Best Engineering Software
View:
Compare the Top Engineering Software as of April 2025
Sort By:
What is Engineering Software?
Engineering software is software used by engineers to design, analyze and manufacture various products. It includes a wide range of applications such as CAD/CAE software, analysis tools, optimization tools, and programming tools. Engineering software can be used for a variety of tasks such as designing mechanical parts, analyzing structural stability, simulating system performance, and optimizing product designs. These applications enable engineers to optimize their designs for cost reduction and increased efficiency. Compare and read user reviews of the best Engineering software currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly.
-
1
BQR
BQR Reliability Engineering
𝗔𝗜-𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗕𝗤𝗥’𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀. 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝟱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀: 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲𝗿𝗧𝗠: streamlines PCB design with de-rating & MTBF prediction. 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸𝗧𝗠: verifies multi-PCB systems for errors & overstress. 𝗳𝗶𝗫𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀®: predicts component lifespan with de-rating, thermal & stress analysis. 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘®: assesses reliability, availability, maintainability & safety. 𝗮𝗽𝗺𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿®: optimizes maintenance & logistics. -
2
Altium Designer
Altium
Altium Designer® offers a unified design environment backed by over 35 years of innovation and development. From schematic to PCB layout and interactive differential pair routing, to design documentation and a seamless ECAD/MCAD integration, Altium Designer empowers engineers with a single view of every aspect of the PCB design process. By accessing all design tools in one place, engineers can complete their entire design process within the same intuitive environment and deliver high-quality products quickly. With the addition of Altium 365, users can choose between accessing the program online and on-premises.Starting Price: $355 USD/month -
3
SkyCiv Structural 3D
SkyCiv Engineering
SkyCiv Structural 3D is a cloud-based Structural Analysis software that allows users to model, analyze and design complex 3D structures. It is completely online; requiring no installation to use. SkyCiv Structural 3D offers the very best in online structural analysis. It includes the following: - Powerful Analysis: Linear, P-Delta, Cables, Buckling, Plates, Frequency, RS - Integrated Design checks for steel, wood, connections, foundations, wind (AISC, NSD, AISI, EN, AS, CSA, BS plus more...)Starting Price: $79/month/user -
4
OrCAD X
Cadence Design Systems
OrCAD® X is a unified PCB design software platform that offers significant improvements in ease of use, performance, automation, data management, and collaboration. Our cloud-enabled product suite contains applications for schematic, simulation, and PCB layout. OrCAD X Capture is one of the most widely used schematic design solutions for the creation and documentation of electrical circuits. PSpice® is our virtual SPICE simulation environment integrated within Capture that allows you to prototype your designs using the industry-leading, native analog, mixed-signal, and advanced analysis engines to deliver a complete circuit simulation and verification solution. Our two PCB layout environments, OrCAD X PCB Editor and OrCAD X Presto, allow designers to easily collaborate between ECAD/MCAD teams and build better PCBs faster. OrCAD X Presto is a new user-friendly option offering a simpler interface for quick-turn PCB design.Starting Price: $107 USD/month -
5
DC-E DigitalClone for Engineering
Sentient Science Corporation
DigitalClone® for Engineering is the world's only gearbox reliability prediction solution integrating multiple scales of analysis in a single software package. In addition to modeling and analysis capabilities at the gearbox and gear/bearing levels, DC-E is the only solution available that models fatigue life based on detailed, physics-based models of the material microstructure (US Patent 10474772B2). DC-E enables construction of a gearbox digital twin with high value across all stages of the lifecycle of the physical asset - from design and manufacturing optimization to component supplier selection to failure root cause analysis to condition-based maintenance and to prognostics. This computational environment drives down the time and cost to bring new designs to the market and to sustain them over time.Starting Price: Upon request -
6
Altium 365
Altium
