--- title: SOLIDWORKS Reviews meta_title: 'SOLIDWORKS Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 646 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how SOLIDWORKS works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.5 review_count: 646 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-08-13' parent_category: name: CAD url: https://www.g2.com/categories/cad --- # SOLIDWORKS Reviews **Vendor:** Dassault Systemes **Category:** [Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/mechanical-computer-aided-design-mcad) **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 646 ## About SOLIDWORKS SOLIDWORKS delivers connected, easy-to-use tools that help you innovate and accelerate every aspect of your product development process. ## SOLIDWORKS Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users value the **user-friendly interface** of SOLIDWORKS, which simplifies complex tasks and enhances productivity. (37 reviews) - Users appreciate the **user-friendly interface** of SOLIDWORKS, enhancing productivity with easy file conversion and robust features. (29 reviews) - Users appreciate the **ease of creating accurate 3D models** with SOLIDWORKS, enhancing design and simulation capabilities. (27 reviews) - Users value the **user-friendly interface** of SOLIDWORKS, facilitating quick learning and efficient design processes. (21 reviews) - Users value the **in-built simulation tools** in SOLIDWORKS, which enhance testing and analysis efficiency for complex designs. (16 reviews) - Users value the **CAD integration** of SOLIDWORKS, which enhances efficiency and streamlines the design process. (15 reviews) - Efficiency (15 reviews) - Users value the **robust features** of SOLIDWORKS, which enhance machine design and support diverse modeling needs. (15 reviews) - 3D Visualization (14 reviews) - CAD Designing (14 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users experience **performance issues** like lag and crashes, especially with large assemblies, affecting usability. (17 reviews) - Users experience **slow performance** with SOLIDWORKS, especially when managing large assemblies on less powerful machines. (15 reviews) - Users face **high system requirements** with SOLIDWORKS, affecting performance and accessibility for less powerful machines. (14 reviews) - Users find the **complexity** of SOLIDWORKS challenging, especially during installation and when working with mesh models. (11 reviews) - Users find SOLIDWORKS to be **expensive** , especially with high system requirements and costly licensing impacting accessibility. (11 reviews) - Users report that **slow simulation** can hinder productivity, especially with large assemblies and complex models. (11 reviews) - Users experience **software instability** with SolidWorks, facing issues like crashes and slow performance with large assemblies. (11 reviews) - Users often face **assembly issues** in SOLIDWORKS, experiencing slow performance and crashes with large and complex models. (10 reviews) - Crashes (10 reviews) - High Hardware Requirements (10 reviews) ## SOLIDWORKS Reviews ### 1. Horrible Market Strategy makes a great program unusable. **Rating:** 0.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nathan T. | Engineering Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 26, 2024 **What do you like best about SOLIDWORKS?** Great user interface, fantastic mechanical/engineering based 3D modelling (instead of push/pull artistic based models like Blender). **What do you dislike about SOLIDWORKS?** I have used Solidworks for 15 years - since I finished University. In 2019, I paid 14 thousand dollars for a perpetual license for SW19. Upon my laptop failing - Customer service has been unable to assit in providing the serial number to install on my new computer. 14 k - gone. I switched to Solidworks for Hobbiests and Markers.... AND MY GOD - WHAT A MESS> Constant 5-6 GB updates - which will fail >75% of the time, then 4 to 5 minutes for the program to actually open, the constant crashing, failing to find their servers, wanting to save files on their cloud instead of my local computer. The "3D Creater Home" is an un-navigatable nightmare that's more interested in teaching me how to model an "apple slicer" than it is in providing the support and platform I need to do the modelling. Pro tip, Solidworks - I can't model your apple slicer example if I can't open your program.... How about you focus on getting the basics right - and ignore the Learning, Collaboration, and Sample content - until your program can actually be used. Unfortunately - after being a fan for 15 years - my advice now is to STEER CLEAR. **What problems is SOLIDWORKS solving and how is that benefiting you?** Solving problems.... Unfortunately - none, anymore. All the time I have available for modelling is consumed by updates, crashes, and having the 3D Creater Home opened for no apparent reason. ### 2. Solidworks is good for Solid modelling and rendering. **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Karthickeyan M. | Programmer Analyst Trainee, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 20, 2023 **What do you like best about SOLIDWORKS?