--- title: "Onshape Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra" description: "Is Onshape the right Manufacturing solution for you? Explore 357 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/164681/Onshape/reviews/" page_type: "reviews" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-11-03" --- Onshape 4.5 (357) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated November 3rd, 2026 # Reviews of Onshape Ease of use 4.5 Customer Service 4.7 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews GC Gonçalo C Project ManagerConstruction, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “The main areas I would like to see improved are the management of very large imported models and the integration with 3Dconnexion devices on macOS. Although the SpaceMouse works well for navigation, application detection and command integration in browsers (especially Chromium-based browsers on macOS) could be much more reliable.“ July 24, 2026 GC Gonçalo C Project ManagerConstruction, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “Very large imported models (especially SAT files with thousands of parts) can become difficult to manage and performance starts to degrade.“ July 24, 2026 GL Giovana L DesignerMaritime, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Onshape makes my creative process a lot more organised as assemblies can be created in different files, and alterations can easily be added and reflected to all of them.“ July 29, 2026 GL Giovana L DesignerMaritime, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Furthermore, currently there is no way of adding a 3D sectioned view to a 2D drawing.“ July 29, 2026 Ben C Product Technical SpecialistConsumer Goods, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “Fast Customer Support, User Friendly, Consistently updating with new content, Allows for amazing design organization, Free public usage is a game changer.“ July 31, 2026 CD Craig D Team LeadMechanical or Industrial Engineering, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Snap system when designing in context is frustrating as it won't snap automatically to all edges or vertexes in the plane.“ November 24, 2025 ÁV Álvaro V Systems EngineerMedical Devices, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “Version control, history, and collaboration are built directly into the CAD environment, which removes the complexity of external PDM systems and makes teamwork much smoother.“ November 25, 2025 AG Axel G General ManagerIndustrial Automation, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “Till now we find only some problems with the point that the configurations with versions are some times a bit unuseful.“ November 19, 2025 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 357 available reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Ben K. Senior Industrial Designer - Owner Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Senior Industrial Designer / Owner" August 11, 2026 5.0 Overall this software is a no brainer, it allows for iterative product development across teams, allowing easy and effective collaboration. Onshape continues to update and improve week to week so any issue experienced can be fixed by the Onshape team on the fly. The Onshape team listens and responds well. I chose Onshape because its a software that continues to improve and reacts to users needs. Pros I value Onshape for its file management, allowing me to create and iterate quickly through versions without the hassle of saving work or losing track of progress. It also helps with live progress updates. The versions, versioning, and branching features stand out to me the most, as they support my rapid design iteration. Not having to save files and dealing with software that doesn't crash are significant advantages. The flexibility and collaboration capabilities are also key reasons why I switched to Onshape. The initial setup was very easy for the most part, even though there was a bit of a learning curve. Overall, it has been a good experience. Cons Mating and context editing can be frustrating because parts move around unexpectedly, and I have to constantly update the context in the assembly. The mental model around context editing could benefit from tips and tricks pop-ups or other UI cues to help prevent unwanted parts and therefore reference movements. Versioning and branching can be confusing; the mental model, UI/UX, and training around versioning could be improved. Importing multibody parts or assemblies requires extra steps to prevent them from freely moving. I wish there was a way to easily make all parts rigid when importing. I have tried the "composite body" option, but it doesn't work well. Edge selection is also challenging sometimes as it prioritizes face selection rather than edge selection, making me zoom in and orient parts several times to select the edge. I'm not sure if this is a graphics issue with my display or an Onshape problem. Selecting other sketches while working in a new sketch is cumbersome; I have to exit the command (line circle etc.) to then go back and force the coincident reference a master sketch point, which feels like an extra unnecessary step. Rebuild times could improve. Review Source Verified Reviewer Product Technical Specialist Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Overall good product" August 3, 2026 5.0 Overall very positive, I have recommended to many people. Has never failed me and is always able to get a task done without crashing like