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CAD · head to head

CATIA vs Modo

CATIA logo

CATIA

CAD

World's leading solution for product design

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Modo logo

Modo

CAD

Creative 3D modeling and rendering

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CATIA no public pricing available on vendor website; Modo foundry announced on November 7, 2024 that it is winding down development of Modo after the Modo 17.1 release, with no further feature or maintenance releases anticipated
  • They diverge on capability: CATIA covers Surface modeling, Modo covers Polygon modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CATIA and Modo actually diverge.

Attributes where CATIA and Modo differ
AttributeCATIAModo
Starting priceOn request$29/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Linux (some)Windows, MacOS, Linux
Founded19811996

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 CATIA

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

Only in Modo

  • Polygon modeling
  • Subdivision surfaces
  • Sculpting
  • UV tools
  • Procedural modeling
  • Rendering
  • Animation
  • MeshFusion

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

CATIA

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

Modo

  • Polygon and subdivision surface modelling for media and entertainment assetsnot CATIA
  • Look development and rendering of product and character modelsnot CATIA

Where each one falls short

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

CATIA

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

Modo

  • Foundry announced on November 7, 2024 that it is winding down development of Modo after the Modo 17.1 release, with no further feature or maintenance releases anticipated
  • Support continues only until each customer's current contract term expires
  • Foundry does not guarantee that Modo will keep working on future operating system updates because no patches will be issued, and recommends customers migrate to alternative 3D workflows
  • Perpetual licences keep working but receive no further updates, bug fixes or support
  • The Modo forums closed in December 2024 and downloads, docs and the support knowledgebase were committed only until November 2025

Pricing, plan by plan

CATIA

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the CATIA review.

Modo

$29/month
  • Indie$599/month
    • Full Modo
    • Revenue limit $100K
  • Modo$1898/month
    • Full commercial license

Which should you pick?

Choose CATIA if

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

Choose Modo if

  • You need polygon modeling.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want subdivision surfaces.
Modo review

Questions people ask

Is CATIA or Modo better?
Neither clearly leads. CATIA starts at On request and Modo at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CATIA or Modo?
CATIA starts at On request and Modo at $29/month.
Does CATIA or Modo run on more platforms?
CATIA runs on Windows, Linux (some). Modo runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
What is CATIA best used for?
CATIA is most often used for 3d product design, simulation and analysis, system design and development, manufacturing engineering. Of those, 3d product design and simulation and analysis are not what Modo is typically brought in for.
What can CATIA do that Modo cannot?
CATIA covers Surface modeling, Class A surfacing, Systems engineering, Simulation. Modo covers Polygon modeling, Subdivision surfaces, Sculpting, UV tools. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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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