What Solidworks does

SOLIDWORKS is a 30+ year industry-standard portfolio of parametric 3D CAD and product development solutions, operating as a wholly-owned business unit of Dassault Systèmes SE (Euronext Paris: DASTY) since the 1997 acquisition. The platform provides parametric 3D CAD (SOLIDWORKS Design Standard/Professional/Premium, xDesign), integrated simulation suites (SOLIDWORKS Simulation, Flow Simulation, Plastics, Electromagnetics Engineer, Simulation Analyst), product data and lifecycle management tools (PDM, Manage, Cloud Services, 3D Product Architect), and manufacturing execution capabilities (NC Shop Floor Programmer, Robot Programmer, Factory Simulation Engineer, DELMIAWorks ERP), all unified on the cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform. AI Virtual Companions (AURA, LEO, MARIE) plus generative features (Command Predictor, Generative Drawings, What's Wrong Analysis) embed machine learning directly into design workflows.

The technology architecture is a platform-plus-modules model: customers buy a tiered SOLIDWORKS Design license (subscription at $845/quarter or $2,820/year starting points; perpetual licensing also available) and layer on add-on simulation, data management, and manufacturing modules. Distribution combines a global Value-Added Reseller (VAR) network serving enterprise and mid-market accounts with self-serve online purchasing for individuals and SMBs, plus direct enterprise and academic sales teams. Freemium and discounted programs target hardware startups (180-200 applications annually), students (used in thousands of universities), and makers, creating a long-tail adoption funnel.

Revenue mechanics are predominantly recurring subscription licensing, supplemented by cloud services and add-on modules. The unit benefits from parent Dassault Systèmes' €6.240 billion 2025 revenue base, €4.5 billion ARR, and over $1 billion in annual R&D investment that funds continuous AI, simulation, and cloud capability development. The company serves 8+ million users across enterprise, SMB, startup, educational, and maker segments, with logos spanning industrial equipment (Vermeer), medical devices (PSYONIC), home appliances (Sub-Zero), oil and gas (Tenaris), aerospace (NASA), automotive (BMW, Yamaha), and additive manufacturing (Re:3D).

Name

Solidworks

Legal name

Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation

Website

https://solidworks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

3D CAD and Product Development Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (51321), Industrial Design Services (541420)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

3D Design & CAD for Additive Manufacturing (IMAAACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital Inventory, Part Libraries & Secure File Management (IMAAACAH)

Keywords

• 3D CAD software
• Engineering simulation
• Product data management
• PLM software
• Manufacturing software

Headquarters

HQ city

Waltham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. SOLIDWORKS Software Licenses: SOLIDWORKS generates revenue primarily through software licensing. Offers both subscription (term) licenses and perpetual licenses with annual maintenance fees. Single-user named licenses and device/machine-locked licenses are available with various pricing tiers (Standard, Professional, Premium).
2. Cloud Services and 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Access: Revenue from cloud-based collaboration, data management, and PLM tools included with SOLIDWORKS Design licenses or available as add-on capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SolidWorks develops and sells the SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD software portfolio used to design, simulate, manufacture, and manage mechanical and manufactured products. The core offering is SOLIDWORKS Design, a parametric 3D CAD solution for parts, assemblies, and drawings, extended by integrated simulation, product data management, manufacturing, and cloud collaboration tools on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, plus AI virtual companions (AURA, LEO, MARIE) that automate and accelerate design workflows.

Product overview

SOLIDWORKS is a comprehensive 3D CAD and product development portfolio offered by Dassault Systèmes, providing a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on SOLIDWORKS Design as the core parametric 3D CAD solution. The portfolio spans design (SOLIDWORKS Design, xDesign), simulation (SOLIDWORKS Simulation, Flow Simulation, Plastics, Electromagnetics Engineer), data management (SOLIDWORKS PDM, Cloud Services, Manage, Collaboration Packages), and manufacturing (NC Shop Floor Programmer, Robot Programmer, Factory Simulation Engineer, DELMIAWorks). AI Virtual Companions (AURA, LEO, MARIE) provide intelligent assistance throughout workflows, integrated with the 3DEXPERIENCE cloud platform. The ecosystem includes specialized programs for startups, students, and makers, with tiered packages (Standard, Professional, Premium) serving different user needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOLIDWORKS Simulation: Engineering simulation software for structural analysis, computational fluid dynamics, plastics injection molding, and electromagnetics simulation.
• SOLIDWORKS PDM
• 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
• Cloud Services
• DELMIAWorks
• SOLIDWORKS Collaboration Packages

