--- title: "SolidWorks Premium Reviews, Pros and Cons - 2026 Software Advice" description: "Reviews of SolidWorks Premium. Learn how real users rate this software's ease-of-use, functionality, overall quality and customer support. Talk to our advisors to see if SolidWorks Premium is a good fit for you!" source_url: "https://www.softwareadvice.com/engineering-cad/solidworks-premium-profile/reviews/" page_type: "reviews" language: "en" --- 1 million+ businesses helped. Get advice Get Free Advice [Home](https://www.softwareadvice.com/) / [Engineering CAD Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/engineering-cad/) / [SolidWorks Premium](https://www.softwareadvice.com/engineering-cad/solidworks-premium-profile/) / SolidWorks Premium Reviews Software Advice offers objective insights based on verified user reviews and independent product and market research. When our advisors match you to a software provider, we may earn a referral fee. [Overview](https://www.softwareadvice.com/engineering-cad/solidworks-premium-profile/) Reviews [Alternatives](https://www.softwareadvice.com/engineering-cad/solidworks-premium-profile/alternatives/) # SolidWorks Premium User Reviews ## Reviews summary - Overall rating: 4.6/5 - Total reviews: 759 ### Secondary ratings - Ease of use: 4.3/5 - Customer support: 4.2/5 - Value for money: 4.1/5 - Functionality: 4.6/5 ### Rating distribution - 5 stars: 517 reviews (68%) - 4 stars: 215 reviews (28%) - 3 stars: 18 reviews (2%) - 2 stars: 6 reviews (1%) - 1 star: 3 reviews (0%) ### Most mentioned pros - Overall Experience positive, particularly in drawing creation,where it provides powerful tools for generating accurate 2d drawing from 3d models.in terms of collaboration it enable teams to share design, track changes,and coordinate projects effectively through cloud connected tools. - It is the benchmark for all CAD systems, for all its quirks and the cost, SolidWorks remains the software all CAD systems compare themselves to. - The features and 3d design integration were impressive and with some further access our integration will be progressing. ### Most mentioned cons - Their certified hardware program and website data feel like a joke, and navigating the site as a paid licensee is a mess. - Frequent crashes—even on SolidWorks-certified hardware—have forced far too many support calls and lost files. - After over 10 years of using SolidWorks and paying their expensive annual subscription, I've seen almost no meaningful innovation year over year. ## SolidWorks Premium customer reviews Showing reviews 1-25 of 759 (page 1). ### Happy user - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Food & Beverages - Company size: 2-10 employees - Product usage: less than 1 year · monthly - Reviewed: September 2026 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. The features and 3d design integration were impressive and with some further access our integration will be progressing. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 4/5 - Customer support: 5/5 - Functionality: 4/5 #### Pros The security was great and customer support really helpful. With top collaboration for our requirements we were impressed #### Cons I'm these times value for money is important so this could be improved. Some of the drawing did glitch slightly --- ### SolidWorks is a powerful CAD software. - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Design - Company size: Self-Employed - Product usage: 3-5 years · weekly - Reviewed: July 2026 - Review source details: This review was submitted organically. No incentive was offered I’ve been using SolidWorks for over 20 years now and have kept up the subscription. I’d like to try out their web based version next. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 5/5 - Customer support: 5/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros Ease of use, included CNC g-code creation, FEA analysis, & real view options. Ability to create detailed drawings. #### Cons Its ability to randomly crash. The mating scheme seems overly complicated after using OnShape for a few years. --- ### Solidworks is solidly on the decline. - Overall rating: 1/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Biotechnology - Company size: 10000+ employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · daily - Reviewed: July 2026 - Review source details: This review was submitted organically. No incentive was offered After over 10 years of using SolidWorks and paying their expensive annual subscription, I've seen almost no meaningful innovation year over year. The software feels stuck in the classic Innovator's Dilemma—protecting its installed base and steadily raising prices while delivering minimal new value. If re-learning was not such a massive barrier, I would actively switch to a more progressive CAD platform that includes PDM for free. Maybe when they make the next release even worse -- more unreliable, or when I lose more files, I will make the switch. The VAR's play the Comcast/Mediacom games of continually gaming the yearly rate. