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CAD · head to head

CATIA vs Fusion 360

CATIA logo

CATIA

CAD

World's leading solution for product design

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fusion 360 logo

Fusion 360

Manufacturing

Cloud-based 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Fusion 360 has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CATIA no public pricing available on vendor website; Fusion 360 requires paid subscription for professional use
  • They diverge on capability: CATIA covers Surface modeling, Fusion 360 covers 3D CAD modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CATIA and Fusion 360 actually diverge.

Attributes where CATIA and Fusion 360 differ
AttributeCATIAFusion 360
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Linux (some)Web, Windows, macOS
CategoryCADManufacturing
Founded19811982

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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
  • Composites design
  • Electrical design
  • Knowledge-based engineering
  • ENOVIA PLM
  • SIMULIA

Only in Fusion 360

  • 3D CAD modeling
  • CAM programming
  • PCB design
  • Cloud collaboration
  • Autodesk ecosystem
  • Manufacturing partners
  • PLM systems
  • ERP systems

Both cover

  • Simulation
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

CATIA

  • 3D product designnot Fusion 360
  • Simulation and analysisnot Fusion 360
  • System design and developmentnot Fusion 360
  • Manufacturing engineeringnot Fusion 360
  • Advanced modelingnot Fusion 360

Fusion 360

  • Product designnot CATIA
  • Prototypingnot CATIA
  • Manufacturingnot CATIA
  • 3D printingnot CATIA
  • Simulationnot 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

Fusion 360

  • Requires paid subscription for professional use
  • Cloud-based, requires internet connection
  • Free tier limited to students and educators

Pricing, plan by plan

CATIA

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the CATIA review.

Fusion 360

Free
  • Personal UseFree
    • Non-commercial use
    • Basic CAD tools
    • Cloud storage
  • Commercial$70/month
    • Full CAD/CAM/CAE
    • Simulation
    • Rendering

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 Fusion 360 if

  • You need 3d cad modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want cam programming.
Fusion 360 review

Questions people ask

Is CATIA or Fusion 360 better?
Neither clearly leads. CATIA starts at On request and Fusion 360 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CATIA or Fusion 360?
Fusion 360 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for CATIA and Free for Fusion 360.
Does CATIA or Fusion 360 run on more platforms?
CATIA runs on Windows, Linux (some). Fusion 360 runs on Web, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Fusion 360 for free?
Yes. Fusion 360 has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CATIA starts at On request.
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 Fusion 360 is typically brought in for.
What can CATIA do that Fusion 360 cannot?
CATIA covers Surface modeling, Class A surfacing, Systems engineering, Composites design. Fusion 360 covers 3D CAD modeling, CAM programming, PCB design, Cloud collaboration. Both handle Simulation, 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
Fusion 360: Is Fusion 360 free?

Fusion 360 is free for students, educators, and academic institutions with full features. It offers a 30-day free trial for all users, and a limited personal-use license for hobbyists and makers.

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
Fusion 360: How much does Fusion 360 cost for professionals?

Fusion 360 professional subscriptions start at $85/month, $680/year, or $2,040 for a 3-year commitment. Startups that qualify can get a discount starting at $150.

Source
Fusion 360: Does Fusion 360 support 3D modeling, CAD, and CAM?

Yes. Fusion 360 is a cloud-based platform that integrates 3D modeling, CAD, CAM, CAE (simulation), and PCB design in one software.

Source
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