Softwr

Manufacturing · head to head

OpenBOM vs Siemens NX

OpenBOM logo

OpenBOM

Manufacturing

Cloud bill of materials and part catalogue management priced per seat, with free read-only users

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Siemens NX logo

Siemens NX

CAD

Integrated product design and manufacturing

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenBOM has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OpenBOM pricing has three axes, editing seats plus data record count plus per-seat CAD add-ins at $25 to $45 each, so the real annual cost is well above the advertised per-seat figure.; Siemens NX siemens NX offers only a 30-day free trial with no published subscription or perpetual license price; buyers must go through a sales process to get pricing, per the vendor's own product page.
  • They diverge on capability: OpenBOM covers Multi-level BOMs, Siemens NX covers Advanced CAD.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenBOM and Siemens NX actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenBOM and Siemens NX differ
AttributeOpenBOMSiemens NX
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, APIWindows, Linux
CategoryManufacturingCAD
FoundedUnknown1963

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 OpenBOM

  • Multi-level BOMs
  • Part catalogue
  • CAD add-ins
  • Change management
  • Free read-only users
  • REST API

Only in Siemens NX

  • Advanced CAD
  • CAM programming
  • CAE simulation
  • Additive manufacturing
  • Sheet metal
  • Mold design
  • Industrial machinery
  • Teamcenter PLM

What people use each for

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

OpenBOM

  • A hardware startup replacing a shared BOM spreadsheet before its first contract manufacturing runnot Siemens NX
  • A contract manufacturer sharing structured BOMs with customers who should see but not edit themnot Siemens NX
  • An electronics team pulling BOMs straight out of Altium and mechanical CAD instead of retyping themnot Siemens NX
  • A small manufacturer that needs part numbering and revision discipline but cannot fund a PLM projectnot Siemens NX

Siemens NX

  • Enterprise product designnot OpenBOM
  • Manufacturingnot OpenBOM
  • Simulationnot OpenBOM

Where each one falls short

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

OpenBOM

  • Pricing has three axes, editing seats plus data record count plus per-seat CAD add-ins at $25 to $45 each, so the real annual cost is well above the advertised per-seat figure.
  • Paying yearly nearly halves the seat price, from $55 to $30 and $165 to $90, so monthly billing carries an unusually heavy penalty for teams that want flexibility.
  • Change management, revision control and CAD file management are absent from the entry Team plan, so the cheapest tier is a catalogue rather than a working PLM.
  • It lacks the approval workflows, effectivity dating and audit depth that regulated medical and aerospace suppliers need, so companies pursuing ISO 13485 or AS9100 typically migrate away.
  • Record count is metered separately and a large imported part library can push a small team into a higher data tier without adding a single user.

Siemens NX

  • Siemens NX offers only a 30-day free trial with no published subscription or perpetual license price; buyers must go through a sales process to get pricing, per the vendor's own product page.

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenBOM

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 2,000 data records
    • Basic BOM and catalogue management
    • Non-commercial and educational use
  • Professional Team$55/month
    • $30 per seat per month billed yearly
    • BOM management, part catalogue, inventory
    • RFQ and purchase orders
  • Company$165/month
    • $90 per seat per month billed yearly
    • Everything in Team
    • CAD file management and revision control
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Single sign-on
    • Custom integrations
    • Private or custom hosting

Siemens NX

$29/month
  • NX Design$4500/month
    • CAD design
    • Core modeling
  • NX CAM$5500/month
    • Manufacturing programming
  • NX Complete$8500/month
    • Full suite
    • CAD/CAM/CAE

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenBOM if

  • You need multi-level boms.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, API.
  • You also want part catalogue.
OpenBOM review

Choose Siemens NX if

  • You need advanced cad.
  • You work on Windows, Linux.
  • You also want cam programming.
Siemens NX review

Questions people ask

Is OpenBOM or Siemens NX better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenBOM starts at Free and Siemens NX at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenBOM or Siemens NX?
OpenBOM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenBOM and $29/month for Siemens NX.
Does OpenBOM or Siemens NX run on more platforms?
OpenBOM runs on Web, Windows, macOS, API. Siemens NX runs on Windows, Linux.
Can I use OpenBOM for free?
Yes. OpenBOM has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Siemens NX starts at $29/month.
What is OpenBOM best used for?
OpenBOM is most often used for a hardware startup replacing a shared bom spreadsheet before its first contract manufacturing run, a contract manufacturer sharing structured boms with customers who should see but not edit them, an electronics team pulling boms straight out of altium and mechanical cad instead of retyping them, a small manufacturer that needs part numbering and revision discipline but cannot fund a plm project. Of those, a hardware startup replacing a shared bom spreadsheet before its first contract manufacturing run and a contract manufacturer sharing structured boms with customers who should see but not edit them are not what Siemens NX is typically brought in for.
What can OpenBOM do that Siemens NX cannot?
OpenBOM covers Multi-level BOMs, Part catalogue, CAD add-ins, Change management. Siemens NX covers Advanced CAD, CAM programming, CAE simulation, Additive manufacturing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OpenBOM: Is OpenBOM free?

There is a genuine free tier limited to 2,000 data records and aimed at non-commercial and educational use. Commercial teams start at $30 per seat per month billed yearly.

Siemens NX: Does Siemens NX offer a free trial?

Yes, Siemens offers a 30-day free trial of both Designcenter CAD and NX CAM software that is fully functional. Users can get a hands-on feel for the software without any financial commitment before purchasing.

Source
OpenBOM: Do I pay for people who only look at BOMs?

No. Read-only users are unlimited and free on every paid plan, which is the main reason the total cost undercuts seat-for-seat PLM tools.

Siemens NX: Is NX free for students?

Yes, Siemens offers free CAD/CAM Student Edition access to Designcenter and NX for students and educators. Academic offerings are available for those in educational institutions.

Source
OpenBOM: Are the CAD add-ins included?

No. They are $25 per seat per month billed yearly, $45 monthly, and require an active Team or Company subscription.

Siemens NX: What licensing options does NX provide for different business sizes?

Siemens offers scalable licensing for startups, mid-size companies, and multinational corporations. Designcenter and NX CAM support flexible team-based licensing to match organizational size and manufacturing needs.

Source
OpenBOM: Can OpenBOM replace a full PLM?

For a startup, usually yes. For regulated manufacturing needing controlled workflows and full audit trails, no.

Share

Related pages

More on OpenBOM

More on Siemens NX

Keep looking

Other head to heads