Cubit Design Studio vs Impact CAD
Cubit Design Studio
cubitpackaging.comImpact CAD
ardensoftware.comSide by side
| Figure | Cubit Design Studio | Impact CAD |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Packaging Design Software | 8.0 (#6) | 7.9 (#9) |
| Founded | 2025 | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Fremont, California, United States | Arden Software lists its UK head office in Marple, Stockport, United Kingdom. |
| Purpose | Cubit Design Studio turns plain-English descriptions into packaging designs with print-ready dielines and 3D mockups. | Impact is packaging design CAD software for structural design, soft proofing packaging and displays, and manufacturing workflows. |
Plans
In their own words
Cubit Design Studio
Cubit Design Studio turns written packaging descriptions into packaging designs with print-ready dielines and 3D mockups. The browser-based tool requires no download, installation, or plugin, and the site says a design can be generated in under 60 seconds. Each generation produces a 2K–4K composite image containing a dieline and a 3D preview of the same design. Supported formats include mailer boxes, rigid boxes, folding cartons, cylinder tubes, sleeve boxes, and pillow boxes. Users can annotate designs with canvas tools or ask for changes in chat; iterations are saved in version history. A design can also be sent for professional review, with chat, revision requests, and approval involving an assigned designer. After approval, users can request a production quote and place an order tracked in Cubit Flow. The maker says the AI supports requirements for more than 50 industries, including cosmetics, food and beverage, cannabis, e-commerce, and supplements. Examples of compliance guidance include food nutrition facts and allergen callouts, cosmetic INCI ingredient lists, and cannabis THC warnings. The free plan costs nothing and includes unlimited AI generations.
Impact CAD
Impact CAD is Arden Software’s packaging design system for structural work, proofing and manufacturing workflows. It covers 2D drafting through 3D visualisation and animation, with interactive drawing, reusable parametric and resizable packaging designs, drag-and-drop components, layout and nesting, graphics handling, dieline editing and import, and preflight checks. Designers can create virtual 3D samples and animated prototypes for customer review, then produce physical samples through compatible plotters and sample makers. The software imports and exports formats including PDF, Adobe Illustrator, DWG and DXF. Impact 2026 adds machine-learning Design Similarity for ranking related designs and manufacturing layouts, native Python scripting, and 629 standards plus more than 1,000 combinations in its V120 Standards Library. It supports SQL Server and Oracle for 2026; MySQL is no longer supported. Windows 11 is recommended. Pricing is on request, and Arden offers a free demo request.