Solid Edge vs SOLIDWORKS

by Gralio Feb 27, 2025

Solid Edge and SOLIDWORKS are both robust CAD software solutions, but target slightly different user needs. Solid Edge shines with its synchronous technology for ease of use and a more budget-friendly approach, making it ideal for mid-sized businesses seeking value. SOLIDWORKS, while more expensive, offers a broader range of features and a large community for support, catering to businesses needing advanced capabilities and extensive integration options.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 930 reviews and 60 websites, saving 5 hours, 40 minutes of reading.

Solid Edge

Website LinkedIn Twitter

SOLIDWORKS

Website LinkedIn Twitter

About

Solid Edge is a suite of software designed to help businesses create and manage product designs. It offers tools for 3D modeling, simulating product performance, and managing the manufacturing process. Solid Edge aims to be user-friendly and affordable, making it suitable for mid-sized companies looking for a comprehensive product development solution.

SOLIDWORKS is a popular computer-aided design (CAD) software primarily used by engineers and designers. It offers a range of tools for 3D modeling, design validation, and product data management. SOLIDWORKS is known for its user-friendliness and caters to various industries, with a strong focus on manufacturing. It helps businesses design better products faster by streamlining the design process and improving collaboration.

Summary

Main difference

Solid Edge is better for you if you prioritize value and ease of use, especially if you are already within the Siemens PLM ecosystem. SOLIDWORKS is better for you if you need advanced features, a larger community support, and broader third-party integrations, despite a higher cost.

Relative strengths of Solid Edge (compared to SOLIDWORKS)

Stronger Value and Pricing Transparency (relative to SOLIDWORKS): Solid Edge is generally considered more affordable.
Better Ease of Use (relative to SOLIDWORKS): Solid Edge's synchronous technology can simplify the modeling process, especially for less experienced users.
Seamless Integration with Siemens PLM: Solid Edge integrates well with other Siemens products, offering a cohesive ecosystem if you use other Siemens tools.

Relative weaknesses of Solid Edge (compared to SOLIDWORKS)

Smaller User Community and Fewer Integrations (vs SOLIDWORKS): SOLIDWORKS has a larger user community and wider third-party software support.
Less Advanced Features (vs SOLIDWORKS): SOLIDWORKS generally offers more advanced features and capabilities, particularly for simulation and specialized design tasks.
Performance Issues (vs SOLIDWORKS): While both have been reported to have stability issues, Solid Edge may face more challenges, especially with complex assemblies.

Who should use Solid Edge VS. SOLIDWORKS

Solid Edge is a user-friendly and affordable computer-aided design (CAD) software perfect for businesses of all sizes in various industries. Users praise its synchronous technology for speed and flexibility in modeling, along with its powerful parametric and assembly modeling capabilities. However, some users find the interface challenging and report occasional stability issues. Solid Edge offers excellent value, especially for those seeking seamless integration with other Siemens PLM software.

SOLIDWORKS is user-friendly CAD software ideal for engineers, designers, and manufacturers. It excels at 3D modeling, 2D drawing, and boasts a range of add-ons for simulation and rendering. However, some users report performance issues with large assemblies and find advanced features challenging to master. Despite some drawbacks, many praise its intuitive interface and extensive capabilities.

Best for small to large businesses seeking affordable, scalable CAD solutions.
Ideal for manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, and related sectors.

Excellent fit for small, medium, and large businesses.
Ideal for manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, defense, and consumer goods.

Solid Edge and SOLIDWORKS features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Drafting

Supported

Solid Edge can create 2D drawings from 3D models.

Supported

SOLIDWORKS supports creating 2D drawings from 3D models, including section views and annotations.
3D Solid Modeling

Supported

Solid Edge supports creating solid models with extrusions, cuts, and revolves.

Supported

SOLIDWORKS supports 3D solid modeling with features like extrusions, cuts, and revolves.
Design Sharing

Supported

Solid Edge supports design sharing with various stakeholders via Teamcenter Share integration.

Supported

SOLIDWORKS supports design sharing with various stakeholders via the Share and Markup feature.
Dimensioning

Supported

Solid Edge supports automatic and manual dimensioning tools for 2D drawings.

Supported

SOLIDWORKS supports automatic and manual dimensioning tools for 2D drawings.
Machining Simulation

Not supported

Solid Edge does not appear to offer machining simulation.

Supported

SOLIDWORKS CAM supports machining simulations, including toolpath verification, collision checks, and final part previews.
2D Sketching

Supported

Solid Edge supports 2D sketching for defining part geometry using its 2D Drafting module.

Supported

SOLIDWORKS allows creating 2D sketches for defining part geometry.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

-0.18

Neutral sentiment

-0.78

Strongly negative sentiment
Customer Service

+0.5

Rather positive sentiment

+0.6

Rather positive sentiment
Ease of Use

+0.51

Rather positive sentiment

+0.68

Rather positive sentiment
Reliability and Performance

+0

Neutral sentiment

-0.54

Rather negative sentiment
Ease of Implementation

+0.05

Neutral sentiment

+0.17

Neutral sentiment
Scalability

+0.4

Rather positive sentiment

-0.54

Rather negative sentiment

Solid Edge and SOLIDWORKS Pricing

No data

User sentiment

Neutral

-0.08

See full Pricing page

No data

User sentiment

Strongly negative

-0.78

We couldn't find a pricing page for SOLIDWORKS.