Design, share and manufacture, all in the same space without the need to install or configure anything at all. Connect to the platform directly from Altium Designer, without changing the way you design electronics. Altium 365 does not require additional licenses, and it is included in your subscription plan. Bring higher-quality products to market faster than your competitors, thanks to transparency in reviews and design sharing. Share, in real time and without having to leave your design space, the status of projects with team members, manufacturers, and even clients, who can review and comment on your designs. Anyone with Internet access can view, search, contrast and comment on your projects from a browser and without the need to purchase additional Altium Designer licenses. Make mechanical and electronic collaboration challenges a competitive advantage by working seamlessly across domains, without losing sight of purpose or time. -
7
nanoCAD
Nanosoft
nanoCAD is a modern computer-aided design (CAD) platform that provides designers with powerful capabilities in 2D drafting and 3D modeling. nanoCAD can be used on its own as a cost-effective DWG-editor, or customized with essential modules: Construction, Mechanica, Raster, Topoplan and 3D Solid Modeling. 2D drawings and 3D solid models with 2D and 3D parametric constraints, and dynamic UCS for effortless sketching on 3D faces. Documentation drawings link to 3D models. Fully DWG compatible.Starting Price: $180.00/year/user -
8
Solid Edge
Siemens
Solid Edge is a portfolio of affordable, easy to deploy, maintain, and use software tools that advance all aspects of the product development process – mechanical and electrical design, simulation, manufacturing, technical documentation, data management, and cloud-based collaboration. Developed on Siemens industry leading technologies, Solid Edge provides the most innovative and comprehensive approach to product development for the mainstream market.Starting Price: $75/month/user -
9
MicroStation
Bentley Systems
You need CAD software that can handle the scale of data demanded by infrastructure projects. Use MicroStation to generate efficient 2D and 3D drawings for any size data set. Global transportation agencies, AEC firms, and other owner-operators require DGN for their infrastructure projects. Eliminate time wasted and errors created when converting your designs from DWG. Infrastructure project lifecycles are long. You can rely on MicroStation to natively utilize data needed to deliver your projects, no matter when it was created, even if it was in the 90s. MicroStation is easy to use and master through a configurable environment with in-app learning, video tutorials, and extensive support that allows you to become an expert in no time. MicroStation is used by engineers, architects, GIS professionals, constructors, and owner-operators to design, model, visualize, document, map, and sustain infrastructure projects.Starting Price: $250 per month -
10
GeoHECRAS
CivilGEO, Inc.
GeoHECRAS is a river modeling software used to compute water surface profiles for steady and unsteady flow models, bridge and culvert roadway crossings, FEMA floodplain encroachments, stream restorations, inline reservoir structures, off-channel storage areas, and much more. GeoHECRAS offers: • Quickly Build 1D & 2D HEC-RAS Models • Automatic Assignment of Land Cover as Manning’s Roughness • Digital Terrain Cross Section Cutting • Automated Bridge & Culvert Sizing and Designing • Automated FEMA Floodplain Encroachments • LiDAR Elevation Terrain Processing • Automated Model Calibration • AutoCAD, MicroStation & ESRI ArcGIS Compatible • 100% Compatible with US Army Corps of Engineers HEC-RAS GeoHECRAS provides an easy-to-use, single graphical platform to rapidly create stunning HEC-RAS models and 3D visualizations from a variety of different data sources like AutoCAD, MicroStation, ArcGIS, Google Maps, and more. -
11
ideCAD One AEC
ideYAPI
ideCAD One AEC is an Integrated multidisciplinary BIM Software for Architecture, Structural Engineering, and Detailing with Building Information Modeling (BIM). The Integrated Package provides Structural Engineers, Architects, and detailers with Integrated BIM, AEC, and CAD tools that support projects from early-stage design to construction. Create high-quality, high-performing Architectural and structural design with integrated design tools. Optimize projects with integrated Structural analysis, Steel design, Concrete design, Connection design, visualization, and simulation tools. Improve predictability in the field with integrated tools that maximize constructability and project coordination. Accelerate design processes and improve quality with integrated workflows for integrated design, modeling, multidiscipline coordination, and construction documentation.Starting Price: $3,800 per year -
12
ESPRIT
Hexagon AB
With powerful programming, accurate simulation, and machine-optimized G-code, ESPRIT delivers a large-scale impact driving CNC machines more efficiently and fully utilizing machine capabilities. With ESPRIT, programming is simplified and machine utilization goes up, while both setup and cycle times drop. Backed by world-class technical support, ESPRIT is the right choice for any industrial application, from job shop work to large-scale heavy equipment manufacturing. Do you edit your G-code? How much time does it take? Does your machine keep alarming out during the test run? Have you ever crashed your machines with CAM-generated G-code? If these problems sound familiar to you, we've got four reasons why ESPRIT® can make your life as a CNC programmer much easier. ESPRIT is always in motion. Browse product announcements, company updates, and more. Our extensive partnerships with top industry names ensure you get the most from your machine. -
