CAD software pricing is notoriously hard to pin down. Some vendors publish prices, others only quote through resellers, and most now sell subscriptions instead of the one-time licenses engineers grew up with. This guide explains how CAD pricing works, compares the most popular mechanical and design CAD tools, and points to the official pricing page for each so you can confirm the current number.
Prices change often. The comparison table below lists approximate U.S. list prices and shows when they were last checked; always confirm on the vendor’s pricing page or with a reseller before buying.
How CAD Software Pricing Works
Almost every CAD vendor now uses one or more of these models:
- Annual subscription (term license). The most common model today. You pay per user, per year (sometimes monthly or in 3-year terms) and get updates and support included. Stop paying and you lose access.
- Perpetual license plus maintenance. A large up-front purchase, followed by an optional yearly maintenance fee for updates and support. SOLIDWORKS desktop and CATIA V5 are still sold this way through resellers; Autodesk no longer sells new perpetual licenses.
- Cloud or browser-based plans. Tools like Onshape and Fusion run partly or fully in the cloud, with no install or IT overhead. Pricing is subscription-only.
- Free and low-cost tiers. Most vendors offer free or heavily discounted versions for students, educators, hobbyists, and early-stage startups, usually with limits on commercial use.
Beyond the license, budget for training, add-ons (simulation, CAM, rendering, PDM), and hardware for desktop tools. Resellers frequently bundle or discount these, so a quote can differ from list price.
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS from Dassault Systèmes is one of the most widely used mechanical CAD programs, especially in product design and manufacturing. It is sold through authorized resellers in three main desktop tiers (Standard, Professional, and Premium), either as a perpetual license with annual maintenance or as a term license. A cloud-connected version is also offered on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
- Typical cost: roughly $2,800 to $5,300+ per user, per year, depending on tier and license type.
- Low-cost options: SOLIDWORKS for Makers (non-commercial hobby use) and student editions.
- Official pricing: SOLIDWORKS: How to Buy
If you are learning SOLIDWORKS or preparing for certification, see our SOLIDWORKS Certification Guide and the question Is SOLIDWORKS certification worth it?
Onshape
Onshape, owned by PTC, is a fully browser-based CAD and data management platform. There is nothing to install, files are versioned automatically, and multiple people can edit the same model at once. Onshape publishes its prices openly.
- Typical cost: Standard and Professional plans are billed per user, per year; Professional adds release management and company-level controls. Enterprise is quoted.
- Free options: a free plan for non-commercial use (documents are public) and a free Education plan for students and educators.
- Official pricing: Onshape Plans and Pricing
For a closer look at the two most-compared tools, see SolidWorks vs. Onshape vs. Fusion 360.
Autodesk Inventor
Inventor is Autodesk’s professional 3D mechanical design software and its most direct competitor to SOLIDWORKS. It is sold as a subscription (monthly, annual, or 3-year) and is also included in Autodesk’s Product Design & Manufacturing Collection alongside AutoCAD and other tools.
- Typical cost: in the same range as mid-tier SOLIDWORKS on an annual subscription; the Collection costs more but bundles several products.
- Free options: free educational access for students and educators.
- Official pricing: Autodesk Inventor
Autodesk Fusion (formerly Fusion 360)
Fusion combines CAD, CAM, simulation, and electronics design in one cloud-connected tool. It is the lowest-cost professional option from Autodesk, which makes it popular with startups, small shops, and makers.
- Typical cost: a single subscription priced well below Inventor or SOLIDWORKS, with paid extensions for advanced manufacturing, simulation, and generative design.
- Free options: Fusion for Personal Use (non-commercial, limited features and editable documents), plus free education and startup programs.
- Official pricing: Autodesk Fusion
Solid Edge
Solid Edge from Siemens is a full-featured mechanical CAD system with synchronous technology, which lets users edit models directly without rebuilding feature history. It is offered in several tiers, from basic Design and Drafting up to Premium with advanced simulation.
- Typical cost: the entry tier is one of the more affordable professional CAD subscriptions; upper tiers are priced alongside SOLIDWORKS Premium.
- Free options: Solid Edge Community Edition, Student Edition, and a startup program for young companies.
- Official pricing: Solid Edge 3D Design
CATIA
CATIA, also from Dassault Systèmes, is the high-end CAD platform used in aerospace, automotive, and other industries with complex surfacing and large assemblies. It is highly configurable, so pricing depends on the roles and modules a company needs and is almost always quoted by a reseller.
- Typical cost: the most expensive tool on this list. Entry-level configurations typically start in the several-thousand-dollar-per-year range, and full configurations cost far more.
- Official information: CATIA
SketchUp
SketchUp from Trimble is best known for architecture, interiors, woodworking, and quick 3D concept models rather than precision mechanical design. It has several subscription tiers, from a browser and iPad plan up to Studio with advanced visualization and BIM tools.
- Typical cost: the lowest-priced paid option on this list, sold per user, per year.
- Discounted options: low-cost student and educator plans.
- Official pricing: SketchUp Plans and Pricing
AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
AutoCAD remains the standard for 2D drafting and documentation. AutoCAD LT covers 2D drafting only at a much lower price; full AutoCAD adds 3D modeling and industry toolsets.
- Official pricing: AutoCAD LT
Free and Open-Source Alternatives
For personal projects or tight budgets, FreeCAD is a free, open-source parametric 3D modeler, and LibreCAD handles 2D drafting. Both run on modest hardware, including a Raspberry Pi; see 2D CAD Tools for a Raspberry Pi.
CAD Software Price Comparison
Approximate U.S. list prices per user. Last checked: September 2026.
| Software | Best for | Approx. paid price | Free / low-cost option |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOLIDWORKS | Mechanical and product design | ~$2,800–$5,300+/yr (tier and license type) | Makers edition (~$48/yr), students |
| Onshape | Cloud CAD, team collaboration | $1,500/yr Standard; $2,500/yr Professional | Free (public, non-commercial); Education |
| Autodesk Inventor | Mechanical design in Autodesk ecosystem | ~$2,500–$3,000/yr | Education |
| Autodesk Fusion | Startups, CAD + CAM, makers | ~$680/yr | Personal Use (limited); Education; startups |
| Solid Edge | Mechanical design, direct editing | ~$900–$5,800/yr (Design and Drafting to Premium) | Community Edition; students; startups |
| CATIA | Aerospace, automotive, complex surfacing | Quote only; typically $7,500+/yr entry | Student edition via 3DEXPERIENCE |
| SketchUp | Architecture, woodworking, concept models | ~$130–$860/yr (Go to Studio) | Student/educator plans |
| AutoCAD LT / AutoCAD | 2D drafting / 2D + 3D | ~$500/yr LT; ~$2,000/yr AutoCAD | Education |
| FreeCAD | Hobby and open-source users | Free | Free |
How to Choose
- Students and learners: start with a free education license. The skills transfer between parametric CAD tools.
- Hobbyists and makers: Fusion for Personal Use, Onshape Free, SOLIDWORKS for Makers, or FreeCAD.
- Freelancers and startups: Fusion and Onshape offer the lowest professional entry cost, and several vendors run free startup programs.
- Established engineering teams: SOLIDWORKS, Inventor, and Solid Edge dominate; the right choice usually depends on what customers and suppliers use.
- Large aerospace or automotive programs: CATIA, typically dictated by the OEM.
Learning CAD Without Wasting the License
Whichever tool you choose, training shortens the time before a new seat pays for itself. SolidProfessor offers online courses for SOLIDWORKS, Inventor, AutoCAD, Fusion, and more, and its Onshape courses include preparation for the Certified Onshape Associate exam.