other brands Pros Fast Customer Support, User Friendly, Consistently updating with new content, Allows for amazing design organization, Free public usage is a game changer. Cons Customer support could be kept more up to date with changes and practice more as sometimes it feels we know more then the "experts" Review Source R Reviewer RD Engineer Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Happy Onshape user" July 30, 2026 5.0 I am not going back to Solidworks ever again. The whole team at our company loves the software and recommends it Pros Almost never crashes, no lost data Great versioning / branching / merging Very clean interface, easy to use Cons You can't work offline Sometimes it takes too long to open a project and then you have to refresh the browser 3Dconnexion mouse sometimes does not work Review Source R Reviewer Designer Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Organised workflow & high quality drawings" July 30, 2026 5.0 Onshape makes my creative process a lot more organised as assemblies can be created in different files, and alterations can easily be added and reflected to all of them. 3D modelling with solids allows my work to be a lot more precise compared to other software available in the industry. Overall, I believe the quality of my work has improved since I started using Onshape. Pros Onshape allows be to quickly produce high quality 3D and 2D drawings. Files are securely accessed online - no need to download any software. Costumer support has been quick. Cons One thing I find worth reporting is that when adding multiple parts into an assembly, only the first part comes in the correct position. Furthermore, currently there is no way of adding a 3D sectioned view to a 2D drawing. Review Source Greg K. Automation Designer Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Onshape is Fantastic" July 29, 2026 5.0 Overall, my experience with Onshape has been wonderful, A great product, nice features, and excellent customer support compared to our previous CAD solution Pros Cloud native 3D design with automatic saving and excellent version control make Onshape very nice to use for product design. The ability to collaborate on a project in real time is a huge benefit. Cons Easier navigation of folder structures in a document could use some work. Accessing the different parts and sub-assemblies in a large assembly can be difficult. Review Source Bryan L. CAD manager Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Onshape is the future of CAD" July 28, 2026 5.0 My overall experience has been good. Updates every 3 weeks, knowledgeable support team and a great user community. Pros The item I like most about Onshape is no loss of data and I can revert as far back in the histroy of the Onshape document in case I took a wrong turn in the design process. Cons There is not much that I don't like about Onshape but I would love to see more development in the sheet metal area and I would like to have the ability to open a .dwg in a draft environment in case edits to the 2D would need to be done. Review Source R Reviewer Project Manager Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "The Best CAD I’ve Used So Far" July 27, 2026 5.0 My overall experience has been extremely positive. After using it intensively for several months on complex natural stone projects, I can honestly say it has become my preferred CAD platform. There is still a learning curve, especially for advanced workflows such as Derived, Composite Parts and Master Models, but the Learning Center is excellent and the support team has been invaluable whenever I got stuck. I also appreciate being able to switch seamlessly between my Mac mini at work and my old Ubuntu laptop at home without worrying about installations or licenses. The main areas I would like to see improved are the management of very large imported models and the integration with 3Dconnexion devices on macOS. Although the SpaceMouse works well for navigation, application detection and command integration in browsers (especially Chromium-based browsers on macOS) could be much more reliable. Pros Excellent performance and the ability to work from virtually any computer, including my 2012 Ubuntu Linux laptop. The interface feels very familiar to SolidWorks, making the transition easy. The cloud-based workflow, version control and collaboration features are fantastic. The support team is simply outstanding — they are knowledgeable, responsive and genuinely interested in helping users find the best workflow. Onshape is also evolving very quickly, with frequent improvements and new features. Cons Very large imported models (especially SAT files with thousands of parts) can become difficult to manage and performance starts to degrade. Better tools for filtering and bulk-selecting parts (by name, appearance, metadata, etc.) would greatly improve workflows like mine. Importing and organizing large architectural models could also be more streamlined. Review Source R Reviewer Senior Mechanical Engineer Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Onshape, The Future of CAD, CAE, PDM and PLM." July 23, 2026 5.0 Onshape is really good and I would recommend it to everyone in this field, as it makes the design or other CAD processes efficient, it also allows collaboration easy and does not require a lot of computer processing power. Pros It is cloud based, hence it means you can access your designs everywhere. Since you can access your design anywhere it mean collaboration is very easy. As