Softwr

Software · head to head

Inventor vs CATIA

Inventor logo

Inventor

Software

Professional-grade 3D mechanical design

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CATIA logo

CATIA

Software

World's leading solution for product design

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Inventor autodesk publishes no licence price through UK G-Cloud: every listing found there is reseller delivered training at 750 to 1,500 pounds per day rather than software licensing, and neither AWS Marketplace nor GSA carries the product; CATIA pricing page discloses no figures and instead asks buyers to "Speak with a CATIA expert" or "Contact us" through a how-to-buy form, making pricing available only by quote
  • They diverge on capability: Inventor covers Parametric modeling, CATIA covers Surface modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Inventor and CATIA actually diverge.

Attributes where Inventor and CATIA differ
AttributeInventorCATIA
PlatformsWindowsWindows, Linux (some)
Founded19821981

Identical on both: starting price ($29/month), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 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

  • Complex surface designnot Inventor
  • Aerospace engineeringnot Inventor
  • Systems designnot Inventor

Where each one falls short

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

Inventor

  • Autodesk publishes no licence price through UK G-Cloud: every listing found there is reseller delivered training at 750 to 1,500 pounds per day rather than software licensing, and neither AWS Marketplace nor GSA carries the product

CATIA

  • Pricing page discloses no figures and instead asks buyers to "Speak with a CATIA expert" or "Contact us" through a how-to-buy form, making pricing available only by quote

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

$29/month
  • Design$6600/month
    • Core design capabilities
  • Engineering$11000/month
    • Design + simulation
  • Experience$16500/month
    • Full suite with collaboration

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 $29/month, 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 $29/month.
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.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Inventor

More on CATIA

Keep looking

Other head to heads