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Compare Inventor and SOLIDWORKS 
At a Glance
Market Segments
Mid-Market (42.5% of reviews)
Small-Business (43.5% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
$2085 1 year
No pricing available
Inventor
Star Rating
(437)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Mid-Market (42.5% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
$2085 1 year
Browse all 4 pricing plansSOLIDWORKS
Star Rating
(626)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (43.5% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about SOLIDWORKSSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that SOLIDWORKS excels in ease of use, with many users praising its intuitive interface that simplifies 3D modeling and assembly, even for complex designs. One user highlighted how easy it is to change dimensions without needing to redo the entire model, enhancing creativity and productivity.
- Users say that Inventor offers a high level of customization, allowing them to set up shortcuts and adjust text styles to fit their preferences. This flexibility makes it a favorite among those who appreciate a tailored user experience, as noted by a reviewer who found it efficient for both beginners and experienced users.
- According to verified reviews, SOLIDWORKS stands out in simulation capabilities, receiving high marks for its tools that support both static and dynamic system designs. Users have noted the software's robust features for parametric modeling and simulations, which significantly boost their productivity.
- Reviewers mention that while Inventor is user-friendly, it sometimes lacks the extensive feature set that SOLIDWORKS provides. Users appreciate Inventor's accuracy in 3D modeling and 2D drafting, but some feel that SOLIDWORKS offers a broader range of tools for complex projects.
- G2 reviewers highlight that SOLIDWORKS has a strong community and support network, with many users benefiting from the wealth of resources available for troubleshooting and learning. This support is crucial for users who may encounter challenges during implementation or day-to-day use.
- Users report that both products have similar scores for quality of support, but SOLIDWORKS has a larger volume of recent reviews, indicating a more active user base. This can be beneficial for potential buyers looking for a software solution with a proven track record and ongoing user engagement.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Inventor
1 Year
$2085
1 year
Choose online store or reseller or call toll-free 1-844-821-0545.
SOLIDWORKS
No pricing availableFree Trial
Inventor
Free Trial is available
SOLIDWORKS
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.8
373
8.8
521
Ease of Use
8.4
374
8.6
525
Ease of Setup
7.9
104
8.2
97
Ease of Admin
7.7
99
8.0
47
Quality of Support
8.1
342
8.2
461
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.2
94
8.3
47
Product Direction (% positive)
8.3
368
8.6
516
Features by Category
CAD to CAM
Not enough data
9.0
42
Not enough data
8.8
42
Not enough data
8.9
42
CNC Programming
Not enough data
8.7
38
Not enough data
8.6
38
Not enough data
8.4
37
Machining
Not enough data
8.6
39
Not enough data
8.7
39
Not enough data
8.8
39
Design
8.6
37
9.5
102
8.9
37
9.4
102
8.4
37
9.3
98
7.5
34
8.1
98
Edit
8.1
36
8.5
96
7.3
35
8.4
89
8.0
36
9.3
97
7.7
36
8.3
84
Collaboration
8.1
36
8.6
93
8.6
35
9.0
95
8.2
36
8.4
89
Library
Not enough data
8.9
28
Not enough data
8.5
27
Not enough data
8.4
28
Not enough data
8.6
23
CAD
Not enough data
8.8
24
Not enough data
9.4
30
Not enough data
9.1
29
Integration
Not enough data
8.5
26
Not enough data
9.6
28
Not enough data
8.5
24
Data
Not enough data
9.2
27
Not enough data
8.7
26
Not enough data
8.3
26
Not enough data
9.0
26
Not enough data
8.3
24
Not enough data
8.7
25
Logistics
Not enough data
9.1
25
File Support - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
8.8
60
Not enough data
8.6
46
Not enough data
8.4
51
File Editing - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
7.6
54
Not enough data
8.6
59
Software Integrations - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
7.6
48
Not enough data
8.8
57
Software Type - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
7.7
47
Not enough data
8.6
52
Generative AI - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
6.1
19
Not enough data
6.1
19
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
8.9
44
Not enough data
9.1
43
Not enough data
9.0
42
Not enough data
9.3
44
Not enough data
8.3
35
Not enough data
8.3
41
Tools
Not enough data
9.5
43
Not enough data
9.1
41
Not enough data
9.2
43
Design
Not enough data
9.4
43
Design
Not enough data
7.9
12
Not enough data
7.8
12
Tools
Not enough data
9.2
13
Not enough data
8.7
13
Library
Not enough data
8.2
13
Platform
Not enough data
8.6
13
Not enough data
8.1
12
Customization
Not enough data
7.8
12
Not enough data
8.3
12
Design
9.0
20
9.2
59
8.6
20
9.0
60
8.7
20
8.8
60
7.6
19
7.6
58
Tools
5.6
16
8.0
53
7.5
19
7.9
55
7.1
17
7.4
48
Work
6.9
15
7.5
40
6.8
15
7.8
41
7.2
16
8.3
49
7.6
14
8.1
43
7.6
16
8.4
46
Environment
7.7
17
8.3
52
7.7
18
8.4
50
6.9
18
8.2
48
8.1
19
8.6
52
Tools - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Not enough data
9.3
26
Not enough data
8.5
25
Not enough data
9.3
26
Not enough data
9.1
25
Not enough data
7.7
25
File Options - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Not enough data
8.6
26
Not enough data
8.5
26
Not enough data
8.2
27
Not enough data
8.3
24
Not enough data
7.6
28
Customization - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Not enough data
8.3
22
Not enough data
8.3
22
Not enough data
7.6
23
Not enough data
8.2
23
Environment - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Not enough data
8.3
23
Not enough data
8.4
23
Not enough data
7.9
23
Not enough data
8.9
24
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Inventor and SOLIDWORKS are categorized as Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD), Simulation & CAE, and General-Purpose CAD
Unique Categories
Inventor has no unique categories
SOLIDWORKS is categorized as CAD Viewers, Sketching, PCB Design, Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), CAD Libraries, CAD Data Exchange, and Additive Manufacturing
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Inventor
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
SOLIDWORKS
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
24.8%
Machinery
7.9%
Design
7.2%
Construction
5.0%
Utilities
3.8%
Other
51.3%
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
23.2%
Design
12.0%
Automotive
6.6%
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
5.9%
Medical Devices
5.7%
Other
46.6%
Alternatives
Discussions
How do you handle the data creation problem?
2 Comments
SG
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...Read more
there is a form to get more realistic renders from inventor?
2 Comments
KC
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 ...Read more
Is integration with other Autodesk products being considered?
2 Comments
MG
Autodesk published a video on how to export Inventor parts to Revit here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue7-WtyiUtIRead more
What is SOLIDWORKS used for?
3 Comments
YP
SOLIDWORKS IS USED FOR MULTIPLE WORK LIKE 2D & 3D CAD MODELING, ASSEMBLY MODELING, SHWWET METAL MODELING, SURFACE MODELING, RENDERING, SIMULATION, 3D...Read more
best use o this software
2 Comments
OS
Making 2D sketches and extruding them to make 3d sketches.Read more
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