Solid Edge and SOLIDWORKS review insights

930 reviews analysed from

Users love

Synchronous Technology is frequently praised for its speed and flexibility in modeling.
Powerful parametric and assembly modeling capabilities.
Excellent sheet metal design tools.
Built-in rendering with KeyShot (in some licenses).
Good integration with Teamcenter and other Siemens PLM software.

User-friendly interface, easy to learn and use
Extensive features and customization options
Strong 3D modeling and 2D drawing capabilities
Wide range of add-ons and plugins for simulation, rendering, etc.
Large and active user community and readily available resources

Users dislike

Difficult user interface, especially for new users or those transitioning from other CAD software.
Software crashes and stability issues, particularly with large assemblies.
Limited customization options compared to competitors.
Weldment module has some recurring issues.
Limited access to training resources and online tutorials.

Performance issues and crashes, especially with large assemblies
Steep learning curve for advanced features, such as surfacing
High cost and subscription model, prohibitive for some users
Difficulty with file compatibility between versions
Limited capabilities for certain tasks like mesh and curve modeling

Solid Edge and SOLIDWORKS Ratings

G2

4.3/5

(385)

G2

4.4/5

(559)

Company health

Employee growth

No data

Web traffic

No data

Financing

No data

How do Solid Edge's synchronous modeling capabilities compare to SOLIDWORKS' parametric modeling?

Solid Edge's synchronous technology offers a different approach to 3D modeling compared to SOLIDWORKS' parametric modeling. While SOLIDWORKS relies on a history tree and defined parent-child relationships between features, Solid Edge's synchronous technology allows users to modify models more directly and flexibly, often without the constraints of the history tree. This can be faster for making design changes, especially on imported or legacy models. However, SOLIDWORKS' parametric approach offers more control and predictability for complex designs, which can be advantageous for managing design intent and ensuring consistency across design variations. Ultimately, the best choice depends on the specific needs and preferences of the user and the complexity of the designs being created.

Which product offers better integration with existing PLM systems like Teamcenter?

Solid Edge offers better integration with Teamcenter. Solid Edge is part of the Siemens PLM software family, which includes Teamcenter, and boasts "good integration with Teamcenter" as a key feature appreciated by users. While Solidworks can integrate with Teamcenter, it requires additional middleware or connectors, making the integration less seamless than Solid Edge's native integration.

What are the advantages of Solid Edge?

Solid Edge stands out for its synchronous technology, which allows for faster and more flexible modeling compared to traditional parametric modeling. It also offers a strong value proposition due to its affordability, making it accessible to smaller and mid-sized businesses. Users appreciate its powerful sheet metal design tools and integrated rendering capabilities with KeyShot. Solid Edge is also praised for its good integration with other Siemens PLM software, particularly Teamcenter, which can be advantageous for businesses already invested in the Siemens ecosystem.

What are the disadvantages of Solid Edge?

Solid Edge users report a difficult user interface, particularly for new users or those transitioning from other CAD software. They also cite software crashes and stability issues, especially when working with large assemblies. Limited customization options compared to competitors, recurring issues with the weldment module, and limited access to training resources and online tutorials are also mentioned as disadvantages.

Alternatives to Solid Edge and SOLIDWORKS

Mathematica

Mathematica is a powerful software tool used by scientists, engineers, and other professionals to perform complex calculations, analyze data, and create interactive simulations. Its strength lies in solving mathematical problems, both numerically and symbolically. While not a spreadsheet or presentation tool, Mathematica excels at handling large datasets, uncovering patterns, and generating visualizations, making it suitable for research and development in various fields.

SketchUp

SketchUp is a 3D modeling software that's easy to use, yet powerful enough for professionals in architecture, interior design, and construction. Visualize projects of any size, create detailed 2D drawings from your models, and share your vision with colleagues and clients through presentations and immersive visuals. SketchUp is known for its intuitive interface and is used by individuals and companies worldwide, from small design studios to large architectural firms.

Onshape

Onshape is a cloud-based design platform for creating and managing product designs. It combines powerful 3D modeling tools with built-in collaboration and version control features. This means your design team can work together in real-time, from any location, without worrying about file compatibility or data loss. Onshape aims to speed up the design process, improve collaboration, and eliminate the headaches of traditional design software.

Inventor

Inventor is a 3D design software for professionals who need to create, simulate, and document mechanical designs. It's used across various industries by engineers and designers to build a digital prototype before physical production. Inventor helps reduce development costs and speed up time to market by letting you test form, fit, and function virtually. It offers powerful tools for 3D modeling, including standard 2D drawings, and can be integrated with existing design data.

Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection

Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection is a comprehensive suite of tools designed for businesses that create and manufacture products. It includes software for 3D design, engineering, simulation, and manufacturing planning, aiming to streamline the entire product development process. The collection offers advanced features beyond basic CAD software and connects different stages of development, making it beneficial for mid-sized companies looking to improve collaboration and efficiency.

BricsCAD

BricsCAD is a cost-effective computer-aided design (CAD) software that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for 2D drafting, 3D modeling, mechanical design, and building information modeling (BIM). BricsCAD aims to be familiar to users of other CAD software, enabling a quick transition. It boasts innovative features like machine learning to improve drawing accuracy and efficiency. BricsCAD offers both permanent and subscription licensing options to fit various needs and budgets.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

How are we doing?

Is this information helpful to you? Is there anything we are missing?

Did this help you select your product?

Other issues? Vote & Let us know