Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SolidWorks VS Notion

Compare SolidWorks VS Notion and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

SolidWorks logo SolidWorks

Dassault Systรจmes SolidWorks Corp. develops and markets 3D CAD design software, analysis software, and product data management software. SolidWorks is the leading supplier of 3D CAD product design engineering software.

Notion logo Notion

All-in-one workspace. One tool for your whole team. Write, plan, and get organized.
  • SolidWorks Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-15
  • Notion Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

SolidWorks features and specs

  • Comprehensive Toolset
    SolidWorks offers a robust suite of tools for 3D CAD, simulation, manufacturing, and data management, making it suitable for a wide range of engineering and design tasks.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    SolidWorks is known for its intuitive UI that makes it accessible to both beginners and experienced users. This reduces the learning curve significantly.
  • Extensive Community and Support
    With a large user base and active forums, finding solutions to problems and gaining insights is relatively easy. SolidWorks also provides thorough documentation and customer support.
  • Frequent Updates
    The software continually gets updated with new features and improvements, ensuring users have access to the latest technologies and capabilities.
  • Integration with Other Tools
    SolidWorks integrates well with numerous other software applications, enhancing workflow efficiency and enabling seamless transitions between different stages of design and manufacturing.

Possible disadvantages of SolidWorks

  • High Cost
    SolidWorks is relatively expensive, which can be a barrier for small businesses and individual users. Licensing and subscription fees can add up quickly.
  • Hardware Demands
    The software requires a powerful computer with ample RAM and a high-performance graphics card, leading to higher hardware costs.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic functionalities are easily graspable, mastering advanced features and tools can take significant time and effort.
  • Limited Mac Support
    SolidWorks primarily supports Windows, with limited options for Mac users unless they run a Windows OS via Bootcamp or similar solutions.
  • Occasional Software Bugs
    Like any complex software, SolidWorks may encounter bugs or stability issues, which can disrupt work and reduce productivity.

Notion features and specs

  • All-in-One Workspace
    Notion combines note-taking, task management, databases, calendars, and collaboration features in a single platform, reducing the need for multiple tools.
  • Highly Customizable
    Users can tailor Notion to fit their specific workflow with customizable templates, pages, and databases, making it versatile for various use cases.
  • Collaboration Features
    Notion offers seamless collaboration with real-time editing, comments, mentions, and shared workspaces, enhancing teamwork and productivity.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Notion is available on multiple platforms, including web, desktop, and mobile, providing flexibility and accessibility from anywhere.
  • Integration Capability
    Notion supports integrations with various third-party applications like Google Drive, Slack, and Trello, allowing for a more interconnected workflow.

Possible disadvantages of Notion

  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and customization options, new users might find Notion challenging to learn and navigate initially.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users report that Notion can become slow or experience lag, especially with large databases and complex pages.
  • Offline Limitations
    While Notion offers some offline capabilities, its functionality is significantly reduced without an internet connection, which can be inconvenient for some users.
  • Pricing for Teams
    Though Notion offers a free version, its premium plans can be expensive for larger teams, which may be a constraint for startups or small businesses.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any cloud-based service, there are potential privacy and data security concerns, especially for users handling sensitive information.

Analysis of SolidWorks

Overall verdict

  • Yes, SolidWorks is considered good, particularly for engineering and product design professionals who require sophisticated modeling capabilities. Its extensive features, reliability, and widespread use in the industry make it a solid choice for professionals.

Why this product is good

  • SolidWorks is widely regarded as a leading choice for computer-aided design (CAD) due to its robust set of features, user-friendly interface, and comprehensive support for 3D modeling. It offers a variety of tools for both simple and complex design needs, making it a versatile option for many industries. In addition, it is widely used in educational settings, which contributes to a large, skilled user base familiar with the software. The integration with other tools, enhanced simulation capabilities, and ongoing updates further enhance its reputation.

Recommended for

  • Mechanical Engineers
  • Product Designers
  • Manufacturing Professionals
  • Engineering Students
  • Architects needing 3D CAD capabilities

SolidWorks videos

First Look at SOLIDWORKS Software - SOLIDWORKS

More videos:

  • Review - SOLIDWORKS 2018 Overview
  • Review - SOLIDWORKS 2019 - Large Design Review Mode

Notion videos

The Most Powerful Productivity App I Use - Notion

More videos:

  • Review - I switched to Notion for a week... Here's what happened!
  • Review - Notion is Truly an All-in-One Productivity Tool (App Review)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SolidWorks and Notion)
3D
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100
Architecture
100 100%
0% 0
Project Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using SolidWorks and Notion. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare SolidWorks and Notion