** It is one of the best in business for solid design modelling in mechanical Engineering Industry **What do you dislike about SOLIDWORKS?** I like it but it lags in analysing design modela in mechanical world. **What problems is SOLIDWORKS solving and how is that benefiting you?** This is used for me in my final year project for designing and rendering my epoxy based composite project. ### 3. Fundamentaly Flawed **Rating:** 1.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Consumer Electronics | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 29, 2020 **What do you like best about SOLIDWORKS?** No part of it. It can't run on just any computer. You need to get a certified graphics card. You need to spend as much on hardware as you do on software. **What do you dislike about SOLIDWORKS?** Everything. Didn't know I Like PTC's Creo so much. **Recommendations to others considering SOLIDWORKS:** Look at other products and evaluate the benefits of each very heavily. Mapkeys i Creo are a huge time saver. Solidworks crashes all the time. The kernal is single threaded and can't utilize multi threaded CPU's. Other parts of SW use multi threading but the core product is horrible in rendering basic geometry on screen in model or drawing form. **What problems is SOLIDWORKS solving and how is that benefiting you?** The fact that its a 3D solid modeler - nothing ### 4. Solidwhat? **Rating:** 0.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 15, 2021 **What do you like best about SOLIDWORKS?** They are the standard in the industry in some markets **What do you dislike about SOLIDWORKS?** The business is confused. They held onto their sacred cows and let cloud cad slip through their fingres. Now they're playing catchup, and the market strategy is a mess. **What problems is SOLIDWORKS solving and how is that benefiting you?** I'm not solving any problems anymore, I've switched the company to OnShape ### 5. Too expensive for such an unstable program **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Konstantinos A. | Mechanical Design Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 24, 2020 **What do you like best about SOLIDWORKS?** There is nothing in particular. Not even its interface. **What do you dislike about SOLIDWORKS?** The interface is outdated and the layout of the commands is not practical. SW uses separate buttons for Boss-extrude / cut extrude commands, which is not logical at all. Inventor is far superior in this area. Very slow when handling large assemblies. Reloads too often, even when you have disabled from the performance options. Even when you open a part and not perform any actions, it still reloads and prompts you to save. Every new version is slower and more unstable. I can't even remember the countless times I performed very important tasks and SW chose to crash at the critical moment. It is one of the reasons for which I began to despise product design. Other brands of software made me love my job. **Recommendations to others considering SOLIDWORKS:** Please try to find other solutions. Avoid this software at all costs. While they try to lure you with the license that does not expire, the do manage to sell you a very expensive program that is unstable and will make things very challenging. Zero support! **What problems is SOLIDWORKS solving and how is that benefiting you?** I cope to handle large assemblies of industrial infrastructures. SW is very laggy, slow and unstable. It is very challenging to try and perform everyday tasks. ### 6. Best cad, worst customer service **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Design | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 04, 2020 **What do you like best about SOLIDWORKS?** The cad part is great, it's quick, simple and easy to use/navigate **What do you dislike about SOLIDWORKS?** Terms of business, customer support and upfront cost. I successfully applied for their entrepreneur scheme, but unfortunately, they're advertised computer specs were so far off the market to make use of this. To date 2 years after applying I've still not had an apology for their misleading information. After the 12 month entrepreneur license expired, they launched straight into a hard take it or leave it sales approach at a cost of 50k. Having just upgraded my computer as the entrepreneur license expired, £5k cost for a start up business it took a whole year. It then took them 4 months to arrange a short trial. I ran into issues with setting up a cfd simulation and didn't have time within the trail period to resolve these issues. This was again followed up by high pressure take it or leave it sales approaches. I'm like hang on a minute, I've had two consecutive failed trials over 18 months and you want me to commit £50k upfront to a non-salable/refundable license In short it's taken 2 years to get a 30 trial, can I make a business case for investing 50k on these terms in 30 days? We will have to wait and see. **What problems is SOLIDWORKS solving and how is that benefiting you?