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 1/5 - Value for money: 1/5 - Customer support: 2/5 - Functionality: 2/5 #### Pros Every year, every service pack, the software becomes less reliable, and they continue to charge you yearly for it. #### Cons Frequent crashes—even on SolidWorks-certified hardware—have forced far too many support calls and lost files. Their certified hardware program and website data feel like a joke, and navigating the site as a paid licensee is a mess. --- ### Reliable Engineering Software with Advanced Features - Overall rating: 4/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Mechanical or Industrial Engineering - Company size: 501-1000 employees - Product usage: 1-3 years · monthly - Reviewed: June 2026 - Review source details: This review was submitted organically. No incentive was offered Overall Experience positive, particularly in drawing creation,where it provides powerful tools for generating accurate 2d drawing from 3d models.in terms of collaboration it enable teams to share design, track changes,and coordinate projects effectively through cloud connected tools. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 4/5 - Customer support: 5/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros It has comprehensive set of design,simulation, motion analysis,and validation tools within a single platform. For security perspective, the software offer user access controls,data management option and integration with PDM system. Customer support generally reliable. #### Cons Its cost is high,especially for small business, students, or startups.large or complex assemblies can sometime lead to performance issues. --- ### Great product! Price is a bit crippling! - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Design - Company size: 51-200 employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · weekly - Reviewed: April 2026 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. This is a very intuitive software that allows for suppressing components within the assembly FEA that you want to exclude from analysis, change remote loadings, and much more! #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 2/5 - Customer support: 5/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros The Simulation for FEA is invaluable for analyzing the strength of assemblies. Solidworks express gets left in the dust when you can analyze entire assemblies #### Cons This is a very expensive add on. Our company has only 1-2 licenses with this premium feature because of the costs --- ### Great product if you're working with a SolidWorks Reseller (3DXperience) - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Internet - Company size: 2-10 employees - Product usage: 1-3 years · daily - Reviewed: March 2026 - Review source details: This review was submitted organically. No incentive was offered Very good experience overall. SolidWorks Premium offers powerful tools, stability, and efficiency for professional design work #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 5/5 - Customer support: 3/5 - Functionality: 4/5 #### Pros Access to the Simulation in assembly is a must for our products. I liked the 3DExperience cloud PDM fonctionnalities that are now available in my package #### Cons Without an integrator like ([sensitive content hidden]) it is hard to navigate in 3DExperience platform by your own. I strongly recommand to contact a VAR to help you during the installation --- ### Still the benchmark of CAD - Overall rating: 4/5 - Reviewer: Craig D. - Industry: Machinery - Company size: 11-50 employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · daily - Reviewed: February 2026 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. It is the benchmark for all CAD systems, for all its quirks and the cost, SolidWorks remains the software all CAD systems compare themselves to. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 4/5 - Value for money: 2/5 - Customer support: 3/5 - Functionality: 4/5 #### Pros 3d Design is excellent. I like how more and more companies are integrating their products into the features of SolidWorks. The part to drawing integration is excellent. #### Cons It is very expensive in comparison to other products. SolidWorks crashes very often. I've lost a good amount of work due to this. We get a huge number of notifications telling me we have the wrong graphics card --- ### Poca trasparenza - Overall rating: 2/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Design - Company size: 11-50 employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · daily - Reviewed: November 2025 - Review source details: This review was submitted organically. No incentive was offered Hanno un furbissimo sistema commerciale truffaldino, omettono informazioni importanti sulla frequenza dei pagamenti, sul fatto che i pagamenti sono anticipati anche se per tutta la fase di contrattazione sono sempre espressi annualmente. Difficile credere che sia un caso, è un sistema collaudato che da più di un decennio ci riserva sorprese OGNI volta che abbiamo a che fare con loro. Le offerte vengono mandate via testo mail e le info più delicate vengono comunicate telefonicamente, in modo che non ci sia nessuna documentazione ufficiale e che possano disattendere la parola data. I contratti inviati lasciano spazio a libere interpretazioni quindi la delusione è assicurata! Sul loro sito non c'è modo di mandare una recensione e la chat permette solo di aprire ticket! In tutto questo il software ha molti bugs e va in conflitto con la maggior parte degli altri software, richiedendo l'utilizzo di una macchina dedicata! Una macchina per soldi niente male!! Consiglio di tornare al tecnigrafo #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 1/5 - Customer support: 1/5 - Functionality: 4/5 #### Pros Dedicato alla meccanica Facile da usare Buoni tools dedicati alla progettazione Buona la progettazione parametrica #### Cons Il sistema di vendita truffaldino Il servizio clienti La spocchia e il fatto che trattano i clienti dall'alto al basso Problemi di compatibilità con quasi tutti gli altri software installati sul pc --- ### SolidWorks is a Must for the Precision Machining Industry - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Cody C. - Industry: Aviation & Aerospace - Company size: 51-200 employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · daily - Reviewed: August 2025 - Review source details: This review was submitted organically. No incentive was offered My overall experience with SolidWorks has been great, it's easy enough to use for jr. engineers to learn, and advanced enough for senior engineers to leverage creating blueprints very quickly and efficiently. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 5/5 - Customer support: 4/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros SolidWorks Premium is THE best software for creating manufacturing/process blue-prints efficiently and it is also a great tool to extract GD&T and PMI data from a 3D model. #### Cons I had to purchase Mastercam in addition to SolidWorks for CNC programming capabilities, I wish SolidWorks would implement CNC programming software, such as Mastercam, so it's an all-in-one package for creating blueprints and programming CNC vertical mills. --- ### For me, Solidworks is always the best. Initially, I was intimidated by Solidworks' interface, but I - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Education Management - Company size: 51-200 employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · weekly - Reviewed: August 2023 - Review source details: This review was submitted organically. No incentive was offered I teach students computer-aided design. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 1/5 - Customer support: 5/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros It's easy to learn, it's user friendly, and drawing of complex surfaces can be done easily #### Cons unfortunately, although Solidworks is a tick font software, it remains not affordable, in fact, its cost is very high, which is a major inconvenience. --- ### Solidworks is a competitive alternative to AutoCad. - Overall rating: 4/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Verified reviewer: Yes - Industry: Mechanical or Industrial Engineering - Company size: 11-50 employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · monthly - Reviewed: October 2019 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. Solidworks never really gives me problems. I would recommend having a decent computer tho. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 4/5 - Value for money: 4/5 - Customer support: 5/5 - Functionality: 4/5 #### Pros Solidworks is easy to use and has a lot of fascinating features in their 3d modeling software and I can transfer to a printer with ease. #### Cons The earlier versions of the software were clunky, but the newest version of the software is great and does not crash for me anymore. --- ### Solidworks is industry standard a easy to learn, but expensive - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Renewables & Environment - Company size: 2-10 employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · daily - Reviewed: September 2022 - Review source details: This review was submitted organically. No incentive was offered SolidWorks was the first CAD software i ever used, in the start if you use others you are going to think that all the other are too hard to use, but as you become a experienced designer things start to become way better in other softwares. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 3/5 - Customer support: 5/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros SolidWorks in most engineering schools is going to be the one that is teached first, it is pretty easy to use and learn, has its most important tools in the first page wich makes it the best for startes. The Render tools are by far the most sofisticated in the market for a long time, so if want to impress a client thats a must. #### Cons It's easy to use and learn in the start, but as the modeling goes more complex, and you need to simulate a mechanism or even a make a stress–strain analysis it becomes harder, some of the tools are hidden in the software and you need someone that passed through to find the habilit a lot of its tools that you going to need, like weldment tab for an exemple. --- ### Solidworks-Best Design tool for Mechanical Engineer - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Md Sazzad M. - Industry: Writing and Editing - Company size: 2-10 employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · weekly - Reviewed: January 2022 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. I use Solidworks for a lot of purposes, such as designing 3D models for objects, creating 2D drawing, and even doing surface design work with sheets of metal. