CADDS 5
CADDS 5: A specialist CAD/CAM system for shipbuilders and teams managing very large assemblies. Ranked #15 of 80 in 3D CAD Software by our editors (8.0/10); pricing: Pricing on request; best for large shipbuilding and complex assemblies.
At a glance
- Editor score8.0 / 10
- PricingPricing on request
- Best forLarge shipbuilding and complex assemblies
- Free planNo
- Assembly designYes
- Founded1985 · 121 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, USA
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Concurrent design supports large, distributed engineering teams
- Covers shipbuilding, piping, electrical, HVAC, harness, and sheet metal
- Combines parametric, explicit, and derived modeling methods
Where it doesn't
- No free plan is available
- Pricing requires contact with sales
- Platform documentation includes legacy Windows and Solaris versions
Our verdict on CADDS 5
CADDS 5 is specialized 3D CAD/CAM software from PTC for shipbuilders and manufacturers designing very large, complex products. It combines parametric, explicit, and derived modeling with concurrent assembly design, supporting distributed engineering work across design, documentation, assembly, and machining activities. Its scope extends beyond core solid modeling into shipbuilding structures and outfitting, sheet metal, piping, electrical, HVAC, harness and cabling, surfacing, and multi-CAD data exchange. That makes it a strong fit for organizations whose products require many connected engineering disciplines in one product structure.
Its standout capability is the combination of large-assembly handling and hybrid modeling. Teams can work with large, complex assemblies, use rule-based modeling to drive parameters, and navigate complex product structures with interference detection. Interactive surfacing and NURBS tools add coverage for shaped components, while dedicated design options address structural steel, ship systems, sheet-metal parts, and cabling. This breadth is more relevant to shipbuilding and other complex manufactured products than to small, standalone part design.
CADDS 5 also fits environments that need to exchange data across CAD systems. Its workflows include multi-CAD data exchange, with integrations listed for Optegra, EPD.Connect, and Creo. The published platform coverage centers on Windows, while CADDS 5 documentation also lists legacy Solaris SPARC and Solaris x86 versions. Prospective buyers should choose it when concurrent engineering and complex product structures are central requirements; teams seeking a lightweight tool for simpler parts or a free starting tier should look elsewhere.
Your product? Our editors can test CADDS 5 in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
CADDS 5 pricing
CADDS 5 fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Modeling method | Hybrid |
| Assembly design | Yes |
| Sheet-metal tools | Yes |
| Surface modeling | Yes |
| Cloud collaboration | Not verified |
| Supported platforms | Windows; Solaris SPARC; Solaris x86 |
| File import and export | Native CADDS 5; Creo CADDS 5 exchange; solid models; assembly structures; surfaces; wireframe curves; points |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Support | Docs, Community |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: Optegra, EPD.Connect, Creo |
| Pricing | Pricing on request (source) |
| Website | ptc.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
CADDS 5 integrations
CADDS 5 lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- Optegra
- EPD.Connect
- Creo
Alternatives to CADDS 5
- Siemens NXDeep hybrid CAD with Teamcenter integration for large engineering organizations.9.4
- CATIAA deep engineering suite for complex products, with enterprise pricing to match.9.3
- SOLIDWORKSFull mechanical CAD with broad design, manufacturing, simulation, and collaboration tools.9.2
See all CADDS 5 alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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