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What Is SolidWorks Premium?

SolidWorks Premium seamlessly integrates powerful design tools-including industry-leading part, assembly, and drawing capabilities with built in simulation, rendering, animation, product data management and cost estimation. SolidWorks will help you get work done faster and easier than before, using innovative phases of product creation to achieve a more productive 3D design experience.

Who Uses SolidWorks Premium?

On-premise and cloud-based manufacturing design platform that allows individuals and enterprises of all sizes to create and collaborate 2D drafts, 3D designs, CAD models, animations and more.

SolidWorks Premium Software - Weldments Tool - Included in all SOLIDWORKS licences. Speed up the process of designing welded structures using the weldment tool. Complete with libraries of pre-defined structural shapes.
SolidWorks Premium Software - Automated Bill of Materials (BoM), customisable templates and intelligently linked assets inside SOLIDWORKS. Meaning if a part or assembly is changed, all associated drawings and assets are updated simultaneously.
SolidWorks Premium Software - eDrawings - included in every SOLIDWORKS Premium and Professional licence. Generate accurate representations of 2D and 3D product designs that anyone can view, mark up, and measure.  eDrawings Professional contains additional functionality such as AR & VR
SolidWorks Premium Software - Static Simulation - included in every SOLIDWORKS Premium licence. Run linear stress analysis (FEA) directly from your SOLIDWORKS CAD model resulting in fewer costly prototypes, reduced rework and delays and greater time and cost efficiency.
SolidWorks Premium Software - SOLIDWORKS Visualize Standard - included in every SOLIDWORKS Premium and Professional licence. Powerful rendering tool that produces compelling visual content from the existing CAD data with unparalleled ease and flexibility.

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Reviews of SolidWorks Premium

Average score

Overall
4.6
Ease of Use
4.2
Customer Service
4.2
Features
4.6
Value for Money
4.1

Reviews by company size (employees)

  • <50
  • 51-200
  • 201-1,000
  • >1,001
Slim
Slim
teacher in Tunisia
Verified LinkedIn User
Education Management, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Alternatives Considered:

For me, Solidworks is always the best. Initially, I was intimidated by Solidworks' interface, but I

5.0 last year

Comments: I teach students computer-aided design.

Pros:

It's easy to learn, it's user friendly, and drawing of complex surfaces can be done easily

Cons:

unfortunately, although Solidworks is a tick font software, it remains not affordable, in fact, its cost is very high, which is a major inconvenience.

Thomas
Engineer in US
Medical Devices, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Solidworks review

5.0 3 months ago

Pros:

It is an intuitive modeling software that is easy to use and there is lots of documentation online to support use.

Cons:

The changes between model years can be frustrating. Sometimes locations of common functions move and it can be annoying to have to relearn the software.

Jean-Louis
President in Canada
Design, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Alternatives Considered:

Industry Standard 3D Modelling That Does Most Things Well

3.0 2 months ago

Comments: Have used this software for approx. 20yrs and remain happy with it. I've tried some alternatives that each had some pros and cons relative to SW, but I still remain with SW as it is the best. If they would deal with the licensing issue I mentioned above I would be very happy with SW.

Pros:

It remains the industry standard so is a must-have for any design agency. It does all of the basics very well and from a functional standpoint it isn't missing much.

Cons:

Surface modelling functions are very limited, but BY FAR the biggest problem is the licensing model. They FORCE you to upgrade annually by bricking the software such that you cannot open any files created by a newer version of SW.

Suvajit
Senior Design Engineer in India
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Multipurpose 3D modeling with Solidworks Premium

5.0 5 months ago

Comments: It is really a productive tools if used correctly.
Very intuitive and user friendly interface.

Pros:

It can be used in almost any kind of industry that manufactures physical products/consumables. The learning curve is steep but in the long run it will serve well.

Cons:

There are too many features that might not be useful for one type of company,still one has to pay for the full package. Steep learning curve.

