Tetra4D
Tetra4D, a Tech Soft 3D brand, is Adobe's exclusive provider of native 3D PDF software, offering CAD-to-3D-PDF conversion, interactive authoring, server automation, and a free CAD viewer for manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and AEC customers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersBend, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Tetra4D does
Tetra4D is a product brand of Tech Soft 3D, headquartered in Bend, Oregon, that develops and markets 3D PDF software built on Adobe Acrobat. The company is the exclusive provider to Adobe of native 3D PDF technology based on the PRC (Product Representation Compact) format, which is part of the PDF specification and the ISO 3D data standards. The portfolio converts native 3D CAD data from more than twenty major CAD systems into interactive 3D PDF documents that can be viewed using free Adobe Reader. Products include Tetra4D Converter (the foundation CAD-to-3D-PDF plug-in for Adobe Acrobat Pro), Tetra4D Enrich (a no-code authoring tool for data-rich, interactive 3D PDFs linked to PLM/ERP data), Tetra4D Automate (a server for batch 3D PDF generation from PDM/PLM systems), and Tetra4D Reviewer (a standalone CAD viewer bundled free with the other products).
Tetra4D's technology stack is built on Tech Soft 3D's HOOPS toolkit foundation, with full PMI/Model-Based Definition support, BREP geometry preservation, and file compression up to 97% of the original CAD size. The company serves manufacturers (aerospace, automotive, industrial equipment, consumer products), technical publication teams, AEC/BIM firms, and government/defense customers, with anchor adoption at Boeing, the US Department of Defense, B/E Aerospace, Joyson Safety Systems, Zodiac Aerospace, and Sunbeam. Pricing is published on the company website and is structured around one-time perpetual licenses (Converter at $657, Enrich at $2,307), recurring annual maintenance contracts, and enterprise-quoted Automate subscriptions; a 50% grant discount is available to qualified educational institutions.
The go-to-market combines direct e-commerce (28-day free trials, web storefront), a global reseller network spanning North America, South America, Europe (including a presence in ten-plus EMEA countries), and Asia/Pacific, plus a US federal channel via Carahsoft Technology Corp on the GSA Schedule and direct enterprise sales for Automate deployments. Tetra4D holds Adobe Gold Technology Partner status and is a founding member of the 3D PDF Consortium alongside ISO and AIIM. The brand was acquired by Tech Soft 3D in December 2013 from its co-founder Greg Baker and is operated alongside the parent company's HOOPS SDK product lines.
Tetra4D firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tetra4D
- Legal name
- Tech Soft 3D
- Website
- https://tetra4d.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tetra4D, a Tech Soft 3D brand, is Adobe's exclusive provider of native 3D PDF software, offering CAD-to-3D-PDF conversion, interactive authoring, server automation, and a free CAD viewer for manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and AEC customers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tetra4D industry classification
Industry- Product category
- 3D CAD to PDF Conversion Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- 3D Design & CAD for Additive Manufacturing (IMAAACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Encoding & Transcoding Software (File/Live) (MPAHAHAA)
Keywords
Where Tetra4D is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bend
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Tetra4D business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Licenses: One-time perpetual license fees for Tetra4D Converter ($657) and Tetra4D Enrich ($2,307). Includes free Tetra4D Reviewer with purchase.
- Annual Maintenance & Support: Annual maintenance contracts providing product updates, e-mail support from software specialists, and access to Customer Portal for license management.
- Enterprise Server Solutions: Tetra4D Automate server solution pricing determined through sales consultation for high-volume enterprise deployments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Tetra4D Converter - CAD to 3D PDF conversion |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Tetra4D Enrich - Interactive 3D PDF creation |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Tetra4D Automate - Server automation solution |
| Other | Annual | Educational Pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Tetra4D product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tetra4D develops and sells native 3D PDF software that converts more than 20 major 3D CAD formats into rich, interactive 3D PDF documents that run inside Adobe Acrobat and the free, ubiquitous Adobe Reader. The product suite includes Tetra4D Converter for CAD-to-3D-PDF conversion, Tetra4D Enrich for no-code interactive template creation, Tetra4D Automate for server-based batch 3D PDF generation from PDM/PLM systems, and Tetra4D Reviewer as a free standalone CAD viewer/mockup tool.
