SOLIDWORKS: perpetual license or subscription?

When a company wants to invest in SolidWorks, it is almost always offered the perpetual license first. Not by chance: for a traditional reseller, it's the most comfortable model, a big cheque up front, then a recurring annual maintenance fee.

For a long time, all software worked the same way: a company bought a license, installed the software on its computer and used it for several years. This is what we call the perpetual license model.

In practice, a company paid for its software once, then chose whether or not to renew an annual maintenance plan to access updates and support. This model was the norm for a long time, especially for solutions like SolidWorks.

But today, it matches the reality of manufacturing companies less and less.

Organizations now have to manage:

1. More flexible teams
2. Interconnected software (ERP, CRM, PDM…)
3. Frequent and critical updates

Software no longer works in isolation. It fits into a complete ecosystem.

This is exactly why the subscription model has taken hold across the entire software industry.

For example, Microsoft no longer sells its Office suite as a traditional license: it has become Microsoft 365, a subscription service. And this shift now applies to almost all professional software.

With a traditional purchase model, each new version often involves a costly upgrade.
Result: many companies stay stuck for years on old versions, sometimes incompatible with their other systems.

Conversely, a subscription gives access to a continuously evolving platform. Updates, fixes and new features are integrated progressively, with no disruption or complex migration project.

There is one point everyone agrees on:

YES, a perpetual SolidWorks license costs less… on paper.

Over a 5 to 10 year horizon, the purely accounting cost is generally lower than a subscription.

But does that mean it's the best choice for your company?
Not necessarily.

In reality, as soon as you move beyond the simple theoretical calculation, the answer becomes much more nuanced.

Here are three concrete situations observed at manufacturing companies in Canada:

Real case 1: a company stuck on an old version

A trailer manufacturer is still using SolidWorks 2019 in 2026.
Why? Because its manufacturing ERP is itself on an old version.

Result:

1. The customer pays its SolidWorks maintenance
2. It cannot update its software because its ERP is on a 2023 version incompatible with SolidWorks 2026

So the customer pays annual fees without getting any benefit at all.

Real case 2: unused licenses that cost a lot

A cooling systems manufacturer buys 4 SolidWorks licenses in 2020.

A few months later: a COVID-related slowdown, only 2 licenses will actually be used during and beyond that period.

Result:

1. Unused licenses that caused an ill-suited cash outflow
2. These unused licenses will accumulate annual maintenance "debt" that will have to be paid one day

The customer incurred costs that were ill-suited to a changing economic climate.

Real case 3: license rigidity and unexpected costs

A suspension systems manufacturer buys a SolidWorks Standard license.

A few months later, it wants to add a specific feature (simulation, rendering, etc.).

It is asked to pay an "upgrade fee" + a higher annual maintenance fee to access that module.

Result:

1. The customer will ultimately give up a feature it needed
2. The customer will have to pay an upgrade fee if it wants to move the license up AND a "downgrade" fee if the module is no longer needed

These situations are not exceptions; they reflect challenges faced by the majority of industrial companies.

Why?

• Because today, software like SolidWorks no longer works in isolation (integration with an ERP, macros, production software)
• A company cannot precisely predict its license needs 6, 12 or 24 months out
• It may need advanced features… but only temporarily

This is exactly where the subscription model makes complete sense.

With 3DEXPERIENCE SolidWorks:

1. Updates are automatic and continuous
2. You can adjust your licenses up and down
3. You add or remove modules according to your real needs

Result:
less rigidity, less waste, more flexibility.

This is probably one of the phrases I've heard the most in my career: "I'm going to stop maintenance to save money."

On paper, the idea seems logical because you want to reduce the costs associated with your purchase.

And indeed, when a company buys a SolidWorks license, it is not required to renew the annual maintenance.

But in reality, this decision is rarely as advantageous as it looks. Why?

Because SolidWorks maintenance doesn't really disappear, it is simply deferred… and accumulated.

Classic scenario (very common)

A company wants to buy SolidWorks while minimizing the costs incurred:

• It buys a SolidWorks license with 1 year of maintenance
• It stops maintenance after the first year
• It wants to bring everything up to date a few years later

And that's where the problem appears… because when you resume maintenance: you have to pay for the unpaid years.

In concrete terms: 3 years without maintenance = 3 years to pay all at once, one shot.

We're often talking about more than $5,000 CAD for a single SolidWorks Standard license.

Two typical cases where this dilemma appears:

A) The prospect who hasn't yet bought SolidWorks

The first-time SolidWorks buyer (frequently) seeks to invest the lowest possible amount.

But they completely underestimate:

• The future costs caused by stopping maintenance
• The rigidity of the model
• The impact on their technological evolution

Scenario of a prospect who buys their license, stops maintenance then resumes it 3 years later

Scenario of a prospect who subscribes for the full 4-year period

Over 4 years, the purchase does appear to be $1,268 CAD cheaper (or rather $26/mo, or even $0.88/day).

But this calculation only tells part of the story.

Let's look beyond the sticker price. For a truly comparable CAD setup, here is what you pay on each side:

For the perpetual model, at $290/mo you only get the license and the updates. PDM, AI tools, CAM, the server, support: everything has to be bought or managed on top. On the Kotona side, this $49/mo of savings represents ≈ $588 in savings every year, before even counting the hours of productivity gained.

B) The prospect who already has SolidWorks

Another textbook case is the customer who invested in SolidWorks some time ago and stopped their contracts. This customer wants to bring everything up to date but now has to pay the "fees they didn't pay" for those annual maintenances.

The following simulation takes the case of a customer:

• Who wants to bring a SolidWorks Standard 2022 license up to date
• Decides not to reinvest in maintenance for 3 years

This scenario will be compared against an upgrade to a 3DEXPERIENCE SolidWorks license.

Scenario of a customer who resumes maintenance then stops it again over 4 years

Scenario of a customer who brings everything up to date and stays on a subscription for 4 years

The gap over 4 years is this time $1,238. The same hidden-cost logic applies: at $290/mo you only get the license + maintenance ; at $316/mo you get the complete chain.

The choice between a perpetual license and a subscription should not be made by looking at price alone.

In reality, what makes the difference is your company's ability to adapt, evolve and avoid technical roadblocks over time.

A solution may seem cheaper on paper, but quickly become restrictive as soon as your needs change.

Conversely, a more flexible model can deliver far more value over time.

The key, then, is to choose an approach that truly matches the way you work today, but above all the way you'll work tomorrow.

Kotona Vision is here to help you make the right acquisition choice.