# SolidWorks Premium Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra > With the help of Capterra, learn about SolidWorks Premium Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Engineering CAD products and more. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/93121/SolidWorks-Premium/ --- # SolidWorks Premium Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on July 21, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Users](#users)[Pros and Cons](#pros-cons)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) SolidWorks Premium ## What is SolidWorks Premium? SolidWorks Premium seamlessly integrates powerful design tools-including industry-leading part, assembly, and drawing capabilities with built in simulation, rendering, animation, product data management and cost estimation. SolidWorks will help you get work done faster and easier than before, using innovative phases of product creation to achieve a more productive 3D design experience. ## What is SolidWorks Premium used for? [Engineering CAD](https://www.capterra.com/engineering-cad-software/)[3D CAD](https://www.capterra.com/3d-cad-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 758 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 96% Neutral 2% Negative 1% Pros & cons Advanced 3D modeling capabilities Intuitive and customizable interface Persistent bugs and unclear errors High hardware and resource demands ### Starting price Free trial available Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for SolidWorks Premium?[Manage this product listing](https://digitalmarkets.gartner.com/get-listed/claim-bx?url=http://www.solidworks.com&name=SolidWorks Premium) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### SolidWorks Premium 4.6 (758) VS. [4.6 (181)](https://www.capterra.com/p/175058/Altium-Designer/reviews/) Starting Price Contact vendor Starting Price Contact vendor Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.3 (758) Ease Of Use 4.3 (3,206) Value For Money 4.1 (591) Value For Money 4.2 (2,486) Customer Service 4.2 (553) Customer Service 4.2 (2,365) ## SolidWorks Premium alternatives [4.4 (39)](https://www.capterra.com/p/199886/Civil-3D/reviews/) Starting price $320.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 90% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars Highest Rated [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/) [4.7 (3,210)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) Starting price $250.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 97% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/) [Alibre Design](https://www.capterra.com/p/172312/Alibre-Design/) [4.7 (183)](https://www.capterra.com/p/172312/Alibre-Design/reviews/) Starting price $10.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 96% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/172312/Alibre-Design/) [Creo](https://www.capterra.com/p/164678/Creo/) [4.4 (126)](https://www.capterra.com/p/164678/Creo/reviews/) Starting price $3190.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 91% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/164678/Creo/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/93121/SolidWorks-Premium/alternatives/) ## FAQs about SolidWorks Premium Overview ### What problems does SolidWorks Premium solve? SolidWorks Premium solves slow, error-prone mechanical design workflows by letting engineers build precise 3D parts and assemblies, generate production drawings, test motion, stress, and flow behavior, and catch interferences before fabrication. Mechanical engineers, product designers, manufacturing teams, and prototyping groups benefit most when moving from concept to machinable or 3D-printed parts. Answer based on 502 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from SolidWorks Premium? SolidWorks Premium is most used by mechanical, design, and project engineers who create 3D models, validate designs, and prepare products for manufacturing. Students, researchers, and interns use it for learning, prototyping, and technical analysis, while managers, owners, and CEOs rely on it to review concepts, support product decisions, and oversee engineering workflows. Answer based on 747 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is SolidWorks Premium built for? SolidWorks Premium is built for small businesses, which make up 58% of reviewers, and is used most in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering at 25%. It also serves enterprises at 24% and midsize businesses at 18%, with notable use in Automotive at 9% and Design at 8%, especially for engineering CAD. Answer based on 758 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of SolidWorks Premium? SolidWorks Premium includes core 3D design and modeling tools, 2D drawing generation, and assembly design for complex mechanical parts. Differentiating features include modeling and simulation, motion study, flow analysis, bill of materials management, and product data management with version control and secure vault-based collaboration. Answer based on 265 reviews Overview ### How well does SolidWorks Premium handle product design? SolidWorks Premium supports detailed mechanical design with 3D modeling, assemblies, simulation, and motion analysis. Mechanical engineers, factory designers, and product development teams use it to test ideas early, validate manufacturability, and prepare drawings or CNC outputs, though some users note crashes, slow simulation, or limits with complex meshing. Answer based on 265 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does SolidWorks Premium integrate with? SolidWorks Premium integrates with AutoCAD, Inventor, Microsoft Excel, DriveWorks, Genius ERP, NX, and hyperMILL, with additional catalog connections to