Products and services

• SOLIDWORKS Design Industry-standard parametric 3D CAD solution for parts, assemblies, and drawings, including specialized tools for sheet metal, weldments, molds, and routings, with cloud collaboration via 3DEXPERIENCE and AI-powered features. Sold as Standard, Professional, and Premium tiers to manufacturers, engineers, and designers globally.
• SOLIDWORKS xDesign Cloud-native, browser-based 3D CAD and collaboration tool that runs on any device with no installation or special hardware required; targets individual and distributed design teams.
• SOLIDWORKS Simulation High-performance finite element analysis (FEA) solution fully integrated inside SOLIDWORKS Design for validating structural, thermal, frequency, dynamics, and flow performance of parts and assemblies before prototyping.
• SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool directly integrated into SOLIDWORKS Design for simulating fluid flow, heat transfer, and fluid forces without requiring specialist expertise.
• SOLIDWORKS Plastics Injection molding simulation tool for predicting and preventing manufacturing defects in plastic part and injection mold designs, optimizing wall thickness, gate locations, and runner systems.
• Electromagnetics Engineer High-performance electromagnetics simulation solution powered by CST Studio Suite for antenna optimization, microwave components, and electro-mechanical devices using FIT, FEM, and TLM methods.
• SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst Next-generation FEA simulation role with cloud computing powered by Abaqus technology for validating product designs against real-world behaviors with high-fidelity solvers.
• SOLIDWORKS PDM On-premise Product Data Management solution for organizing, centralizing, and managing CAD files and engineering data, with version control, secure access, and automated workflows for engineering and manufacturing teams.
• Cloud Services for SOLIDWORKS SaaS-based product data management providing secure cloud storage, version management, and CAD-aware data management directly from inside SOLIDWORKS.
• SOLIDWORKS Manage On-premise Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution that extends SOLIDWORKS PDM with project, process, and item management plus interactive dashboards and reports.
• SOLIDWORKS Collaboration Packages Collaboration roles on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform that connect design, engineering, sales, marketing, and manufacturing teams in one unified product development environment.
• 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Cloud-based innovation platform from Dassault Systèmes providing a holistic, real-time view of the product development ecosystem, connecting people, ideas, data, and solutions across the enterprise.
• NC Shop Floor Programmer Manufacturing role on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for creating CNC machine instructions to ensure parts can be manufactured quickly without delays or errors.
• Robot Programmer Solution for simulating and validating robot tasks and trajectories before implementation, supporting full automation and collaborative robot (cobot) integration.
• Factory Simulation Engineer Virtual factory planning tool for simulating the impact of changes before implementation, optimizing production space, reducing downtime, and visualizing all related moves.
• DELMIAWorks Comprehensive manufacturing ERP solution integrating every aspect of the manufacturing process, connecting factory floor operations with ERP functionality for mid-market manufacturers.
• SOLIDWORKS for Startups Program Free program offering eligible hardware startup founders access to the full SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD software suite plus training and co-marketing resources to help them succeed.
• SOLIDWORKS for Students Educational offerings for high school, college, and university students to develop design and engineering skills with the same SOLIDWORKS tools used in industry, used in thousands of educational institutions worldwide.
• SOLIDWORKS for Makers Low-cost SOLIDWORKS Design and manufacturing solutions for individual makers and hobbyists, providing full-functionality 3D CAD tools for personal, non-commercial use.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50-60% efficiency improvement in BOM generation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability9 records

Feature14 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Synergis SoftwarecoreTechnology or Integration · 20 May 2026Synergis Software announced next-generation SOLIDWORKS integration as part of its largest product launch in company history at Adept Experience 2026. This integration supports asset-intensive industries including manufacturing, chemicals, utilities, oil and gas, life sciences, and mining.
• InfinitFormcoreTechnology or Integration · 28 January 2026InfinitForm partnered with Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS to provide native parametric design integration. InfinitForm's AI-powered Generative Engineering Platform automates Design for Manufacturability (DFM) analysis and optimizes engineering workflows for CNC machining, die casting, and injection moulding. Beta customers including NASA, Yamaha, and BMW achieved 60-80% reductions in design cycles using this integration.
• NVIDIAflagshipTechnology or IntegrationDassault Systèmes announced a strategic partnership with NVIDIA for industrial AI development. This partnership leverages NVIDIA's GPU technology to enhance AI capabilities across the Dassault Systèmes portfolio, including SOLIDWORKS.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/solidworks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solidworks
• Xx.com/solidworks
• Facebookfacebook.com/solidworks

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solidworks