SolidWorks Reviews

10 Best Cinema 4D Alternatives for 3D Animation in 2024
An expert 3-D CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software program that is specially designed for product design, engineering, and mechanical modelling. SolidWorks is known for its parametric modelling capabilities, engineering evaluation equipment, and ability to generate manufacturing-ready drawings.
7 Best 3D Modeling Programs Like SketchUp | EASY RENDER
If itโ€™s flexibility and modeling capability youโ€™re looking for, you could do a lot worse than SolidWorks. Not only is it probably the best 3D modeler on this list, it has been a mainstay in the visualization industry for decades, and has been constantly developed to be more powerful and easier to use. SolidWorks is most commonly used by mechanical and industrial designers,...
Best SolidWorks rendering software [2020 Guide]
There are numerous SolidWorks rendering programs available but we have compiled the very best below in terms of functionality.
Looking for a SketchUp alternative? Check out the 10 best options
SolidWorks is another popular CAD software on par (and arguably above) the likes of Autodesk Inventor or Fusion 360. Though definitely harder to learn than SketchUp, SolidWorks is packed with advanced features that companies use to design and manufacture products. All this functionality certainly doesnโ€™t come cheap, however โ€“ youโ€™ll have to contact their site to get a quote...
Source: all3dp.com
Top 10 of the best 3D modeling software for architecture
Solidworks is a 3D modeling software mainly used by engineers. It can be a great solution if you need a 3D software for a project, and you just want to create a quick design. You canโ€™t do complex rendering, with a lot of material or texture as it is not a CAD program dedicated to architecture. But it is possible to design a building and get a good overview of your...

Notion Reviews

  1. jk22
    ยท consultant at GFI ยท
    Notion has helped in documenting our business

    It's been very very helpful to streamline different people on our team, especially remote workers to help them understand what's going on in our business without 100s of meetings.

    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Ui is very attractive|Easy to use|Great for collaboration|Good customer service|Free to use
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Steep learning curve
  2. Ramesh Kumar
    ยท Product Manager at Aerial ยท
    Extremely helpful- made life easier

    My remote-first start-up has eliminated more than 200+ hours of meetings and 1000s of mismanaged documents because our entire communication happens through Notion.

    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Clean ui|File sharing|Modular
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Learning curve
  3. Boyd Richardson
    ยท Writer at SE ยท

    As someone who's always on the lookout for the perfect productivity app, I was excited to try out Notion. It promises to be an all-in-one tool for everything from note-taking to project management to personal wikis.

    From the moment you open Notion, you can tell that it's different from other productivity apps. The interface is sleek and modern, and it's easy to navigate. The app is divided into pages, which can be customized with different templates to fit your needs. You can create to-do lists, databases, wikis, calendars, and more.

    One of the things I love about Notion is the ability to create relationships between pages. For example, you can create a database of your favorite books and then link to a page with your book reviews. Or you can create a to-do list and link to a page with notes about the task. This feature makes it easy to keep all of your information in one place and to connect related items.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Microsoft Loop
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Highly customizable|All in one|Collaboration|Cross platform
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Steep learning curve

Top 10 Productivity Apps for MacOSย 2025
Okay, I know, I know. Notion is probably the most predictable pick for a productivity app list. But hereโ€™s the thing: Itโ€™s popular for a reason. Notionโ€™s flexibility, customisation, and overall smooth user experience make it a standout, no matter how many times it pops up on productivity lists. Whether youโ€™re organising tasks, taking notes, or creating databases, Notion lets...
Source: dev.to
Top 10 Notion Alternatives for 2025 and Why Teams Are Choosing Ledger
If you're looking for a Notion alternative that supports real, scalable teamwork, you're not alone. Whether youโ€™ve outgrown Notion or are just exploring more robust, team-friendly platforms, hereโ€™s a breakdown of the top 10 alternatives in 2025โ€”and why Ledger is becoming the go-to choice for modern teams.
How Tight-Knit Teams Get More Done with Innovative Project Management Tools
Notion: More than a task manager, it acts as a knowledge base. You can store guidelines, references, wikis, and to-do lists all under one roof.
Source: medium.com
11 Popular Knowledge Management Tools to Consider in 2025ย 
Notion AI (Optional Add-on) โ€“ $8 per user/month (billed annually). Available for all plans (including the free plan)
Source: knowmax.ai
11 Best Google Keeps Alternatives for 2024
Unlike other note-taking apps, Notion stands out for its endless customization. Itโ€™s like an all-in-one workspace structured by pages and blocks.
Source: upbase.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Notion seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 441 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.

SolidWorks mentions (0)

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

Notion mentions (441)

  • Cool SHIT you can do with docker
    Two of the most popular open source note taking app are affine (basically notion but open source) and obsidian (which stores notes in markdown). - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2024)
    Notion | https://notion.so | Android Engineer | SF | hybrid (in office 2x a week) | Full time
      Level: Mid/Mid+ (4-6yrs experience).
    - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Karyam: Simples everyday writing app
    Advanced Notion and Google Doc writing editor. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • My blog post workflow
    I manage my non-work and work-adjacent tasks in Notion. Whenever I have an idea, regardless of how big or small or silly or achievable it is, I'll add it to Notion, and use labels to categorise it by type of output (e.g. blog, silly project, website update). Today I wanted to write a short post for my site. I clicked on the filtered blog post view, and selected this one (because I hoped it would be a quick one!). - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • 6 AI tools that feels illegal to know๐Ÿค–
    Notion.so redefines workspaces. With its intelligent organization and collaboration features, it's more than a productivity toolโ€”it's a digital haven. Discover the art of streamlined and efficient teamwork. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing SolidWorks and Notion, you can also consider the following products

FreeCAD - An open-source parametric 3D modeler

Trello - Infinitely flexible. Incredibly easy to use. Great mobile apps. It's free. Trello keeps track of everything, from the big picture to the minute details.

SketchUp - 3D for Everyone

Asana - Asana project management is an effort to re-imagine how we work together, through modern productivity software. Fast and versatile, Asana helps individuals and groups get more done.

Blender - Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.

Evernote - Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.