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Inventor description
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.
Who is Inventor best for
Autodesk Inventor is 3D design software for professionals creating and simulating mechanical designs. It helps reduce development costs and accelerates time to market by enabling virtual testing. Users praise its user-friendly interface and robust modeling capabilities but note difficulties with file management and large assemblies. Best for engineers, designers, and manufacturers needing advanced 3D modeling and simulation.
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Best fit for small, medium, and enterprise businesses.
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Ideal for Manufacturing, with applications in various other sectors like Healthcare and Retail.
Inventor features
| Supported Inventor can create 2D technical drawings directly from 3D models. |
| Supported Inventor supports creating, editing, and manipulating 3D models, including extrusions, cuts, and revolves. |
| Supported Inventor supports FEA through the Inventor Nastran tool. |
| Supported Inventor allows assembling multiple parts into larger assemblies and defining relationships between them. |
| Supported Inventor supports motion simulation for mechanical systems. |
We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software
Value and Pricing Transparency
Ease of Use
Reliability and Performance
Ease of Implementation
Scalability
Inventor reviews
We've summarised 687 Inventor reviews (Inventor Capterra reviews and Inventor G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.
- User-friendly interface, easy for both beginners and experienced users.
- Robust solid modeling software with part and assembly variations.
- Excellent customer support.
- Integrates well with other Autodesk products, especially Vault.
- Powerful design automation capabilities, including iLogic.
- Difficult file management; need to understand file structure to avoid errors.
- Large assemblies can be challenging for users unfamiliar with assembly modeling.
- Limited sheet metal generation and plastic component tools; requires additional licenses.
- Steep learning curve, especially for advanced features like iLogic.
- Unintuitive work planes can make assembly difficult.
Inventor pricing
The commentary is based on 44 reviews from Inventor Capterra reviews and Inventor G2 reviews.
Inventor is a powerful CAD software, but its high cost is a recurring concern. While many find its features valuable, the price point may be prohibitive for some users, especially students and those in smaller businesses. A free educational license is available, however.
Users sentiment
See the Inventor pricing page.
Inventor alternatives
inventor vs SOLIDWORKSBetter for retail, consumer goods, and transportation and logistics. Rated higher on G2. Known for user-friendliness. However, users dislike its performance with large assemblies, high cost, and limited mesh and curve modeling capabilities.Read more
Shapr3DEasier to use and has stronger iPad support. It is growing faster than Inventor, especially in terms of its team. A good Inventor alternative for users focused on a streamlined, mobile-friendly design process.Read more
BricsCADMore affordable and offers perpetual licenses. Better for Construction and IT. Has cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Mac, and Linux). Is growing faster than Inventor. Easier to use, but less reliable.Read more
Solid EdgeBetter suited for smaller businesses seeking affordability. Lacks motion simulation features. Users report a steeper learning curve and less intuitive interface. Some stability issues have been reported. Stronger sheet metal design capabilities.Read more
OnshapeCloud-based, enabling real-time collaboration and version control. Better for startups and group projects. Offers easier onboarding with a simpler user interface.Read more
CATIABetter for Automotive and Aerospace design. Has more momentum based on employee growth. A popular Inventor competitor and alternative.Read more
Inventor FAQ
What is Inventor and what does Inventor do?
Inventor is a 3D CAD software by Autodesk for creating, simulating, and documenting mechanical designs. It offers tools for 3D modeling, 2D drawings, assembly design, and motion simulation. Inventor helps reduce development costs and accelerate time to market by enabling virtual prototyping and testing.
How does Inventor integrate with other tools?
Inventor integrates well with other Autodesk products, especially Vault, allowing for seamless data management and collaboration. It also supports data interoperability, enabling integration with existing design data from various sources.
What the main competitors of Inventor?
Solid Edge, CATIA, AutoCAD, Ansys Discovery, SketchUp, and Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection are all strong competitors to Inventor. They offer comparable 3D modeling, simulation, and design tools for various industries and company sizes.
Is Inventor legit?
Inventor is safe and legitimate software for 3D modeling, simulation, and documentation. It's known for its user-friendly interface and robust features, though some users find the file management and advanced features complex. It integrates well with other Autodesk products.
How much does Inventor cost?
I cannot find pricing information for Inventor. Contact an Autodesk sales representative for a personalized quote based on your needs. Consider exploring alternative CAD software options if budget is a concern.
Is Inventor customer service good?
Customer reviews on Inventor's support are mixed. While some praise the "great customer support" and helpful resources, others mention delayed response times. Overall, the feedback suggests that while support is generally available, its effectiveness can vary.
Reviewed by
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 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.