Ansys CFX vs. SOLIDWORKS

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Ansys CFX
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
Ansys CFX is a CFD software for turbomachinery applications. The solution helps to shorten development time with streamlined workflows, advanced physics modeling capabilities and accurate results.N/A
SOLIDWORKS
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
Dassault Systemes offers SOLIDWORKS, a computer-aided design (CAD) system for education and manufacturing supporting 2D or 3D design, electrical design, simulations, and product development with collaboration tools.
$1,295
per year
Pricing
Ansys CFXSOLIDWORKS
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Solidworks Annual Subscription
1,295
per year
Solidworks Standard
3,996
per standalone license
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Ansys CFXSOLIDWORKS
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Ansys CFXSOLIDWORKS
Features
Ansys CFXSOLIDWORKS
Computer-Aided Design Software
Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of Product A and Product B
Ansys CFX
-
Ratings
SOLIDWORKS
7.6
Ratings
7% above category average
3D Modeling00 Ratings9.20 Ratings
2D Drafting00 Ratings7.70 Ratings
Rendering and Visualization00 Ratings7.50 Ratings
Parametric Design00 Ratings6.00 Ratings
Collaboration and Sharing00 Ratings8.00 Ratings
Compatibility with other software and formats00 Ratings9.20 Ratings
Assembly Design00 Ratings7.00 Ratings
Simulation and Analysis00 Ratings7.00 Ratings
Documentation and Annotation00 Ratings7.00 Ratings
Customization and Extensions00 Ratings7.70 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Ansys CFXSOLIDWORKS
Small Businesses
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS
Score 8.4 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.9 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS
Score 8.4 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.9 out of 10
Enterprises
Navisworks
Navisworks
Score 9.5 out of 10
Rhino
Rhino
Score 9.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Ansys CFXSOLIDWORKS
Likelihood to Recommend
8.0
(0 ratings)
9.2
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
8.5
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
5.2
(0 ratings)
In-Person Training
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Ansys CFXSOLIDWORKS
Likelihood to Recommend
The simulations obtained are very advanced, showing great results in the movement of fluids in the different states of which it is required to obtain an understanding of their movement dynamics. I obtained impressive and illustrative results of the thermodynamic properties that occur in said flow. Ansys CFX is an easy solution for doing multiple different types of analyses.
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As a mechanical engineer, it is one of the best tools to just start modeling and engineering with. The UI tools are intuitive and engineering analysis such Mold Analysis, FEA, are great! Other 3D CAD modeling tools have a longer learning curve to master. All in all, if you're not planning to design an entire airplane with large assembly files, then Solidworks is your tool!
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Pros
  • The GUI of Ansys CFX is pleasing to the eye and at the same time user friendly, making it a lot easier to identify the required fields.
  • The numerical scheme is based on Finite Volume Methods. It supports multi-phase flows with no mass transfer.
  • In the Ansys CFX, adaptive networking can be used for GGI interfaces and single domains without restricted physics.
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  • The collaborative work environment is a cool and useful feature where groups of people can work on the same model at the same time, and SOLIDWORKS ensures that you don't overwrite each other's work.
  • The ease and amount of customization options are very useful for creating a personalized and intuitive user interface, whether SOLIDWORKS is your native CAD package or not.
  • It is very easy to quickly edit a model you have already created. The software allows sketch and feature editing without having to take the time to actually enter the sketch/feature environment.
  • The use of configurations and configurations-specific dimensions in the same sketch is very useful for creating different forms of the same part
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Cons
  • One thing which I think they can do is provide flexibility to the user to modify the stuff inside the black box
  • Sometimes the errors can be confusing. The geometry of design and meshing is sometimes troublemaking.
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  • To date, the baked in surfacing tools lack power compared to dedicated surfacing software.
  • In a similar vein, the core modeling kernel is not owned by SOLIDWORKS themselves and so there exists limitations with regards to implementing certain modeling/math.
  • SOLIDWORKS is playing catchup to other online vendors of CAD (notable OnShape); instead of being the once leader, they are being forced to compare themselves. This, however, may work to their advantage and in turn allow them to produce a better on-line CAD tool.
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Likelihood to Renew
No answers on this topic
We have absolutely no reasons to not keep with SolidWorks for the foreseeable future.
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Usability
No answers on this topic
I have been using SOLIDWORKS for around 12 years as of writing this review, so have learned where most things are and how they work. When first starting out it was quite daunting, but the interface is well laid out with like functions near each other which made finding new functions relatively easy.
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Support Rating
No answers on this topic
We have an unusual arrangement. We don’t pay for support, but we’re partnered with a VAR for second-tier support.
I work with other users if I have questions but when we’ve had to ask the VAR, they always have answers. It appears that all of the VARs have access to a support platform from DS SOLIDWORKS that helps them answer most questions.
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Alternatives Considered
No answers on this topic
Onshape is a direct competitor. It has great entry level pricing and it is easy to access with no installation required. Being a web based app there is sometime some lag being based in NZ. Management also have concerns over where the data is stored on the cloud. With SW we can control where it is stored
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Return on Investment
  • The interface of Ansys CFX is much neater than Ansys Fluent. I found it much easier to define materials and boundaries in Ansys CFX. Also, this will allow me to get much more accurate results compared to a simples Thermal transient analysis
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  • Hard to answer directly. Given our customer's needs, we absolutely have to have SW to open their file types.
  • Given the relatively limited use we need at our company, it would be useful to have a cheaper option that was more stripped down but still had some capabilities. Something in-between SW and eDrawings, for example. SW is very capable and expensive, eDrawings is free and super limited. Would be nice to have a middle option.
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ScreenShots