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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
4.3
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.

harsha
Mechanical engineer in India
Medical Devices, 10,000+ Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Solidworks Review

5.0 last month New

Comments: I've been using solidworks for almost 5 years medical devices ....it's the best in market & never faced any serious issues that couldn't be resolved

Pros:

Able to Navigate Large Assemblies smoothly and better

Cons:

There is still lot of Lag using PDM within the Tab

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 3 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.

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

Solidworks review

5.0 4 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.

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 2 months ago

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 3 months ago

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.

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

Industry standard

4.0 3 months ago

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 8 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.

Jacob
Process Engineer in US
Chemicals, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

SoldWork works!

5.0 last month New

Comments: SolidWorks has been very reliable and any time I have had issues, it is the fault of my hardware.

Pros:

SolidWorks let me translate my ideas into something other people can understand exactly how I do.

Cons:

SolidWorks can be pricey, but in a business, it easily pays for itself.

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 10 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

Verified Reviewer
Verified LinkedIn User
Automotive, 1,001–5,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Flexible CAD solution for average and most common 3D modeling.

5.0 3 years ago

Comments: Is pretty handy if you will design fixtures or structures to manufacture them, also the way you can customize libraries for future assemblies is very useful.

Pros:

SolidWorks is very easy to use among most of the CAD software solutions on market, also the import and export functions hold on most geometry pretty well.

Cons:

For more complex surfaces operations, it comes short for solutions.

steve
product design engineer in Kenya
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Best and fastest CAD software for 3D CAD

4.0 last year

Comments: As a product development engineer ,using solidworks enables me to develop and test 3D CAD designs easily and effectively.

Pros:

I started using SolidWorks in my second year as an undergraduate , it's was very easy to learn meaning you spend less time learning and more time developing .Being able to run simulations like flow analysis and motion study in the same environment saves a lot of time and makes it easier to make multiple design iterations.

Cons:

Requires a powerful ram making it impossible to open multiple parts or assemblies at the same time while running background tasks like a browser.

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.

Carlos Jose
Carlos Jose
Automation in Guatemala
Verified LinkedIn User
Industrial Automation, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 1-5 months
Reviewer Source

Solids

5.0 last year

Pros:

Interactive tool, easy of use, friendly, powerful design tool

Cons:

Nothing yet, always upgrading, no cons at this time

Felipe
Research Associate in US
Education Management, 5,001–10,000 Employees
Used the Software for: 6-12 months
Reviewer Source

Powerful Design and Machining Capabilities

5.0 2 years ago

Pros:

This is exceptional software for designing parts and preparing representations for machining services. Its robust set of tools and features allows for precise and intricate designs, catering to the needs of various industries. The software's parametric modeling capabilities enable efficient modifications. The CAD can be used to program CNC.

Cons:

A drawback of SolidWorks Premium is also its steep learning curve. The software offers a wide range of functionalities, which can be overwhelming for beginners. The price can be limiting for some users as well.

Vitor
Eng in UK
Automotive, 201–500 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

SolidWorks Review

5.0 2 years ago

Pros:

Friendly interface, easy to use.Very intuitive software for design point of view.Nice drawing imagesVery intuitve on making assemblyings

Cons:

Some of the feature have bug.It consumes a lot of RAM memory.Mechanical assy must be improved - More features

Beatriz
Industrial Management Engineer in Portugal
Automotive, 1,001–5,000 Employees
Used the Software for: Free Trial
Reviewer Source

Review for SolidWorks Premium

4.0 last year

Pros:

SolidWorks has an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.

Cons:

The price becomes a bit high for some companies.

Michael
ENGINEERING DESIGN in US
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 51–200 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

Powerful 3d tool

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: It has helped our business out tremendously. Common mistakes that were made with other software we were able to automate those mistakes with this software and eliminate them.

Pros:

How part references work. The mating of parts in assembly mode are very beneficial to us.

Cons:

Sketching can be tricky just because there isn't really another software to compare it to. But once you get the hang of it what use to be a negative, you find out is very useful.

Aleksandar
CAMO MANAGER in Bulgaria
Aviation & Aerospace, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: Free Trial
Reviewer Source

Good for any design engineer!

4.0 2 years ago

Comments: Overall im happy, give it 4/5. It did make my life hell at first, but once you get the hang of it it gets easy!

Pros:

That i can make my projects and then directly send for 3d Printing

Cons:

The way it was setup, initial introduction and some limitations !

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.

Jeisson
Mechanical Engineer in Colombia
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 2–10 Employees
Used the Software for: 1-5 months
Reviewer Source

SolidWorks Pre Review

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: The software helps the company to solucionate many problems thanks his tools. the workflow is better and optimized

Pros:

solid works is easy to use. any new user can use that and easily they used to development the design with software help

Cons:

the sofware has a large files, it always needs some extra storage to works optimally

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.

haider
freelancer in Iraq
Computer Software, Self Employed
Used the Software for: 1+ year
Reviewer Source

SolidWorks Premium review

5.0 4 years ago

Comments: There are many programs in 3D design, but due to its distinct specifications Solidworks was chosen to design and print the graduation project parts using a 3D printer.

Pros:

It is one of the popular software for 3D design of mechanical parts. I have used this software for a year or more to design parts of my graduation project. It is an easy to learn program and contains many powerful tools in design. Including - design tools - Validate tools - Collaboration Tools - Building tools The most important feature I liked is the simulation of the design and testing its tolerance to pressure and heat, as well as an analysis of the movement of the designed part (a great feature).

Cons:

The Solidworks program contains a lot of tools and features, which makes the program very heavy. It needs a computer with a powerful processor as well as a powerful graphics card to ensure that there are no interruptions or slowdowns in the program. Also, one of the disadvantages is that it is very expensive. With the free version, you cannot manufacture any part you designed because you do not own the rights to it.

Mahmoud
Mechatronics Engineering in Egypt
Design, 11–50 Employees
Used the Software for: 2+ years
Reviewer Source

The ideal 3D CAD software for all engineering businesses.

5.0 2 years ago

Comments: I have 2+ years of experience with SolidWorks Premium. SolidWorks helps me a lot in my business. It almost solved all my problems I encountered with 3D modeling. Specifically, my 3D printed models. Because of its professional and helpful tools, it is very efficient at helping users to get the most suitable design for my products. The Software has smooth handling of Import and Export files, and allows many different types of files. Software allows me to provide my customers with the highest quality product with the perfect design.

Pros:

The handling, control, and mobility of the user interface are among the features I find amazing about this software. It's easy enough to use, and understandable for all users. It helps me a lot in my business, especially 3D modeling.

Cons:

The animation might need a bit of improvement, but that doesn't even affect the current software state. It is still perfect.