a cloud software it means you don't have to invest on a very powerful machine. You can share the design with stakeholders outside the company without the risk of loosing your design especially to copying. The advantage to work on multiple streams of the same design and can as well go back to previous changes you did is quite impressive. The release process as well being online makes it very effective and efficient. Cons Dislike is a strong term, I think there is always room for improvement I think Onshape can improve when it comes to CFD and static simulation I also think when it comes to assigning the material, the part should take the texture and the colour of the assigned material, this would really help in early visualization. Review Source ZA Zach A. CDO Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Great for Product Design" July 23, 2026 5.0 Overall, Onshape has been an excellent CAD experience. It strikes a strong balance between ease of use and robust functionality, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced CAD users. Its cloud-based platform is a major advantage, providing convenient access across a wide range of devices, while the quality of customer support further enhances the experience. I have very few criticisms, as Onshape consistently meets my needs for both 3D and 2D modeling, particularly for music hardware design. Pros Easy to use, yet still robust. Onshape offers a great product that is fit for beginners and seasoned CAD designers. The cloud nature of Onshape is a highlight for me, as it makes it easy to access across a broad range of devices. The customer support is also top-notch. Cons Honestly I don't have a lot of cons to report. For what I use Onshape for (3D and 2D modeling for music hardware) it excels at. Review Source Verified Reviewer Mechanical Engineer Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Great for collaboration and easy document management" July 23, 2026 5.0 Since switching to Onshape over a year ago, it has quickly become my go to CAD platform thanks to its clean UI, easy document management, and great training resources and support. I have been very impressed with Onshape's performance, particularly as it is a cloud-based software. I also love that there is a free standard version that I can use for personal projects outside of work. Pros Document management is convenient in that if you move files around, it does not break assemblies. Revision history is very helpful and being able to revert to an older version or branch from a version is so useful. I love being able to collaborate with others in my organization within a document. I think I also prefer Onshape's mate connector system over the mating features in other CAD software I have used. Onshape support has been efficient and helpful in my experience whenever I have had any issues or questions. Cons No feature to be able to bulk export files to have a non-cloud-based backup of files. Performance can be sluggish on occasion. I have not tried using the AI integration much, but when I have, it has not been particularly helpful. Review Source Murilo A. Software Engineer Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Great software for 3D printers hobbyist " March 18, 2021 5.0 We can find easier tools on the internet like Tinkercad, but Onshape can deliver much more, like a professional and expensive tools can deliver, but you get it for free, you just need to spend a little time learning how to use it, but this time learning is very well paid off. Pros During this pandemic period I bought a 3D printer and started using it printing mainly already defined and available 3D models on the internet. Then I realized that I could myself produce my own 3D models and I found on Onshape the perfect tool for it. It also has great features that allows you to produce perfect models. Cons At the beginning Onshape seems complicated to use, but it is not, you just need to watch on Youtube some tutorials to start modeling your own 3D models. Anyway I can not complain about this tool, as the free version delivers what I need and much more. Review Source KF Kent F. Product and Innovation Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Great intuitive all-round CAD system" July 21, 2026 5.0 I've used Onshape for over 5 Years now and it has become the main/go-to CAD system for our company. Its easy to collaborate, and work on projects with your colleagues even when they are based in a different branch or country. Pros Onshape is intuitive and easy to use. It also gets regular updates, so new features roll out and improvements happen all the time. I really like that it’s browser-based, because it means I don’t need an overly powerful computer to run it smoothly. If anything happens, my progress is automatically saved, which gives me real peace of mind. The training resources and help center are genuinely useful too, and it’s convenient to come back to them anytime to refresh my memory on tools or features whenever I get a little stuck, and if the resources there don't answer your question, the Onshape community forum will help out with tips and tricks Cons Nothing specific comes to mind. I haven’t used every CAD program out there, however I do use a couple of other CAD tools for more specialized tasks (e.g., working with Revit files). Overall, Onshape is a solid all-rounder. Review Source R Reviewer Senior R&D Engineer Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Very positive, I really like it. One of my favourite packages