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CAD · head to head

Alibre Design vs Fieldwire

Alibre Design logo

Alibre Design

CAD

Affordable professional CAD

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fieldwire logo

Fieldwire

Construction

Field management software for construction teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Fieldwire 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; Fieldwire free tier limited to 5 team members and 3 projects maximum
  • They diverge on capability: Alibre Design covers Parametric modeling, Fieldwire covers Task management.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Alibre Design and Fieldwire differ
AttributeAlibre DesignFieldwire
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsiOS, Android
CategoryCADConstruction
Founded19972013

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

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 Fieldwire

  • Task management
  • Digital blueprints
  • Punch lists
  • Inspections
  • Photo documentation
  • Procore
  • Autodesk BIM 360
  • Box

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

Fieldwire

  • Construction task tracking and field coordinationnot Alibre Design
  • Punch list management on mobile devicesnot Alibre Design
  • Project documentation organisationnot Alibre Design
  • Field team communicationnot 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

Fieldwire

  • Free tier limited to 5 team members and 3 projects maximum
  • Basic plan limited to 100 sheets
  • Advanced features (RFIs, submittals, change orders, budget management) restricted to higher tiers
  • BIM viewer availability gated to Business tier and above

Pricing, plan by plan

Alibre Design

On request
  • Atom3D Lifetime License$125/mo
  • Design Pro Lifetime License$630/mo
  • Design Expert Lifetime License$1260/mo
  • Design Pro Monthly$99.9/month

Fieldwire

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Fieldwire review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Alibre Design if

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

Choose Fieldwire if

  • You need task management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want digital blueprints.
Fieldwire review

Questions people ask

Is Alibre Design or Fieldwire better?
Neither clearly leads. Alibre Design starts at On request and Fieldwire at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Alibre Design or Fieldwire?
Fieldwire has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Alibre Design and Free for Fieldwire.
Does Alibre Design or Fieldwire run on more platforms?
Alibre Design runs on Windows. Fieldwire runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Fieldwire for free?
Yes. Fieldwire has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Alibre Design starts at On request.
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 Fieldwire is typically brought in for.
What can Alibre Design do that Fieldwire cannot?
Alibre Design covers Parametric modeling, Assemblies, Sheet metal, 2D drawings. Fieldwire covers Task management, Digital blueprints, Punch lists, Inspections.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Alibre Design: Does Alibre Design require a subscription or is it a one-time purchase?

Alibre Design offers one-time lifetime licenses or monthly payment plans. Atom3D lifetime is $125, Design Pro is $630, and Design Expert is $1,260. Monthly payment plans spread costs over 10 months.

Source
Fieldwire: Is there a free version of Fieldwire?

Yes. Fieldwire's Basic plan is free for up to 5 users, 3 projects, and 100 sheets. It includes core features like plan viewing, task management, specifications, files, photos, and checklists.

Source
Alibre Design: What is the difference between Alibre Design Pro and Design Expert?

Design Expert ($1,260) is the complete design suite with advanced features, while Design Pro ($630) is the entry-level professional 3D/2D CAD software.

Source
Fieldwire: What are the per-user costs for paid Fieldwire plans?

Pro costs $39 per user per month (annual billing), Business costs $64 per user per month, and Business Plus costs $89 per user per month. All paid plans include unlimited sheets and unlimited projects regardless of plan tier.

Source
Alibre Design: Do I need to pay separately for software updates and support in Alibre?

Yes. Annual support and update plans cost $50 per year for CAD software and $100-$200 per year for mill and turn add-ons.

Source
Fieldwire: How many users can I have on a free Fieldwire account?

The Basic plan (free) supports up to 5 users with 3 projects. Pro and higher plans scale without hard user limits; you pay per user added.

Source
Fieldwire: Does Fieldwire offer discounts for annual billing?

The pricing page lists annual billing rates for the standard plans shown. Custom contracts are available through sales with options for unlimited users, tailored training, dedicated success teams, API access, and single sign-on.

Source
Fieldwire: What is included in the Business Plus plan that isn't in lower tiers?

Business Plus ($89/user/month) adds RFIs, submittals, change orders, and budget management features compared to the Business tier. Business itself adds custom forms, app integrations, BIM viewer, and custom task fields compared to Pro.

Source
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