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Onshape

Full-cloud 3D CAD system for design teams

Last updated: January 2025

Table of Contents

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Onshape - 2025 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives

What is Onshape?

Onshape is a 3D CAD solution designed for agile design & engineering teams, with complete functionality for modeling parts and assemblies, and creating production drawings. The built-in version control and collaboration tools allow multiple users to work on the same data without overwriting each other’s edits, and enables the performance of tasks in parallel to compress design cycles.

Onshape automatically records all design steps, creating a full audit trail of changes with details of exactly what was changed and by whom. Previous design versions can be restored, allowing users to compare and explore design variations, and recover from any mistakes. User access permissions can be edited or revoked at any time, and notifications are automatically generated when documents are shared, versioned, or commented on.

Onshape includes an open-source programming language, FeatureScript, which allows users to create custom features. Native CAD data can be read from a number of applications, including SOLIDWORKS®, Rhinoceros®, CATIA®, Creo®, Autodesk Inventor®, and Autodesk AutoCAD®, and Onshape can write native SOLIDWORKS®, Rhinoceros®, and AutoCAD® data. Users can upload and store data in any format within document tabs, and view TXT, PDF, JPEG, PNG, MOV, and MP4 files natively.

Benefits of using Onshape

All design steps are recorded, creating an audit trail of changes, and previous design versions can be restored to compare variations and recover from mistakes.

When modeling parts, users can directly resize holes and fillets, move or replace faces, delete surfaces, and simultaneously edit multiple parts.

Custom features can be created using Onshape’s open-source programming language, FeatureScript.

Onshape’s assembly modeling capabilities include assembly restructuring, in-context editing of parts, mechanical relations definition, snap mating, dynamic assembly motion, and more.

Onshape can read and write files in a range of formats, including SOLIDWORKS®, Rhinoceros®, and Autodesk AutoCAD® data, and allows users to store data in any file format within documents, with native viewing of TXT, PDF, JPEG, PNG, MOV, and MP4 files.

Starting from

1500

/user

Per year

Alternatives with better value for money

Onshape’s pros and cons based on 315 verified reviews

To identify what users like and dislike about Onshape, our data scientists apply advanced modeling techniques to our proprietary reviews data. We've sorted the resulting list of pros and cons based on the percentage of users who expressed positive sentiment toward the given topic in their reviews.

To determine these pros and cons insights, we analyzed responses from 315 verified reviews

Efficient document sharing

97% of reviewers feel positive about the document sharing capabilities. Reviewers appreciate the ease of sharing CAD data with customers and collaborators through simple links, without the need for installations. They find the cloud-based nature convenient for real-time updates and remote work, making it easy to share the latest versions of files securely and instantly.

See related user reviews

“I also very much like the fact there is no installation and the software is always up to date (because there is not software). When I need to share CAD data with customers, not it's no worry now as I share a link and they instantly have whatever information I wish to share, right in their browser. How many times does a design take a big turn, or the operator breaks some thing severely?”

Kent Henderson

Owner

“I like the cloud based idea which makes it really easy to share documents with the team and not have to worry about saving it or anything.”

Jarom Shurtliff

Industrial Designer

Real-time team collaboration

96% of reviewers feel positive about the team collaboration features. Users think the cloud-based platform enables seamless real-time collaboration, eliminating version control issues and allowing multiple team members to work simultaneously from different locations. They appreciate the ease of sharing and coordinating edits, which enhances productivity and project management.

See related user reviews

“Cloud-based, which enables access from almost any PC or tablet, collaboration with remote people, and easy sharing of designs for feedback from team. ”

Josh Lindsay

Sr. Director, Mechanical Engineering

“The real-time collaboration features of Onshape have completely changed the way I collaborate with others, allowing for seamless communication and coordinated edits.”

Joseph Mwaura

Senior Engineer

Versatile mobile compatibility

96% of reviewers feel positive about the mobile compatibility. Some users report that the software works well across various devices, including phones and tablets, allowing them to access and edit designs from anywhere. They find it convenient for reviewing and presenting models on the go, which enhances flexibility and productivity.

See related user reviews

“Onshape is a cloud based cad designing software which gives freedom to work on any hardware platform such as web browser, tablet computer,mobile phone etc.because of this freedom user can do cad drawing by using stylish pen or using touch inputs.”

Yushantha Chathuranga

control systems engineer

“It's still super impressive to me to pull up a model on mobile and show friends/customers how it looks, parts that move.”

