Best Mechanical Engineering Software
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Compare the Top Mechanical Engineering Software as of January 2026
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What is Mechanical Engineering Software?
Mechanical engineering software enables mechanical engineers to design products with detailed accuracy and specifications for the manufacturing and engineering processes. Mechanical engineering software, also known as mechanical CAD (MCAD) or mechanical design automation (MDA), streamlines all aspects of the mechanical engineering and product design process of structures and mechanical parts and products. Compare and read user reviews of the best Mechanical Engineering software currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly.
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1
CMS IntelliCAD
CAD-MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS INC
CMS IntelliCAD® is the intelligent, powerful and affordable full-featured CAD Software and is fully programmable with hundreds of third party solutions. CMS IntelliCAD also offers a full suite of 2D and 3D AutoCAD® compatible drawing tools! It is the smartest choice for engineers, architects and consultants, or anyone who communicates using CAD drawings. It is designed to give you the best unrivaled compatibility and a true CAD Software alternative to Autodesk® AutoCAD® software and is fully programmable with hundreds of third party solutions. CMS IntelliCAD also offers DWG file extension native support! And now also with Microstation DGN file support.Starting Price: $149.95/one-time/user -
2
PataBid
PataBid
PataBid Quantify is a powerful mechanical/electrical estimating software used to help contractors find, bid and win more work. Contractors can search for public tenders, and also build estimates accurately and swiftly through the use of automated quantity takeoff, pricing/labour features, quick item pads, PDF extraction, labour notes, blueprinting, pre built assemblies and more. Contractors can even do manual drafting for design/build work and change orders. PataBid's items database (35,000+items) and cloud based design make Quantify an out of the box estimating software for small contractors. Finally, a software platform designed to help you grow your business and bid electrical work reliably. Designed with the small contractor in mind, Quantify is an affordable, value-packed estimating software for electrical contractors and mechanical contractors. Make your jobs more predictable and profitable. Quantify a winning bid today!Starting Price: $1,200 USD/year -
3
MATLAB
The MathWorks
MATLAB® combines a desktop environment tuned for iterative analysis and design processes with a programming language that expresses matrix and array mathematics directly. It includes the Live Editor for creating scripts that combine code, output, and formatted text in an executable notebook. MATLAB toolboxes are professionally developed, rigorously tested, and fully documented. MATLAB apps let you see how different algorithms work with your data. Iterate until you’ve got the results you want, then automatically generate a MATLAB program to reproduce or automate your work. Scale your analyses to run on clusters, GPUs, and clouds with only minor code changes. There’s no need to rewrite your code or learn big data programming and out-of-memory techniques. Automatically convert MATLAB algorithms to C/C++, HDL, and CUDA code to run on your embedded processor or FPGA/ASIC. MATLAB works with Simulink to support Model-Based Design. -
4
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 -
5
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. -
6
Ansys Mechanical
Ansys
Ansys Mechanical is a best-in-class finite element solver with structural, thermal, acoustics, transient and nonlinear capabilities to improve your modeling. Ansys Mechanical enables you to solve complex structural engineering problems and make better, faster design decisions. With the finite element analysis (FEA) solvers available in the suite, you can customize and automate solutions for your structural mechanics problems and parameterize them to analyze multiple design scenarios. Ansys Mechanical is a dynamic tool that has a complete range of analysis tools. Ansys Mechanical offers a dynamic environment with a complete range of analysis tools, from preparing geometry for analysis to connecting additional physics for even greater fidelity. The intuitive and customizable user interface enables engineers of all levels to get answers fast and with confidence. Ansys Mechanical creates an integrated platform that uses finite element analysis (FEA) for structural analysis. -
7
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. -
8
FreeCAD
FreeCAD
FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler made primarily to design real-life objects of any size. Parametric modeling allows you to easily modify your design by going back into your model history and changing its parameters. FreeCAD allows you to sketch geometry constrained 2D shapes and use them as a base to build other objects. It contains many components to adjust dimensions or extract design details from 3D models to create high quality production ready drawings. FreeCAD is a multiplatfom (Windows, Mac and Linux), highly customizable and extensible software. It reads and writes to many open file formats such as STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC, DAE and many others, making it possible to seamlessly integrate it into your workflow. FreeCAD is designed to fit a wide range of uses including product design, mechanical engineering and architecture. Whether you are a hobbyist, a programmer, an experienced CAD user, a student or a teacher, you will feel right at home with FreeCAD. -
