SOLIDWORKS Frequently Asked Questions

SOLIDWORKS for Makers is currently available in: Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States. See the Makers FAQ for the latest availability information.

Yes. Both SOLIDWORKS for Makers packages are designed to be easy to learn and accessible for new users. You’ll find all the help you need within your platform’s Resources section, which brings together step-by-step tutorials, the Getting Started video playlist to learn at your own pace, and the Welcome App with tours, videos, tips, and training to help you make the most of your tools.

You can also join the Makers Made in 3D community to connect with others, share ideas, and find inspiration for your next DIY project.

Not at all. Whether you’re creating your first prop or building a full suit of armor, SOLIDWORKS for Makers combines professional CAD precision with maker-friendly tools and tutorials. You’ll find guides, videos, and community support to help at every step.

SOLIDWORKS Simulation is an add-in for SOLIDWORKS Design Standard, Professional,and Premium. SOLIDWORKS Design Premium includes time-based motion analysis andlinear static analysis for parts and assemblies. To add the full power of SOLIDWORKSSimulation to SOLIDWORKS Design, contact your Reseller Partner.

No, a SolidNetWork License does not require subscription service; however, the benefits of subscription service will not be available.

SOLIDWORKS is not officially supported in the Mac environment.  We are aware of many users who run SOLIDWORKS successfully in a dual-boot Windows environment on Macs.  We are not aware of many users running successfully in an emulated Windows environment on Macs.  If you choose to run SOLIDWORKS on a Mac, your best chance for success will be choosing a dual-boot "Boot Camp" setup (booting in Windows) on your Mac.

SOLIDWORKS eDrawings and the free 2D CAD product DraftSight are supported in native Mac OS.

Please refer to this link providing system requirement information for installing SOLIDWORKS:

www.solidworks.com/SystemRequirements

Yes. Support is included with your purchase.

No, to transfer an SNL license, use the transfer option in the SNL License Manager.

No. Many teams find the long-term value comes from the cumulative effect of ongoing improvements to everyday software performance, usability, workflow efficiency, interoperability, and technical support access. These smaller refinements can help reduce engineering friction across everyday work.

The benefits of SOLIDWORKS certification included with the SOLIDWORKS Subscription service are also advantageous. As a Subscription Services member, you have access to 15 of the 17 SOLIDWORKS Exams, including the CSWA (Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate), CSWP (Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional), and Specialty exams, all to validate user proficiency of the SOLIDWORKS essentials. Build your team’s skills by selecting one exam from three main categories—twice a year—for every seat of SOLIDWORKS on Subscription.

Not necessarily. Many organizations find long-term value in the ongoing performance improvements, workflow optimizations, interoperability enhancements (such as save to previous release), technical support access, and supported upgrade paths that help engineering environments remain maintainable and predictable over time.

There are many other crucial perks included within SOLIDWORKS Subscription Services – spanning areas such as certification exam access, to accompanying software aiding other aspects of the product development process (such as SOLIDWORKS CAM for machining).

Yes. Get started with SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD free trial!

Yes. Get started with SOLIDWORKS Design free trial!

Yes. The SOLIDWORKS for Startups Program is a robust program that offers hardware startup founders free SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD software and other world-class products. In addition to the software, the program offers free training and co-marketing resources to help hardware startups succeed. Find out if your startup is eligible and sign up for SOLIDWORKS for Startups.

Yes. SOLIDWORKS Design for Makers offers SOLIDWORKS design and manufacturing solutions at a low cost for any maker. Learn more about SOLIDWORKS Design for Makers and start making today.

SOLIDWORKS for Makers includes 25 GB of 3DEXPERIENCE cloud platform storage through 3DDrive and 3DSpace, providing ample capacity for your designs. Features such as file versioning, history tracking, and recovery help keep your personal workspace organized. This is usually more than enough for personal and hobby projects.

Currently, storage cannot be expanded, and the 25 GB limit applies only to SOLIDWORKS for Makers licenses.