I have used." August 14, 2017 3.0 Pros How quick a thought or idea can become a model. The look of the modeling space is brilliant. How intuitive the program is, a lot of steps are removed because I feel the program is working me. It understands what I am trying to do. The customer support and community is also a big bonus. The webinars are great as well as the help functions. The functionality within the part studio, assembly and drawings is just brilliant. Cons The functionality of the tabs within a document. I find it frustrating to use at times, specially it is hard to put my finger on it but it is the one time I grit my teeth. When I have lost my place in tabs/ can't read the full tab/ delete a part and I jump into or out of a folder. I personally just don't like it. How bad the resolution is on the drawings when you are working on them. When they a exported to a PDF they look brilliant but in while working on them it is not great. I understand this could be a cloud issue. Also to that point the lag inside an assembly again I understand this is a cloud issue. The thumbnail constantly changing on the document page. I would like to be able to set the image is I wish because like the tab it is easy to lose place of where you were working. Review Source Glendon K. VP Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Reliable and Accessible CAD" December 10, 2025 5.0 We've been very pleased with Onshape because of its accessibility and reliability. Unlike some of its competitors, there is no initial "purchase" required, and the annual subscription is very competitive with other annual subscriptions. This means the value is realized immediately. Pros Natively cloud CAD means you can do design work in your browser. Completely platform agnostic and reliable, Onshape is very accessible to even low-power computers. Database documents mean that collaboration on models is very easy and allows for simultaneous viewing and editing. Cons The drawings package is not native to Onshape, so its features are different from the rest of the platform. For example, it is very easy to collaborate on part and assembly tabs, but drawings only allow one user to have them open at the same time. This is a bit frustrating because drawings are the one feature most engineers need to collaborate on. Review Source Kalvis Ā. Mechanical Design Engineer Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "up to date" December 4, 2025 5.0 Have been daily user for 7years, more than happy with the dirrection and performance of this CAD solution, newer stops improving. Pros Pace of development. Worflow, data organising, document structure, mates. Support, availability across users. Cons Large assembly performance, I understand it is a difficult issue to manage, but still that is what can feel in day to day use. Review Source R Reviewer Research and Development Engineer Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Useful main-feature of Onshape: Collaboration" November 27, 2025 5.0 I am very happy with the onshape experience. I would like to share this insight to my relations that this product is so useful for team designing. Pros The Collaboration, make us very easy as a team to make 3d design together. The database that used for doing some part standard and materials library was so easy because of the collaboration feature. Cons The version, looks very complicated and sometimes we are facing editing different version that it is old. So we have to recreate the progress Review Source R Reviewer Continuous Improvement and Digital Transformation Manager Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "Best Cloud Native CAD Experience" November 19, 2025 5.0 Being able to hand a fresh CAD user Onshape and they can turn around and understand our product immediately has proven to be exactly what we needed to make our company move in the right direction Pros Fast implementation and cloud native. We are a company that exists in 2D CAD and our transition to 3D has been very straightforward. After a few weeks of training we can get any of our users up to speed and designing our products. We are now natively integrated with our ERP and our time to production ins monumentally faster. Cons It's missing some features the larger CAD software has, such as a not robust plugin system. Most integrations require vast implementation costs compared to counterparts. Review Source UE Urs E. Head of Eyewear Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Best Data Management for CAD Data" November 19, 2025 5.0 It is very comfortable working with onshape. No worries about files, versions or saving your work. No check-in/check-out. Just focus on your design! And never worry about loosing your work due crashes. Onshape never-ever crashed during all those years. Most of our users do not want to go back to the old CAD anymore. Administering Onshape is incredibly easy. Most things are pre-set decently. There is only little to adjust. Never worry about CAD Software updates anymore. Pros File-less datamanagement with easy versioning. CAD design is mostly about managing geometric relations between many parts. There is no other CAD system in the world adressing this so well. It is a game-changer! Customer Support works also very well with direct sharing of affected documents. Cons The lack of floating license is a pitty. It does take some time to update drawings. Also releasing a group of assemblies, parts and drawings takes up quite an amount of time. Review Source R Reviewer Freelancer Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "No argue not to change to" December 10, 2025 5.0 Making more fun everyday in every drawing. You learn fast and easy. There had been always an online course or description for me to help me going on to my designproblem!