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Head-to-head · Engineering Document Management Software

Adept vs SOLIDWORKS

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Adept #1 in Engineering Document Management Software 8.9/10 Paid ✓ 1 of 5 features Visit Adept
SOLIDWORKS #7 in Engineering Document Management Software 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit SOLIDWORKS

Adept leads on 0 checks, SOLIDWORKS on 1, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAdept · 8.9/10
  • Free planonly SOLIDWORKS
  • Most featuresAdept · 1 of 5

Adept scores higher on our rubric for engineering document management software: 8.9 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #7.

SOLIDWORKS offers free plan; Adept doesn't.

Adept is the better fit for engineering teams managing complex CAD files. SOLIDWORKS is the better fit for designers who also need basic cloud file revisions.

  • Adept fits best

    Engineering teams managing complex CAD files

  • SOLIDWORKS fits best

    Designers who also need basic cloud file revisions

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Adept 8.9/10 Visit ↗ SOLIDWORKS 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 7.9
Ranking #1 in Engineering Document Management Software #7 in Engineering Document Management Software
Best for Engineering teams managing complex CAD files Designers who also need basic cloud file revisions
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $12/user/mo $2,820/device/yr
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Desktop, Browser extension
Platforms Web, Windows, iOS, Android Windows, Web
Support Email, Phone, Docs · 24/7 Docs
Integrations 6 integrations 2 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Adept 1/5 · SOLIDWORKS 0/5
Revision control ✓ (best) Not checked yet
CAD file viewing Not checked yet Not checked yet
Approval workflows Not checked yet Not checked yet
Audit trail Not checked yet Not checked yet
Access permissions Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Tracks CAD revisions, relationships, references, and where-used links
  • Views and marks up CAD files without a CAD license
  • Supports approvals, audit trails, SSO, and multi-factor authentication
  • Parametric modeling links dimensions to geometry and propagates design changes
  • Cloud collaboration includes file and revision management
  • Supports parts, assemblies, drawings, and additive manufacturing workflows
Cons
  • No free plan; every tier is paid monthly
  • CAD integrations are listed in Desktop tiers, not Explorer or Reviewer
  • Professional and Enterprise cloud pricing requires contacting sales
  • Its core focus is parametric modeling, not document management
  • Listed paid annual plans start at $2,820
  • The free Design Standard edition is for qualified students
Our verdict

Adept is product data management and engineering document management software for teams governing CAD models, drawings, and related records. It supports engineering, manufacturing, quality, operations, and maintenance groups that need…

Read the review →

SOLIDWORKS is a 3D CAD product family for engineers, designers, and product development teams. It centers on parametric modeling for parts, assemblies, and drawings, with cloud file and revision management available alongside design…

Read the review →
  1. AdeptEngineering Document Management Software 8.9Paid
  2. SOLIDWORKSEngineering Document Management Software 7.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Adept — where it wins

    • Tracks CAD revisions, relationships, references, and where-used links
    • Views and marks up CAD files without a CAD license
    • Supports approvals, audit trails, SSO, and multi-factor authentication

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan; every tier is paid monthly
    • CAD integrations are listed in Desktop tiers, not Explorer or Reviewer
    • Professional and Enterprise cloud pricing requires contacting sales

  • SOLIDWORKS — where it wins

    • Parametric modeling links dimensions to geometry and propagates design changes
    • Cloud collaboration includes file and revision management
    • Supports parts, assemblies, drawings, and additive manufacturing workflows

    Where it doesn't

    • Its core focus is parametric modeling, not document management
    • Listed paid annual plans start at $2,820
    • The free Design Standard edition is for qualified students

More comparisons

All engineering document management software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update