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Inventor vs Vectorworks

Inventor logo

Inventor

Software

Professional-grade 3D mechanical design

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vectorworks logo

Vectorworks

Software

Design software for the AEC industry

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; Vectorworks the Internet Archive's capture of Vectorworks' products page on 12 December 2019 named seven distinct editions and add-on modules, Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Fundamentals, Designer, Vision, and the Braceworks/ConnectCAD add-ons, each with its own 'Buy Now' link, but no price figure appeared on the page itself.
  • They diverge on capability: Inventor covers Parametric modeling, Vectorworks covers BIM modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Inventor and Vectorworks actually diverge.

Attributes where Inventor and Vectorworks differ
AttributeInventorVectorworks
PlatformsWindowsWindows, MacOS
Founded19821985

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
  • Simulation
  • Technical documentation
  • Frame generator
  • AutoCAD
  • Vault

Only in Vectorworks

  • BIM modeling
  • 2D/3D design
  • Documentation
  • GIS integration
  • Entertainment design
  • Landscape tools
  • Lumion
  • Twinmotion

Both cover

  • Rendering
  • License management
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Inventor

  • Mechanical designnot Vectorworks
  • Product developmentnot Vectorworks
  • Manufacturing documentationnot Vectorworks

Vectorworks

  • Building designnot Inventor
  • Landscape designnot Inventor
  • Stage 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

Vectorworks

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Vectorworks' products page on 12 December 2019 named seven distinct editions and add-on modules, Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Fundamentals, Designer, Vision, and the Braceworks/ConnectCAD add-ons, each with its own 'Buy Now' link, but no price figure appeared on the page itself.

Pricing, plan by plan

Inventor

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

Vectorworks

$29/month
  • Architect$2495/month
    • BIM
    • Architecture tools
  • Landmark$2495/month
    • Landscape design
    • GIS
  • Design Suite$3295/month
    • All modules combined

Which should you pick?

Choose Inventor if

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

Choose Vectorworks if

  • You need bim modeling.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS.
  • You also want 2d/3d design.
Vectorworks review

Questions people ask

Is Inventor or Vectorworks better?
Neither clearly leads. Inventor starts at $29/month and Vectorworks at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Inventor or Vectorworks?
Inventor starts at $29/month and Vectorworks at $29/month.
Does Inventor or Vectorworks run on more platforms?
Inventor runs on Windows. Vectorworks runs on Windows, MacOS.
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 Vectorworks is typically brought in for.
What can Inventor do that Vectorworks cannot?
Inventor covers Parametric modeling, Assembly design, Sheet metal, Simulation. Vectorworks covers BIM modeling, 2D/3D design, Documentation, GIS integration. Both handle Rendering, License management, Windows support.
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