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Alibre Design vs Armory3D

Alibre Design logo

Alibre Design

Software

Affordable professional CAD

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Armory3D logo

Armory3D

Software

Open-source 3D game engine integrated with Blender

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Armory3D has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Alibre Design perpetual licences do not include updates; maintenance is a separate yearly plan starting at $50 per year for CAD support and updates; Armory3D compiled binaries are sold to fund the project while the source code itself is free to build from scratch
  • They diverge on capability: Alibre Design covers Parametric modeling, Armory3D covers Blender integration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Alibre Design and Armory3D actually diverge.

Attributes where Alibre Design and Armory3D differ
AttributeAlibre DesignArmory3D
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelone-timefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsWindows, Macos, Linux, Html5, Android
Founded19972016

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Alibre Design

  • Parametric modeling
  • Assemblies
  • Sheet metal
  • 2D drawings
  • BOM
  • Rendering
  • CAM software
  • PDM

Only in Armory3D

  • Blender integration
  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Physics engine (Bullet)
  • Audio system
  • Haxe scripting
  • Particle effects
  • Skeletal animation
  • Material system

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Alibre Design

  • Parametric 3D solid modelling for mechanical partsnot Armory3D
  • Producing 2D manufacturing drawings from 3D modelsnot Armory3D
  • Designing parts for 3D printing and small shop machiningnot Armory3D

Armory3D

  • 3D game developmentnot Alibre Design
  • Blender-based gamesnot Alibre Design
  • Web gamesnot Alibre Design

Where each one falls short

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

Alibre Design

  • Perpetual licences do not include updates; maintenance is a separate yearly plan starting at $50 per year for CAD support and updates
  • Sheet metal, PDM data management and rendering are Design Expert only at $1,999
  • Scripting is excluded from the $199 Atom3D edition
  • CAM capability is sold as separate EZ-Mill, EZ-Turn and EZ-EDM products costing up to $2,999
  • A dedicated account manager is excluded from Atom3D

Armory3D

  • Compiled binaries are sold to fund the project while the source code itself is free to build from scratch

Pricing, plan by plan

Alibre Design

$29/month
  • Atom3D$199/month
    • Basic modeling
  • Design$999/month
    • Professional CAD
  • Expert$1999/month
    • Full features

Armory3D

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine
    • Blender integration
    • 3D graphics

Which should you pick?

Choose Alibre Design if

  • You need parametric modeling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want assemblies.
Alibre Design review

Choose Armory3D if

  • You need blender integration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Html5, Android.
  • You also want 3d graphics rendering.
Armory3D review

Questions people ask

Is Alibre Design or Armory3D better?
Neither clearly leads. Alibre Design starts at $29/month and Armory3D at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Alibre Design or Armory3D?
Armory3D has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Alibre Design and Free for Armory3D.
Does Alibre Design or Armory3D run on more platforms?
Alibre Design runs on Windows. Armory3D runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Html5, Android.
Can I use Armory3D for free?
Yes. Armory3D has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Alibre Design starts at $29/month.
What is Alibre Design best used for?
Alibre Design is most often used for parametric 3d solid modelling for mechanical parts, producing 2d manufacturing drawings from 3d models, designing parts for 3d printing and small shop machining. Of those, parametric 3d solid modelling for mechanical parts and producing 2d manufacturing drawings from 3d models are not what Armory3D is typically brought in for.
What can Alibre Design do that Armory3D cannot?
Alibre Design covers Parametric modeling, Assemblies, Sheet metal, 2D drawings. Armory3D covers Blender integration, 3D graphics rendering, Physics engine (Bullet), Audio system. Both handle Windows support.
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