9
Cimatron
Cimatron
Cimatron develops and distributes CAD/CAM software for the manufacturing industry. Cimatron caters to all manufacturing sectors, offering specialized solutions for mold and die makers, as well as solutions for 2.5-5-Axis production milling and turning. Ranked among the top six CAD/CAM suppliers in every global region, Cimatron has subsidiaries in Asia, North America and Europe, and works with certified independent service providers in over 40 countries worldwide. Cimatron service providers offer responsive and effective sales and technical support, helping businesses use Cimatron software to maximize their potential. Cimatron's full solutions use the most advanced technology available to speed up productivity and shorten delivery times. Designed and developed by manufacturers and toolmakers with a wealth of experience on the shop floor, both of Cimatron's product lines are easy to learn and intuitive for the manufacturing professionals who use them. -
10
Onshape
Onshape
Onshape by PTC is the leading cloud-native CAD & PDM platform that runs on any device, anywhere-requiring zero IT. Onshape is for product design companies who are fed up with the errors, time waste, and hidden costs of outdated file-based CAD & PDM.Starting Price: $125.00/month/user -
11
Inventor CAM
Autodesk
Inventor® CAM software simplifies the machining workflow with CAD-embedded 2.5-axis to 5-axis milling, turning, and mill-turn capabilities. The Product Design & Manufacturing Collection provides the tools you need for the design and manufacturing of your products. Create toolpaths with powerful technology, such as 3D adaptive clearing, and the industry’s most complete package of finishing toolpaths. Simultaneous 4- and 5-axis features for machining complex models include tilt, multi-axis contour, and swarf. Improve productivity with traditional turning, facing, grooving, and boring functions. Includes support for live tooling mill-turning. Generate 2D profile cutting paths quickly with the ability to add all contours in the same plane, add tabs, and specify quality settings. Automatically avoid collisions between your part and tool holders during CNC calculations.Starting Price: $355 per month -
12
Siemens NX
Siemens
Siemens NX software is a flexible and powerful integrated solution that helps you deliver better products faster and more efficiently. NX delivers the next generation of design, simulation, and manufacturing solutions that enable companies to realize the value of the digital twin. Supporting every aspect of product development, from concept design through engineering and manufacturing, NX gives you an integrated toolset that coordinates disciplines, preserves data integrity and design intent, and streamlines the entire process. A generative design process is one that engineers can adopt to quickly develop new products based upon meeting design constraints. It is an iterative process that produces fast results the engineer can refine via constraint variation to narrow in on the best design to meet the requirements.Starting Price: $287 per month -
13
E3.series
Zuken
A comprehensive electrical and fluid planning software environment for advanced requirements. E3.series is a true concurrent electrical engineering environment supporting advanced requirements for electrical documentation, cabinet and wire harness design and manufacturing outputs. E3.series facilitates an efficient and accurate design and manufacturing process for electrical and fluid planning, cable planning, and wire harness and cabinet layout. Its object-oriented architecture provides an integrated and consistent design approach to help eliminate errors, improve quality and reduce design time. Consistency of all design phases through object orientation. Powerful automated operations and electrical checks. Comprehensive outputs for manufacturing and documentation. Native format library and design data management. Circuit diagrams, connection lists, layout plans and reports always up-to-date and synchronized.Starting Price: £80/€90/CHF110 per month -
14
Ansys Motor-CAD
Ansys
Ansys Motor-CAD is a dedicated electric machine design tool for fast multiphysics simulation across the full torque-speed operating range. Motor-CAD enables design engineers to evaluate motor topologies and concepts across the full operating range, to produce designs that are optimized for performance, efficiency and size. Motor-CAD software’s four integrated modules—EMag, Therm, Lab, Mech—enable multiphysics calculations to be performed quickly and iteratively, so users can get from concept to final design in less time. Fast calculations and streamlined data input processes leave time for Motor-CAD users to explore more motor topologies and fully assess the impact of advanced loss effects in the initial stages of an electromechanical design. The release includes powerful new features for design optimization, multi-physics analysis and system modelling for electric motors. Fast multiphysics simulation across a full torque-speed operating range. -
15
Rocky DEM
Rocky