Ngiria
Mechanical design engineer in US
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Delighted with the results

5.0 3 weeks ago New

Comments: im impressed to share my good experience using this software as i learned using it within weeks due to its ease of integration.

Pros:

its amazing architecture and incredible features like solid cam

Cons:

Solidworks has low storage which limits designers from large data processing

Thomas
Media team lead in Canada
Aviation & Aerospace, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Solidworks Premium: Powerful Software with High Demands.

5.0 2 months ago New

Pros:

Solidworks Premium is extremely intuitive and easy to use. It has a well thought out and premium looking UI, and complex parts can be modeled and drawn to a very high standard.

Cons:

Solidworks Premium does require a moderate to high end system to run efficiently and with good user experience. The average laptop with 8-16GB RAM does underperform, and the experience is noticeably degraded when even a browser tab or text document was open, a task I feel it should not struggle with. For an assembly with only 350 components, I would expect less than 8GB of system RAM usage.

Ghislain
Ghislain
Sales Coordinator in Canada
Verified LinkedIn User
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 1,001–5,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

The 3D CAd software

5.0 10 months ago

Pros:

You will do more than the entry level 3D cad software. This is for professional

Cons:

The learning curve is on the longer side. Youtube tutorial are not as easy to find than the competition

Nicholas
Chief Research Officer in US
Research, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Industry standard

4.0 2 months ago New

Comments: Overall I have a positive experience with solidworks

Pros:

Very capable software. The industry standard, so it makes it easy to collaborate with others.

Cons:

Very closed ecosystem, so it makes getting support difficult. Also the lack of compatibility with older versions can make it difficult to collaborate to institutions that canot afford the latest model year.

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Design, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

My first learnt 3D software

5.0 6 months ago

Pros:

It's nice to create and build 3D model, especially if the product is going to be produced, it can easily be evaluated within manufacturing phase and perspective.

Cons:

For mesh and curve 3D models, it's quite hard and requires other software to integrate with.

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Industrial Automation, 1,001–5,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

A classic

4.0 8 months ago

Pros:

A classic CAD software with so many tools and features. But it feels like it misses out some collaboration features as seen with new ever cloud based tools

Cons:

Can be clunky and take a while to load up and can use a lot of RAM

Brian
Design Engineer in US
Design, 201–500 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Career Using Solidworks

4.0 5 years ago

Comments: Overall, Solidworks has become a trusty tool for me. I'm able to get my point across clearer with a 3D drawing with detailed views to the customer instead of working on a physical model. I suggest taking classes if you're very new to the world of 3D modeling but if you have an understanding of it, a quick set of Youtube tutorials can get you on track easily. I recommend this product to anyone who has a creative mind and wants to make objects digitally with hopes to transfer it into a physical model.

Pros:

Solidworks is good for taking things you've drawn and giving precise dimensions to make it as accurate to the object you're trying to create or recreate as possible. You're able to transfer these drawings to machines that can cut and print what you've done after. Since this software is so popular among design/engineer firms, thousands of tutorials and helpful guides can be found on the internet to help with anything you are trying to produce, along with many forums with knowledgeable people that are willing to help. It has many modes that can simulate object properties if you assign a material to it and will give you a close representation of what you'd expect in the real world.

Cons:

Solidworks has trouble with organic shapes. If you are doing something that requires a bulbous shape you might need to look elsewhere like 3DS Max or Maya. It also has trouble with the spline command, which requires a bit more finesse when controlling it.

Alanis
Team Manager in Puerto Rico
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, 201–500 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Best source to create 3D design

5.0 last year

Pros:

SolidWorks has been the only platform I have relied on for years. It has everything you need to create different things such as models and designs. As an engineer it is a must to use this platform and to create assembles.

Cons:

In my opinion it is not user friendly, you would need to take an in-depth course about SolidWorks.

