What is Onshape used for?

Onshape is cloud-native CAD that runs in the browser, with built-in version control and real-time collaboration for product design teams. It is a good fit for distributed engineering teams designing together, startups avoiding CAD file management overhead and schools teaching CAD in the browser.

Yes. Onshape has a free plan, and paid plans start at $1,500 per seat per year. A free trial is also available.

Is Onshape open source?

No. Onshape is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. Open-source alternatives to Onshape include FreeCAD and OpenSCAD.

What are some alternatives to Onshape?

Onshape competes with Autodesk Fusion and AutoCAD. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Onshape alternatives.

Onshape: features, pricing and alternatives

About Onshape

Onshape is a cloud-native computer-aided design platform used for mechanical and product design. Because it runs in a web browser and stores data in the cloud, there is nothing to install, and several people can work on the same design at once.

A defining feature is built-in version control and data management: designs can be branched, merged and compared much like source code, which reduces the file copies and conflicts that come with traditional desktop CAD. The vendor site could not be read when this entry was prepared, so confirm the current modules, mobile support and pricing tiers on the Onshape website.

Onshape is proprietary software delivered as a cloud service. It is relevant to engineering teams, startups and educators who want modern collaboration in CAD and who prefer not to manage workstation software or file servers.

Key features

Browser-based parametric CAD
Built-in version control with branching and merging
Real-time multi-user collaboration
Cloud data management
No local installation required

Good fit for

→Distributed engineering teams designing together
→Startups avoiding CAD file management overhead
→Schools teaching CAD in the browser

Tags: cad; cloud; mechanical-design; version-control; collaboration; 3d; browser-based

Onshape: questions and answers

What is Onshape used for?: Onshape is cloud-native CAD that runs in the browser, with built-in version control and real-time collaboration for product design teams. It is a good fit for distributed engineering teams designing together, startups avoiding CAD file management overhead and schools teaching CAD in the browser.
Is Onshape free?: Yes. Onshape has a free plan, and paid plans start at $1,500 per seat per year. A free trial is also available.
Is Onshape open source?: No. Onshape is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. Open-source alternatives to Onshape include FreeCAD and OpenSCAD.
What are some alternatives to Onshape?: Onshape competes with Autodesk Fusion and AutoCAD. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Onshape alternatives.