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CAD · head to head

nTop vs OnShape

nTop logo

nTop

CAD

Implicit computational design for lattices, heat exchangers and topology-driven parts

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OnShape logo

OnShape

CAD

Full-cloud 3D CAD platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OnShape has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: nTop nTop is a specialist tool that sits alongside mainstream CAD rather than replacing it, so you pay for an extra seat and accept a handoff between two geometry systems.; OnShape the free plan is non commercial only and makes every document publicly accessible, so nothing designed on it can be kept private
  • They diverge on capability: nTop covers Implicit modelling, OnShape covers Cloud-native CAD.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which nTop and OnShape actually diverge.

Attributes where nTop and OnShape differ
AttributenTopOnShape
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, CloudWeb, IOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2012

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 nTop

  • Implicit modelling
  • Lattice and cellular structures
  • Field-driven design
  • Integrated simulation
  • Reusable workflows
  • Topology optimisation
  • CAD and AM interoperability

Only in OnShape

  • Cloud-native CAD
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Version control
  • Part studios
  • Assemblies
  • Drawings
  • FeatureScript
  • Mobile access

What people use each for

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

nTop

  • Designing a variable-density lattice bracket where mass must drop without losing stiffness in the loaded regionsnot OnShape
  • Generating a heat exchanger with thousands of internal channels that a conventional CAD kernel cannot representnot OnShape
  • Producing patient-specific implant geometry with porous surfaces at scale rather than one at a timenot OnShape
  • Automating a family of parts as a reusable design workflow that reruns when the load case changesnot OnShape

OnShape

  • Cloud based parametric CAD without local workstation installsnot nTop
  • Collaborative mechanical design with version history and shared documentsnot nTop

Where each one falls short

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

nTop

  • nTop is a specialist tool that sits alongside mainstream CAD rather than replacing it, so you pay for an extra seat and accept a handoff between two geometry systems.
  • Implicit modelling requires a different way of thinking from feature-based CAD, and the retraining period is long enough that unused licences are a common and expensive outcome.
  • No pricing is published and there is no free or hobbyist tier, so evaluation runs through a sales process and small teams cannot try it seriously without engaging.
  • Subscription only, with no perpetual licence, means the geometry logic you built stops being editable the day you stop paying, which is a real risk for long-lifecycle aerospace and medical programmes.
  • The output is most valuable when you have additive manufacturing capacity to make it; organisations without machines that can print the geometry end up designing parts nobody can produce.

OnShape

  • The free plan is non commercial only and makes every document publicly accessible, so nothing designed on it can be kept private
  • The Standard plan is $1,500 per user per year and Professional $2,500
  • Simulation, rendering, CAM and advanced PDM all require the Professional plan
  • SSO, analytics and advanced administration are Enterprise only with no published price

Pricing, plan by plan

nTop

On request
  • nTop$undefined/year
    • Annual named or floating seat subscription
    • No perpetual licence offered
    • Capability tiers quoted by use case

OnShape

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited features
    • Public documents
  • Standard$1500/month
    • Private documents
    • Full features
  • Professional$2100/month
    • Advanced simulation
    • Enterprise features

Which should you pick?

Choose nTop if

  • You need implicit modelling.
  • You work on Windows, Cloud.
  • You also want lattice and cellular structures.
nTop review

Choose OnShape if

  • You need cloud-native cad.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want real-time collaboration.
OnShape review

Questions people ask

Is nTop or OnShape better?
Neither clearly leads. nTop starts at On request and OnShape at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, nTop or OnShape?
OnShape has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for nTop and Free for OnShape.
Does nTop or OnShape run on more platforms?
nTop runs on Windows, Cloud. OnShape runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use OnShape for free?
Yes. OnShape has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. nTop starts at On request.
What is nTop best used for?
nTop is most often used for designing a variable-density lattice bracket where mass must drop without losing stiffness in the loaded regions, generating a heat exchanger with thousands of internal channels that a conventional cad kernel cannot represent, producing patient-specific implant geometry with porous surfaces at scale rather than one at a time, automating a family of parts as a reusable design workflow that reruns when the load case changes. Of those, designing a variable-density lattice bracket where mass must drop without losing stiffness in the loaded regions and generating a heat exchanger with thousands of internal channels that a conventional cad kernel cannot represent are not what OnShape is typically brought in for.
What can nTop do that OnShape cannot?
nTop covers Implicit modelling, Lattice and cellular structures, Field-driven design, Integrated simulation. OnShape covers Cloud-native CAD, Real-time collaboration, Version control, Part studios.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

nTop: Is nTop the same company as nTopology?

Yes. nTopology rebranded to nTop. The product is the same lineage.

OnShape: How much does Onshape cost?

Onshape Standard is $1,500 per user per year and Professional is $2,500 per user per year, both billed annually. Enterprise is quoted by sales. A free plan exists for non-commercial use.

Source
nTop: Does it replace SolidWorks or NX?

No. It is used alongside them. Mainstream CAD handles the conventional geometry and assembly; nTop handles the lattice, field-driven and complex internal structure work.

OnShape: Is the free version of Onshape usable for commercial work?

No. Onshape states the free plan is for non-commercial use only, and every document created on it is publicly accessible. Private storage requires the Standard plan at $1,500 per user per year.

Source
nTop: Is there a free version?

No free commercial tier is published. Access runs through a demo and sales process, with academic programmes handled separately.

OnShape: What does Onshape Professional add over Standard?

Professional adds company managed data, release management, advanced PDM, simulation, rendering, ECAD to MCAD exchange and CAM, for $2,500 per user per year against $1,500 for Standard.

Source
nTop: Can I buy a perpetual licence?

No. It is sold as an annual subscription, so budget it as recurring cost across the life of the programme.

OnShape: Can I try Onshape Professional for free?

Onshape states that qualified professionals can try Onshape Professional free for up to 6 months through its Discovery Program, with no credit card required.

Source
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