Onshape vs Solid Edge

Onshape is a browser-accessible 3D CAD platform for parametric modeling of solids, surfaces and sheet metal, with iOS and Android apps also available. It supports assembly design, rendering, simulation, CAM and 3D-print export. Simulation covers linear static and modal analysis for stress, deformation and natural frequencies; CAM supports machining from 2.5-axis through 5-axis machines. Collaboration includes multi-user editing, instant sharing, real-time communication and access controls. Built-in product data management includes edit history, version control, release management, search and design-data sharing. The Free Plan is for non-commercial use, with publicly accessible documents and unlimited public storage. Standard costs $1,500/user/yr; Professional costs $2,500 per year. Qualified professionals may be eligible for a Professional trial of up to six months without a credit card. Enterprise uses custom pricing. Onshape says updates arrive every three weeks without installations or downtime. Listed integrations include Slack, Arena PLM, Altium Designer, FeatureScript, REST API and the App Store.

Solid Edge is a product development portfolio that combines direct modeling with parametric design through synchronous technology. It covers 3D design, simulation, manufacturing, technical publications and data management. Each of its four 3D design packages includes part and assembly design, 2D drafting, common 2D and 3D file import and export, data management and mesh modeling. Capabilities include animation tools, parametric modeling, a built-in render engine and 3D print export. Package features vary: Foundation includes sheet metal, frame and weldments, surface modeling and basic FEA simulation; Classic adds reverse engineering and generative design; Premium adds advanced motion and stress simulation, optimization, point cloud visualization, electrical routing, PCB collaboration, and pipe and tube design. Integrated data management includes Windows Explorer integration, thumbnails, Revision Manager and View and Markup. Solid Edge integrates with Teamcenter and Teamcenter Share for product data management and cloud collaboration. Siemens offers a 30-day PC trial and free editions for students, teachers, qualifying startups, personal community use and 2D Drafting. Solid Edge 2026 is certified for supported 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 Enterprise or Professional editions.