[go: up one dir, main page]

Introducing G2.ai, the future of software buying.Try now
Share your insights with Onshape

Thousands of people like you come to G2 to find out whether solutions like Onshape are the right fit for them. Share your real experiences with Onshape and the G2 community and help someone make the right decision about their software.

Onshape Pros and Cons: Top Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users value the ease of use of Onshape, benefiting from its cloud-based access and collaborative design features. (31 mentions)
Users value the real-time collaboration features of Onshape, enabling seamless teamwork and project management from anywhere. (26 mentions)
Users value the easy online access to their designs from any device, enhancing collaboration and efficiency. (24 mentions)
Users value the intuitive functionality and comprehensive learning resources that simplify CAD learning and enhance design collaboration. (21 mentions)
Users value the real-time collaboration offered by Onshape, enabling effortless access and teamwork on designs anywhere. (20 mentions)
Users value the flexibility of cloud services in Onshape, enabling consistent performance across devices and locations. (17 mentions)
Users find the drawing environment lacking, citing performance issues and inconsistent features compared to other CAD software. (23 mentions)
Users feel that Onshape has a lack of features compared to larger CAD systems, impacting their productivity. (13 mentions)
Users find the drawing environment inconsistent and laggy, making it frustrating to work on long sessions. (10 mentions)
Users note the limited CAD features in Onshape, citing a need for improved drawing environments and refined options. (9 mentions)
Users notice limited features in Onshape, including missing symbols and advanced functionalities, impacting overall usability. (9 mentions)
Users express concerns about internet dependency, which affects performance and accessibility of Onshape's features. (6 mentions)

Top Pros or Advantages of Onshape

1. Ease of Use
Users value the ease of use of Onshape, benefiting from its cloud-based access and collaborative design features.
See 31 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Henrique F.
HF

Henrique F.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Extremelly competent"

What do you like about Onshape?

It is as easy to use as other CAD tools, but as it is online, its really easy to access all designs anywhere. Collaboration tools are also amazing and

JS

JJ S.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"CAD in the Cloud is Heavenly!"

What do you like about Onshape?

The most powerful feature of Onshape is its foundation in the cloud. Traditional CAD systems are tied to a single machine, creating a tangle of files

2. Collaboration
Users value the real-time collaboration features of Onshape, enabling seamless teamwork and project management from anywhere.
See 26 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Benjo M.
BM

Benjo M.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Productive"

What do you like about Onshape?

Real time online collaboration and easy BOM management

Verified User
U

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"OnShape is Revolutionary"

What do you like about Onshape?

The file management that allows for version control and collaboration. A close second is the cloud processing so I can open large assemblies on any co

3. Online Accessibility
Users value the easy online access to their designs from any device, enhancing collaboration and efficiency.
See 24 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Henrique F.
HF

Henrique F.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Extremelly competent"

What do you like about Onshape?

It is as easy to use as other CAD tools, but as it is online, its really easy to access all designs anywhere. Collaboration tools are also amazing and

Verified User
E

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"No time consuming updates, no installs, no hardware worries, no vault - awesome"

What do you like about Onshape?

Running a busy design department is hard enough without having to worry about CAD software and hardware. With onshape I can quickly add a new user to

4. Features
Users value the intuitive functionality and comprehensive learning resources that simplify CAD learning and enhance design collaboration.
See 21 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
A

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Great collaborative design software"

What do you like about Onshape?

The ease of linking documents and having a PDM directly tied to all of your created files.

Alan H.
AH

Alan H.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"An extremely capable, easy to use, affordable cloud based CAD platform."

What do you like about Onshape?

The intuitive functionality is supported by a comprehensive library of courses which allowed me to teach myself CAD from scratch and design complex pr

5. Sharing
Users value the real-time collaboration offered by Onshape, enabling effortless access and teamwork on designs anywhere.
See 20 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Benjo M.
BM

Benjo M.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Productive"

What do you like about Onshape?

Real time online collaboration and easy BOM management

Henrique F.
HF

Henrique F.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Extremelly competent"

What do you like about Onshape?

It is as easy to use as other CAD tools, but as it is online, its really easy to access all designs anywhere. Collaboration tools are also amazing and

6. Cloud Services
Users value the flexibility of cloud services in Onshape, enabling consistent performance across devices and locations.
See 17 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Henrique F.
HF

Henrique F.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Extremelly competent"

What do you like about Onshape?

