ProjectWise vs SOLIDWORKS

ProjectWise8.8Visit SSOLIDWORKS7.9Visit

Higher score ProjectWise #2 in Engineering Document Management Software 8.8/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 5 features Visit ProjectWise

vs

S SOLIDWORKS #7 in Engineering Document Management Software 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit SOLIDWORKS

• ProjectWise fits best

  Infrastructure teams coordinating design deliverables

• SOLIDWORKS fits best

  Designers who also need basic cloud file revisions

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Side by side

Feature	ProjectWise 8.8/10 Visit ↗	SSOLIDWORKS 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	7.9
Ranking	#2 in Engineering Document Management Software	#7 in Engineering Document Management Software
Best for	Infrastructure teams coordinating design deliverables	Designers who also need basic cloud file revisions
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$312/device/yr	$2,820/device/yr
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Browser extension
Platforms	Web, Windows	Windows, Web
Support	Community, Docs	Docs
Integrations	7 integrations	2 integrations
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ProjectWise 0/5 · SOLIDWORKS 0/5
Revision control	Not checked yet	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	Manages engineering work-in-progress, reference files, and controlled workspaces Supports 2D, 3D, and 4D reviews, clash detection, and civil model validation Tracks document and model versions with transmittal and submittal workflows	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	Paid product with annual pricing starting at $312 per license Advanced engineering work-in-progress features are in the $960-per-license plan The $10,440 annual bundle is priced per bundle, not per license	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	ProjectWise is Bentley Systems’ document-management and project-delivery software for engineering, construction, and owner-operator organizations. It is suited to infrastructure teams coordinating design deliverables across disciplines,… 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 →

Strengths and trade-offs

• ProjectWise — where it wins

  • Manages engineering work-in-progress, reference files, and controlled workspaces
  • Supports 2D, 3D, and 4D reviews, clash detection, and civil model validation
  • Tracks document and model versions with transmittal and submittal workflows

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid product with annual pricing starting at $312 per license
  • Advanced engineering work-in-progress features are in the $960-per-license plan
  • The $10,440 annual bundle is priced per bundle, not per license

• 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

• ProjectWise8.8/10 · Paid

  Engineering document management with design coordination, model review, and transmittal workflows.

  Visit ProjectWiseFull verdict →
• SSOLIDWORKS7.9/10 · Free plan

  A CAD-first choice for teams that need design tools alongside basic cloud revisions.

  Visit SOLIDWORKSFull verdict →