Product overview
Tetra4D is Adobe's exclusive provider of native 3D PDF technology, offering a product suite for converting CAD data into interactive 3D PDFs. The portfolio consists of four core products: Tetra4D Converter (the foundation product for converting 20+ CAD formats to 3D PDF inside Adobe Acrobat), Tetra4D Enrich (a plug-in enabling creation of data-rich interactive 3D PDFs without programming by connecting CAD models to PLM/ERP data), Tetra4D Automate (a server solution for automated batch creation of 3D PDFs from enterprise systems), and Tetra4D Reviewer (a free standalone CAD viewer/mockup tool included with Converter or Enrich purchases). All products work with the ubiquitous Adobe Reader/Acrobat platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Tetra4D Converter: World's leading solution for converting native 3D CAD data into rich 3D PDF documents, built as a plugin for Adobe Acrobat Pro.
- Tetra4D Enrich
- Tetra4D Reviewer
- Tetra4D Automate
Products and services
- Tetra4D Converter Adobe Acrobat Pro plug-in that converts native 3D CAD data from 20+ major formats into rich, interactive 3D PDF documents. Includes free Tetra4D Reviewer with purchase; priced at $657 per licensed copy.
- Tetra4D Enrich Adobe Acrobat Pro plug-in for creating data-rich, interactive 3D PDFs without programming expertise, linking CAD models with PLM/ERP metadata, defining widgets/interactions, and building reusable templates for work instructions, parts catalogs and technical data packages. Priced at $2,307 per licensed copy.
- Tetra4D Reviewer Standalone x64bit native CAD viewer, mockup tool and translator bundled free with Tetra4D Converter or Enrich. Supports 20+ CAD formats for visualization, measurement, cross-section analysis, material/texture/lighting editing, exploded views and animations.
- Tetra4D Automate Server-based solution that automatically generates data-rich, interactive 3D PDF documents from PDM/PLM systems or internal storage networks. Integrates via watch-folder or PDM/PLM event triggers using Tetra4D Enrich templates; enterprise pricing set via sales consultation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Files compressed up to 97% smaller than original CAD models
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Tetra4D
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Tetra4D technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Tetra4D partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.
- AdobecoreTetra4D is Adobe's exclusive provider of native 3D PDF technology. The PRC format developed by Tech Soft 3D is supplied to Adobe for use in Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader. Products built using native technology found in all Acrobat products.
- PROSTEP AGregionalReseller in Germany and Austria providing Tetra4D products to manufacturing customers. Also provides support for legacy enrichment plugins.
- Carahsoft Technology CorpcoreGSA Schedule Master Government Reseller for US Federal, State, and Local government agencies. Primary channel for government customers.
- QBS (formerly Prianto)regionalEMEA reseller across Austria, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and UK. Multiple offices across Europe.
- SimLabminorProvides continued sales and support for legacy Autodesk plugins (3D PDF for 3ds Max, Maya, AutoCAD, Inventor, Navisworks, Revit) discontinued as of July 1, 2015.
- Tech Soft 3DcoreTech Soft 3D acquired Tetra4D in December 2013. Parent company develops HOOPS SDKs and provides underlying technology. Global company with offices in US, France, UK, and Japan.
- 3D PDF ConsortiumminorTetra4D is a founding member. Consortium drives development of PDF, PDF/E and PRC data formats as open standards.
- AIKOKU Alpha CorpregionalReseller in Japan with office in Nagoya.
- SmartScaperegionalReseller in Japan with offices in Tokyo and Nagoya.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tetra4D competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Theorem Solutions: Theorem Solutions is a direct competitor providing CAD visualization, translation, and 3D PDF solutions for engineering and manufacturing. Their Theorem-X product suite overlaps heavily with Tetra4D Converter and Enrich in serving PLM/CAD-to-document workflows for aerospace and automotive customers.