13
CATIA
Dassault Systèmes
CATIA is the world's leading solution for product design and experience. It is used by leading organizations in multiple industries to develop the products we see and use in our everyday lives. CATIA delivers the unique ability not only to model any product, but to do so in the context of its real-life behavior: design in the age of experience. Systems architects, engineers, designers, construction professionals and all contributors can define, imagine and shape the connected world. A Social design environment built on a single source of truth and accessed through powerful 3D dashboards that drive business intelligence, real-time concurrent design and collaboration across all stakeholders including mobile workers. An Instinctive 3DEXPERIENCE for both experienced and occasional users with world-class 3D modeling and simulation capabilities that optimize the effectiveness of every user. An Inclusive product development platform that is easily integrated with existing processes & tools. -
14
SOLIDWORKS
SolidWorks
SOLIDWORKS® 3D CAD solutions provide easy-to-learn, yet extremely powerful functionality that shortens product development time, reduces costs, and improves quality. SOLIDWORKS® 3D CAD solutions provide easy-to-learn, yet extremely powerful functionality that shortens product development time, reduces costs, and improves quality. Take advantage of the capabilities of SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD and the benefits of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, a single cloud-based product development environment. Quickly create and collaborate on 3D designs in the cloud and deliver innovative products to market faster. Quickly create and collaborate on organic shapes and complex surfaces in the cloud and deliver innovative products to market faster. Rapidly generate and detail 2D drawings from 3D models, speeding up the design-to-manufacturing process. Harness the power of the world’s most widely used 3D design software in a fully-integrated engineering suite, backed by the community. -
15
RFEM
Dlubal Software
The FEA program RFEM allows for quick and easy modeling, structural and dynamic calculation, as well as the design of models with member, plate, wall, folded plate, shell, and solid elements. Due to the modular software concept, you can connect the main program RFEM with the corresponding add‑ons in order to meet your individual requirements. The structural analysis program RFEM provides structural engineers with a 3D FEA program that meets all requirements in modern civil engineering. Efficient data input and intuitive handling facilitate the modeling of simple and complex structures. The structural analysis program RFEM is the basis of a modular software system. The basic program RFEM is used to define structures, materials, and loads for planar and spatial structural systems consisting of plates, walls, shells, and members. The program also allows you to create combined structures as well as model solid and contact elements.Starting Price: €697.50 rent 1 month -
16
Process Engineering ToolS
Stratus Engineering
PETS® is an engineering software product with a collection of over 30 frequently used engineering calculations combined into one software product. PETS® software calculates Physical Properties, Hydraulic Analysis, Relief Calculations and Instrument Sizing. PETS® also calculates Equipment Sizing such as Pumps, Compressors, Tanks, Vessels, Spheres, Drums, Columns, Exchangers, Air Coolers and more. PETS® is used by Process, Chemical, Production, Mechanical, Instrument and other Engineers. PETS® is being used in Refineries, Chemical Plants, Utilities, Equipment Manufacturers and many other industries. PETS helps you design, analyze and troubleshoot your process. The graphical user interface makes PETS® easy to use increasing productivity and providing reliable results. Select a tool, there are over 30 ToolS, then begin entering the necessary data. The PETS® environment is interactive and calculations are performed and updated as required data is entered. Save or print the data.Starting Price: $44.99/month/user -
17
HydroCAD
HydroCAD Software Solutions
HydroCAD Stormwater Modeling provides easy TR-20, TR-55, SBUH, and Rational hydrology, plus TC calculations, pond storage, outlet hydraulics, pump routing, underground storage, pollutant loading, and more. Special features include direct CAD import, dam breach routing, skimmers, tubes, siphons, local rainfall data import, and a constantly expanding chamber library. Interactive graphical environment is fast and intuitive, producing better results in less time on every project.Starting Price: $295.00 -
18
SimWise 4D
Design Simulation Technologies
