What is SolidWorks?
Pros from reviewers
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Excellent render tools: Its render tools are some of the best in the market, which is excellent for impressing clients
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User-friendly interface: SolidWorks is often the first software taught in many engineering schools due to its user-friendly interface and the accessibility of its key tools on the first page, making it perfect for beginners
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Design validation: It allows for design validation through finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics, eliminating the need for additional software
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Large community for support: There's a large community for support if you have any questions, which can be very helpful for beginners and experienced users alike
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Customization: Once mastered, the customization it provides is remarkable, allowing users to tailor the software to their specific needs.
Cons from reviewers
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Unstable program: SolidWorks has been reported to crash often and contain numerous bugs, making the creation of large assemblies challenging
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High cost: SolidWorks is a somewhat expensive software, making it a significant investment especially for individual parts or small machine projects where cheaper or free software might be a better choice
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Poor customer support: The quality of customer support varies depending on the Value-Added-Reseller (VAR), with some users finding the customer service unhelpful
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Frequent crashes: Despite its robust features, SolidWorks has been reported to crash occasionally, especially when working with large assemblies, which can disrupt workflow and productivity.
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Specific computer requirements: The CPU, GPU, and RAM requirements for SolidWorks are quite specific, which can make the initial investment quite high
Main features
Starting Price
Free Plan
Drawing and documentation
CAD/CAM integration
DELMIAWorks Manufacturing ERP
Design validation
Conception/Engineering
Starting Price
N/A
Free Plan
No
Drawing and documentation
CAD/CAM integration
DELMIAWorks Manufacturing ERP
Design validation
Conception/Engineering
How SolidWorks compare to similar software?
Product
Price
N/A
Free plan
No
Main features
Pros
Cons
Alternatives
Deal
No available deal at the moment
Who is SolidWorks best for according to our reviewers?
Beginners in Engineering: SolidWorks is often the first software taught in many engineering schools due to its user-friendly interface and the accessibility of its key tools on the first page
3D Animators: SolidWorks is excellent for creating 3D animation videos for presentations, with user-friendly and feature-rich modules
Long-term Professional Users: SolidWorks is suitable for long-term professional users who need to handle complex assemblies and revisions, with improved collaboration and SAP-like features in the latest versions.
Mechanical Designers: SolidWorks is widely used in the industry for mechanical part design and allows for design validation through finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics
Manufacturing Professionals: SolidWorks is a go-to CAD package in manufacturing, offering a variety of plugins and a logical workflow
SolidWorks Reviews
4.0
SolidWorks rating
4.8
Ease of use
4.8
Customer service
4.1
Value for money
4.3
Likelihood to recommend
4.6
Features
25 SolidWorks Reviews
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Brittany Brown
Outstanding SolidWorks Experience
The software provides numerous features that allow me to carry out various tasks, from 3D modeling to CAD. I value the customization options and the variety of features it offers. However, the software crashes more often than I'd like. I selected SolidWorks Premium as it is commonly used in the local industry, making it a straightforward choice. I transitioned to SolidWorks Premium because I couldn't do my job without the capability to create and manipulate 3D models.
September 21, 2024
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Keaton D
Solidworks: Riddled with Bugs and Lags
Solidworks is so buggy and slow, I spend 1/3 of my time rebooting the software.
September 14, 2024
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Nola S
Exploring Solidworks: A User's Experience with Makers License Purchase and Support
I recently purchased a makers license for Solidworks and was thrilled to use it right away. The first time I logged in, it was a breeze. The second time, it asked for a code, which was a bit of a mystery, but it added an element of intrigue to the process. I reached out to their support team, and although they required me to log in to report the issue, I appreciated the extra layer of security they had in place. I decided to pause my subscription while we worked through the issue, and they suggested a fresh start might be the best course of action. I was impressed by their proactive approach and willingness to help me set up the process again. They were mindful of my time and made sure to offer solutions that would prevent me from being locked out. When my license expired, they informed me promptly and suggested I purchase a new one. I was initially concerned about my data from the previous environment, but they assured me that they would assist me if I encountered any errors while making a new purchase. This showed me that they were committed to ensuring a smooth transition and were ready to help me every step of the way. I'm looking forward to continuing my journey with Solidworks!
