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Manufacturing · head to head

Aras Innovator vs Centric PLM

Aras Innovator logo

Aras Innovator

Manufacturing

Subscription PLM platform where every module is included in the seat price

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Centric PLM logo

Centric PLM

Fashion

Product lifecycle management for fashion and retail

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Aras Innovator has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Aras Innovator aras publishes no prices at all, so you cannot sanity-check a quote against a list price and every negotiation starts from the vendor knowing more than you do.; Centric PLM no public pricing available on website
  • They diverge on capability: Aras Innovator covers Model-based configuration, Centric PLM covers Product data management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aras Innovator and Centric PLM actually diverge.

Attributes where Aras Innovator and Centric PLM differ
AttributeAras InnovatorCentric PLM
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Cloud, Self-hostedWeb, Mobile, Api
CategoryManufacturingFashion
FoundedUnknown2004

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 Aras Innovator

  • Model-based configuration
  • Upgrades included
  • All applications in one subscription
  • CAD data management
  • Effectivity and configuration management
  • Community Edition
  • Open REST and OData APIs

Only in Centric PLM

  • Product data management
  • Bill of materials
  • Tech pack creation
  • Sample management
  • Supplier collaboration
  • Quality management
  • Cost management
  • Calendar & milestones

What people use each for

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

Aras Innovator

  • A manufacturer whose current PLM cannot be upgraded because past customisations would break, and who wants configuration that survives releasesnot Centric PLM
  • An engineering organisation that needs requirements, quality and change management under one data model without buying three modulesnot Centric PLM
  • A medical device or aerospace firm needing full traceability from requirement to as-built serial numbernot Centric PLM
  • A company piloting PLM on a real programme using the free 50-user Community Edition before committing budgetnot Centric PLM

Centric PLM

  • Product lifecycle management for fashion and apparelnot Aras Innovator
  • Merchandise financial planning and assortment alignmentnot Aras Innovator
  • Pricing automation and inventory allocationnot Aras Innovator
  • Competitive and market intelligence for product decisionsnot Aras Innovator
  • Visual collaboration on line plans through Visual Boardsnot Aras Innovator

Where each one falls short

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

Aras Innovator

  • Aras publishes no prices at all, so you cannot sanity-check a quote against a list price and every negotiation starts from the vendor knowing more than you do.
  • The platform ships as a toolkit rather than a configured process, so a first implementation is typically a six to twelve month engagement with an integrator, and services frequently cost more than the first two years of subscription.
  • The Community Edition is capped at 50 named users, gets only annual releases and excludes Aras-performed upgrades, so it is a genuine free tier but a deliberately awkward place to stay.
  • Configuration flexibility invites over-customisation; organisations that model every local exception end up with a system only two internal people understand, which is the same trap they left their previous PLM to escape.
  • CAD connectors are not all equal in maturity, and some are excluded from the base subscription, so a shop standardised on a less common CAD tool should confirm connector scope in writing before signing.

Centric PLM

  • No public pricing available on website
  • Pricing requires demo request or direct contact
  • Enterprise solutions with custom pricing
  • 20,000+ brands indicates complex, high-touch sales model

Pricing, plan by plan

Aras Innovator

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Up to 50 named users
    • Core product data platform
    • Yearly release cadence only
  • Subscription (Standard, self-hosted)$undefined/year
    • Named-user subscription
    • All applications included
    • Quarterly releases
  • Subscription (SaaS)$undefined/year
    • Aras-hosted and operated
    • All applications included
    • Quarterly releases

Centric PLM

On request
  • Professional$undefined/month
    • Core PLM functionality
    • Specification management
    • BOM management
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Advanced analytics
    • Multi-site support
  • Enterprise Plus$undefined/month
    • Everything in Enterprise
    • AI-powered insights
    • 3D integration

Which should you pick?

Choose Aras Innovator if

  • You need model-based configuration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Cloud, Self-hosted.
  • You also want upgrades included.
Aras Innovator review

Choose Centric PLM if

  • You need product data management.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want bill of materials.
Centric PLM review

Questions people ask

Is Aras Innovator or Centric PLM better?
Neither clearly leads. Aras Innovator starts at Free and Centric PLM at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aras Innovator or Centric PLM?
Aras Innovator has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Aras Innovator and On request for Centric PLM.
Does Aras Innovator or Centric PLM run on more platforms?
Aras Innovator runs on Web, Windows, Cloud, Self-hosted. Centric PLM runs on Web, Mobile, Api.
Can I use Aras Innovator for free?
Yes. Aras Innovator has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Centric PLM starts at On request.
What is Aras Innovator best used for?
Aras Innovator is most often used for a manufacturer whose current plm cannot be upgraded because past customisations would break, and who wants configuration that survives releases, an engineering organisation that needs requirements, quality and change management under one data model without buying three modules, a medical device or aerospace firm needing full traceability from requirement to as-built serial number, a company piloting plm on a real programme using the free 50-user community edition before committing budget. Of those, a manufacturer whose current plm cannot be upgraded because past customisations would break, and who wants configuration that survives releases and an engineering organisation that needs requirements, quality and change management under one data model without buying three modules are not what Centric PLM is typically brought in for.
What can Aras Innovator do that Centric PLM cannot?
Aras Innovator covers Model-based configuration, Upgrades included, All applications in one subscription, CAD data management. Centric PLM covers Product data management, Bill of materials, Tech pack creation, Sample management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Aras Innovator: Is Aras Innovator open source?

No. The source is not open. The Community Edition is free of licence fee for up to 50 named users under a revocable licence, which is not the same thing.

Centric PLM: How much does Centric PLM cost?

Centric Software does not publish pricing on their website. Pricing is customized based on organizational needs. To obtain pricing, you must request a demo or contact their sales team directly.

Source
Aras Innovator: Can I buy a perpetual licence?

No. Aras sells subscription only. If a perpetual PLM licence is a procurement requirement, Aras is out.

Centric PLM: What companies use Centric PLM?

Centric Software serves 20,000+ brands across 60+ countries, indicating enterprise-scale implementations with custom pricing models.

Source
Aras Innovator: Do upgrades cost extra?

No, and that is the central commercial claim. Aras performs upgrades of subscriber environments, including customised ones, as part of the subscription.

Aras Innovator: How many modules do I have to buy?

One subscription covers all applications. Some CAD connectors are the exception, so confirm yours is in scope.

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