Are you looking for an engineering tool that will resolve design problems, reduce failures and warranty costs, turn around designs faster, and work either with your existing Windows-based 3D CAD system or as a standalone application? SimWise 4D is for design and engineering professionals developing products involving assemblies of 3D parts. By simulating your assemblies in this unique virtual environment, you will produce more creative, robust designs and reduce cycle time. With SimWise 4D, you can simulate the rigid body dynamics of an assembly, size components, determine part interferences and collision response, identify stresses induced by motion, produce physics-based animations, and test your control systems. Professional Engineers use our Working Model 2D, Dynamic Designer Motion, and SimWise 4D products to build virtual prototypes of their mechanical designs and use these prototypes to evaluate performance.Starting Price: $2000.00/year/user -
19
CADTALK
CADTALK Software
CAD/PDM/PLM engineering bill of material (eBOM) transformation to ERP manufacturing bill of material (mBOM), routing, items, and more. Reduce the engineering to manufacturing hand-off by 80% converting 20 bills and 40 items in less than 30 seconds. Improve costing, material planning, and scheduling.Starting Price: Call for Pricing -
20
MatDeck
LabDeck
MatDeck is a universal, technical software for Mathematics, Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Coding, Databases and many other uses. Our software offers a complete Python IDE; thousands of mathematical functions; a drag and drop GUI Designer and various visualization tools, all embedded within a cutting-edge, live document for an inexpensive and professional computing environment.Starting Price: Free -
21
AHED (Advanced Heat Exchanger Design)
HRS Heat Exchangers
HRS-AHED is a new software solution for the calculation of shell and tube heat exchangers featuring fluids and mixing assistant, sensible heat / condensation calculations, single pass and multi pass units, with or w/o baffles and many more features: fluid database, customizable geometries, project sharing, batch calculation, vibration analysis, reporting, and much more. To ensure the best calculation results, the we have conducted a thorough search through scientific literature to make sure the best and most recent methods for calculation in heat transfer engineering are used in our software. Many heat exchanger projects have been designed successfully with AHED, making it an industrially proven software solution.Starting Price: €50/3months/user -
22
PlusSpec
RubySketch
PlusSpec is the most powerful, affordable and easy to learn 3D BIM/Virtual Design Construction & Estimating software for the Design & Construction Industry. From Design & Sales to Estimating & Procurement, PlusSpec offers one integrated solution created to help you become more efficient & profitable. PlusSpec has been made for people who are low on time, and we’ve included the support you need so you can quickly master the software. The only BIM software you can actually design with. Immerse your clients in 3D and sell your designs. Create professional 2D drawings. Manage client budgets. Develop stronger relationships with stakeholders. PlusSpec will allow you to do more than just quantify. Quote Fast. End Error and Oversight. Visualize Risk & Complexity. Transform the way you Communicate. Deliver more than just a Paper Quote. Whether you are Designing & Drafting, or Estimating & Building (or both), specifying products is a key part of the process.Starting Price: $990 per year -
23
Strata Design 3D CX
Strata
Design 3D CX gives you all the tools you need to complete professional 3D projects. Illustrators, product & package designers, display & interior designers – and other creative professionals – rely on Strata Design 3D CX to realize their vision. Easy to learn, hundreds of hours of video tutorials, and connections to Adobe® and other tools make getting up to speed – and integrating with your workflow – a breeze. Strata Design 3D eases the learning curve for 2D designers who are new to 3D. Quick start templates, libraries, predefined effects, backgrounds, environments and more allow designers to create complex scenes in minutes. With a user interface and tools that are familiar to today’s 2D designers, you invest your time learning 3D design concepts rather than a new design paradigm. For many, the thought of 3D modeling is a daunting task. Design 3D offers an extremely friendly modeling toolset and environment for manipulating your polygons, splines, and primitives into any 3D object.Starting Price: $595 one-time payment -
24
ODOP:Spring
SpringDesignSoftware
More than a Spring Calculator. ODOP:Spring is a spring design application of the problem-independent Open Design Optimization Platform (ODOP) software. It finds solutions for demanding spring application requirements in mechanical engineering and machine design. Most coil spring calculators require users to manually input values – such as wire diameter, coil diameter, free length and number of coils – and then repeatedly re-analyze until an acceptable solution is reached. ODOP’s ability to invert formula relationships removes that guesswork. Spring design equations are backsolved to meet constraints placed on the problem variables. Need to identify the lightest-possible material weight? Ensure a long spring life and low risk of failure? Our helical coil spring design software can find the constrained extreme of any variable, whether independent or dependent. -
