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CAD · head to head

Inventor vs CATIA

Inventor logo

Inventor

CAD

Professional-grade 3D mechanical design

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CATIA logo

CATIA

CAD

World's leading solution for product design

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Inventor pricing shown as template variables on the page, suggesting dynamic or region-specific pricing; CATIA no public pricing available on vendor website
  • They diverge on capability: Inventor covers Parametric modeling, CATIA covers Surface modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Inventor and CATIA actually diverge.

Attributes where Inventor and CATIA differ
AttributeInventorCATIA
Starting price$29/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWindowsWindows, Linux (some)
Founded19821981

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (CAD).

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 Inventor

  • Parametric modeling
  • Assembly design
  • Sheet metal
  • Rendering
  • Technical documentation
  • Frame generator
  • AutoCAD
  • Vault

Only in CATIA

  • Surface modeling
  • Class A surfacing
  • Systems engineering
  • Composites design
  • Electrical design
  • Knowledge-based engineering
  • ENOVIA PLM
  • SIMULIA

Both cover

  • Simulation
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Inventor

  • Mechanical designnot CATIA
  • Product developmentnot CATIA
  • Manufacturing documentationnot CATIA

CATIA

  • 3D product designnot Inventor
  • Simulation and analysisnot Inventor
  • System design and developmentnot Inventor
  • Manufacturing engineeringnot Inventor
  • Advanced modelingnot Inventor

Where each one falls short

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

Inventor

  • Pricing shown as template variables on the page, suggesting dynamic or region-specific pricing
  • No clear pricing information readily available on the overview page

CATIA

  • No public pricing available on vendor website
  • Requires direct contact with sales for quotes
  • Enterprise-grade CAD software likely requires substantial investment

Pricing, plan by plan

Inventor

$29/month
  • Inventor$2085/month
    • Full mechanical design
    • Simulation
    • Documentation
  • Product Design & Manufacturing Collection$2475/month
    • Inventor + AutoCAD + more

CATIA

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the CATIA review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Inventor if

  • You need parametric modeling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want assembly design.
Inventor review

Choose CATIA if

  • You need surface modeling.
  • You work on Windows, Linux (some).
  • You also want class a surfacing.
CATIA review

Questions people ask

Is Inventor or CATIA better?
Neither clearly leads. Inventor starts at $29/month and CATIA at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Inventor or CATIA?
Inventor starts at $29/month and CATIA at On request.
Does Inventor or CATIA run on more platforms?
Inventor runs on Windows. CATIA runs on Windows, Linux (some).
What is Inventor best used for?
Inventor is most often used for mechanical design, product development, manufacturing documentation. Of those, mechanical design and product development are not what CATIA is typically brought in for.
What can Inventor do that CATIA cannot?
Inventor covers Parametric modeling, Assembly design, Sheet metal, Rendering. CATIA covers Surface modeling, Class A surfacing, Systems engineering, Composites design. Both handle Simulation, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Inventor: How much does Autodesk Inventor cost?

Autodesk Inventor pricing is not displayed on the overview page. Monthly and annual subscription options are available, including single-year and multi-year terms. Customers can access pricing through their Autodesk Account or contact sales.

Source
CATIA: How much does CATIA cost?

Pricing is not publicly displayed on CATIA's product page. Customers must contact Dassault Systèmes directly or visit user communities to obtain pricing information for CATIA licenses and subscriptions.

Source
Inventor: Is there a free trial for Autodesk Inventor?

Yes, Autodesk offers a 30-day free trial of Inventor. You can start your project and try the software for free during this period.

Source
CATIA: Is there a free version of CATIA?

No free version or trial is mentioned on CATIA's product page. CATIA is described as a comprehensive commercial solution for product innovation, and no freemium option is referenced.

Source
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