Change Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (16 reviews) | 
| **ECO Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.0 (14 reviews) | 

#### Simulation

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Virtual Testing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 6.3 (14 reviews) | 
| **Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 6.4 (13 reviews) | 
| **Optimization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 6.8 (14 reviews) | 

#### Analytics

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.0 (14 reviews) | 
| **Costing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **Product Intelligence** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.1 (14 reviews) | 

#### Quality management

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Quality planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 6.8 (13 reviews) | 
| **Traceability** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 6.7 (13 reviews) | 
| **Compliance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 6.9 (13 reviews) | 

#### Integration

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **ERP** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 6.9 (13 reviews) | 
| **MES** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 6.1 (12 reviews) | 
| **PIM** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 6.7 (11 reviews) | 
| **Maintenance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.4 (12 reviews) | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **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 | 

### Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SolidWorks Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **Inventor** | 9.0/10 | 6 |
| **MATLAB** | N/A | N/A |
| **Onshape** | 8.5/10 | 39 |

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

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **3D/solid modeling Tools** | Not enough data | 9.0 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.9 (38 reviews) | 
| **Rendering Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.5 (35 reviews) | 
| **Drawing Tools** | Not enough data | 9.3 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.2 (36 reviews) | 
| **Editing Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.9 (36 reviews) | 
| **Text Editing Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 7.1 (36 reviews) | 

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

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Export Files** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.1 (36 reviews) | 
| **Import Files** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.6 (36 reviews) | 
| **File Interoperability** | Not enough data | 9.3 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.6 (36 reviews) | 
| **Backwards compatibility** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.9 (35 reviews) | 
| **File size** | Not enough data | 8.3 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.7 (37 reviews) | 

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

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Custom Commands** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.6 (35 reviews) | 
| **Custom Scripts** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.6 (34 reviews) | 
| **Custom Menus** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.1 (36 reviews) | 
| **Custom Interface** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.2 (33 reviews) | 

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

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Hardware support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.9 (34 reviews) | 
| **Task-based interfaces** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.5 (31 reviews) | 
| **Manage Multiple Profiles** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.6 (32 reviews) | 
| **Command Clarity** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.1 (33 reviews) | 

### Big Data Analytics

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SolidWorks Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **Inventor** | N/A | N/A |
| **MATLAB** | 8.6/10 | 85 |
| **Onshape** | N/A | N/A |

#### Data Transformation

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Real-Time Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.7 (73 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Data Querying** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.6 (45 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

#### Connectivity

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Hadoop Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.3 (47 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Spark Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.6 (50 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Source Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.4 (60 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Data Lake** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.3 (52 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

#### Operations

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Data Visualization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 9.1 (75 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Data Workflow** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.9 (69 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Governed Discovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Embedded Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.8 (60 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Notebooks** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 8.8 (37 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

### Big Data

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **SolidWorks Simulation** | N/A | N/A |
| **Inventor** | N/A | N/A |
| **MATLAB** | N/A | N/A |
| **Onshape** | N/A | N/A |

#### Building Reports

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Data Transformation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Modeling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **WYSIWYG Report Design** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Integration APIs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Mobile User Support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customization ** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Internationalization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Sandbox / Test Environments** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Performance and Reliability** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Breadth of Partner Applications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

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

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

**Unique to Inventor (2):** [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 MATLAB (2):** [Big Data Analytics Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/big-data-analytics), [Data Science and Machine Learning Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/data-science-and-machine-learning-platforms)

**Unique to Onshape (8):** [Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/mechanical-computer-aided-design-mcad), [Product Data Management (PDM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/product-data-management-pdm), [CAD Viewers](https://www.g2.com/categories/cad-viewers), [General-Purpose CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/general-purpose-cad), [Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/product-lifecycle-management-plm), [Sketching Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/sketching), [PCB Design Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/pcb-design), [Additive Manufacturing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/additive-manufacturing)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | SolidWorks Simulation | Inventor | MATLAB | Onshape | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 42.1% | 35.0% | 31.5% | 79.0% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 47.4% | 42.7% | 26.8% | 16.7% | 
| **Enterprise** | 10.5% | 22.3% | 41.8% | 4.3% | 

### By Industry

#### SolidWorks Simulation

- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 22.8%
- **Design:** 15.8%
- **Higher Education:** 14.0%
- **Oil & Energy:** 7.0%
- **Machinery:** 7.0%
- **Airlines/Aviation:** 3.5%
- **Consulting:** 3.5%
- **Industrial Automation:** 3.5%
- **Architecture & Planning:** 1.8%
- **Automotive:** 1.8%
- **Other:** 19.3%

#### 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%

#### MATLAB

- **Higher Education:** 15.4%
- **Research:** 12.7%
- **Computer Software:** 6.8%
- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 6.7%
- **Education Management:** 6.3%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 6.2%
- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 5.4%
- **Automotive:** 4.3%
- **Aviation & Aerospace:** 2.7%
- **Oil & Energy:** 2.7%
- **Other:** 30.9%