Rocky DEM quickly and accurately simulates the flow behavior of bulk materials with complex particle shapes and size distributions. Only in Rocky DEM can you combine the processing power of several GPU cards to accelerate your simulations, enabling you to work with higher volumes of data in less time. Rocky DEM allows modeling of accurate particle shapes which includes custom 3D bodies, 2D shells and fibers which can be made rigid or flexible. Enable your equipment components to move freely in response to forces such as particle contacts, gravity, and more. Rocky DEM’s Application Programming Interface (API) is based on the most-recent technology for customization and user experience integration. The result delivers unique usability, portability and, above all, solver performance. Fully integrated with Ansys Workbench (Fluent, Mechanical, Optislang and DesignXplorer). Includes both one-way and two-way coupling abilities with Ansys Fluent providing physically consistent results. -
16
Dymola
Dassault Systèmes
Dymola, dynamic modeling laboratory, is a complete tool for modeling and simulation of integrated and complex systems for use within automotive, aerospace, robotics, process and other applications. Rapidly solve complex multi-disciplinary systems modeling and analysis problems, using Dymola's best-in-class Modelica and simulation technology. Dymola is a complete environment for model creation, testing, simulation and post-processing. Dymola, Dynamic Modeling Laboratory, is a complete tool for modeling and simulation of integrated and complex systems for use within automotive, aerospace, robotics, process and other applications. Developed by domain specialists, these libraries are used in conjunction with Dymola or 3DEXPERIENCE Dymola Behavior Modeling to quickly and easily model and simulate the behavior of complex systems that span multiple engineering disciplines. FMI allows any modeling tool to generate C code or binaries representing a dynamic system model. -
17
Altair Inspire
Altair
Applied early in the product development lifecycle, Inspire accelerates the creation, optimization, and study of innovative, structurally efficient parts and assemblies through collaboration. Inspire's award winning user experience for geometry creation and modification can be learned in just a few hours, and delivers dependable Altair solver power. Structural analysis with the speed and accuracy of Altair® SimSolid®, as independently validated by NAFEMS, provides the ability to analyze large assemblies and complex parts. Dynamic motion simulation, including loads extraction, using the reliable multi-body systems analysis of Altair® MotionSolve®. The industry standard for structural efficiency, topology optimization by Altair® OptiStruct®, for the generative design of practical, viable, and manufacturable geometry. Inspire enables both simulation analysts and designers to perform what-if studies faster, easier, and above all earlier, encouraging collaboration. -
18
Moldflow
Autodesk
Moldflow® simulation software lets you troubleshoot problems with plastic injection and compression molding. Advanced tools and a simplified user interface help you address manufacturing challenges, such as part warpage, cooling channel efficiency, and cycle time reduction. Connect product design teams, minimizing delays and rework costs. Autodesk Drive and shared view enable content collaboration. In-product Fusion 360 push for quick geometry changes. Automation tools reduce setup and post-processing. Expand solver flexibility to improve capacity. Minimize solver hardware limitations by using Moldflow Insight. Mesh and solve Insight jobs with local, remote, and secured cloud server options. Run multiple simulations concurrently with remote server and cloud solving. Securely store, preview, and share design data. Quickly and securely share work with stakeholders. Upload a .csv file to add and assign a large number of users at once. -
19
OpenFOAM
OpenFOAM
OpenFOAM is the free, open-source CFD software developed primarily by OpenCFD Ltd since 2004. It has a large user base across most areas of engineering and science, from both commercial and academic organizations. OpenFOAM has an extensive range of features to solve anything from complex fluid flows involving chemical reactions, turbulence and heat transfer, to acoustics, solid mechanics and electromagnetics. OpenFOAM is professionally released every six months to include customer-sponsored developments and contributions from the community. It is independently tested by ESI-OpenCFD's application specialists, development partners and selected customers, and supported by ESI's worldwide infrastructure, values and commitment. Quality assurance is based on rigorous testing. The process of code evaluation, verification and validation includes several hundred daily unit tests, a medium-sized test battery run on a weekly basis, and a large industry-based test battery-run. -
20
Ansys Vista TF
Ansys
2D throughflow simulation is a critical step in the rotating machinery design process. Vista TF provides you with quick answers and can grant a better insight to your design or expose unexpected issues. Perform initial design iterations in 2D before moving to detailed 3D analysis to reduce development time and engineering resources. Achieve stronger insight to your rotating machinery design with Ansys Vista TF. This software provides detailed 2D flow simulation and enables you to refine product performance in early design stages. A high-performance turbocharger is a critical component for engine performance. The engineers at PCA were looking for a way to optimize turbocharger performance while simultaneously finding the most efficient approach to their problems. Ansys Vista TF quickly proved to be the best answer, as it offered fast, high-quality answers contained in a streamlined workspace. -
