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CAD · head to head

3D-Coat vs CATIA

3D-Coat logo

3D-Coat

CAD

Digital sculpting for game artists

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CATIA logo

CATIA

CAD

World's leading solution for product design

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 3D-Coat specific pricing not disclosed on website; CATIA no public pricing available on vendor website
  • They diverge on capability: 3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, CATIA covers Surface modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3D-Coat and CATIA actually diverge.

Attributes where 3D-Coat and CATIA differ
Attribute3D-CoatCATIA
Starting price$29/monthOn request
Pricing modelone-timequote
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxWindows, Linux (some)
Founded20071981

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (CAD).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 3D-Coat

  • Voxel sculpting
  • Surface sculpting
  • Retopology
  • UV mapping
  • Texture painting
  • PBR materials
  • Smart materials
  • Baking

Only in CATIA

  • Surface modeling
  • Class A surfacing
  • Systems engineering
  • Simulation
  • Composites design
  • Electrical design
  • Knowledge-based engineering
  • ENOVIA PLM

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

3D-Coat

  • Voxel sculpting from a digital clay blocknot CATIA
  • Retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshesnot CATIA
  • UV mapping and PBR texturingnot CATIA
  • Preparing print-ready models for 3D printingnot CATIA
  • Node-based material authoring on the GPUnot CATIA

CATIA

  • 3D product designnot 3D-Coat
  • Simulation and analysisnot 3D-Coat
  • System design and developmentnot 3D-Coat
  • Manufacturing engineeringnot 3D-Coat
  • Advanced modelingnot 3D-Coat

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

3D-Coat

  • Specific pricing not disclosed on website
  • 3DCoatPrint free version limited to 40K triangles on export
  • Requires contacting sales or visiting store for pricing details

CATIA

  • No public pricing available on vendor website
  • Requires direct contact with sales for quotes
  • Enterprise-grade CAD software likely requires substantial investment

Pricing, plan by plan

3D-Coat

$29/month
  • Amateur$99/month
    • Non-commercial use
  • Professional$379/month
    • Full commercial license
  • Floating$568/month
    • Network licensing

CATIA

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the CATIA review.

Which should you pick?

Choose 3D-Coat if

  • You need voxel sculpting.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want surface sculpting.
3D-Coat review

Choose CATIA if

  • You need surface modeling.
  • You work on Windows, Linux (some).
  • You also want class a surfacing.
CATIA review

Questions people ask

Is 3D-Coat or CATIA better?
Neither clearly leads. 3D-Coat starts at $29/month and CATIA at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3D-Coat or CATIA?
3D-Coat starts at $29/month and CATIA at On request.
Does 3D-Coat or CATIA run on more platforms?
3D-Coat runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. CATIA runs on Windows, Linux (some).
What is 3D-Coat best used for?
3D-Coat is most often used for voxel sculpting from a digital clay block, retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshes, uv mapping and pbr texturing, preparing print-ready models for 3d printing. Of those, voxel sculpting from a digital clay block and retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshes are not what CATIA is typically brought in for.
What can 3D-Coat do that CATIA cannot?
3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Surface sculpting, Retopology, UV mapping. CATIA covers Surface modeling, Class A surfacing, Systems engineering, Simulation. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

3D-Coat: Is there a free version of 3D Coat?

Yes, 3D Coat offers multiple free options. 3DCoatPrint is a special free version designed for 3D print-ready models, limited to 40K triangles on export. Additionally, a 30-day unlimited trial is available for the full version.

Source
CATIA: How much does CATIA cost?

Pricing is not publicly displayed on CATIA's product page. Customers must contact Dassault Systèmes directly or visit user communities to obtain pricing information for CATIA licenses and subscriptions.

Source
3D-Coat: What is the 30-day trial period for 3D Coat?

3D Coat provides a 30-day trial with unlimited learning resources. The trial grants full access to all tools needed to create production-ready, fully textured 3D models.

Source
CATIA: Is there a free version of CATIA?

No free version or trial is mentioned on CATIA's product page. CATIA is described as a comprehensive commercial solution for product innovation, and no freemium option is referenced.

Source
3D-Coat: Does 3D Coat offer specialized versions?

Yes, 3D Coat offers 3DCoatTextura as a specialized version focused on texturing and rendering at a more affordable price than the full 3DCoat version.

Source
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