Zachary Morrow

Owner

Comprehensive 3D design and printing

94% of reviewers feel positive about the 3D design and printing capabilities. Reviewers indicate that the software is suitable for both beginners and professionals, providing essential tools for creating detailed 3D models. They find it effective for producing complex 3D printed objects and appreciate its user-friendly interface for quick and efficient design work.

See related user reviews

“We started using Onshape as a less expensive alternative to Solidworks for simpler design work (e.g. 3D prints for simple prototype parts) and it quickly became the go to CAD software for our company. ”

Dan Schieffer

Development Scientist

“this app surprises me for good, nothing to envy to the other parametric 3d CAD programs, it is excellent, I can make complete designs on the tablet then print them in 3d I am impressed”

Liszt Hernandez

business administrator

Dependence on internet connection

76% of reviewers feel negative about the dependence on an internet connection. Users think that requiring a stable internet connection can be a hindrance, especially in areas with poor connectivity. They report difficulties working remotely or traveling, as the software's performance can be significantly affected by internet speed and reliability.

See related user reviews

“The dependence on an internet connection can be a hindrance when walking clients through models in locations with poor internet connections like cafes and many corporate "guest wifi" locations.”

David FOng

Director

“It needs internet to work which could be really frustrating in conditions and areas where internet connection is unstable or not available”

Ayodeji Omidoyin

Additive manufacturing

Inconsistent performance speed

66% of reviewers feel negative about the performance speed. Some users say the software can be slow, particularly when handling large assemblies or feature-rich models. They find that performance is heavily dependent on internet speed and high computer power, which can cause delays and hinder productivity.

See related user reviews

“The performance increases each month (as does the global internet bandwidth) but it still loses today in a heads-up speed race against a local CAD program on a high-performance machine.”

James Shaw

Managing Director

“It doesn't matter if I computer with a unicorn for a CPU and GPU, OnShape still becomes unbearable slow with full assemblies.”

Silas Hughes

Application Engineer

Limited sheet metal surfacing

56% of reviewers feel negative about the sheet metal surfacing capabilities. Reviewers mention that the software lacks advanced features for sheet metal design, making it challenging to model complex geometries. They find the tools insufficient compared to other CAD programs, which limits its effectiveness for certain production parts and detailed surface modeling.

See related user reviews

“Sheet metal capabilities are limited even in most recent version (we have production parts designed in SolidWorks that Onshape simply can't model - even after sending them in for review at Onshape)”

Philip Taber

Project Manager

“It's not yet ideal for surface modeling and I personally think that the measurement tool could be improved.”

Alessandro Di Gesù

Student

Onshape's key features

Most critical features, based on insights from Onshape users:

3D Design & Modeling

4.7

(15)

2D Drawing

4.0

(18)

Component Library

4.5

(10)

Data Import/Export

4.4

(12)

Version Control

4.4

(10)

CAD Tools

3.9

(10)

All Onshape features

Features rating:

4.1

(315)

Design Analysis

3.2

(5)

Data Visualization

5.0

(1)

File Management

5.0

(1)

Content Library

5.0

(1)

Manufacturing Design Data

4.0

(5)

Change Management

5.0

(1)

Bills of Material

4.7

(3)

Bill of Materials Management

4.8

(5)

Multiple Projects

5.0

(2)

Real-Time Updates

4.8

(4)

Activity Dashboard

5.0

(1)

Workflow Management

4.0

(1)

Document Management

4.3

(7)

Collaboration Tools

4.3

(6)

Sketching and Annotation Tools

4.6

(5)

Multiple Format Support

5.0

(2)

Reporting/Analytics

4.6

(5)

3D Imaging

3.8

(4)

Annotations

4.5

(6)

Visual Analytics

(0)

Third-Party Integrations

(0)

Template Management

(0)

Solar Design

(0)

Access Controls/Permissions

(0)

Secure Data Storage

(0)

Rules-Based Workflow

(0)

Role-Based Permissions

(0)

Animation

(0)

Reference Management

(0)

Real Time Comparisons

(0)

Project Templates

(0)

Product Data Management

(0)

API

2.0

(1)

Configurable Workflow

(0)

Modeling & Simulation

5.0

(1)

Mechatronics

(0)

Mechanical

(0)

Configuration Management

(0)

For Solar Companies

(0)

For Manufacturers

(0)

For 3D Printing

(0)

Customizable Branding

(0)

Electrical

(0)

Customizable Templates

(0)

Design Management

(0)

Onshape alternatives

Onshape

4.5

(315)