It is as easy to use as other CAD tools, but as it is online, its really easy to access all designs anywhere. Collaboration tools are also amazing and

JS

JJ S.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"CAD in the Cloud is Heavenly!"

What do you like about Onshape?

The most powerful feature of Onshape is its foundation in the cloud. Traditional CAD systems are tied to a single machine, creating a tangle of files

Top Cons or Disadvantages of Onshape

1. Missing Features
Users find the drawing environment lacking, citing performance issues and inconsistent features compared to other CAD software.
See 23 mentions

See Related User Reviews

DB

Daniel B.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Best CAD software for collaboration"

What do you dislike about Onshape?

It is missing developed CAM options and circuit design, but they are quickly coming up to speed.

Sayak D.
SD

Sayak D.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Convenient in the initial design process but flawed in some later stages"

What do you dislike about Onshape?

That being said, it still has a long way to go, for example drawing environment is not up to the standard set by its peers. Drawing environment is sim

2. Lack of Features
Users feel that Onshape has a lack of features compared to larger CAD systems, impacting their productivity.
See 13 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
U

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Excellent, flexible CAD software"

What do you dislike about Onshape?

Lacks the refinement of larger CAD packages in some areas.

Gustavo C.
GC

Gustavo C.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Great product, extremely easy to use and meets our needs"

What do you dislike about Onshape?

The main issues are related to small differences between Onshape and the previous CAD systems I was using. Some are a question of habit, some are add

3. Drawing Issues
Users find the drawing environment inconsistent and laggy, making it frustrating to work on long sessions.
See 10 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Sayak D.
SD

Sayak D.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Convenient in the initial design process but flawed in some later stages"

What do you dislike about Onshape?

That being said, it still has a long way to go, for example drawing environment is not up to the standard set by its peers. Drawing environment is sim

Pierre R.
PR

Pierre R.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Perfect tool for team work in CAD design"

What do you dislike about Onshape?

drawings are sometimes awfull to work with. the drawing module is really late in ter of performance compared to opther CAD softwares

4. Limited CAD Features
Users note the limited CAD features in Onshape, citing a need for improved drawing environments and refined options.
See 9 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
U

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Excellent, flexible CAD software"

What do you dislike about Onshape?

Lacks the refinement of larger CAD packages in some areas.

DB

Daniel B.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Best CAD software for collaboration"

What do you dislike about Onshape?

It is missing developed CAM options and circuit design, but they are quickly coming up to speed.

5. Limited Features
Users notice limited features in Onshape, including missing symbols and advanced functionalities, impacting overall usability.
See 9 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Sebastian Maklary R.
SR

Sebastian Maklary R.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Good experiences after switching from Solidworks"

What do you dislike about Onshape?

There's still a few features missing, such as some symbols used for complete tolerancing according to ISO standards. Their sheet metal features also h

Verified User
U

Verified User

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"OnShape Review from University Student"

What do you dislike about Onshape?

Despite its usefulness, it does lack some features such as uploading coordinates to draw as a spline. Although these are advanced features and probabl

6. Internet Dependency
Users express concerns about internet dependency, which affects performance and accessibility of Onshape's features.
See 6 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
U

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"So easy to learn compared to solidworks"

What do you dislike about Onshape?

You do need an internet connection to use it.

Benjo M.
BM

Benjo M.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Productive"

What do you dislike about Onshape?

Cannot be used if there's no internet connection

Onshape Reviews (689)

View 1 Video Reviews
Reviews

Onshape Reviews (689)

View 1 Video Reviews
4.7
689 reviews
Search reviews
View Filters
Filter Reviews
Clear Results
G2 reviews are authentic and verified.
Michael S.
MS
Head of RnD
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Revolutionary ease of doing your business and getting things done."
What do you like best about Onshape?

