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CAD · head to head

SolveSpace vs Weaviate

S

SolveSpace

CAD

Open source parametric CAD with a constraint solver in a few megabytes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weaviate logo

Weaviate

Machine Learning

Open-source vector database

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SolveSpace the in-house geometry kernel fails on complex boolean operations and fillets, and the failure is sometimes silent bad geometry rather than an error message, so models must be checked before export or manufacture.; Weaviate the free tier caps at 100,000 objects, 1 GB of memory and a single collection
  • They diverge on capability: SolveSpace covers Constraint solver, Weaviate covers Vector and keyword search.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SolveSpace and Weaviate actually diverge.

Attributes where SolveSpace and Weaviate differ
AttributeSolveSpaceWeaviate
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxLinux, Mac, Windows, Web
CategoryCADMachine Learning
FoundedUnknown2019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 SolveSpace

  • Constraint solver
  • Solid modelling
  • Assemblies
  • Export formats
  • Cross-platform
  • Small footprint

Only in Weaviate

  • Vector and keyword search
  • Built-in vectorizers
  • GraphQL API
  • Multi-tenancy
  • Hybrid search
  • OpenAI
  • Hugging Face
  • Cohere

What people use each for

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

SolveSpace

  • Designing 3D printed parts on a machine that cannot run mainstream CADnot Weaviate
  • Teaching constraint-based parametric modelling without buying licences for a classroomnot Weaviate
  • Checking that a mechanical linkage moves as intended before cutting metalnot Weaviate
  • Producing dimensionally accurate STEP or STL output from a small open source toolchainnot Weaviate

Weaviate

  • Running a vector database for semantic and hybrid searchnot SolveSpace
  • Generating and storing embeddings alongside the objects they describenot SolveSpace

Where each one falls short

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

SolveSpace

  • The in-house geometry kernel fails on complex boolean operations and fillets, and the failure is sometimes silent bad geometry rather than an error message, so models must be checked before export or manufacture.
  • There is no proper drawing and dimensioning workflow, so manufacturing documentation has to be produced in another application.
  • Development is volunteer-led and intermittent; long gaps between releases are normal and there is no support contract available at any price.
  • Assembly-level import of external CAD is very limited, so it does not fit a supply chain that exchanges native or assembly-level models with suppliers.
  • The interface follows its own conventions rather than mainstream CAD ones, so existing SolidWorks or Fusion users spend time unlearning habits for a tool with a lower ceiling.

Weaviate

  • The free tier caps at 100,000 objects, 1 GB of memory and a single collection
  • Billing is per million vector dimensions rather than per record, so wider embeddings cost proportionally more for the same object count
  • Premium is a prepaid contract starting at $400 a month rather than pay as you go
  • Storage rates do not fall consistently with tier, and Premium Dedicated is $0.1505 per GiB against $0.12 on the cheaper Flex plan
  • The Query Agent is metered separately, free to 1,000 requests a month and $30 a month plus overage beyond

Pricing, plan by plan

SolveSpace

Free
  • SolveSpaceFree
    • Full application under the GPL
    • No seat limit
    • Windows, macOS and Linux builds

Weaviate

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full features
    • Self-hosted
  • ServerlessFree
    • Managed service
    • Auto-scaling

Which should you pick?

Choose SolveSpace if

  • You need constraint solver.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want solid modelling.
SolveSpace review

Choose Weaviate if

  • You need vector and keyword search.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Mac, Windows, Web.
  • You also want built-in vectorizers.
Weaviate review

Questions people ask

Is SolveSpace or Weaviate better?
Neither clearly leads. SolveSpace starts at Free and Weaviate at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SolveSpace or Weaviate?
SolveSpace starts at Free and Weaviate at Free.
Does SolveSpace or Weaviate run on more platforms?
SolveSpace runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Weaviate runs on Linux, Mac, Windows, Web.
Can I use SolveSpace for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is SolveSpace best used for?
SolveSpace is most often used for designing 3d printed parts on a machine that cannot run mainstream cad, teaching constraint-based parametric modelling without buying licences for a classroom, checking that a mechanical linkage moves as intended before cutting metal, producing dimensionally accurate step or stl output from a small open source toolchain. Of those, designing 3d printed parts on a machine that cannot run mainstream cad and teaching constraint-based parametric modelling without buying licences for a classroom are not what Weaviate is typically brought in for.
What can SolveSpace do that Weaviate cannot?
SolveSpace covers Constraint solver, Solid modelling, Assemblies, Export formats. Weaviate covers Vector and keyword search, Built-in vectorizers, GraphQL API, Multi-tenancy.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SolveSpace: Is it really free for commercial work?

Yes. It is released under the GPL with no licence fee and no seat limit. Support is community only.

Weaviate: What pricing options does Weaviate offer?

Weaviate provides a free tier with usage-based pricing, plus enterprise options. Visit the pricing page for detailed information on plans.

Source
SolveSpace: Can it replace Fusion 360 or SolidWorks?

No. It handles parts and simple assemblies well. Complex geometry, drawings and supply chain interoperability are outside its range.

Weaviate: Does Weaviate offer customer support?

Yes, support is included with Weaviate's cloud offerings. Enterprise customers receive first-class support from their global team of experts.

Source
SolveSpace: What hardware does it need?

Very little. It runs on old laptops and small Linux machines where mainstream CAD will not start.

Weaviate: Can I deploy Weaviate on my own infrastructure?

Yes. Weaviate is open source and deployment-agnostic. You can run it in your own cloud environment or use their managed cloud service.

Source
Weaviate: What data security features does Weaviate provide?

Weaviate includes security & governance, RBAC, SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance, along with multi-tenancy and high availability for enterprise requirements.

Source
Weaviate: How do I get started with Weaviate?

Sign up for their cloud tier, create your first dataset, connect an LLM, and build your AI app. Documentation and quickstart guides are available for Python, Go, TypeScript, and JavaScript.

Source
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