Softwr

Inventory · head to head

Megaventory vs SolidWorks

Megaventory logo

Megaventory

Inventory

Order and inventory management for SMBs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SolidWorks logo

SolidWorks

Manufacturing

Parametric desktop 3D CAD from Dassault Systemes, now sold as named-user subscription on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform

From
$2820/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Megaventory has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Megaventory single Pro plan tier; no tiered options for different business sizes; SolidWorks the desktop application is Windows only, so Mac and Linux users need a virtual machine, a Windows workstation or the separate cloud xDesign product at 2,580 USD a year.
  • They diverge on capability: Megaventory covers Inventory tracking, SolidWorks covers 3D solid modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Megaventory and SolidWorks actually diverge.

Attributes where Megaventory and SolidWorks differ
AttributeMegaventorySolidWorks
Starting priceFree$2820/year
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer user per year
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWindows
CategoryInventoryManufacturing
Founded20101993

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 Megaventory

  • Inventory tracking
  • Order management
  • Manufacturing
  • Multi-location
  • WooCommerce
  • Shopify
  • Magento
  • QuickBooks

Only in SolidWorks

  • 3D solid modeling
  • Assembly design
  • Technical drawings
  • Simulation
  • Rendering
  • PDM systems
  • ERP systems
  • CAM software

What people use each for

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

Megaventory

  • Small inventory operations with Pro plan's 50,000 transaction capacity and 5 usersnot SolidWorks
  • Multi-location inventory management across up to 20 locations with Pro plannot SolidWorks
  • Growing businesses requiring custom plans beyond Pro specifications via Enterprise tiernot SolidWorks

SolidWorks

  • Product designnot Megaventory
  • Engineering analysisnot Megaventory
  • Manufacturing documentationnot Megaventory
  • Prototypingnot Megaventory
  • Quality controlnot Megaventory

Where each one falls short

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

Megaventory

  • Single Pro plan tier; no tiered options for different business sizes
  • Additional users cost $45 per month each up to 35 total users
  • Additional transaction blocks cost $45 per month per 25k transactions up to 200k total
  • Enterprise plan pricing requires contacting sales for custom quote

SolidWorks

  • The desktop application is Windows only, so Mac and Linux users need a virtual machine, a Windows workstation or the separate cloud xDesign product at 2,580 USD a year.
  • Perpetual licences are no longer sold through the vendor online store and come only through resellers, and a perpetual licence still needs a paid annual service contract to get upgrades and support, so buying once and paying nothing again is not really on offer.
  • Named-user subscription is per person rather than floating, so an organisation where several engineers each use CAD occasionally pays full seats for part-time use unless it negotiates otherwise.
  • History-based parametric modelling breaks noisily: a change high in the feature tree can cascade rebuild errors through an assembly, which is a real productivity cost compared with direct modelling tools.
  • Large assemblies stress single-threaded desktop performance, and teams routinely resort to configurations, simplified representations and expensive workstations rather than the software scaling on its own.
  • The Maker licence watermarks its files so they can only be opened on other Maker licences, which means hobby work cannot be carried into a commercial seat later without exporting to neutral formats and losing the feature history.

Pricing, plan by plan

Megaventory

Free
  • Pro$135/month
    • 5 users
    • 50k transactions
    • 20 locations
  • Pro (annual)$121.5/month
    • 5 users
    • 50k transactions
    • 20 locations

SolidWorks

$2820/year
  • 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Standard$2820/year
    • 235 USD per month billed annually, or 846 USD per quarter
    • Per named user, excluding local tax
    • Part and assembly modelling and 2D drawings
  • 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Professional$3456/year
    • 288 USD per month billed annually, or 1,038 USD per quarter
    • Everything in Standard
    • Intelligent CAD libraries of standard fasteners
  • 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Premium$4716/year
    • 393 USD per month billed annually, or 1,416 USD per quarter
    • Everything in Professional
    • Linear static analysis for parts and assemblies
  • SOLIDWORKS xDesign$2580/year
    • 810 USD per quarter
    • Browser-based cloud modelling, no local install
    • Runs on Mac, Chromebook and tablets as well as Windows

Which should you pick?

Choose Megaventory if

  • You need inventory tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want order management.
Megaventory review

Choose SolidWorks if

  • You need 3d solid modeling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want assembly design.
SolidWorks review

Questions people ask

Is Megaventory or SolidWorks better?
Neither clearly leads. Megaventory starts at Free and SolidWorks at $2820/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Megaventory or SolidWorks?
Megaventory has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Megaventory and $2820/year for SolidWorks.
Does Megaventory or SolidWorks run on more platforms?
Megaventory runs on Web. SolidWorks runs on Windows.
Can I use Megaventory for free?
Yes. Megaventory has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SolidWorks starts at $2820/year.
What is Megaventory best used for?
Megaventory is most often used for small inventory operations with pro plan's 50,000 transaction capacity and 5 users, multi-location inventory management across up to 20 locations with pro plan, growing businesses requiring custom plans beyond pro specifications via enterprise tier. Of those, small inventory operations with pro plan's 50,000 transaction capacity and 5 users and multi-location inventory management across up to 20 locations with pro plan are not what SolidWorks is typically brought in for.
What can Megaventory do that SolidWorks cannot?
Megaventory covers Inventory tracking, Order management, Manufacturing, Multi-location. SolidWorks covers 3D solid modeling, Assembly design, Technical drawings, Simulation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Megaventory: What is included in Megaventory's Pro plan?

The Pro plan costs $135 per month ($121.50/month with annual billing) and includes 5 users, 50,000 transactions, 20 locations, 20,000 product SKUs, 20,000 clients, and 2 hours of training.

Source
SolidWorks: Can you still buy a SOLIDWORKS perpetual licence?

Not from the vendor online store, which sells only term subscriptions. Perpetual licences remain available through resellers, but they still require a paid annual subscription service contract for upgrades and support.

Megaventory: How much does Megaventory charge for additional users?

Megaventory charges $45 per month for each additional user, up to a maximum of 35 total users on the platform.

Source
SolidWorks: How much does SOLIDWORKS cost per year?

The 3DS store lists Standard at 2,820 USD, Professional at 3,456 USD and Premium at 4,716 USD per named user per year, excluding local tax. Quarterly terms are 846, 1,038 and 1,416 USD.

Megaventory: Does Megaventory offer a free trial?

Yes, Megaventory offers a 15-day free trial with no obligation to continue to a paid subscription. Non-profit organizations can contact Megaventory for discounted subscription rates.

Source
SolidWorks: What is the difference between desktop SOLIDWORKS and the 3DEXPERIENCE cloud tiers?

The desktop application still does the modelling and installs locally on Windows. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform adds cloud storage, versioning, mark-up and shared review around it. SOLIDWORKS xDesign is the separate browser-native modeller at 2,580 USD a year, and it runs on Mac and Chromebook.

SolidWorks: Is there a cheap version for hobbyists?

Yes. 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers is 48 USD a year or 15 USD a month, limited to personal use with project sales under 2,000 USD a year, and its files are watermarked for Maker licences only.

SolidWorks: Does SOLIDWORKS run on a Mac?

Not natively. Use the browser-based xDesign, or run the desktop application in a Windows virtual machine.

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