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros Solidworks is one of the top design tools for mechanical engineers, providing them with functionality and features that allow them to create and redesign their designs easily and efficiently. As a Mechanical Engineer, I am using this software since 2016 and it is saving me a lot of time. It provides me with all the necessary tools to quickly create 3D parts and products that are ready for production. There are many advantages to designing in Solidworks, one is that it is easier to design 3D models than Autocad. Within a short time, I can build detailed dimensions directly into SolidWorks. With the new dimensioning toolbar in SolidWorks 2020, I can now quickly and easily create accuracy and precision in my designs. There are a variety of different ways to see Solidworks, giving you the flexibility you need. Some views may work better for certain tasks while others provide a more detailed look at your project in general. Being able to navigate through designs has also been made incredibly easy by the design tree on Solidworks. It even provides a way to deal with any problems that may arise from changes or edits. #### Cons Solidworks should have an advanced rendering system to make it easier to render 3D models. Often, solidworks software is unable to handle large assemblies while on a low configuration. --- ### Best balance between easiness of use and technical features. - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Logistics and Supply Chain - Company size: 10000+ employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · daily - Reviewed: July 2025 - Review source details: This review was submitted organically. No incentive was offered Amazing! Best software for engineering cad design and products innovation. Also well integrated suite adding 360 degrees capabilities. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 4/5 - Customer support: 4/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros Best software overall in terms of balance between features, features quality, complexity of use, 3d and 1d interoperability and renders capability. #### Cons Sometimes got issue with motions video and also to download some parts from library, but overall always managed to get it fixed or find a turnaround. --- ### Powerful tool at a cost - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Mechanical or Industrial Engineering - Company size: 10000+ employees - Product usage: less than 1 year · daily - Reviewed: September 2025 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Customer support: 5/5 - Functionality: 4/5 #### Pros I was introduced to SolidWorks when I was a bachelor student. I learned a subject "Engineering design" in 2D. After a year, when I was introduced to SolidWorks, I was amazed with it. I learned it by myself, did projects as a student. And during my first job, I dealt with the designing. Since I got to use Premium version, I learned motion analysis. With this function I made my models and ideas a reality. We started using it to identify the mechanical movements and possible errors at an early phase. #### Cons The premium version is expensive for an individual or even for academics and small companies. Since it is not accessible to everyone, it takes time to learn the advanced features. --- ### Ease of use - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Machinery - Company size: 2-10 employees - Product usage: 1-3 years · weekly - Reviewed: May 2025 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. Very nice and well. Was my first Cad software and learning it gave me the base of using other cad softwares. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 4/5 - Customer support: 4/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros Perfect software to get started with 3D drawings and 3D model designing. Used it for a solid while in uni and now in everyday use. #### Cons Sometimes some of the functions that are needed is hidden. so need a bit of gogling around to find where it is. --- ### test solidworks , good software for 3d - Overall rating: 4/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Automotive - Company size: 10000+ employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · daily - Reviewed: May 2025 - Review source details: This review was submitted organically. No incentive was offered #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 4/5 - Functionality: 4/5 #### Pros It is a useful software to design a concept, very easy to learn and increase our competences on it. #### Cons it is not the biggest software used in the entreprise. you need to adapt if you re working in interoperability. --- ### Solidworks Review - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: harsha s. - Industry: Medical Devices - Company size: 10000+ employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · daily - Reviewed: December 2024 - Review source details: This review was submitted organically. No incentive was offered I've been using solidworks for almost 5 years medical devices ....it's the best in market & never faced any serious issues that couldn't be resolved #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 4/5 - Customer support: 4/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros Able to Navigate Large Assemblies smoothly and better #### Cons There is still lot of Lag using PDM within the Tab --- ### Good Deal - Overall rating: 4/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Plastics - Company size: 51-200 employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · daily - Reviewed: August 2021 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. I have created a lot of product designs quickly to determine the weight of a product to get our customers an accurate quote, and a picture they can see. We also use it to design fixtures that can be made at another shop. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 4/5 - Value for money: 4/5 - Customer support: 3/5 - Functionality: 4/5 #### Pros Solidworks is very easy to use. You don't need a lot of training because once you have the basic concept down, it becomes intuitive on how to create models. There are many ways to complete the same commands, so it can just be a matter of preference on which method works best for you. Customer support was able to help me with almost every problem I had except for third party hardware issue. It's customizable, but not too customizable. #### Cons Solidworks can crash at times and work is lost if you don't save it. There are some features that I was not able to create in solid that probably could be done in surfaces if I had time to learn it. --- ### One of the best products design tools for simulation - Overall rating: 4/5 - Reviewer: Shan G. - Industry: Mechanical or Industrial Engineering - Company size: 51-200 employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · weekly - Reviewed: April 2025 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. Fast and accurate simulations, especially on mechanical and materials areas. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 3/5 - Customer support: 3/5 - Functionality: 4/5 #### Pros All levels of simulations including mechanical, materials and performance. #### Cons The physical simulation part needs some improvement. Also it lacks AI upgrade. --- ### SoldWork works! - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Jacob K. - Industry: Chemicals - Company size: 51-200 employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · weekly - Reviewed: December 2024 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. SolidWorks has been very reliable and any time I have had issues, it is the fault of my hardware. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 5/5 - Customer support: 5/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros SolidWorks let me translate my ideas into something other people can understand exactly how I do. #### Cons SolidWorks can be pricey, but in a business, it easily pays for itself. --- ### Easy way in managing my design work - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Construction - Company size: 501-1000 employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · weekly - Reviewed: August 2023 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. The design part is critical for the company since our company is a design and build company. In my role as a planning engineer, I work as a member in the design team. SolidWorks Premium application provides the best designs to achieve design expectations. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 4/5 - Value for money: 5/5 - Customer support: 4/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros 2D modeling is not much different compared to other applications but when it comes to 3D modeling, it can be highly rated since it is a very much updated software where I can find the most recent tools to meet the design standards. rendering and creating 3D images is critical to making a realistic design to meet clients' requirements. User-friendliness is another positive fact on SolidWorks Premium. #### Cons Although it is very useful, It is a highly expensive software. Complex designs will have large file sizes which are difficult to share easily. A powerful ram is needed especially for rendering process. --- ### Design with SOLIDWORKS - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Supun S. - Industry: Computer Software - Company size: Self-Employed - Product usage: 1-3 years · weekly - Reviewed: December 2019 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. As a whole Solidworks is one of the best Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software in the world. When considering with other CAD software, Solidworks is specially designed to model 3D mechanical parts. We can model every single part of a machine separately and then we can assemble it using the same software. Also, we can simulate some machinery parts. But for the simulating, we need much powerful hardware. After assembling the parts modeled we can take a print of the machine including different elevation views. This software is very useful for professional designers and they can buy this software for their companies. I do not recommend this software for individual use because of the price. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 4/5 - Value for money: 4/5 - Customer support: 5/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros Solidworks is a great software to design objects in a professional level. Either a 2-dimensional plan or a 3-dimensional object, we can design it easily using Solidworks. If you have not used this software previously you might think it is hard to learn this software. There are many menus, buttons, panels, etc. in the user interface. But you can learn it very easily because of many tutorials for this software available on YouTube for free. I too studied the software in the same manner. The price of the software is in the midrange but it is worthy because of the features included in Solidworks. Solidworks has a new way of marking dimensions in our design. It is so easy that we only need to