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Alibre Design vs Construct 3

Alibre Design logo

Alibre Design

Software

Affordable professional CAD

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Construct 3 logo

Construct 3

Software

Create games without coding. Powered by the Scirra engine.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Construct 3 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; Construct 3 the free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account
  • They diverge on capability: Alibre Design covers Parametric modeling, Construct 3 covers Visual event system.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Alibre Design and Construct 3 actually diverge.

Attributes where Alibre Design and Construct 3 differ
AttributeAlibre DesignConstruct 3
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web
Founded19972007

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 Construct 3

  • Visual event system
  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Physics engine
  • Sprite editor
  • Particle effects
  • Sound effects
  • Web-based
  • HTML5 support

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 Construct 3
  • Producing 2D manufacturing drawings from 3D modelsnot Construct 3
  • Designing parts for 3D printing and small shop machiningnot Construct 3

Construct 3

  • Building 2D browser games without writing codenot Alibre Design
  • Publishing HTML5 games to the web, desktop and mobile stores from one projectnot 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

Construct 3

  • The free version caps projects at 50 events, or 25 when used without an account
  • Free projects are limited to 2 layers, 2 special effects, 1 timeline animation of up to 5 seconds and 1 web font
  • The free version can only publish to HTML5 and the Construct Arcade, so desktop, Android, iOS and Facebook Instant Games all need a paid plan
  • Licences are per seat and annual, at $129.99 for Personal, $168.99 for Startup Business and $468.99 for Business

Pricing, plan by plan

Alibre Design

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

Construct 3

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Web-based editor
    • HTML5 export
    • Asset library
  • Personal$99/year
    • All Free features
    • Offline editor
    • Advanced export

Which should you pick?

Choose Alibre Design if

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

Choose Construct 3 if

  • You need visual event system.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want drag-and-drop editor.
Construct 3 review

Questions people ask

Is Alibre Design or Construct 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. Alibre Design starts at $29/month and Construct 3 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Alibre Design or Construct 3?
Construct 3 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Alibre Design and Free for Construct 3.
Does Alibre Design or Construct 3 run on more platforms?
Alibre Design runs on Windows. Construct 3 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Web.
Can I use Construct 3 for free?
Yes. Construct 3 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 Construct 3 is typically brought in for.
What can Alibre Design do that Construct 3 cannot?
Alibre Design covers Parametric modeling, Assemblies, Sheet metal, 2D drawings. Construct 3 covers Visual event system, Drag-and-drop editor, Physics engine, Sprite editor. Both handle Windows support.
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