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The SolidWorks World Effect? Alibre’s Lower Prices, VX 50% Sale

by Tony

SolidWorks World 2010 just finished.  Maybe it’s a coincidence, maybe it’s not, but at the start of SolidWorks World Alibre announced “permanent” lower prices (no guarantees they won’t change prices again, but I suspect they’ll stay the same for a while).  And VX has just about everything 50% off until March 1.

Alibre’s prices now include Alibre Translate (which was $499).  (Alibre pricing info via World CAD Access).

Alibre Product Base Price Annual Maintenance With Maintenance
Design Standard $97 $97 $194
Design Professional $497 $147 $644
Design Expert $997 $197 $1197

VX’s current sale (through March 1, 2010) is VX Innovator for $495, VX Designer for $2000, VX Mold & Die for $3000, VX 3D Machinist for $4000, and VX End To End for $5000.

VX definitely looks more capable than Alibre, but it’s significantly more expensive (including, I’m sure, the annual maintenance fees).  So far, I’ve been able to do some things in VX Innovator I can’t do in Alibre, but Alibre has very few license restrictions.  For example, VX Innovator limits assembly creation to 40 parts maximum (it can import models with more), while Alibre Design Standard does not have any hard limits.  Also, Alibre lets you install Design on up to three computers, which is very nice for those of us with multiple PCs.

I think that if you do anything with 3D solid modeling (not surfacing), then Alibre is definitely worth a look due to its low price, lack of artificial limits, and good import/export options (especially now with Alibre Translate).  If Alibre can improve the ease of use, maybe it can become what SpaceClaim originally claimed to be: MCAD for the rest of us (non-designers), people who need to occasionally work with 3D, but aren’t designing complex parts all day long.

Right now, I’m still sticking with Alibre Design Standard V11 and VX Innovator; if I do a lot of CAD this year, I’ll look at upgrading to Alibre V12.

NOTE: Updated 2/4/10 to reflect Max Freeman’s comment.

Related posts:

  1. Expiring MCAD Deals: VX Innovator 9/4, Alibre 9/29
  2. Mechanical CAD, Special Deals, and Me
  3. Alibre’s $99 Deal Is Good for PCB Design
  4. Alibre Design Xpress 11 won’t import STEP files
  5. Alibre Design Xpress: Now a secret

4 comments

1 Max Freeman { 02.04.10 at 7:30 am }

Just a correction – we have never made people purchase maintenance, and we do not currently make people purchase maintenance. So, the out the door cost, if people do not want the year of updates and support, would be $97 for Standard, $497 for Pro, or $997 for Expert.

Thanks!
Max Freeman
Alibre, Inc.

2 Tony { 02.04.10 at 12:01 pm }

Thanks.

I thought Ralph’s post said maintenance was required. I’ll update this post shortly.

3 Dave M. { 02.24.10 at 11:32 pm }

I’ve been very happy with Alibre Design for the simple stuff I have to model. I purchased it when I saw your blog months back referring to the promotional price. Thanks, Tony! :)

4 Tony { 02.26.10 at 12:37 pm }

You’re welcome. I expect to write more about Alibre Design in the future (but probably not for a few months).

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