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Manufacturing · head to head

Aras Innovator vs Stoll

Aras Innovator logo

Aras Innovator

Manufacturing

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Stoll logo

Stoll

Fashion

Knit design and knitting machine solutions

From
$300/month
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.; Stoll no pricing available; the flat knitting machine business has been discontinued
  • They diverge on capability: Aras Innovator covers Model-based configuration, Stoll covers Knit design.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Aras Innovator and Stoll actually diverge.

Attributes where Aras Innovator and Stoll differ
AttributeAras InnovatorStoll
Starting priceFree$300/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Cloud, Self-hostedWindows
CategoryManufacturingFashion
FoundedUnknown1880

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 Stoll

  • Knit design
  • Pattern creation
  • Machine programming
  • Stitch simulation
  • Production planning
  • Stoll machines
  • CAD systems
  • User authentication

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 Stoll
  • An engineering organisation that needs requirements, quality and change management under one data model without buying three modulesnot Stoll
  • A medical device or aerospace firm needing full traceability from requirement to as-built serial numbernot Stoll
  • A company piloting PLM on a real programme using the free 50-user Community Edition before committing budgetnot Stoll

Stoll

  • Flat knitting machine manufacturing (legacy/discontinued)not Aras Innovator
  • Knitting machine spare parts and servicenot 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.

Stoll

  • No pricing available; the flat knitting machine business has been discontinued
  • Production site in Reutlingen closed as of October 31, 2025
  • Only spare parts and legacy service support remain available

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

Stoll

$300/month
  • Basic$300/month
    • Basic design
  • Advanced$600/month
    • Advanced features
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Full solution

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 Stoll if

  • You need knit design.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want pattern creation.
Stoll review

Questions people ask

Is Aras Innovator or Stoll better?
Neither clearly leads. Aras Innovator starts at Free and Stoll at $300/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aras Innovator or Stoll?
Aras Innovator has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Aras Innovator and $300/month for Stoll.
Does Aras Innovator or Stoll run on more platforms?
Aras Innovator runs on Web, Windows, Cloud, Self-hosted. Stoll runs on Windows.
Can I use Aras Innovator for free?
Yes. Aras Innovator has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Stoll starts at $300/month.
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 Stoll is typically brought in for.
What can Aras Innovator do that Stoll cannot?
Aras Innovator covers Model-based configuration, Upgrades included, All applications in one subscription, CAD data management. Stoll covers Knit design, Pattern creation, Machine programming, Stitch simulation.

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.

Stoll: Is STOLL still selling knitting machines?

No, STOLL's flat knitting machine business has been discontinued and the production site in Reutlingen was closed on October 31, 2025. Only spare parts availability and legacy service support remain.

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.

Stoll: Where can I get spare parts for STOLL machines?

STOLL spare parts remain available through their support channels. The company has consolidated service operations under KARL MAYER ownership. Customers should contact STOLL's helpline or webshop for parts availability.

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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