25
DC-AM DigitalClone for Additive Manufacturing
Sentient Science
Defining the state-of-the-art, DigitalClone for Additive Manufacturing (DC-AM) integrates a suite of metal additive manufacturing modeling and simulation capabilities for comprehensive design and analysis support with seamless interoperability. DC-AM implements a multiscale, multi-physics analysis approach linking the process - microstructure - fatigue relationship of additively manufactured parts to enable computational assessment of quality and performance. DC-AM promotes adoption of AM in safety-critical industries by providing unprecedented insight into the relationship between build conditions and the characteristics of the final part while enabling reduction in time and cost required to qualify parts and processes.Starting Price: Upon request -
26
Envision evCreator
Canvas GFX
Envision evCreator is a powerful graphics application* combining 2D drawing and image editing with 3D model handling for creating technical illustrations, product visualizations, animations, charts, text and more. The evCreator handles the preparation of every visual asset you need to add to your instructional content - as well as the creation of end-to-end documents. Envision evCreator gives technical creatives the autonomy to work with 2D graphics, images and 3D CAD models in a single, intuitive application. No more switching between different apps for different uses, and no more delays caused by reliance on engineering teams for 3D model screenshots. 2D drawing, 3D CAD, and vector graphics in a single, easy to use application: - Image editing - 3D CAD visualization - Flow charts and process diagrams - Animation with text to speech - Smart annotation & dimension tools - Charts, tables, symbols - Export to JPG, PNG, PDF, MP4, and more -
27
h2x Engineering
h2x Engineering
h2x Engineering offers a user-friendly software solution to the traditional manual, tedious, and time-consuming design and calculation engineering tasks. Set up your project, add your required equipment, review the results, and export to PDF, AutoCAD, Revit, and more. -
28
Altair SimSolid
Altair
By performing structural analyses on fully featured CAD assemblies within minutes, SimSolid is the game-changing simulation technology for designers, engineers, and analysts. It eliminates geometry preparation and meshing: the two most time-consuming, expertise-extensive and error-prone tasks performed in a conventional structural simulation. Multiple design scenarios can be simulated quickly under real-life conditions. Early CAD models, in any common format, can be used. SimSolid tolerance of imprecise geometry means that, unlike CAD-embedded simulation tools, there is no need to simplify complex geometries before analyzing designs. SimSolid supports all typical connections (bolt/nut, bonded, welds, rivets, sliding) and analysis of linear static, modal, thermal properties, along with more complex coupled, nonlinear, transient dynamic effects. -
29
IronCAD
IronCAD
IronCAD significantly reduces manufacturing barriers and increases engineering productivity with intuitive 3D and 2D solutions for rapid design and seamless collaboration enterprise-wide. Create design iterations, proposals, and production drawings in less time and simply design faster than any other CAD system available today. What makes us different? IronCAD lets you design intuitively in the way you interact in the world, in 3D. With this easier and faster design approach over traditional CAD software, it’s a fundamentally better way to design. IronCAD gives you the speed to invent the future, with time left to watch it unfold. Skip repetitive steps so you can get to market faster, ahead of your competitors, and with far more return on your investment. -
30
ANSYS SpaceClaim
ANSYS
Ansys SpaceClaim’s unique user interface, modeling technology and versatile tool set help you create and modify imported geometry — without the complexity associated with traditional CAD systems. When working with existing CAD models, you can de-feature and simplify geometry with automated, easy-to-learn tools. Ansys SpaceClaim is ideal for engineers who don’t have time for heavy CAD tools, but want and need to get 3D answers fast. SpaceClaim provides analysts with tools for accelerating geometry preparation for simulation. Whether de-featuring CAD models, extracting fluid domains, or simplifying a model to beam and shell elements, SpaceClaim removes geometry bottlenecks freeing analysts to focus on their simulations. With control of geometry, analysts can enable simulation-driven design, eliminate delays between design teams and analysts, and easily understand how design changes impact results.