21
Luminary Cloud
Luminary Cloud
Luminary Cloud is the world’s first modern computer-aided engineering SaaS platform that provides engineers insights in minutes, allowing for quick simulation, analysis, and iteration that were once impossible. Experience the magic of running simulations in minutes on the most advanced GPUs in the cloud. Securely store, access, and analyze all your raw simulation data to discover insights and optimize engineering designs. Run experiments faster for better product design and quality while reducing the chance of defects. Accelerate time to market by optimizing engineering efficiency and dramatically lower hardware, prototyping, and physical testing costs. Empower your team to create their best designs with faster insights and results, with the most accessible simulation platform. Run fast simulations at any scale, collaborate around the world with project sharing, and start analyzing results instantly.Starting Price: $5 per credit -
22
Simpack
Dassault Systèmes
Simpack is a general multibody system simulation (MBS) software enabling analysts and engineers to simulate the non-linear motion of any mechanical or mechatronic system. It enables engineers to generate and solve virtual 3D models in order to predict and visualize dynamic motion, coupling forces and stresses. Simpack is used primarily within the automotive, engine, HIL/SIL/MIL, power transmission, railway, and wind energy industrial sectors, but can be applied to any branch of mechanical engineering. Simpack simulation software is particularly well-suited to high frequency transient analyses, even into the acoustic range. Simpack was primarily developed to handle complex non-linear models with flexible bodies and harsh shock contact. -
23
EVOLVE Mechanical
EVOLVE
EVOLVE Mechanical is easy to use and will feel familiar to CADmep users. As an extension of Revit Fabrication, you can use EVOLVE Mechanical with your existing CADmep database. Additionally, our customized Revit Fabrication training course has helped hundreds of companies and thousands of users make the transition. The end result? On average, our customers are up and running on EVOLVE Mechanical in three days.Starting Price: $3,500 -
24
ICEM Surf
Dassault Systèmes
Often described as the reference system for the creation of Class-A surfaces, ICEM Surf is the industry-leading curve and surface explicit geometry modeling tool for defining, analyzing and performing high-end visualization of complex free-form shape CAD surface models to the highest quality. Used in product design processes throughout automotive, aerospace, consumer goods and press-tool design industries, providing solutions for direct surface modeling, refinement, reconstruction and scan modelling. Advanced tools such as Global modelling and industry-defined analysis tools enable designers to detect subtle surface problems and check for compliances with regulations, whilst simultaneously performing high precision surfacing and experiencing real-time 3D visualization. With the core module you can define complex free-form shapes of a desired aesthetical high end Class-A quality, create, modify and diagnose surfaces and existing designs. -
25
Abaqus
Dassault Systèmes
Today, product simulation is often being performed by engineering groups using niche simulation tools from different vendors to simulate various design attributes. The use of multiple vendor software products creates inefficiencies and increases costs. SIMULIA delivers a scalable suite of unified analysis products that allow all users, regardless of their simulation expertise or domain focus, to collaborate and seamlessly share simulation data and approved methods without loss of information fidelity. The Abaqus Unified FEA product suite offers powerful and complete solutions for both routine and sophisticated engineering problems covering a vast spectrum of industrial applications. In the automotive industry engineering work groups are able to consider full vehicle loads, dynamic vibration, multibody systems, impact/crash, nonlinear static, thermal coupling, and acoustic-structural coupling using a common model data structure and integrated solver technology. -
26
Vention
Vention
Vention MachineBuilder is the fastest and easiest way to design and order factory equipment. Loaded with thousands of modular parts, smart design tools, and real-time pricing, automated equipment, robot cells and tooling, can be created in minutes, from anywhere, on any web browser. Create automated equipment, robot cells and tooling in minutes with the only CAD software built exclusively for the factory floor. Don’t spend days learning another CAD software. Smart design tools, in-CAD support and an intuitive interface make equipment design easy for everyone. Access a curated library of industrial-grade, modular automation components. From structural framing, to linear motion and robotics, leverage parts that have been tested for compatibility across Vention and trusted-partner brands. Real-time pricing as parts are added to the design.
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