-) Pros Always the right document, a secure software with great customer support. Value 3D Design in your drawings with a good sales and purchasing strategy to be in very good value for money. Design in your fingertips everywhere everytime with no hassel on elder documents to care about. Cons The Standard Plan does not include Company managed data and release management to fundamental things for everybody using CAD seriously, although they are lonesome riders!-) Review Source R Reviewer Systems Engineer Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Fast and great for collaboration" November 27, 2025 5.0 Having used SolidWorks and Creo Parametric for years, I consider Onshape a strong step forward in modern CAD. Its integrated PDM is one of its biggest advantages. Version control, history, and collaboration are built directly into the CAD environment, which removes the complexity of external PDM systems and makes teamwork much smoother. The PDM is fluid and works much faster than others tested. Performance is excellent: file loading and general modeling feel noticeably faster, and the cloud-based workflow makes it easy to work from anywhere. The 3D design tools are very responsive, and the ability to model multiple parts in the same studio is extremely useful for developing related components. Assemblies work better than other CADs, though you need to adapt to Onshape’s different approach to mates and constraints compared to SolidWorks or Creo and I think the finite-element simulation tools still have room for improvement. Pros Integrated PDM is one big advantage. Simultaneous working like in a google document makes teamwork smoother. Performance (file loading, modeling) Multiple parts designing in the same "part" document. Cons I think the finite-element simulation tools still have room for improvement and you you need to adapt to Onshape’s different approach to mates and constraints compared to SolidWorks or Creo. Review Source R Reviewer Engineering Support Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Future is here" November 19, 2025 4.0 Great experience, I am actually a freelancer and have been recomendding most of my clients to use Onshape and some of them already subscriped. Pros No missing references, very powerful on automation and parametrization and alot of other modern functions. Cons 2D drawing and sheetmetal modules seems a bit less powerful comparing to software such as Solidworks. Review Source R Reviewer Project Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Mechanical Engineering Project Manager" December 2, 2025 5.0 Pros I love not losing any data, how OnShape handles mates in assemblies, and their sheet metal tools. It's solid and dependable. I thought I would struggle with the internet connection requirement, but it really doesn't come up much and certainly a lot less than my other programs crash or have a license server go down. Cons I work extensively with interns. The process for on boarding an intern is great for 1-4 occasionally, but I find myself avoiding adding new interns because it gets cumbersome at 3-6 every quarter. Review Source R Reviewer Director of Engineering Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "A fun modern cad system!" November 27, 2025 4.0 I've enjoyed learning to use Onshape after being familiar with Solidworks. There is a bit of a learning curve, but also many things that are improvements over solidworks. Pros I like that it runs on any computer with a web browser so I can use a lightweight laptop vs a high powered windows computer for other cad programs. I also like the ability to design multiple parts together in the part studios. Cons I get frustrated that I need to manually update the drawing after changing the part/assembly rather than having the drawing be up to date every time I open it. Review Source Ryan B. Manager Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Very Accessible and Enjoyable" January 20, 2025 4.0 Pros OnShape has a great student rate and provides a cheaper entry into the CAD world. I also like how accessible the cloud is with others. Cons OnShape has one of the highest learning curves I’ve sheen in terms of mating, but you can change the controls to mirror any CAD program really. Review Source R Reviewer Designer Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "First few months - Excellent" November 27, 2025 4.0 Enjoying it so far, easy to use, graphics are great. with it being all online helps with not having to buy a dedicated cad laptop. Pros Pretty easy to use, sketch > Revolve/Extrude.....and the ability to have a multitude of entities in the sketch, the choose which to extrude or revolve for different festures is good, along with being able to model connecting shapes all with the same part studio is good. Cons The versions when using components from different assemblies is a bit confusing, especially when created a standard parts library, then having to create a new version (V1, V2, V3 etc) when using on another assemby....Not sure if I have to or not, but cant find good explanation. Review Source ## Send me user reviews about this product ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. Talk to a Capterra advisor for free and get results within 15 minutes.