They are CONSTANTLY developing the program and I share EVERYTHING to EVERY department with a single link. I am head of RnD in a boiler company. We manufacture every kind of tank there is. When I publish a design I send the same link to marketing, sales, manufacturing even the costumers. The marketing and sales guys get their 3d,tds and renderings and the rollers, punchers, welders, etc get their drawings. I don't have to send a bunch of pdf/dxf/steps/wetf emails and they don't have to install a "free" viewer where you have to give out your phone# and address.... I am talking to you SW! If you have a business it is a no brainer. It is build to look outward and provide people the info they need. It is a multitool. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Onshape?

I cannot think of a real bummer to be honest, just minor things. It doesn't have an integrated animation tab yet (it would be nice if they integrated it with their renderings tab) and I cannot do holes in the flattened sheet metal YET. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Ashwin TK .
A
design engineer
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Review: Onshape CAD Software"
What do you like best about Onshape?

Onshape is a very good and efficient software for 3D design and modeling. One of its standout features is the Mate system used for assemblies—it's intuitive, clean, and makes the assembly process smooth and reliable.

The document-based interface is another strong point. Having all parts, assemblies, and drawings organized within a single document makes design management very easy and efficient. It also simplifies collaboration across teams, especially when multiple people are working on the same project.

Some additional highlights:

Cloud-based access means no installation and seamless work from anywhere.

Version control is excellent—every change is recorded, and it's easy to go back to previous versions.

Real-time collaboration is a huge plus, especially in a team environment.

Custom features and scripting through FeatureScript add a lot of flexibility for advanced users.

Overall, Onshape is a powerful and user-friendly CAD platform, especially well-suited for teams looking for modern, cloud-native design tools. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Onshape?

Performance with Large Assemblies: It can get slow or laggy with very large assemblies or complex models.

Limited Offline Access: There is no real offline mode, which is a limitation in areas with unreliable internet.

Learning Curve for New Users: While the UI is clean, those coming from traditional software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD might need time to adjust.

Cost: The free version is good for hobbyists or education, but professional licenses can be expensive for smaller companies. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

JS
CTO
Defense & Space
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"CAD in the Cloud is Heavenly!"
What do you like best about Onshape?

The most powerful feature of Onshape is its foundation in the cloud. Traditional CAD systems are tied to a single machine, creating a tangle of files and version control issues. With Onshape, that complexity is gone. My entire design history, from initial sketches to final assemblies, is all stored in one central, secure location. This allows my team and me to work on the same model simultaneously and in real time, just like editing a document in Google Docs. The days of sending large files back and forth, losing track of revisions, or accidentally overwriting someone else's work are finally over. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Onshape?

I wish there was some way to work offline, even in a limited format. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Bryce T.
BT
Engineer
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"The Best CAD Program Out There"
What do you like best about Onshape?

I’ve been using Onshape for over six years and have logged more than 2,000 hours in the platform—and it still impresses me. The interface is clean and intuitive, and the feature set is powerful enough to handle complex design work without feeling overwhelming.

What really sets Onshape apart is its collaborative workflow. Real-time sharing, version control, and branching make working with others seamless, whether you're in the same room or halfway around the world. One feature I especially appreciate is Follow Mode—being able to follow someone’s cursor as they work through a model makes collaboration and review incredibly efficient. It’s the next best thing to sitting side-by-side. As First Robotics Mentor, this feature allows me to follow my students' work in real-time and recognise where they are struggling to better support them on their way to becoming Onshape masters. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Onshape?

While I love onshape, it is missing a few features that would be useful and keep me from using for every project. Two that come to mind are 3D sketching and surface tools like patching and scultping. Some projects I have encountered recently have required some surface editing. And having a tool that allows for dimension driven surface editing would be incredibly helpful. I edit lots of files from imports and I would love to use onshape for this but it is a noticable weakpoint. Many of the Loft feature that i use to generate surfaces from sketchs often break with the complex geometry I attemp to create with them. 3D sketches would also be incredibly helpful for bridging curves and completing complex surface boundaries. I would also like be able to add points in a part studio with out needing a sketch plane. Just a point that I can use to pattern parts, or connect lines to certain locations would be helpful. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Henrique F.
HF
Egineer Manager
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Extremelly competent"
What do you like best about Onshape?

It is as easy to use as other CAD tools, but as it is online, its really easy to access all designs anywhere. Collaboration tools are also amazing and data management, while not perfect, is really enogh to do a lot. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Onshape?