September 10, 2024
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Russell Rodriguez
A CAD Game-Changer: SolidWorks
Overall, I'm satisfied with Solidworks. I can easily model parts and assemblies, and handle revisions, which is as manageable as it can be in any CAD software. I've been using Solidworks for a long time and find it has fewer issues than other alternatives, even with complex assemblies. The latest versions have improved collaboration and SAP-like features, but they could be more straightforward. Some recent UI redesigns have slowed things down a bit. I chose Solidworks Premium for its backwards compatibility with my previous work and its predictable upgrade trend. I switched from Creo due to numerous bugs and issues. The UIs were similar. I tried Creo again but wasn't convinced. I might try it again in the future. The latest Siemens NX version looks promising.
September 3, 2024
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Kelly Williams
Exploring Solidworks for Makers: A Personal Journey
I was absolutely thrilled to discover the Solidworks for Makers offer. Having had a fantastic experience using the professional version as an engineer, I was excited to bring it into my home workspace. Yes, the deal does come with a variety of online apps and requires a connected version of Solidworks, but I saw this as an opportunity to explore new tools and enhance my skills. I eagerly opted for the $1 monthly subscription and embarked on the installation process. I did encounter some challenges initially, but this led me to dive into the forums and engage with the Solidworks community. It was a learning curve, and I discovered that my current setup wasn't compatible with the software. When I reached out for assistance, I was informed that there were no refunds on monthly subscriptions. While this was a bit of a surprise, I appreciated the transparency and understood the policy. It's a reminder to always check the system requirements before purchasing software. I've heard many people recommend Fusion36, and I'm excited to give it a try. But I'm also looking forward to resolving the compatibility issues and getting back to Solidworks, a software I've always enjoyed using. Edit: I've been in touch with the support team again regarding my unresolved issue. While I haven't received a response yet, I'm hopeful they're working on a solution. I've sent a few follow-up emails and am patiently waiting for a reply. I also discovered that my subscription wasn't cancelled as I had thought, but I'm sure this is just a minor oversight that will be corrected soon. I have faith in Solidworks as a global company and am confident they'll provide the excellent service I've come to expect.
August 27, 2024
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Matthew C
Effortless Workflow with Clear, User-Friendly Interface and Quick Learning Curve
I find SolidWorks to be efficient and user-friendly for constructing intricate models and assembling them swiftly. It's also excellent for creating 3D animation videos for presentations. All its features are robust, but I particularly enjoy the Sheet Metal and Animation modules. However, I've observed that it occasionally crashes when I'm working with large assemblies, though I'm uncertain if this is a hardware problem. I opted for SolidWorks Premium as it's similar to Inventor, which made the transition smoother. I primarily switched to SolidWorks Premium because the Sheet Metal and Animation modules are extremely user-friendly and feature-rich.
August 17, 2024
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Samantha J
Exploring the Exciting World of Solidworks Academia Website
Navigating the website is like embarking on an exciting treasure hunt, with so much to discover about Solidworks Academia. It's like a thrilling game, trying to locate the form to fill out. This site is definitely one I'll keep exploring!
August 10, 2024
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Kimberly N
Robust and Versatile Industrial Modelling Tool
Solidworks is my go-to CAD package in manufacturing, offering a variety of plugins. I appreciate the abundant online help and community support for specific queries. The software is extremely powerful, capable of accomplishing almost everything I need, provided I know the correct technique. The workflow is logical and rarely leaves me confused. Although it's quite pricey, it generally pays for itself in commercial use. However, I feel the assembly system could be more robust. It permits many bad practices that can lead to unnoticed issues later, though it does provide more flexibility than other CAD packages.
August 6, 2024
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Janice Martinez
SolidWorks: Enhancing Product Design Presentations
As a product designer, I appreciate the photorealistic rendering feature in SolidWorks, it has enabled me to present my designs in a more visually appealing manner. The software's compatibility with other CAD software has made data exchange seamless and hassle-free
July 30, 2024
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Jesse Johnson
Not Worth the Investment
I've been using Solidworks Premium (2017 and 2020 SP3.0) for the past 3 years and I find it to be a very unstable program. It crashes often and has numerous bugs that make creating large assemblies quite challenging. The customer support is disappointing and the customer service is unhelpful. I wouldn't recommend this product to anyone and suggest using Solid Edge, Creo Parametric or AutoDesk Inventor instead. Despite having features like assembly drawings and extensive rendering options, its instability and impractical command layout outweigh these benefits. The developers seem more focused on adding unnecessary features rather than improving the program's stability. The quality of customer support varies depending on the Value-Added-Reseller (VAR), some are cooperative while others are just after your money. I prefer to contact the actual company, which is where AutoDesk has an edge. I didn't choose to use Solidworks, it was a decision made by my company.
July 21, 2024