SIMULIA and SolidCAM. These integrations span CAD, engineering simulation, ERP, spreadsheets, and manufacturing workflows, covering the external tools most often referenced by reviewers and the vendor catalog. Answer based on 94 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on SolidWorks Premium? SolidWorks Premium offers in-person training, live online sessions, webinars, documentation, and videos, giving teams several ways to learn. Reviewers say engineering students, CAD users, and designers often onboard quickly thanks to the intuitive interface, while beginners, occasional users, and teams adopting advanced simulation or specialized workflows usually need more time and structured training. Answer based on 161 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does SolidWorks Premium offer, and how do users rate the experience? SolidWorks Premium offers email/help desk, chat, phone support, a knowledge base, and FAQ/forum resources. Users often find support responsive and helpful for troubleshooting, while forums and online materials fill many gaps. Still, support quality can vary by reseller, and some users report delayed resolutions, limited in-product help, and uneven experiences. Answer based on 111 reviews Features and Usability ### Is SolidWorks Premium easy to learn and use? SolidWorks Premium feels approachable for many CAD users because the interface, toolbars, and sketch-based workflow are fairly easy to follow. Students, engineers, and design teams often learn daily tasks quickly, but beginners can still face a learning curve, confusing menus, software freezes, and setup challenges without training or reseller help. Answer based on 207 reviews ## Who uses SolidWorks Premium? Based on Capterra reviews from the past 4 years Talk to a software expert to get a free software list tailored to your business needs Company size Based on 193 reviews 100% 75% 50% 25% Smallbusiness Midsizebusinesses Enterprise Top job functions Based on 193 reviews Engineering 55% Engineering 55% Creative & Design 14% Research & Development 9% Program & Project Management 7% Others 15% Top industries Based on 193 reviews Mechanical or Industrial Engineering 42% Design 20% Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing 15% Automotive 13% Other 10% ## Pros and Cons Advanced 3D modeling capabilities 96% positive reviews out of 181 Most reviewers describe 3D design features as robust, enabling detailed modeling, simulation, and visualization for various industries. Chris I. CTO, 2 - 10 employees. "Powerful design capabilities: Robust tools for 3D modeling, simulation, and rendering." Persistent bugs and unclear errors 80% negative reviews out of 64 Most reviewers indicate frequent bugs and confusing error messages make troubleshooting and resolving issues time-consuming. Intuitive and customizable interface 96% positive reviews out of 131 Most users report the user interface is intuitive, easy to learn, and highly customizable for efficient modeling. Caleb T. Mechanical Engineer, 5,001 - 10,000 employees. "It also has one of the most straightforward UIs of any CAD software." High hardware and resource demands 71% negative reviews out of 63 Most users comment computer requirements are demanding, needing powerful hardware for smooth operation, especially with complex projects. Comprehensive mechanical engineering toolkit 97% positive reviews out of 71 Most reviewers find mechanical design tools versatile, supporting efficient modeling, simulation, and rapid prototyping for engineers. Frequent and unpredictable crashes 89% negative reviews out of 55 Most users report crashes occur regularly, often causing data loss and workflow interruptions, especially with large assemblies. ## Features AI summary Based on 1,425 Engineering CAD reviews Capterra reviewers point to these as the top features buyers look for in Engineering CAD software: - **CAD Tools** (**47%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **2D Drawing** (**41%**) - **Data Import/Export** (**37%**) SolidWorks Premium supports all three of the features reviewers rank highest: **CAD Tools**, **2D Drawing**, and **Data Import/Export**. Together, these capabilities help teams create detailed designs, produce accurate technical drawings, and move files between systems more easily, allowing businesses to improve design accuracy, support collaboration, and keep engineering work moving efficiently. CAD Tools 4.6 (147) 70.75% of 147 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important You benefit from versatile, parametric modeling and a wide range of intuitive CAD tools for complex designs. Reviewers indicate the tools are user-friendly, adaptable for beginners and experts, and support efficient design changes, though some mention limited surface modeling options. Data Import/Export 4.2 (135) 62.96% of 135 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important This aspect allows you to import and export a wide range of file formats, supporting collaboration and manufacturing. Reviewers appreciate compatibility with formats like STL, STEP, and integration with tools like Inventor, though some mention issues with newer file versions. Design Analysis 4.3 (116) 56.90% of 116 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important It gives you simulation tools for stress, thermal, and motion analysis, helping validate designs before production. Some reviewers find the analysis detailed and easy to use, while others note a learning curve and suggest other software for advanced simulations. Manufacturing Design Data 4.3 (79) 58.23% of 79 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Access to a library of manufacturing parts, models, and specs 3D Imaging 4.4 (95) 64.21% of 95 