Onshape
Onshape: A collaborative cloud CAD suite with strong version control and costly commercial plans. Ranked #9 of 147 in 3D Modeling Software by our editors (8.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for collaborative cloud-based product design.
At a glance
- Editor score8.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forCollaborative cloud-based product design
- Free planYes
- Paid from$1,500/user/yr
- Platform accessBrowser
- Founded2012 · Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Parametric solid, surface, frame, and sheet-metal modeling
- Real-time collaboration with branching, merging, and version control
- Integrated PDM, BOMs, simulation, CAM, rendering, and APIs
Where it doesn't
- Commercial use starts at $1,500 per user per year
- The Free Plan limits projects to non-commercial public documents
- Enterprise pricing and terms are customized
Our verdict on Onshape
Onshape is a cloud-native 3D CAD and product data management platform for engineers, designers, manufacturers, students, and distributed product-development teams. It combines parametric solid, surface, frame, and sheet-metal modeling with Part Studios, assemblies, drawings, configurations, bills of materials, and product data management. Browser access is complemented by iOS and Android apps, making it suited to teams that need shared design work across locations and devices.
The plan structure separates personal exploration from commercial product development. The Free Plan costs $0 per user and includes unlimited public storage, CAD tools, real-time collaboration, version control, mobile apps, and online training, but its documents are public and limited to non-commercial personal projects. The Standard Plan costs $1,500 per user per year and adds unlimited private storage, direct in-product support, and commercial-use CAD with built-in data management. The Professional Plan costs $2,500 per user per year and adds company-managed data, release management, advanced PDM, simulation, rendering, and ECAD/MCAD exchange. Enterprise adds custom release management, analytics and dashboards, Arena PLM connection, SSO, guest access, and priority support.
Collaboration and lifecycle control are central strengths. Cloud-based version control supports branching, merging, and release management, while real-time commenting supports shared design review. The platform also connects through its REST API and App Store, with integrations including Arena PLM, Slack, and Altium. Render Studio, simulation, CAM, AI-assisted design, and workflow automation extend its reach beyond core modeling. Onshape is a strong choice for distributed teams that prioritize shared data and browser-based collaboration. It is less suitable for commercial users seeking a low-cost entry plan, or for personal users who require private files without moving to a paid tier.
Your product? Our editors can test Onshape in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Onshape pricing
All 4 Onshape plans and prices →
Onshape fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $1,500/user/yr |
| Platform access | Browser |
| Sculpting tools | Not verified |
| Animation tools | Not verified |
| Parametric modeling | Yes |
| Render engine | Built-in |
| 3D print export | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android |
| Compliance & security | SOC 2, PCI DSS, SSO/SAML, 2FA |
| Support | Tickets, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 50+ integrations: REST API, Onshape App Store, Slack, Arena PLM, ECAD/MCAD exchange See all → |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | onshape.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Onshape integrations
Onshape lists 50+ integrations on its own site — the 5 named here are the ones its pages call out.
- REST API
- Onshape App Store
- Slack
- Arena PLM
- ECAD/MCAD exchange
See all Onshape integrations →
Alternatives to Onshape
- BlenderA broad free 3D suite covering modeling, animation, rendering, scripting, and print export.9.3
- HoudiniA deep procedural 3D suite for VFX, animation, games, and technical art.9.1
- Autodesk MayaA mature desktop suite for studios handling modeling, animation, VFX, and rendering.9.0
See all Onshape alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Onshape is ranked in 7 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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