Muhammad
Engineer in Kuwait
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Features that are useful and innovative in Solidworks

4.0 2 years ago

Comments: An extremely intuitive tool that provides its users with multiple easy design tools to shape their ideas and concepts virtually.

Pros:

The extremely easy learning curves allows users to grasp the concept of modeling right away and the user interface is very friendly and to the point.

Cons:

handling large assemblies gets a bit difficult and can create lags.

Felipe
Research Assistant in US
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 501–1,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

SolidWorks Overview

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: SolidWorks is a powerful 3D CAD software that offers comprehensive design capabilities, including modeling, simulation, animation, rendering, and data management. Overall, SolidWorks is a widely used and respected software in the mechanical engineering, product design, and industrial design fields.

Pros:

SolidWorks has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to learn and use, especially for beginners, and it offers customizable tools and menus to create and edit models efficiently. SolidWorks also provides seamless collaboration and compatibility with other CAD software and tools, allowing for easy import and export of files in various formats.

Cons:

The main cons of SolidWorks are its high cost, which can be prohibitive for small businesses or individual users, and its steep learning curve, which may require investment in training and certification programs. While SolidWorks offers seamless collaboration and compatibility with other CAD software and tools, users may still face compatibility issues with certain software or file formats.

Alaa
CAD CAD Designer in Jordan
Hospital & Health Care, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 1-5 months
Reviewer Source

SolidWorks Premium has the wealthiest features and tools of 3D Models Software

5.0 last year

Comments: SolidWorks Premium has a lot of benefits but I face one disadvantage, It was the installation it's very big.

Pros:

SolidWorks Premium has the most extensive library of functions and features, it's really comprehensive, actually you never need external tools or plugins.

Cons:

SolidWorks Premium has a lot of benefits but I face one disadvantage, the obesticals was the installation is very big.

Amjad
Technical Support in Jordan
Construction, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: Free Trial
Reviewer Source

SolidWorks Premium is the best 3D simulation.

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: SolidWorks Premium is a powerful CAD software that offers a range of advanced design and simulation tools, but it may not be the best fit for all organizations or individuals due to its cost, steep learning curve, and compatibility issues.

Pros:

SolidWorks Premium includes advanced simulation capabilities that enable users to analyze and test the functionality of their designs in a virtual environment.

Cons:

SolidWorks Premium is expensive software, and the high cost may not be affordable for some businesses or individuals.

Tomasz
Production Engineer in Poland
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 501–1,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Production engineer - sheet metal structures

5.0 2 years ago

Pros:

Very friendly and intuitive interface, lots of design options. Good tools for converting solids into sheet metal structures. Good looks, fast working tools.

Cons:

I did not notice any significant deficiencies. All the options I need are and work very well.

Luca
Mechanical engineer in Italy
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Second best in this field imho

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: I've used this software for some projects during college, it works very well, FEM too keeping into account the limitations of this kind of analysis that can never be as complete and reliable as for more powerful and complex softwares. Coming from Autodesk inventor i have to say I like Inventor more, but it is mostly a matter of personal preference instead of a true difference in performances or features

Pros:

Everything you may need for engineering, including also FEM analysis and parametric modeling

Cons:

I couldn't find, during my usage, great problems with it. I was sometimes annoyed by some difficulties in finding straight away the right command, but it is just a matter of getting used to it and personal preference

Abhishek
Abhishek
Intern in India
Verified LinkedIn User
Design, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Strengthen your work with SolidWorks

4.0 2 years ago

Pros:

1. It provides support to the cloud which makes it easy for users to handle it.2. Processing is much faster than AutoCAD.3. Tutorials are available which helps users to deep dive into this software more easily.

Cons:

1. UI could be much better.2. Trying to compete in this low-cost market.

Mammaye Ousmane
Mammaye Ousmane
Student in Industrial Maintenance in Mauritania
Verified LinkedIn User
Mining & Metals, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

SolidWorks Premium review

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: SolidWorks Premium is an effective CAD tool for mechanical product design, it offers robust features such as parametric design tools, simulation and 3D visualization. It is user-friendly and allows for effective project communication. However, it can be costly for some users and its advanced features may require some time to master. Overall, it is a solid choice for professional CAD projects.

