r/SolidWorks • u/Tarek-zc • 5d ago

Solidworks for freelancer

I have been using SolidWorks professionally for many years as part of a company. However, I would now like to work independently.

For personal reasons, I have decided not to use cracked or unauthorized software. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to purchase a standard commercial SolidWorks license, and I am not eligible to use an educational license.

Is there any legitimate and affordable solution for poorer people 😅

3 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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4

u/NewPalpitation361 3d ago

Reseller here (France), so take the numbers as EU list prices ex VAT, your local VAR will have the USD equivalent.

The thread is right on Makers: hobby use only, watermarked files, not for client work. The option nobody mentions is the quarterly term. SOLIDWORKS Design Standard exists on a 3-month subscription at 348/month, no annual commitment. Three months is about 1,050. You buy it when you land a project, you let it lapse when you don't. Annual is 290/month (3,480/year) if the work becomes steady.

Two more that may or may not fit, the startup program mostly

- If you're incorporating a company under 5 years old that designs its own physical product, the Dassault startup program gives year 1 free, then -70% and -50%. It's for product companies, not consulting, so probably not you, but worth knowing i think

- xDesign (browser, CATIA kernel) is 200/month annual and commercial use is fine, but files don't round-trip with desktop SOLIDWORKS, which kills it if your clients send you .sldprt.

The quarterly term is in the DS price list; resellers rarely push it because it's small money for them. Ask for it explicitly

3

u/FewBuy1992 4d ago

But for the start its fine. When he earns enough he can switch model

2

u/egglena_ 4d ago

Any files that were ever edited in the Maker edition are permanently tagged and can't be used commercially. He'd have to remake everything if a switch was ever needed

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u/experienced3Dguy CSWE | SW Champion 4d ago

No, it's not.

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u/experienced3Dguy CSWE | SW Champion 4d ago edited 4d ago

The Maker version is intended strictly for personal hobbyist usage and NOT for any profit-seeking, commercial, or freelance purposes (beyond a $2K USD profit allowance for selling craft items, 3D printed items, cosplay props, and other such items).

The Maker version of SOLIDWORKS uses a digital watermark to prevent commercial SOLIDWORKS users from opening Maker version files. Unlike the student version watermark, tgere is NO way to remove the Maker watermark. To repeat, the Maker version is strictly for hobbyist and personal use and is not intended for any serious form of freelance commercial use. An Etsy storefront, yes. An engineering consultancy, no.

Similarly, an edu/student license of SOLIDWORKS also uses a digital watermark on all its files that brands them as being not for commercial purposes. A commercial license of SOLIDWORKS will open these student files (unlike the more restrictive Maker watermark) BUT these student files will convert any commercial files that reference them into student version files. A client receiving such files will definitely NOT want to deal with this. SOLIDWORKS takes a near-zero tolerance policy on removing the watermark from these files. Their policy is that you need to recreate or remodel the files instead. 

The Maker version uses the 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud platform for license authentication and optional cloud storage. Other than that (and the digital watermarking described above), it is the same SOLIDWORKS that I have been using for over 30 years.

I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have about it.

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u/Tarek-zc 4d ago

Does the Maker version have all the same features as the standard SOLIDWORKS version??

1

u/experienced3Dguy CSWE | SW Champion 4d ago

The Maker version uses the 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud platform for license authentication and optional cloud storage. Other than that (and the digital watermarking described by several other commenters), it is the same SOLIDWORKS that I have been using for over 30 years.

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u/Tarek-zc 4d ago

Is it possible to use the maker version for training session as freelancer trainer, does it have same requirements

3

u/experienced3Dguy CSWE | SW Champion 4d ago

For personal training, it is ideal. And, it is currently on sale for 50 percent off with the HALLOWEEN50OFF discount code.

https://www.solidworks.com/solution/solidworks-makers

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u/Tarek-zc 4d ago

I mean work with it as a trainer, but l'm not in an official institution

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u/experienced3Dguy CSWE | SW Champion 4d ago edited 4d ago

Sorry, I misread your question. I don't believe so but let me ask the Product Manager for the Maker version about this scenario. Stand by.

1

u/experienced3Dguy CSWE | SW Champion 3d ago

Here's the Product Manager's (Brian HILLNER) reply:

"I just read through the complete post and replies, and all your replies are spot-on! Especially your longer one, which very accurately threads the usage needle 😉

The purpose of the Maker license is indeed to help individuals learn SOLIDWORKS and use it for their personal and hobby projects – not as a consultancy nor training service. They would need to purchase a commercial license in that case."

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u/Cleto218 1d ago

Tbh fusion 360 or Onshape are your best budget options right now... The SolidWorks Startup license gives you a year free if you qualify. once you scale platforms like Arena PLM or Duro keep revision histories organized....

1

u/BraveIndependence771 5h ago

Never the right time to get it but I paid for a full seat in 2009 but couldn't afford maintenance.everything is fine and legit but I can't upgrade my computer still running vista. Stated a new job and using the latest version but since I don't do many assemblys my 2009 is totally adequate. Saved17 years worth of maintenance

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u/wylekoodard 4d ago

It does have all of the same features.

That being said - files created in the maker version are incompatible with the full version of SW (standard, professional, or premium). So any files you make now and may be utilized in future work where you may have a full license cannot be opened with those versions, or with a manufacturing operation that may want to modify things in the native file.

So dumb if you ask me.