** Lack of honesty from customer service has been a big issue, having taken two years to provide me with a workable trail, I've only got 30 days moving forwards to somehow evaluate this and make a business case. ### 7. Out of Date relative to New Platforms **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Miles C. | Product Engineer, Research, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 27, 2018 **What do you like best about SOLIDWORKS?** I can pay for it once and then use it all by myself for myself, forever. Other than that, it's not that great. **What do you dislike about SOLIDWORKS?** It is built on outdated technology, using copies of files as opposed to shared documents. It's not versatile with multiple devices, including mobile. The user needs high end, expensive hardware to run it. Service Packs, Yearly Updates make compatibility between users very difficult. It is a very expensive piece of legacy software that I need to pay for upfront. **Recommendations to others considering SOLIDWORKS:** If you want outdated technology, use SolidWorks. Otherwise, use Onshape. **What problems is SOLIDWORKS solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am not solving any business problems with SolidWorks. I solved my business problems by switching to Onshape completely. ### 8. It is OK CAD system **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Oscar N. | Design Engineer, Machinery, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 28, 2017 **What do you like best about SOLIDWORKS?** When it doesn't crash and when it does not lag (very rarely) Compatibility to .NET for customizing Configuration manager Some built-in features like sheet metal and parametric equations are very nice **What do you dislike about SOLIDWORKS?** Stability and performance sucks No improvement on performance/core optimization Leave corrupted files when crashes CAD file size grows enormously for complex geometry/big assemblies. DO NOT USE linear patterns! Overall performance/efficiency, lack of automated tasks Hole feature could be better **Recommendations to others considering SOLIDWORKS:** Do not recommend if you have to work with large assemblies/complex geometry It's ok CAD software, but stability has been an issue Dassault keeps adding features, but they should really be focus on performance/stability issues. Sometimes it feels like you're using Beta version They're switching to a subscription model. It sucks **What problems is SOLIDWORKS solving and how is that benefiting you?** product design, prototyping, 3D printing ### 9. Not a fan **Rating:** 0.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Plastics | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 27, 2016 **What do you like best about SOLIDWORKS?** I can't honestly I "like" say anything about it. At beast I'm apathetic towards SWX. **What do you dislike about SOLIDWORKS?** Our company is a rubber & plastics molder. We manufacture both custom and proprietary products. I have nearly 25 years of CAD experience, and have been a Solidworks user since 2003, when the company switched over from another CAD system. I have been through most of the SWX training courses, and consider myself reasonably fluent with the program. And the more I use it, the less I like it. I really don't like the parametric approach. I find constraints... well frankly, constraining. A good amount of thought has to be giver, prior to building your model, to the order that features need to created. For my money, direct modeling is simpler, much faster, and far less of a headache. Many times I have found that Solidworks would not allow me to add a feature mid-build. So I had to go back and insert it further up the history tree. And, more often than not, doing THAT would cause an error down the history tree that require considerable time to find and correct. Another serious problem is dealing with customer models created in software other than Solidworks. The dreaded "dumb" solids. It often necessary to modify customer models to make them moldable. Because the imported file does not included the history tree, doing that in a history based system, can be taxing, to say the least. Here again, I've found direct modeling to be superior. Because direct CAD systems (I prefer KeyCreator, formerly know as Cadkey) treat imported models as if they are native files, making changes is not only possible, but often very quick. **Recommendations to others considering SOLIDWORKS:** Look at direct modeling software instead. There are a few direct alternative out there. Space Claim and KeyCreator, are just two that come to mind. **What problems is SOLIDWORKS solving and how is that benefiting you?** ???? ### 10. Solidworks Sucks **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Steve F. | President / Senior Engineer, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 11, 2015 **What do you like best about SOLIDWORKS?** It is not AutoCAD. It has pretty colors. **What do you dislike about SOLIDWORKS?