Onshape vs Plasticity: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Onshape and Plasticity side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Onshape leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Onshape
The only cloud-native product development platform for CAD, PDM, and real-time collaboration.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
Plasticity
Powerful solid and surface modeling software for creative professionals and engineers.
Best for you if:
- • You want perpetual license, no subscription required
| At a Glance | Onshape | Plasticity |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $125/user/mo, billed yearly Standard Plan plan | From $175/mo Upgrade from Indie to Studio plan |
Category | 3D Design Developer Tools | 3D Design Developer Tools |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.5 1,081 reviews | 3.3/5 Trustpilot 3.4 · G2 4.0 · SourceForge 2.5 5 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose Onshape or Plasticity?
Choose Onshape if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want no installations, upgrades, or hardware requirements
- You want eliminates crashes and data loss
- Budget matters ($125/user/mo, billed yearly vs $175/mo)
Choose Plasticity if
- You want perpetual license, no subscription required
- You want powerful solid and surface modeling capabilities
In-Depth Analysis
Onshape
The only cloud-native product development platform for CAD, PDM, and real-time collaboration.
Onshape's pricing is generally fair, offering a generous Free Plan for non-commercial use.
Strengths
- Pro: No installations, upgrades, or hardware requirements
- Pro: Eliminates crashes and data loss
- Pro: Streamlines collaboration for distributed teams
- Pro: Integrated PDM simplifies version control
- Pro: Always on an updated version with continuous updates
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires an internet connection for full functionality
- Con: May have a learning curve for users accustomed to traditional desktop CAD
Key features
Plasticity
Powerful solid and surface modeling software for creative professionals and engineers.
The pricing for Plasticity, specifically the "Upgrade from Indie to Studio" at $175, seems fair given the comprehensive feature set for professional solid and surfacing tools.
Strengths
- Pro: Perpetual license, no subscription required
- Pro: Powerful solid and surface modeling capabilities
- Pro: Advanced direct editing for flexible design changes
- Pro: Utilizes industry-leading Parasolid and xNURBS kernels
- Pro: Affordable compared to other high-end CAD software
Weaknesses
- Con: Free Starter plan has limited export formats and no commercial use
- Con: Some advanced features (xNURBS) are only available in higher tiers or specific OS versions
- Con: Enterprise features like enhanced support and custom integrations require direct contact
Key features
Plans and prices: Onshape vs Plasticity
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Onshape |
| onshape.com/pricing read Oct 31, 2026 |
| Plasticity |
| plasticity.xyz/upgrade read Oct 20, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Onshape pricing and Plasticity pricing.
Key Takeaways
Onshape
- Lower entry price: $125/user/mo, billed yearly vs $175/mo
- Has a free plan
Plasticity
- Choose if you want powerful solid and surface modeling software for creative professionals and engineers
What the data shows
On the data below, Onshape leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.6/5 from 1,081 reviews for Onshape, 3.3/5 from 5 reviews for Plasticity; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Onshape has the lower entry price: $125/user/mo, billed yearly (Standard Plan) against $175/mo (Upgrade from Indie to Studio) for Plasticity.
- Only Onshape has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Onshape and Plasticity compare in 2026?
On the data below, Onshape leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.6/5 from 1,081 reviews for Onshape, 3.3/5 from 5 reviews for Plasticity; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Onshape has the lower entry price: $125/user/mo, billed yearly (Standard Plan) against $175/mo (Upgrade from Indie to Studio) for Plasticity. Only Onshape has a free plan.
What are Onshape and Plasticity used for?
Onshape: The only cloud-native product development platform for CAD, PDM, and real-time collaboration. Plasticity: Powerful solid and surface modeling software for creative professionals and engineers.
What does Onshape cost vs Plasticity?
Onshape's cheapest paid plan is Standard Plan at $125/user/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Plasticity's cheapest paid plan is Upgrade from Indie to Studio at $175/mo. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 31, 2026.
What's the main difference between Onshape and Plasticity?
Onshape's main strength: no installations, upgrades, or hardware requirements. Plasticity's main strength: perpetual license, no subscription required.