Creovs
V-Ray
V-Ray: Professional 3D rendering software
Creo
Award-winning 3D CAD software
As of 30 August 2026, Creo starts at $29/month. PTC Creo is a scalable, interoperable suite of product design software that delivers robust capabilities for parametric and direct modeling, simulation, and mor. Softwr lists it under CAD. Creo is made by PTC Inc., launched in 1985, available on Windows.
Overview
What Creo does
PTC Creo is a scalable, interoperable suite of product design software that delivers robust capabilities for parametric and direct modeling, simulation, and more.
What people use it for
- Parametric 3D mechanical CAD for product and machinery design
- Mold design and mold machining workflows
Related searches
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about Creo.
- Every Creo user must buy a licence of the Creo Design Essentials package as a minimum before anything else can be added
- Capabilities such as the Generative Design Extension, Creo Simulation Live, Advanced Assembly Extension and GD&T Advisor are sold as separate paid extensions
- Published prices in the PTC Store cover only Creo Design Essentials, the Creo Suites and select extensions; the other design packages require talking to sales
- Buying an individual extension requires contacting a sales representative rather than self service
Cross-shopped
What people choose instead of Creo
Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.
- CreovsEnscape
Enscape: Real-time rendering plugin
- CreovsFreeCAD
FreeCAD: Open-source parametric 3D CAD modeler
- CreovsKeyShot
KeyShot: Real-time 3D rendering and animation
Pricing
What Creo costs
Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.
Creo Elements/Direct
$2,310 /mo
- Direct modeling
Creo Parametric
$2,310 /mo
- Parametric modeling
- Simulation
Creo+
$2,930 /mo
- SaaS delivery
- Real-time collaboration
Capabilities
Features
Parametric modeling
Direct modeling
Simulation
Generative design
Additive manufacturing
AR integration
Model-based definition
Windchill PLM
Integration with Windchill PLM
ThingWorx IoT
Integration with ThingWorx IoT
Vuforia AR
Integration with Vuforia AR
Enterprise security
Enterprise security security feature
License management
License management security feature
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
Does Creo offer a free trial or evaluation version?
Yes, PTC offers a free trial of Creo. Users can instantly access a fully functional trial of Creo. The page also provides a 30-day free trial option for both Creo and Creo+.
SourceWhat licensing options does Creo provide?
Creo supports flexible licensing options including on-premises solution and Creo+, a SaaS offering. Licensing tiers support solo designers, small teams up to 5 licenses, and growing teams with 5 or more licenses. PTC also offers a startup program with free or discounted access.
SourceIs Creo free for students and educators?
Yes, Creo is available for free to students and educators through PTC Education. Students and educators from grade school through university can get free access to Creo to learn advanced CAD capabilities.
SourceBehind it
Who makes Creo
- Company
- PTC Inc.
- Based in
- Boston, MA
Keep looking
Where to go from Creo
- Creo alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- Creo pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- Creo badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All CAD softwareThe full category
- Best CAD softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best CAD software for
Compare Creo with
- FreeCAD
- Enscape
- V-Ray
- KeyShot
- Inventor
- Alibre Design
- IronCAD
- SolveSpace
- Houdini
- ANSYS Fluent
- BricsCAD
- COMSOL Multiphysics
- CoreTechnologie
- DraftSight
- Mari
- IronCAD
- COMSOL Multiphysics
- Modo
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Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for Creo, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on Creo
Creo alternatives
What people switch to, and what they give up
Creo pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
Compare Creo
Put it head to head with anything we hold
Creo badge
Its rating, and an embed for your own site
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