- Actify: Actify provides 3D visualization software (SpinFire) for manufacturing and engineering teams to view, measure, and collaborate on 3D CAD data. Directly comparable to Tetra4D Reviewer and Converter for design review and supplier collaboration use cases.
- Transcendata (CADEX): Transcendata provides CAD data exchange, translation, and validation tools for aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing customers. Comparable to Tetra4D's CAD format interoperability focus, particularly for engineering teams needing to move data between heterogeneous CAD systems.
- Okino Software: Okino Software develops CAD translation and 3D file conversion tools (PolyTrans) that compete with Tetra4D's format conversion capabilities. Both serve engineering teams needing to move 3D data across CAD platforms and into downstream visualization formats.
Broad incumbents
- Tech Soft 3D: Tech Soft 3D is the parent company of Tetra4D and provides HOOPS engineering toolkits (Exchange, Publish, Visualize) that power hundreds of CAD applications globally. Comparable as the underlying SDK provider whose capabilities Tetra4D's products are built upon.
- Adobe: Adobe is the platform provider that Tetra4D's products plug into. Adobe Acrobat Pro and Adobe Reader deliver the native 3D PDF rendering capability that Tetra4D Converter/Enrich depend on. As a broad incumbent, Adobe's own PDF strategy and document platform direction directly shapes Tetra4D's market opportunity.
- Autodesk: Autodesk provides the CAD ecosystem (Inventor, AutoCAD, Revit, Fusion 360) whose formats Tetra4D supports. Autodesk also offers its own 3D viewing and collaboration capabilities within its CAD platforms, making it both a key ecosystem partner and a potential competitive threat.
Emerging players
- Sketchfab (Epic Games): Sketchfab is a web-based 3D model sharing platform using modern formats like glTF. While focused on broader 3D content, it represents an emerging alternative to 3D PDF for sharing 3D models with non-CAD users, particularly for marketing and visualization use cases.
Others
- PROSTEP AG: PROSTEP AG is both a Tetra4D reseller (Germany/Austria) and a broader PLM integration consultancy providing 3D data exchange and collaboration solutions. Comparable as an ecosystem participant serving similar manufacturing customers with complementary CAD/PLM integration services.
- Spatial Corporation (Dassault Systèmes): Spatial (now part of Dassault Systèmes) provides 3D SDKs and component technology for engineering applications, including the 3D InterOp format translator family. Broadly comparable as a 3D visualization/translation platform serving CAD and manufacturing workflows.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tetra4D social profiles
Digital presenceTetra4D financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tetra4D leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Tetra4D funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tetra4D M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tetra4D
What does Tetra4D do?
Tetra4D develops and sells native 3D PDF software that converts more than 20 major 3D CAD formats into rich, interactive 3D PDF documents that run inside Adobe Acrobat and the free, ubiquitous Adobe Reader. The product suite includes Tetra4D Converter for CAD-to-3D-PDF conversion, Tetra4D Enrich for no-code interactive template creation, Tetra4D Automate for server-based batch 3D PDF generation from PDM/PLM systems, and Tetra4D Reviewer as a free standalone CAD viewer/mockup tool.
Is Tetra4D a public or private company?
Tetra4D is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Tetra4D founded?
Tetra4D was founded in 1996. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Tetra4D based?
Tetra4D is headquartered in Bend, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tetra4D make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses are the primary driver. The others are annual Maintenance & Support and enterprise Server Solutions.
Who are Tetra4D's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Theorem Solutions, Actify, Transcendata (CADEX) and Okino Software. Broad incumbents are Tech Soft 3D, Adobe and Autodesk. Sketchfab (Epic Games) is listed as an emerging player. Others are PROSTEP AG and Spatial Corporation (Dassault Systèmes).
Does Tetra4D have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tetra4D.
What industry is Tetra4D in?
Tetra4D's product category is 3D CAD to PDF Conversion Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAAACAA, 3D Design & CAD for Additive Manufacturing, with a secondary code of MPAHAHAA, Encoding & Transcoding Software (File/Live). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7371.