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CAD · head to head

CoreTechnologie vs SolveSpace

CoreTechnologie logo

CoreTechnologie

CAD

CAD format conversion, validation and additive build preparation from a German independent

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

SolveSpace

CAD

Open source parametric CAD with a constraint solver in a few megabytes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SolveSpace has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CoreTechnologie no pricing is published and the vendor sells through direct and regional channels, so there is no list price to anchor a negotiation and quotes differ by territory.; SolveSpace the in-house geometry kernel fails on complex boolean operations and fillets, and the failure is sometimes silent bad geometry rather than an error message, so models must be checked before export or manufacture.
  • They diverge on capability: CoreTechnologie covers Native CAD conversion, SolveSpace covers Constraint solver.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CoreTechnologie and SolveSpace actually diverge.

Attributes where CoreTechnologie and SolveSpace differ
AttributeCoreTechnologieSolveSpace
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux

Identical on both: 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 CoreTechnologie

  • Native CAD conversion
  • Automatic geometry healing
  • Feature recognition
  • Simplification and defeaturing
  • Batch and server conversion
  • 3D_Analyzer
  • 4D_Additive B-rep printing

Only in SolveSpace

  • Constraint solver
  • Solid modelling
  • Assemblies
  • Export formats
  • Cross-platform
  • Small footprint

What people use each for

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

CoreTechnologie

  • A tier supplier that receives CATIA from one customer and NX from another and must work in SolidWorksnot SolveSpace
  • A company migrating a CAD library off one platform and needing feature-recognised, editable models rather than dumb solidsnot SolveSpace
  • Preparing additive builds from exact B-rep geometry where STL faceting would lose the tolerance you neednot SolveSpace
  • Giving purchasing and manufacturing staff a viewer with real analysis without buying them CAD seatsnot SolveSpace

SolveSpace

  • Designing 3D printed parts on a machine that cannot run mainstream CADnot CoreTechnologie
  • Teaching constraint-based parametric modelling without buying licences for a classroomnot CoreTechnologie
  • Checking that a mechanical linkage moves as intended before cutting metalnot CoreTechnologie
  • Producing dimensionally accurate STEP or STL output from a small open source toolchainnot CoreTechnologie

Where each one falls short

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

CoreTechnologie

  • No pricing is published and the vendor sells through direct and regional channels, so there is no list price to anchor a negotiation and quotes differ by territory.
  • Licensing is granular by format read and write pair, so the price you were quoted covers the translations you named and adding a customer with a different CAD platform later means going back for another line item.
  • It is a small independent vendor, so a buyer standardising a critical migration pipeline on it should weigh the concentration risk and check the support arrangement in their own region rather than assume global coverage.
  • Feature recognition on converted geometry works well on prismatic machined parts and much less well on complex freeform surfaces, so the rebuilt-as-editable claim needs testing on your own worst parts, not on a demo model.
  • 4D_Additive competes with entrenched incumbents such as Magics in industrial AM, so machine-side Build Processor support and bureau familiarity are thinner, which matters if you need your service provider to accept the output.

SolveSpace

  • The in-house geometry kernel fails on complex boolean operations and fillets, and the failure is sometimes silent bad geometry rather than an error message, so models must be checked before export or manufacture.
  • There is no proper drawing and dimensioning workflow, so manufacturing documentation has to be produced in another application.
  • Development is volunteer-led and intermittent; long gaps between releases are normal and there is no support contract available at any price.
  • Assembly-level import of external CAD is very limited, so it does not fit a supply chain that exchanges native or assembly-level models with suppliers.
  • The interface follows its own conventions rather than mainstream CAD ones, so existing SolidWorks or Fusion users spend time unlearning habits for a tool with a lower ceiling.

Pricing, plan by plan

CoreTechnologie

On request
  • 3D_Evolution$undefined/year
    • Native CAD conversion across around 36 formats
    • Automatic healing and feature recognition
    • Simplification and defeaturing
  • 3D_Analyzer$undefined/year
    • Cross-format viewing and measurement
    • Wall thickness, draft and collision analysis
    • Model comparison
  • 4D_Additive$undefined/year
    • B-rep based build preparation
    • Texturing, nesting and lattice structures
    • Automatic part analysis for printability

SolveSpace

Free
  • SolveSpaceFree
    • Full application under the GPL
    • No seat limit
    • Windows, macOS and Linux builds

Which should you pick?

Choose CoreTechnologie if

  • You need native cad conversion.
  • You work on Windows, Linux.
  • You also want automatic geometry healing.
CoreTechnologie review

Choose SolveSpace if

  • You need constraint solver.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want solid modelling.
SolveSpace review

Questions people ask

Is CoreTechnologie or SolveSpace better?
Neither clearly leads. CoreTechnologie starts at On request and SolveSpace at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CoreTechnologie or SolveSpace?
SolveSpace has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for CoreTechnologie and Free for SolveSpace.
Does CoreTechnologie or SolveSpace run on more platforms?
CoreTechnologie runs on Windows, Linux. SolveSpace runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use SolveSpace for free?
Yes. SolveSpace has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CoreTechnologie starts at On request.
What is CoreTechnologie best used for?
CoreTechnologie is most often used for a tier supplier that receives catia from one customer and nx from another and must work in solidworks, a company migrating a cad library off one platform and needing feature-recognised, editable models rather than dumb solids, preparing additive builds from exact b-rep geometry where stl faceting would lose the tolerance you need, giving purchasing and manufacturing staff a viewer with real analysis without buying them cad seats. Of those, a tier supplier that receives catia from one customer and nx from another and must work in solidworks and a company migrating a cad library off one platform and needing feature-recognised, editable models rather than dumb solids are not what SolveSpace is typically brought in for.
What can CoreTechnologie do that SolveSpace cannot?
CoreTechnologie covers Native CAD conversion, Automatic geometry healing, Feature recognition, Simplification and defeaturing. SolveSpace covers Constraint solver, Solid modelling, Assemblies, Export formats.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CoreTechnologie: Is CoreTechnologie owned by a CAD vendor?

No. It is an independent German company, which is the main reason it appears in supply chains that must move data between competing CAD platforms.

SolveSpace: Is it really free for commercial work?

Yes. It is released under the GPL with no licence fee and no seat limit. Support is community only.

CoreTechnologie: Does conversion produce editable models?

3D_Evolution has feature recognition that rebuilds parametric features from solids. It is reliable on prismatic machined geometry and weaker on complex freeform surfaces, so test it on your hardest parts.

SolveSpace: Can it replace Fusion 360 or SolidWorks?

No. It handles parts and simple assemblies well. Complex geometry, drawings and supply chain interoperability are outside its range.

CoreTechnologie: What makes 4D_Additive different from a normal slicer?

It prepares builds on exact B-rep geometry rather than converting to STL first, so tolerance and surface accuracy are not lost to faceting before printing.

SolveSpace: What hardware does it need?

Very little. It runs on old laptops and small Linux machines where mainstream CAD will not start.

CoreTechnologie: Can it run unattended for large migrations?

Yes. Batch and server conversion is designed for high-volume migration and PLM pipeline use rather than desk-by-desk conversion.

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