select the dimensioning tool and drag down the needed piece. Extruding also became easy because a ruler pops up when we begin to extrude. Solidworks is very useful especially for mechanical engineers, civil engineers, and architectures. They can model their dream using this software. #### Cons There are few drawbacks of the software that I faced while using Solidworks. Since I used some 3D designing software earlier, I feel little bit hard to model objects in Solidworks. Only few primary shapes are included with the software. Some shapes are very hard to model. The price of the software is relatively low when considering with other professional CAD software. But there are many free solutions available in the software market. Therefore buying Solidworks is not a good idea if your project is small. My friend has an Apple computer and he could not find Solidworks software that compatible with mac OS. I think Solidworks for mac OS will release soon. --- ### Solidworks Review - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Research - Company size: 10000+ employees - Product usage: 3-5 years · daily - Reviewed: August 2022 - Review source details: This review was submitted organically. No incentive was offered I use Solidworks everyday all day. I have used Pro-E and NX in the past as well as some of the free 3D cad softwares on the internet. Hands down Solidworks has the feature sets and ease of use that made my job so much more fulfilling and productive. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 5/5 - Customer support: 3/5 - Functionality: 5/5 #### Pros Solidworks allows me to do solid modeling as well as surface modeling. The feature sets for both are equally powerful. I tend to use solid modeling as it is the most straight forward for the type of parts that I am required to design. The tools are logically grouped and easy to find. I can customize where those tools are and how they are grouped as well. The goal is to reduce the number of clicks and mouse movements so I can be more efficient. Solidworks is always finding ways to achieve this. Foe example, I enjoy the use of keyboard shortcuts and mouse shortcuts to get to contextual menus. The icons are easy to understand what tool they represent which again allows me to rapidly locate tools. #### Cons The one item that has vexed me over the years is the thread creation tool. Sometimes, I need to create an actual thread (not a virtual thread) in the model. There is a tool but it is rather clunky and difficult to use. I would just want to define what size of thread and where it starts and then have it create it. If I want to customize it then there should be an option available. --- ### SolidWorks Premium review - Overall rating: 5/5 - Reviewer: Verified Reviewer - Industry: Mining & Metals - Company size: 51-200 employees - Product usage: less than 1 year · monthly - Reviewed: January 2023 - Review source details: This reviewer was invited by us to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. SolidWorks Premium is an effective CAD tool for mechanical product design, it offers robust features such as parametric design tools, simulation and 3D visualization. It is user-friendly and allows for effective project communication. However, it can be costly for some users and its advanced features may require some time to master. Overall, it is a solid choice for professional CAD projects. #### Ratings breakdown - Ease of use: 5/5 - Value for money: 3/5 - Customer support: 5/5 - Functionality: 4/5 #### Pros I use SolidWorks Premium for mechanical product design and I am extremely satisfied with its performance. The user interface is easy to use and the parametric design tools are incredibly powerful, allowing for quick and easy modifications to existing models. The simulation tools are also incredibly useful for testing the functionality of models before production.The 3D visualization is excellent, the photorealistic renderings allow you to truly see how the finished product will look, and the animations make it easy to effectively communicate projects to other people.I am also impressed with SolidWorks Premium's interoperability. It's able to import and export files of various CAD formats, making it easy to collaborate with other members of the team.In conclusion, SolidWorks Premium is an incredibly powerful tool for mechanical product design and is highly recommended for anyone looking for a high-level CAD solution. #### Cons One of the least appreciated aspects of SolidWorks Premium is that the cost can be high for small businesses or individual users. There are less expensive licensing options available, but they may not include all the features of the full version.Another aspect that could be improved is the complexity of some of the simulation tools. The simulation tools are very powerful, but they can be difficult to master for less experienced users and may require training for those not familiar with simulation tools.Finally, there are compatibility issues that can arise when importing or exporting files from other CAD software. Sometimes data can be lost or corrupted during file translation and can cause errors in the models.Despite these drawbacks, SolidWorks Premium remains an extremely powerful CAD tool that is ideal for mechanical product design and offers great flexibility for users who are willing to invest time in learning to use its advanced features effectively. ---