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Representation of any object in 3D 2D Drawing 4.4 (179) 64.80% of 179 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important SolidWorks Premium offers intuitive tools for creating detailed 2D drawings from 3D models, supporting manufacturing needs. Users think the interface is easy to learn, provides accurate dimensions, and streamlines technical documentation, though some prefer other software for pure 2D work. SolidWorks Premium 55 features SolidWorks Premium offers intuitive tools for creating detailed 2D drawings from 3D models, supporting manufacturing needs. Users think the interface is easy to learn, provides accurate dimensions, and streamlines technical documentation, though some prefer other software for pure 2D work. Design products in 3D Representation of any object in 3D Define levels of authorization for access to specific files or systems Ability to insert animations/transitions Highlight content and/or make notations about parts of content Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases Material list of manufacturing parts and associated costs You benefit from versatile, parametric modeling and a wide range of intuitive CAD tools for complex designs. Reviewers indicate the tools are user-friendly, adaptable for beginners and experts, and support efficient design changes, though some mention limited surface modeling options. Track and monitor efficient handling of all changes/transitions Provides a channel for team members to share AI models, media files, communicate, and work together Track and manage adherence to policies for any service, product, process, or supplier With this capability, you gain access to a vast, customizable library of standard parts like screws and bolts, saving significant design time. Reviewers appreciate its ease of use, ability to import third-party components, and time-saving benefits for repetitive tasks. Configure existing workflows to meet your organization's needs Identify component attributes like servers, hardware, software, and manage relationships across all services Centralized repository to store content and assets Add customized logos and colors to align with company branding Customize data fields to support various needs and use cases Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements Import, collect, and capture data from multiple sources This aspect allows you to import and export a wide range of file formats, supporting collaboration and manufacturing. Reviewers appreciate compatibility with formats like STL, STEP, and integration with tools like Inventor, though some mention issues with newer file versions. Synchronizing data between two or more devices/systems and automatically updating changes to maintain consistency Graphical representation of data It gives you simulation tools for stress, thermal, and motion analysis, helping validate designs before production. Some reviewers find the analysis detailed and easy to use, while others note a learning curve and suggest other software for advanced simulations. Collaborate on creating a product by sharing and adjusting designs through a shared portal Custom forms to streamline repetitious aspects of a document Store, manage, and track all electronic documents in a centralized location Assemble applications and processes by dragging over and arranging pre-built components For electrical engineering Create, save, and store files Designed for 3D printing purposes Intended to be used by architects Intended to be used by manufacturers Edit, touch up, and convert images for publishing Access to a library of manufacturing parts, models, and specs For mechanical engineering Integration of electrical and mechanical engineering to create hybrid systems Using physical, mathematical, or logical models as a basis for simulations to generate data for managerial or technical decision-making Includes a variety of messaging formats including industry-specific (EDIFACT, HL7, X12) Ability to handle several projects simultaneously Share and present designs Monitor and manage manufacturing and production processes. Capture, organize and track product-specific data and information in a centralized location Plan and coordinate all the resources, costs and time needed to execute assignments Pre-designed project plans that can be customized Estimate or forecast of a future scenario based on the study of present trends Receive system updates as soon as any changes are made View and track pertinent metrics to find patterns and gain insights from data Automates and streamlines business processes by creating a sequence of predefined rules and actions that govern the flow of work Securely stores data to prevent data loss or breaches Create, draw, and annotate graphical content directly within the software application Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes Track revisions and updates made to files and navigate between different versions Interact with data visualization elements, such as charts and graphs, to drill down into data Create, design and manage workflows for repetitive tasks Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.6 (756) 4.6 Based on 756 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.1 (591) ### Starting price Free trial available Value for money 4.1 (591) 4.1 Based on 591 reviews ## Integrations [ SolidCAM](https://www.capterra.com/p/175725/SolidCAM/)[ DriveWorks](https://www.capterra.com/p/102692/DriveWorks/)[ SigmaNEST](https://www.capterra.com/p/79990/SigmaNEST/)[ SIMULIA](https://www.capterra.com/p/246276/SIMULIA/)[ SWOOD](https://www.capterra.com/p/274931/SWOOD/) Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.2 (553) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.2 (553) 4.2 Based on 553 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.6 Based on 758 reviews Filter by rating 5(516) 4(215) 3(18) 2(6) 1(3) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent AN Anonymous User Automation Engineer Biotechnology ### "Solidworks is solidly on the decline." 