Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Solid Edge VS SolveSpace

Compare Solid Edge VS SolveSpace and see what are their differences

Solid Edge logo Solid Edge

Solid Edge is an industry-leading mechanical design system with exceptional tools for creating and...

SolveSpace logo SolveSpace

SOLVESPACE is a parametric 3D CAD program with extrude, revolve, union and difference functions.
  • Solid Edge Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-28
  • SolveSpace Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-20

Solid Edge features and specs

  • Comprehensive Feature Set
    Solid Edge offers a broad array of tools and functionalities including 3D CAD, simulation, electrical design, and manufacturing, catering to a variety of industrial needs.
  • Synchronous Technology
    The Synchronous Technology allows for faster design changes by combining the speed and simplicity of direct modeling with the flexibility and control of parametric design.
  • Scalability
    Solid Edge can be used by companies of different sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, making it a versatile tool suitable for a growing business.
  • Integrated Data Management
    The software includes built-in data management tools that help in organizing and managing complex product data efficiently.
  • High-Quality Rendering
    Solid Edge delivers high-quality rendering capabilities, which can be crucial for marketing presentations as well as internal reviews.

Possible disadvantages of Solid Edge

  • Learning Curve
    Solid Edge has a steep learning curve, particularly for users who are not familiar with CAD software or the specific functionalities it offers.
  • Cost
    The licensing and subscription costs can be high, which might not be feasible for very small businesses or individual freelancers.
  • System Requirements
    The software requires a high-performance system to run efficiently, which can mean additional hardware investment.
  • Complex Interface
    The extensive range of tools and options can make the user interface appear cluttered and complicated, which might overwhelm new users.
  • Third-Party Integration
    Although Solid Edge supports various industry standards, integration with third-party applications can sometimes be cumbersome and may require additional configuration.

SolveSpace features and specs

  • Open Source
    SolveSpace is open-source software, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This encourages community contributions and allows users to customize the software to their needs.
  • Lightweight
    The software is relatively lightweight compared to other CAD programs, making it suitable for older systems or for users who prefer a minimal footprint.
  • Parametric Modeling
    SolveSpace offers parametric modeling, allowing users to define geometric constraints and dimensions that can easily be adjusted to alter the design.
  • Cross-Platform
    SolveSpace is available on multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and macOS, enhancing accessibility for users on different operating systems.
  • 2D and 3D Design
    The software supports both 2D and 3D design capabilities, making it versatile for various design projects ranging from basic sketches to complex 3D models.

Possible disadvantages of SolveSpace

  • Limited Features
    Compared to more advanced and commercial CAD software, SolveSpace has limited features that might be insufficient for complex engineering projects.
  • User Interface
    The user interface of SolveSpace might seem outdated or less intuitive to users accustomed to more modern design environments.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a steep learning curve due to the program's unconventional approach and lack of comprehensive documentation or tutorials.
  • Performance
    While lightweight, SolveSpace can struggle with performance issues when handling complex or large 3D models, which may affect users working on detailed projects.
  • Limited Community Support
    As a lesser-known tool, the community around SolveSpace is smaller, which could lead to challenges in finding help or resources for troubleshooting.

Solid Edge videos

Introducing Solid Edge ST8

More videos:

  • Demo - Solid Edge Drawing Review Demo
  • Review - Solid Edge V20: Drawing Review

SolveSpace videos

Solvespace Tutorial 0: Basics and User Interface

More videos:

  • Demo - SOLVESPACE 2.0 demo
  • Tutorial - Solvespace Tutorial 1 - a Simple Plate

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Solid Edge and SolveSpace)
3D
70 70%
30% 30
Technical Computing
100 100%
0% 0
Architecture
53 53%
47% 47
Numerical Computation
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Solid Edge and SolveSpace. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SolveSpace seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 23 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Solid Edge mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Solid Edge yet. Tracking of Solid Edge recommendations started around Mar 2021.

SolveSpace mentions (23)

  • Ink and Switch Constraint System (2023)
    The comment on constraints which still blows me away is the footnote on the readme for Dune 3D: https://github.com/dune3d/dune3d Probably a bit more approachable for folks is: https://www.cadsketcher.com/ which adds the Solvespace constraint solver to Blender. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Show HN: A playable game of Tetris inside a PDF
    >> I do wish I did pay some attention to CAD now. I want a 3D printer and have no idea how to design objects for it. Get Solvespace: https://solvespace.com/index.pl Do the tutorials. If/when you outgrow it, the concepts will carry over to FreeCAD which otherwise has a steeper learning curve but has more capabilities. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • I Revived 3-Axis CNC Mill G-Code Simulator
    > - Solvespace --- limited to 2D last I checked According to https://solvespace.com/index.pl "SOLVESPACE -- parametric 2d/3d CAD" "SOLVESPACE is a free (GPLv3) parametric 3d CAD tool. Applications include: - modeling 3d parts — draw with extrudes, revolves, helixes and Boolean (union / difference / intersection) operations [...] - 3d-printed parts — export the STL or other triangle mesh expected by most 3d printers". - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Herbgrind analyzes binaries to find inaccurate floating point expressions
    Is it feasible to run this on something large like Solvespace[1] (CAD) which is ~5MB executable? Or would we just get an insanely long list of issues? [1] https://solvespace.com/index.pl There are hundreds of numerical algorithms in there, and we have some bugs that might be related to this kind of implementation error. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Math and Motion: A Look at Chebyshev’s Works on Linkages
    If you want to quickly sketch and simulate the motion of linkages, I can recommend using Solvespace: https://solvespace.com/index.pl. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Solid Edge and SolveSpace, you can also consider the following products

Autodesk Fusion 360 - Integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE featuring collaborative editing and cloud-based computation.

OpenSCAD - OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD objects.

Inventor - Inventor is a 3D CAD software that lets you quickly create 3D models with embedded intelligence, intuitive workflows, and optimized performance.

FreeCAD - An open-source parametric 3D modeler

MATLAB - A high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming

SketchUp - 3D for Everyone