Starting from

1500

/user

Per year

Free trial

Free version

Ease of Use

4.5

Features

4.1

Value for Money

4.5

Customer Support

4.6

QuickBooks Enterprise

4.5

(20.7K)

visit website

Starting from

2210

Per year

Free trial

Free version

Ease of Use

4.3

Features

4.4

Value for Money

4.3

Customer Support

4.2

Contractor Foreman

4.5

(722)

visit website

Starting from

Per month

Free trial

Free version

Ease of Use

4.3

Features

4.4

Value for Money

4.6

Customer Support

4.5

Autodesk Construction Cloud

4.3

(2.2K)

visit website

Starting from

No pricing info

Free trial

Free version

Ease of Use

4.2

Features

4.1

Value for Money

4.0

Customer Support

4.2

Onshape pricing

Starting from

1500

/user

Per year

Pricing details

Subscription

Free trial

Free plan

Pricing range

view pricing plans

User opinions about Onshape price and value

Value for money rating:

4.5

Of 37 reviews that provide robust commentary on Onshape's price and value, 78% mention it in a positive light.

Most reviewers indicate that Onshape offers good value for money, especially appreciating the availability of a free version with full feature access, which is beneficial for students and small businesses. They find the subscription model cost-effective, with lower hardware requirements and the ability to add team members easily. Users think the SaaS pricing and the 'pay by use' format for advanced features are advantageous. However, some users report that the subscription-based model can be expensive, particularly for startups and users in developing countries. They also mention that the high cost can be a barrier for personal and private use.

Check .

To see what individual users think of Onshape's cost and value, check out the review excerpts below.

“Also, the business model of paying for private documents (at a reasonable cost) while also providing a user full access to all the features for free made the decision to purchase the training and software an easy decision. ”

Travis Lundy

Owner

“Support is responsive, pricing is fine, love the 'pay by the use' subscription format for advanced features seldom used like FEA. ”

David Cook

CTO

“The fact that it is a subscription based license model and is priced in US dollars makes it very expensive to use commercially in developing countries.”

Colin Myburgh

Engineer

Onshape integrations (20)

Integrations rated by users

We looked through 315 user reviews, to identify which products are mentioned as Onshape integrations, and what is the users perception.

OnScale Solve

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

“I consider OnScale Solve and Onshape's integration to be of utmost significance for my engineering simulations and design procedures as a user. My process is streamlined and the necessity for manual data transfer and file conversions is gone thanks to the platforms' seamless connectivity. I can simply import my Onshape CAD models into OnScale Solve because to the integration, enabling me to use them for simulations and analysis right away. This helps me save time and guarantees that the geometries I use for my simulations are precise and current. My design iterations are improved and my ability to make well-informed judgments based on simulation results is made possible by the ability to run simulations directly inside the Onshape environment. The integration between OnScale Solve and Onshape truly enhances the synergy between design and simulation, enabling me to optimize my designs and bring innovative products to market faster.”

Joseph Mwaura

Senior Engineer

SimScale

Integration rating: 5.0 (1)

Other top integrations

Onshape support options

Typical customers

Freelancers

Small businesses

Mid size businesses

Large enterprises

Platforms supported

Web

Android

iPhone/iPad

Support options

Email/Help Desk

Chat

FAQs/Forum

Knowledge Base

Training options

Live Online

Documentation

Webinars

Videos

Onshape reviews

Overall rating

4.5

315

Positive reviews

Rating breakdown

Value for money
Ease of use
Features
Customer support
Likelihood to recommend8.95/10

Rating distribution

178

116

Pros

“Then I realized that I could myself produce my own 3D models and I found on Onshape the perfect tool for it. It also has great features that allows you to produce perfect models.”

Murilo A.

Software Engineer

“This is because Onshape is so portable, stable and reliable. It is a solid solid modeler with some very thought through features that are tested with the community before deploying it into the wild.”

Florian W.

Principal Engineer

“The stability of the software has been flawless, with minor hiccups being rapidly fixed by the outstanding customer support team.”

Jordan H.

Lead Development Engineer

Cons

“Lack of offline caching causes Models to need to be reloaded when experiencing poor network coverage such as riding down the interstate while working on a customer design.”

Matthew B.

COO

“Printing is a bit of a pain; gotta export / download file and then print.”

Christopher G.

Owner / Designer

“It is training and support that differentiates competitors. Onshape training is totally inadequate in my experience.”

Peter B.

Director

Read all reviews

Onshape FAQs

Q. What type of pricing plans does Onshape offer?

Onshape has the following pricing plans:
Starting from: $1500.00/year
Pricing model: Free, Subscription
Free Trial: Available | (No Credit Card required)

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