#### Onshape

- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 19.7%
- **Design:** 10.1%
- **Medical Devices:** 6.5%
- **Machinery:** 6.2%
- **Industrial Automation:** 5.7%
- **Consumer Goods:** 4.8%
- **Consumer Electronics:** 4.6%
- **Automotive:** 3.8%
- **Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing:** 3.5%
- **Manufacturing:** 2.9%
- **Other:** 32.2%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to SolidWorks Simulation

- [Designcenter NX](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-nx/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (527 reviews)
- [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (519 reviews)
- [Ansys Mechanical](https://www.g2.com/products/ansys-mechanical/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (92 reviews)
- [Altair HyperWorks](https://www.g2.com/products/altair-hyperworks/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (56 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)
- [Inventor Nastran](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor-nastran/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (23 reviews)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (599 reviews)
- [Ansys LS-DYNA](https://www.g2.com/products/ansys-ls-dyna/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (48 reviews)
- [SimScale](https://www.g2.com/products/simscale/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (279 reviews)

### Alternatives to Inventor

- [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)
- [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 (255 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)
- [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)
- [ZWCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/zwcad/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (349 reviews)

### Alternatives to MATLAB

- [Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/gemini-enterprise-agent-platform/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (657 reviews)
- [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)
- [Altair AI Studio](https://www.g2.com/products/rapidminer-studio/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (516 reviews)
- [Alteryx](https://www.g2.com/products/alteryx/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (810 reviews)
- [Posit](https://www.g2.com/products/posit-posit/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (570 reviews)
- [TensorFlow](https://www.g2.com/products/tensorflow/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (138 reviews)
- [Ansys Fluent](https://www.g2.com/products/ansys-fluent/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (122 reviews)
- [Simcenter Amesim](https://www.g2.com/products/simcenter-amesim/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (121 reviews)
- [Mathematica](https://www.g2.com/products/mathematica/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (86 reviews)

### Alternatives to Onshape

- [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)
- [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (599 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)
- [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1934 reviews)
- [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (997 reviews)
- [CATIA](https://www.g2.com/products/catia/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (255 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)

---
## Top Discussions

### SolidWorks Simulation

- Title: [What is the use of Solidworks software?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-use-of-solidworks-software) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Its Computer aided design software, of course you can do lot of things using solidworks package. 
Design 3D CAD Engineering models
2D technical drawing..."
- Title: [Is solidworks simulation free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-solidworks-simulation-free) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "No its based on subscription"

### 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 ..."

### MATLAB

- Title: [Can I use Matlab for free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/can-i-use-matlab-for-free) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "You can use trial version for free"
- Title: [Any good website to discuss about the matlab programming?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/15468-any-good-website-to-discuss-about-the-matlab-programming) — 3 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "https://www.vexforum.com/t/matlab-vs-robotc/41155"
- Title: [Is it possible to check the output of Simulink terminal if I am not keeping a scope?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-it-possible-to-check-the-output-of-simulink-terminal-if-i-am-not-keeping-a-scope) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Wonderful tool for FEM analysis"
- Title: [What is MATLAB used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-matlab-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "MATLAB is basically used for simulation and modeling of dynamics of the machine like if we want to simulate the physical modelling of the machine then we can..."
- Title: [What is Matlab written in?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-matlab-written-in) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Matlab uses C &C++ for backend."

### Onshape

- Title: [What is Onshape used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-onshape-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Collaboratively design products and solutions for problems using a browser on nearly any computer. Manage the data for the parts you design and prepare them..."
- Title: [When can we expect some better surfacing tools or plugins.](https://www.g2.com/discussions/when-can-we-expect-some-better-surfacing-tools-or-plugins) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "You should really try some of the custom feature scripts like sculpt, Plane, 3D sketch and surface extend. Also, I'm sure there are more since I looked into it."
- Title: [Does this product have the capability to show stress/strain, show transfer of heat, and airflow?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/42157-does-this-product-have-the-capability-to-show-stress-strain-show-transfer-of-heat-and-airflow) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "No, only through partner apps"
- Title: [Onshape's 2D drawing platform doesn't let you make a sketch aside from line or spline.](https://www.g2.com/discussions/34202-onshape-s-2d-drawing-platform-doesn-t-let-you-make-a-sketch-aside-from-line-or-spline) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "It has many basic sketch features"
- Title: [What is the fastest way to deselect multiple items when zoomed into a design?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/33946-what-is-the-fastest-way-to-deselect-multiple-items-when-zoomed-into-a-design) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Tapping the Space Bar"

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/solidworks-solidworks-simulation-vs-inventor-vs-matlab-vs-onshape)