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Software · head to head

Inventor vs Shapr3D

Inventor logo

Inventor

Software

Professional-grade 3D mechanical design

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shapr3D logo

Shapr3D

Software

CAD software for iPad and Mac

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Shapr3D has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Shapr3D the free Basic plan is limited to 2 projects
  • They diverge on capability: Inventor covers Parametric modeling, Shapr3D covers Direct modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Inventor and Shapr3D actually diverge.

Attributes where Inventor and Shapr3D differ
AttributeInventorShapr3D
Starting price$29/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsIPadOS, MacOS, Windows
Founded19822015

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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
  • Simulation
  • Rendering
  • Technical documentation
  • Frame generator
  • AutoCAD

Only in Shapr3D

  • Direct modeling
  • Parametric history
  • Visualization
  • 2D drawings
  • Apple Pencil support
  • Import/export
  • Annotations
  • SolidWorks

Both cover

  • Fusion 360
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Inventor

  • Mechanical designnot Shapr3D
  • Product developmentnot Shapr3D
  • Manufacturing documentationnot Shapr3D

Shapr3D

  • Direct modelling CAD on iPad with Apple Pencilnot Inventor
  • Producing manufacturable solid models and technical drawingsnot Inventor
  • Sharing CAD projects with collaborators on desktop and tabletnot 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

Shapr3D

  • The free Basic plan is limited to 2 projects
  • Free plan exports only basic resolution 3MF and STL, so no STEP or IGES output
  • Free plan caps generative renders at 3 per day; Pro raises this to 50 per day and only Enterprise is unlimited
  • Importing SLDPRT and SLDASM SolidWorks files requires Pro
  • Importing NX, JT, CREO, Solid Edge and Rhino files requires Enterprise
  • Exporting ACIS, FBX, Parasolid and PRC requires Enterprise
  • On premises and single tenant data storage is Enterprise only
  • Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Inventor

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

Shapr3D

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 active designs
    • Basic features
  • Pro$25/month
    • Unlimited designs
    • All export formats
  • Business$199/month
    • Team features
    • Visualization

Which should you pick?

Choose Inventor if

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

Choose Shapr3D if

  • You need direct modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on IPadOS, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want parametric history.
Shapr3D review

Questions people ask

Is Inventor or Shapr3D better?
Neither clearly leads. Inventor starts at $29/month and Shapr3D at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Inventor or Shapr3D?
Shapr3D has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Inventor and Free for Shapr3D.
Does Inventor or Shapr3D run on more platforms?
Inventor runs on Windows. Shapr3D runs on IPadOS, MacOS, Windows.
Can I use Shapr3D for free?
Yes. Shapr3D has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Inventor starts at $29/month.
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 Shapr3D is typically brought in for.
What can Inventor do that Shapr3D cannot?
Inventor covers Parametric modeling, Assembly design, Sheet metal, Simulation. Shapr3D covers Direct modeling, Parametric history, Visualization, 2D drawings. Both handle Fusion 360, Windows support.
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