** I have been using CAD systems since 1985 when they were still 2D wireframe programs. I have been an engineer for over 20 years. I have used every CAD system there is...AutoCAD, Inventor, Cadkey, KeyCreator, MasterCam, IDEAS, Anvil, Catia, SurfCam and Pro-E. I have used Solidworks since 2004. I have used programs that are no longer available. I have never seen or used a more flawed, inefficient, geometrically sloppy, poorly written with abnormal drafting procedures, tedious, confusing, illogical, frustrating, piece of trash CAD program in my life! $4000+ for a system that can't draw a tangent even with the tangent snap. Can't draw a point at the end of a line. Can't dimension to a reference line that was drawn while in the "Drawing" mode. Can't use the 2D entities of a section cut for measuring. Doesn't flatten to 2D entities properly when creating drawings. And has a "Mirror" function, that has been CHANGED, to give you FOUR answers to choose from even though it asks to identify the mirror plane. There's ONE answer! That is a blatant act to confuse the customer in hopes of scamming them into paying for "maintenance". The "Tangent" Quick Snap still doesn't work correctly, yet something that WAS working has been unreasonably altered to contradict the very meaning of the command! I could go on and on. I have used Solidworks 2004, 2008, 2009, I own 2010 and have used 2011. I have run it on no less than six different computers with six different hardware configurations. I have run it using Windows 98, 2000, Vista, XP and 7. Solidworks has crashed every single system and on a continuous basis! It crashes at least once every time I use it. It has completely locked up two computers so bad I had to format the hard drive. I have lost countless hours and thousands of dollars in computer time re-doing parts. "Maintenance" repeats over and over that it is my video card or operating system. Bologna. I have a computer made for running CAD. I run twenty year old software, bootlegged software, software I don't even know where it came from and have NO computer problems. EVERY time I use Solidworks, it crashes...EVERY TIME! I have NEVER received ANY help from tech support even while working for a company foolish enough to pay for the so-called "maintenance". It is an extra $1000 a year for no help and another $1000 for the yearly upgrade...although the salesman will tell you differently. Salesmen are the only people to ever return my calls, NEVER a tech support person. DO NOT BUY SOLIDWORKS! The Federal Trade Commission should look at this company, their practices and their product. I am convinced that self-destruct routines are written within the program causing it to degrade over time. Solidworks was written by incompetent amateurs, in my opinion. It is just simply a rip-off and the "Maintenance" package is just simply an attempt to extort money from the consumer. **Recommendations to others considering SOLIDWORKS:** Buy anything else. **What problems is SOLIDWORKS solving and how is that benefiting you?** No problems were ever solved but more problems arose using this horrible CAD software. ## SOLIDWORKS Discussions - [What is SOLIDWORKS used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-solidworks-used-for) - 3 comments, 1 upvote - [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 - [best use o this software](https://www.g2.com/discussions/35425-best-use-o-this-software) - 2 comments, 1 upvote - [Where is the Features toolbar in Solidworks?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/where-is-the-features-toolbar-in-solidworks) - 1 comment - [What are features in Solidworks?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-features-in-solidworks) - 1 comment - [View SOLIDWORKS pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks/reviews?filters%5Bnps_score%5D%5B%5D=1§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-08-13+10%3A34%3A20+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=1dea1a92-d48d-4a8c-85fd-21ae0f82cce0&secure%5Btoken%5D=5651ed56ce13c656edce77d07f868f302be0c5792c577307e797f67331e9b81a&format=llm_user) ## SOLIDWORKS Integrations - [Ansys Mechanical](https://www.g2.com/products/ansys-mechanical/reviews) - [BIMDeX](https://www.g2.com/products/bimdex/reviews) - [CATIA](https://www.g2.com/products/catia/reviews) - [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) - [ENOVIA](https://www.g2.com/products/enovia/reviews) - [SolidCAM](https://www.g2.com/products/solidcam/reviews) - [SolidWorks CAM](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-cam/reviews) - [SolidWorks Simulation](https://www.g2.com/products/dassault-systemes-solidworks-simulation/reviews) - [SOLIDWORKS Visualize](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-visualize/reviews) - [Teamcenter](https://www.g2.com/products/teamcenter/reviews) - [Total ETO](https://www.g2.com/products/total-eto/reviews) - [Windchill Navigate](https://www.g2.com/products/windchill-navigate/reviews) ## SOLIDWORKS Features **CAD to CAM** - CAD-CAM Import - CAM Data Exchange - CAD/CAM Compatibility - Data Verification **Design** - Drawing - Modeling - Visualize - Rendering **Library** - Categorize - Search - Deduplication - Feedback **Data** - 3D Format - Data Quality - Extra Information - Standard Format - Translate - Validation **File Support - Additive Manufacturing** - STL Compatible - 3MF Compatible - OBJ Compatible **File Options** - Import files - Export files - View 2D files - View 3D files - Batch convert files - File size **Design** - PCB layout editing - Schematic editor **Design** - 3D/solid modeling Tools - Drawing Tools - Editing Tools - Rendering tools - Stochastic Modeling - Presentation Tools **Tools - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)** - 3D/solid modeling Tools - Rendering Tools - Drawing Tools - Editing Tools - Text Editing Tools **CNC Programming** - CNC Workflows - CNC Feature Recognition - Programming Control - Configurable Workflow - Job Card - Version Control **Edit** - File Import - Push/Pull - Views - Grips **CAD** - Types - Models - Compatibility **Logistics** - Integrate **File Editing - Additive Manufacturing** - Mesh Repair - File Editing **Tools** - Dimensioning tools - Change units - 3D/solid modeling tools **Tools** - 3D modeling tools - Component placement **Tools** - Fluid analysis - Finite element analysis - Multibody dynamics - Design Analysis **File Options - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)** - Export Files - Import Files - File Interoperability - Backwards compatibility - File size **Collaboration** - Annotate - Documentation - Data Extract **Integration** - Catalogs - CAD & PLM - ERP **Software Integrations - Additive Manufacturing** - Standalone Slicer - Inetgrated 3D Modeling **Design** - Drawing **Library** - Component libraries **Work** - Discrete event modeling - Continuous event modeling - Mechanical event simulation - Manufacturing process simulation - Integrate - Turbulence Modeling - Motion Modeling - Dynamic Modeling - Mathematical Modeling - Agent-Based Modeling - Monte Carlo Simulation **Customization - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)** - Custom Commands - Custom Scripts - Custom Menus - Custom Interface **Additional Functionality** - API - Image Editing - Activity Dashboard - Animation - Reference Management - Secure Data Storage - Third-Party Integrations - Configuration Management - Annotations - Drag & Drop - Data Synchronization - For 3D Printing - Customizable Templates - Modeling & Simulation - For Manufacturers - Multiple Format Support - Workflow Management - Version Control - Document Management - Sketching and Annotation Tools - Multiple Projects - For Architects - Content Library - Bill of Materials Management - Collaboration Tools - Design Management - Rules-Based Workflow - Reporting/Analytics - Data Visualization - Generative AI - Data Capture and Transfer - Projections - AI Copilot - Real Time Comparisons - Document Generation - Component Library - Compliance Management - Customizable Branding - File Management - Real-Time Updates - Configurable Workflow **Machining** - Job Set-up - Operations - Tooling and Toolpaths **Software Type - Additive Manufacturing** - Cloud-based Platform - Downloadable Application **Platform** - Board size - Layers **Environment** - Hardware support - Task - Manage Multiple Profiles - Command Clarity **Environment - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)** - Hardware support - Task-based interfaces - Manage Multiple Profiles - Command Clarity **Additional Functionality** - G-Code Output - Batch Processing - Toolpath Generation - Collaboration Tools - 2D and 3D Machining - Multi-Language - Real-Time Monitoring - AI/Machine Learning - Data Management - Templates - For Aerospace Industry - Multi-Axis Machining Support - Setup Sheet Generation - For Automotive Industry - Tool Library Management - Data Import/Export - Nesting - Additive Manufacturing - Reporting & Statistics - IoT Integration - Material Database - Real-Time Updates - Customizable User Interface - CAD Integration - Role-Based Permissions - Roughing & Finishing Strategies - Machine Simulation **Additional Functionality** - Activity Dashboard - Configurable Workflow - API - Data Verification - Data Visualization - Generative AI - 3D Imaging - Projections - Data Import/Export - Design Management - Drag & Drop - Real-Time Monitoring - Version Control - Visual Analytics - Third-Party Integrations - Access Controls/Permissions - Workflow Management - Direct Manipulation - Scenario Planning - Product Data Management - Predictive Analytics - Change Management - Process Control - Customization - Content Library - Document Management - Real-Time Data - Reporting & Statistics - Rules-Based Workflow - File Management - Compliance Management - Policy Management - Graphical Data Presentation - Customizable Reports - Graphical Workflow Editor - Reporting/Analytics - Industry Specific Database - Project Workflow - AI Copilot - Performance Management **Customization** - Custom commands - Custom interface **Generative AI - Additive Manufacturing** - AI Text-to-Image - AI Text-to-3D **Building Preparation - Additive Manufacturing** - Material Management - Building Simulation - Slicing Optimization ## Top SOLIDWORKS Alternatives - [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (510 reviews) - [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) - 4.7/5.0 (712 reviews) - [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) - 4.2/5.0 (619 reviews)