SolidWorks for Makers (Maker Edition)

SOLIDWORKS for Makers is the full modelling engine sold in two lighter packages built for individuals rather than companies. 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers is a locally-installed Windows app with offline use for up to 30 days; SOLIDWORKS xDesign for Makers is a browser-based version that runs on a Chromebook, Mac or tablet. Both include 25 GB of cloud storage, learning content, and access to the maker community.

It exists specifically for hobbyists, students and side-project makers who want real SolidWorks skills — the ones professional job listings ask for by name — without a professional-seat price tag. Eligibility is capped at roughly $2,000 USD a year in revenue from what you make with it; past that threshold, a commercial licence applies.

This is the edition worth starting with if your goal is to learn SolidWorks specifically, on a hobbyist budget, and to practise on CAD Archivium's sheets with the exact software you may use professionally later.

It sits in an unusual spot on this list: the only edition of a major professional CAD package priced and licensed specifically for hobbyists rather than businesses or students, which is why it is worth comparing against Fusion's free Personal Use plan and Alibre Design's budget perpetual licences rather than against SolidWorks itself — all three compete for the same "real CAD, small budget" buyer, and the right one depends on whether you specifically want SolidWorks on your résumé.