Autodesk Inventor vs VariCAD
| Autodesk Inventor | VariCAD | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | Yes | No |
| Paid from | — | — |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, Linux |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Modeling method | hybrid | hybrid |
| Assembly design | Yes | Yes |
| Sheet-metal tools | Yes | Yes |
| Surface modeling | Yes | — |
| Cloud collaboration | Yes | — |
| Supported platforms | Windows | Windows 10/11 (64-bit), Linux (64-bit) |
| File import and export | Import: Autodesk states Inventor supports opening non-native CAD data. Export formats documented for parts include DWG, DWF/DWFx, IGES, JT, OBJ, RFA, SAT, STEP, STL, CATIA V5, Parasolid, and Pro/ENGINEER; assemblies additionally include RVT. Drawing formats include DWG, IDW, DWF/DWFx, and DXF. Format support varies by data type and version. | Import: STEP, DWG, DXF. Export: STEP, STL, IGES, 3D PDF, Collada, ACIS, 3D PRC, BMP, DWG, DXF. |
Both are listed in Best 3D CAD Software. On Samsung Mobile US Press, Autodesk Inventor scores higher on our published basis.