1.0 Overall Rating 1.0 1.0 Ease of Use 1.0 1.0 Features 2.0 2.0 Customer Service 2.0 2.0 Likelihood to Recommend 2/10 July 5, 2026 After over 10 years of using SolidWorks and paying their expensive annual subscription, I've seen almost no meaningful innovation year over year. The software feels stuck in the classic Innovator's Dilemma—protecting its installed base and steadily raising prices while delivering minimal new value. If re-learning was not such a massive barrier, I would actively switch to a more progressive CAD platform that includes PDM for free. Maybe when they make the next release even worse -- more unreliable, or when I lose more files, I will make the switch. The VAR's play the Comcast/Mediacom games of continually gaming the yearly rate. Pros Every year, every service pack, the software becomes less reliable, and they continue to charge you yearly for it. Cons Frequent crashes—even on SolidWorks-certified hardware—have forced far too many support calls and lost files. Their certified hardware program and website data feel like a joke, and navigating the site as a paid licensee is a mess. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. DC Deepak C. Mechanical Design Engineer Mechanical or Industrial Engineering ### "Reliable Engineering Software with Advanced Features " 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 June 6, 2026 Overall Experience positive, particularly in drawing creation,where it provides powerful tools for generating accurate 2d drawing from 3d models.in terms of collaboration it enable teams to share design, track changes,and coordinate projects effectively through cloud connected tools. Pros It has comprehensive set of design,simulation, motion analysis,and validation tools within a single platform. For security perspective, the software offer user access controls,data management option and integration with PDM system. Customer support generally reliable. Cons Its cost is high,especially for small business, students, or startups.large or complex assemblies can sometime lead to performance issues. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AN Anonymous User Project Engineer, Team Lead Design ### "Great product! Price is a bit crippling!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 April 2, 2026 This is a very intuitive software that allows for suppressing components within the assembly FEA that you want to exclude from analysis, change remote loadings, and much more! Pros The Simulation for FEA is invaluable for analyzing the strength of assemblies. Solidworks express gets left in the dust when you can analyze entire assemblies Cons This is a very expensive add on. Our company has only 1-2 licenses with this premium feature because of the costs Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Steven P. CEO Internet ### "Great product if you're working with a SolidWorks Reseller (3DXperience)" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 March 6, 2026 Very good experience overall. SolidWorks Premium offers powerful tools, stability, and efficiency for professional design work Pros Access to the Simulation in assembly is a must for our products. I liked the 3DExperience cloud PDM fonctionnalities that are now available in my package Cons Without an integrator like (\[sensitive content hidden\]) it is hard to navigate in 3DExperience platform by your own. I strongly recommand to contact a VAR to help you during the installation Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. CD Craig D. Mechanical Design Engineer Machinery ### "Still the benchmark of CAD" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 February 12, 2026 It is the benchmark for all CAD systems, for all its quirks and the cost, SolidWorks remains the software all CAD systems compare themselves to. Pros 3d Design is excellent. I like how more and more companies are integrating their products into the features of SolidWorks. The part to drawing integration is excellent. Cons It is very expensive in comparison to other products. SolidWorks crashes very often. I've lost a good amount of work due to this. We get a huge number of notifications telling me we have the wrong graphics card Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. MR Matteo R. Ingegnere Meccanico Design ### "Poca trasparenza" 2.0 Overall Rating 2.0 2.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 1.0 1.0 Likelihood to Recommend 2/10 November 28, 2025 Hanno un furbissimo sistema commerciale truffaldino, omettono informazioni importanti sulla frequenza dei pagamenti, sul fatto che i pagamenti sono anticipati anche se per tutta la fase di contrattazione sono sempre espressi annualmente. Difficile credere che sia un caso, è un sistema collaudato che da più di un decennio ci riserva sorprese OGNI volta che abbiamo a che fare con loro. Le offerte vengono mandate via testo mail e le info più delicate vengono comunicate telefonicamente, in modo che non ci sia nessuna documentazione ufficiale e che possano disattendere la parola data. I contratti inviati lasciano spazio a libere interpretazioni quindi la delusione è assicurata! Sul loro sito non c'è modo di mandare una recensione e la chat permette solo di aprire ticket! In tutto questo il software ha molti bugs e va in conflitto con la maggior parte degli altri software, richiedendo l'utilizzo di una macchina dedicata! Una macchina per soldi niente male!! Consiglio di tornare al tecnigrafo Pros Dedicato alla meccanica Facile da usare