Onshape
onshape.comBuild Difficulty: 4/5
A few focused days to build a solid replacement
The Fastest Growing CAD & PDM System Worldwide
How to Replace OnshapeOverview
Features
67 features across 21 categories
AI(1)
Embedded insights and recommendations to guide design decisions and improve productivity
Administration(8)
Keeps company data completely separate and prevents unauthorized use
Centralized dashboards for user access control, permissions, and activity monitoring
Company retains all design data when users are removed
Custom domain URL for enterprise login (e.g., my-enterprise.onshape.com)
Simplified financial administration with centralized billing for multiple users
Add users to company in minutes with no software installation required
Cost-effective licensing for users with limited CAD needs like viewing and commenting
Configure multiple roles and permission schemes for enterprise
Analysis(2)
Tools for analyzing surface reflections and quality
Linear static and modal analysis with stress, deformation, and natural frequency calculations
Collaboration(9)
Create temporary guest accounts with controlled access duration
Annotate and visually communicate design changes on 3D models and drawings
Multiple designers can work on the same CAD model simultaneously
Create, manage and share technical packages including designs and drawings
Live commenting and discussion directly on CAD models and drawings
Multi-user editing with instant sharing and real-time communication
Push notifications for comments and activity in app and email
URL-based sharing with granular permission controls for viewing, commenting, or editing
File-based version control allowing designers to branch and merge work
Compliance(1)
Onshape Government built on AWS GovCloud for regulated projects
Customization(1)
Programming language to customize, automate and extend Onshape
Data Management(8)
Define part-numbering patterns with sequential numeric increments
Complete record of parts, assemblies, and materials with real-time management
Integrated product data management with version control and branching/merging
Make non-geometric items like adhesives and paints available for designs
Build and share company-specific metadata across the organization
Organize and share company engineering data with consistent metadata
Build and maintain company material data accessible across organization
Automatic saving and tracking of all edits with undo and restore capabilities
Design(7)
Advanced revolve feature options for 3D modeling
Improved hole annotation and callout features
Connect part studio context with assembly positioning
Advanced sheet metal design capabilities
Feature for creating offset planes using curves
Connect ECAD data with MCAD design environment for electrical and mechanical integration
Advanced feature for complex 3D modeling operations
Education(4)
Education resources for classes and student assignments
One-hour personalized session with experts for CAD optimization
Comprehensive online hub of tutorials, courses, and best practices
Self-paced tutorials and instructor-led training courses
Infrastructure(1)
Eliminates local file failures and crashes through cloud-based design
Integration(5)
Integration with Arena PLM for product lifecycle management
Seamless integration between electrical and mechanical CAD data
Third-party extensions for design, data management, simulation, and manufacturing
REST API for automating Onshape and integrating with business processes
Connect to Slack to view comments, reply to tasks, and receive release notifications
Interface(1)
Enable touch interactions on browser-based CAD
Manufacturing(4)
Advanced CAM cutting strategies and options
Plan, visualize, and simulate machining processes from 2.5-axis through 5-axis machines
Improved selection of holes for CAM operations
Capture and communicate manufacturing intent with PMI embedded in 3D models
Mobile(1)
CAD access on iOS and Android devices
Project Management(1)
Assign tasks to individuals or teams through comments
Reliability(1)
Cloud-native design prevents file corruption and data loss
Reporting(2)
Detailed dashboards recording all interactions with company data
Reports on documents, imports/exports, and modeling time per project
Security(3)
Strong authentication and authorization for intellectual property protection
Track intellectual property with full history of user actions, exports, and access
Configure company SSO and enforce two-factor authentication
Support(1)
Direct access to Onshape support team within application
Visualization(3)
Augmented reality visualization and interaction with 3D CAD models
Advanced rendering capabilities for photorealistic CAD model visuals
Photorealistic rendering with realistic materials, textures and backgrounds
Workflow(3)
Complete edit history allowing rollback of changes at any point
Automated workflows to manage revision status of parts, assemblies, and drawings
Quickly locate components and identify all instances of parts in projects
Pricing
Free
- ✓Unlimited public storage
- ✓CAD tools
- ✓Real-time collaboration
- ✓Version control
- ✓Mobile apps
- ✓Online training
Standard
- ✓All Free features
- ✓Unlimited private storage
- ✓Direct in-product support
- ✓Commercial use
- ✓Professional CAD
- ✓Built-in PDM
Professional
Popular- ✓All Standard features
- ✓Company-managed data
- ✓Release management
- ✓Advanced PDM
- ✓Simulation
- ✓Rendering
- ✓ECAD/MCAD exchange
- ✓CAM
- ✓Multi-user editing
- ✓Real-time chat
- ✓Mark-ups
- ✓Task management
- ✓Slack integration
- ✓Bill of Materials
- ✓Version history
- ✓Search and where used
- ✓Publications
- ✓Company admin tools
- ✓SSO
- ✓Guest users
- ✓Light users
Enterprise
- ✓All Professional features
- ✓Custom release management
- ✓Analytics and dashboards
- ✓Arena PLM connection
- ✓Advanced admin and security
- ✓SSO with 2FA
- ✓Guest access full and light user licensing
- ✓Priority support
- ✓ITAR/EAR compliance
- ✓Role-based access control
- ✓Advanced provisioning settings
- ✓Project-based reporting
- ✓IP audit trail
- ✓Centralized IP control
- ✓Company-specific domain
- ✓Company-specific material libraries
- ✓Company categories
- ✓Automated part numbering
- ✓Bulk item management
Cost Calculator
Keep Paying Onshape
Build It Yourself
Total Cost Comparison
DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 67 features at easy complexity.
Build vs Buy
Should you build a Onshape alternative or buy the subscription? Estimate based on 67 features.
Buy Onshape
Better ValueBuild Your Own
Buying Onshape saves ~$47,400 over 3 years vs building.
Estimates based on 67 features and a BuildScore of 4/5. Actual costs vary.
Integrations
3 known integrations