What are the main differences between SOLIDWORKS Standard, Professional, and Premium?

All the three packages share foundational 3D CAD features like part/assembly modeling, 2D drawings, configurations, sheet metal, and weldments. SOLIDWORKS Professional has all capabilities of SOLIDWORKS Standard plus photo-realistic rendering, automated part costing, reverse engineering, standards checking, and tolerance analysis. SOLIDWORKS Premium has all capabilities of SOLIDWORKS Professional plus pipe and tube routing, advanced surface flattening, and costing for assemblies.

Which license should I choose – SOLIDWORKS Term/Rental or Perpetual?

SOLIDWORKS perpetual licenses involve a one-time upfront purchase plus optional annual maintenance for new feature updates and support, while term licenses are subscription-based rentals for a fixed period (typically 3 or 12 months) that are less expensive short-term but more expensive after 3 years. Both provide identical core CAD functionality, add-ins, and support during active periods. Choose perpetual for long-term ownership; choose term for short projects and flexibility.

How much does SOLIDWORKS cost?

SOLIDWORKS pricing varies by package (Standard, Professional, Premium), license type (perpetual or term/subscription), region, reseller, and promotions. A perpetual license costs $4,000–$8,000 per year depending on package and requires a minimum 2-year subscription for updates and support (~20–25% of purchase price annually). Students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and hobbyists can typically buy SOLIDWORKS at a fraction of the price. For more information, check out our SOLIDWORKS Price Guide .

Can I get a free trial of SOLIDWORKS?

Yes! Free trials are available for commercial evaluation of the software. Get in touch to arrange access and a suitable timeframe.

How to buy SOLIDWORKS?

SOLIDWORKS is sold through Value Added Resellers that allow you to speak with an expert from our team to find the right solution, get a demo or trial, decide the version, training, and hardware. If you’ve done thorough research, you can buy SOLIDWORKS term licenses through TriMech’s online store .

Does SOLIDWORKS work on a Mac?

SOLIDWORKS can only be installed on a Windows environment. To run it on a Mac, you can use Parallels Desktop but will experience suboptimal performance and stability due to graphics limitations. Check out our hardware guide for our top recommendations and compare how a range of workstations perform for SOLIDWORKS.

Is it easy to learn SOLIDWORKS?

The SOLIDWORKS Essentials course is a 4 day course and covers 3D parts, assemblies and 2D Drawings, an ideal introduction to the software and will teach you all you need to get going.

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