It improved a lot over the years. The only dislike now is performance wise on large assemblies. Browsers consume too much ram. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

MW
Mechanical Design Engineer
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Incredible, Forward Looking CAD Package"
What do you like best about Onshape?

OnShape is a modern cloudbased mechanical CAD system from the company PTC. As well as full modelling capabilities, OnShape comes included with full version/change control features and integrates well with Arena (also PTC) for producdute lifecycle management. Our team moved over to OnShape from SolidWorks and found the process of implementing the new CAD system very easy, especially compared with systems like SolidWorks PDM which requires 3rd party resellers to help setup.

Unlike oldschool CAD packages, which at best recieve a few small updates every-year, OnShape improves very quickly, having big updates every 3 weeks or so. As a part modeller, on-shape is easily as good if not better than its competitors like SolidWorks. It takes a different approach to assembly modelling, which is more performant. It is catching up quickly with other CAD packages regarding engineering drawing features. It also features some simulation and rendering capabilities; both produce decent results quickly, but are not the main focus of the software. A huge benefit of Onshape being cloud based is that it is far more stable than locally run CAD systems, it virtually never crashes and I have never lost any data having used this extensively amost everyday for over a year.

Our team vastly prefers OnShapes business model compared to that of SolidWorks. Rather than paying a third-party-reseller licences, set-up, PDM server setup (which is a nightmare to maintain and will need continuous 3rd party support to be functional), separate costs for its various licences, and subscription fees, everything is covered under one cost with OnShape, and you deal with the company directly rather than through third parties. This has worked out as far cheaper for our team, with much less of our engieers time spent on admin. Customer support are very helpful and are easy to access through online chats, forums, or teams calls. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Onshape?

Compared to other CAD packages OnShape is the best, although you may not find all of the specific features that you are used to. The OnShape team add features very frequently though (updates every ~3 weeks) and requests for new features can be made and voted on in the forums. Custom features can also be written and shared if you feel that there is a specific feature missing or something that would be useful to automate for your workflow. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
UM
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"I use Onshape professionally and as a hobbyist"
What do you like best about Onshape?

I enjoy that the program is web based, which has opened up many new opportunities not accessible by desktop only systems. This is especially evident when using both the mobile version to review remotely, while making most substantial edits on a desktop. Built in simulation on the pro version is great. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Onshape?

Some of the rendering control when adding customs scenes is something I need to work on more use well. I also wish that there was more customization on the BOM control for the free version, but it can work as is out of the box. The pro version is much more useful, if you can figure out enough code to make it work with your organizational structure. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Bryan  L.
BL
CAD Manager
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Why I use Onshape"
What do you like best about Onshape?

Onshape allows me to be flexible and not tied to one computer with minimum to zero difference in performance. At work I have a CAD workstation, at home I have a 14 year old PC, with Onshape being a cloud based software, the computing is done in the cloud not on my local computer. In the event I have to work from home, I don't have to worry about lugging around my CAD workstation or invest in a new home computer, I simply log on from home and experience relatively the same performance on my old home PC as I would with a newer, more powerful machine. To add to this Onshape also runs on my phone. I have done some quick edits and even complete CAD models on my phone when I don't even have access to a computer. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Onshape?

The downside I deal with is that Onshape is still new and lacks some of the functionality more mature CAD software has. This is especially true in the sheet metal side of modeling and documentation. I have experienced this same situation about 20 years ago with traditional CAD software. Back in 2000 when I started using 3D CAD, it seemed sheet metal enhancements were always few and far between. I am optimistic that Onshape, having enhancements added every 3 weeks, will break this trend in the CAD industry. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Manufacturing
EM
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Easy to Use, Easy to Upgrade, and Ever-Expanding Capabilities"
What do you like best about Onshape?

Often updated with new features without lifting a finger. Everyday it becomes even more valuable. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Onshape?

In sharing with unlicensed users, have no control over the link. Anyone with the link can get the free access, and no way to take away that access if sharing for a one-time access, or with a vendor, so cannot safely share outside of the business. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

JS
Senior Design Engineer
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Perfect for startups"
What do you like best about Onshape?

Always up to date, never crashes and allows the team to just focus on doing the best design work they can. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Onshape?

No offline mode, but not a big problem in reality day to day. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Product Avatar Image
Product Avatar Image