Pros:

I use SolidWorks Premium for mechanical product design and I am extremely satisfied with its performance. The user interface is easy to use and the parametric design tools are incredibly powerful, allowing for quick and easy modifications to existing models. The simulation tools are also incredibly useful for testing the functionality of models before production.The 3D visualization is excellent, the photorealistic renderings allow you to truly see how the finished product will look, and the animations make it easy to effectively communicate projects to other people.I am also impressed with SolidWorks Premium's interoperability. It's able to import and export files of various CAD formats, making it easy to collaborate with other members of the team.In conclusion, SolidWorks Premium is an incredibly powerful tool for mechanical product design and is highly recommended for anyone looking for a high-level CAD solution.

Cons:

One of the least appreciated aspects of SolidWorks Premium is that the cost can be high for small businesses or individual users. There are less expensive licensing options available, but they may not include all the features of the full version.Another aspect that could be improved is the complexity of some of the simulation tools. The simulation tools are very powerful, but they can be difficult to master for less experienced users and may require training for those not familiar with simulation tools.Finally, there are compatibility issues that can arise when importing or exporting files from other CAD software. Sometimes data can be lost or corrupted during file translation and can cause errors in the models.Despite these drawbacks, SolidWorks Premium remains an extremely powerful CAD tool that is ideal for mechanical product design and offers great flexibility for users who are willing to invest time in learning to use its advanced features effectively.

Joao Victor
Engineering Student in Canada
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 501–1,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Solidworks make 3D cad more intuitive and easier

5.0 2 years ago

Pros:

I most like the tools available, specially for animation. I have been developed at least 50 parts on solidworks and the interface is very intuitive. Best software ever.

Cons:

I would say that depending on the computer you use, it laggs and make you restart sometimes. But the feature is the BOM. I have some trouble setting up the BOM on drawings.

Jordan
Mechanical Engineer in US
Consumer Electronics, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Solid Product

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: Overall, it is a good professional tool for basic and some advanced modeling. If you need to do advanced simulation, there are other packages like Ansys that are much better.

Pros:

The layout and ability to customize shortcut keys help with the speed and ease of use. Some of the basic motion simulations are helpful. Training materials are easy to find on the internet. There is a large community of users that actively post tips and tricks related to CAD modeling.

Cons:

Working with large assemblies could be improved. The program/computer can be slow when trying to manipulate, open, or save large assembly files. Imported geometry, especially surface models, are difficult to work with. Cleaning models and fixing geometry errors takes a lot of time.

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Automotive, 501–1,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Used Solidworks to model various mechanical components and complex assemblies.

5.0 2 years ago

Pros:

Very user-friendly. Tools over the toolbar are arranged to ease the user.Best platform for rendering 3D models (using visual plug-ins).Editing the parts in the assembly is much more convenient when compared to other tools available.

Cons:

Rendering the images takes time and needs a high-performance system.

Joshua
Machinist/Business Owner in US
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Great 3D modeling software

5.0 2 years ago

Pros:

I use this software for mocking up prototypes before making them out of metal. This software makes it very easy to do so.

Cons:

The only thing I dislike about this software is the price, but it's a great product nonetheless.

Thomas
engineer in Bulgaria
Design, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

Good old school stuff made here

5.0 2 years ago

Pros:

If you are old school engineer and are a custom to precise 2D drawings with dimensions, assembly grades and material tables, this is the right tool. Very flexible, straight forward modelling and easy to generate blueprint for a manual manufacturing processes. Great simulation tools.

Cons:

You have to be very very careful for your models to be fully defined. Prone to blow parts if you are not experienced user and modify some size on the move. If you know how the software works and you follow the correct process steps, it is smooth and easy.