Buoni tools dedicati alla progettazione Buona la progettazione parametrica Cons Il sistema di vendita truffaldino Il servizio clienti La spocchia e il fatto che trattano i clienti dall'alto al basso Problemi di compatibilità con quasi tutti gli altri software installati sul pc Alternatives considered [Autodesk Forma](https://www.capterra.com/p/218046/Autodesk-Construction-Cloud/) Reasons for choosing SolidWorks Premium Solamente per compatibilità con i files precedenti altrimenti avrei cambiato SICURAMENTE Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. PP Parth P. Development Engineer Mechanical or Industrial Engineering ### "Powerful tool at a cost" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 September 10, 2025 Pros I was introduced to SolidWorks when I was a bachelor student. I learned a subject "Engineering design" in 2D. After a year, when I was introduced to SolidWorks, I was amazed with it. I learned it by myself, did projects as a student. And during my first job, I dealt with the designing. Since I got to use Premium version, I learned motion analysis. With this function I made my models and ideas a reality. We started using it to identify the mechanical movements and possible errors at an early phase. Cons The premium version is expensive for an individual or even for academics and small companies. Since it is not accessible to everyone, it takes time to learn the advanced features. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Caleb T. Mechanical Engineer Design ### "A User-Friendly CAD Solution That Delivers" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 August 5, 2025 Overall, I am very pleased with SolidWorks. In my experience, it is the easiest to learn and use daily out of any of the CAD software. Pros I like the ease of use and the intuitive feature set. It is a very user-friendly program and super easy to learn. It also has one of the most straightforward UIs of any CAD software. The learning curve for even advanced features is relatively small. Cons There are times when the entire program freezes. If you let it sit for a few minutes, it sorts itself out usually, but I wish it had some indicator that it is still functioning. In the task manager, it always shows up as "not responding". I also wish it did a little better job with importing and feature recognition. It will not import Creo files. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Cody C. Executive Director of Operations Aviation & Aerospace ### "SolidWorks is a Must for the Precision Machining Industry" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 August 4, 2025 My overall experience with SolidWorks has been great, it's easy enough to use for jr. engineers to learn, and advanced enough for senior engineers to leverage creating blueprints very quickly and efficiently. Pros SolidWorks Premium is THE best software for creating manufacturing/process blue-prints efficiently and it is also a great tool to extract GD&T and PMI data from a 3D model. Cons I had to purchase Mastercam in addition to SolidWorks for CNC programming capabilities, I wish SolidWorks would implement CNC programming software, such as Mastercam, so it's an all-in-one package for creating blueprints and programming CNC vertical mills. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. RK Robert K. draftsman Civil Engineering ### "great modeling" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 July 18, 2025 Pros great software for creating 3d models, the animation feature of this makes it possible to find interferences before making the physical part Cons commands take a little getting used to as they are different from Autodesk software, which i was used to. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/93121/SolidWorks-Premium/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. Popular comparisons [AutoCAD vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-265024/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-AutoCAD)[Altium Develop vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-175058/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-Altium-Designer)[Alibre Design vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-172312/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-Alibre-Design)[Creo vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-164678/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-Creo)[MATLAB vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-125813/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-MATLAB)[Inventor vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-236745/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-Inventor)[Onshape vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-164681/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-Onshape) [Autodesk Fusion vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-178416/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-Fusion-360)[Designcenter Solid Edge vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-179964/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-Solid-Edge)[CATIA vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-100453/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-CATIA)[FreeCAD vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-167527/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-FreeCAD)[MicroStation vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-192416/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-MicroStation)[ActCAD vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-168061/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-ACTCAD-Professional)[AutoCAD LT vs SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/compare/2011-93121/AutoCAD-LT-vs-SolidWorks-Premium)