SOLIDWORKS offers a free online product trial that runs in your web browser with no installation, using pre-loaded exercise files or your own models. SOLIDWORKS says it's capped at 4 hours a day and 100 hours over 60 days, and sessions close when idle. If you need more, SOLIDWORKS says to contact a reseller for a full 7-day online or desktop evaluation.
This trips people up because there isn't one simple 'download it free for 30 days' button like some CAD tools have. There are two different routes, and which one suits you depends on whether you're curious about SOLIDWORKS or seriously evaluating it for paid work.
The two SOLIDWORKS trial routes
| Online product trial | Reseller evaluation | |
|---|---|---|
| How you get it | Start it yourself on SOLIDWORKS' trial page | Request it through a SOLIDWORKS reseller |
| Where it runs | In your browser, nothing to install | Online or on your desktop |
| Length | 100 hours to use over 60 days, max 4 hours a day | 7 days |
| What's included | Latest release plus Simulation, MBD, CAM and Visualize | A full evaluation set up by the reseller |
| Best for | Learning and a quick test drive | Testing on real projects before buying |
The online trial rules worth reading first
SOLIDWORKS' trial FAQ lists a few limits that change how you should use it:
- Your 60-day countdown starts at the beginning of your first day.
- You get a daily maximum of 4 hours.
- A session may end if you don't touch the keyboard or mouse for 20 minutes, and an idle streaming session closes automatically after 30 minutes.
- Files you save locally inside the session are erased when it ends or times out. Save your work before you close it.
- To keep a file, save it to your Home Folder in the session, then click it there to download it to your computer.
- A 3-button CAD mouse isn't supported, and you need a desktop or tablet rather than a phone.
SOLIDWORKS also offers the option to extend an online session by two extra hours when you're close to the limit, after you update your profile.
Don't upload anything confidential
Before you launch the online trial, you agree that no confidential information, personal data, production data or trade secrets will be uploaded. If your evaluation needs real client parts, that's a strong reason to ask a reseller for the 7-day evaluation instead.
Can you bring your own files?
Yes. SOLIDWORKS says you can upload your own SOLIDWORKS files to the online trial, and it lists support for files from other CAD systems too, including Autodesk Inventor, PTC Creo, Solid Edge, NX and CATIA V5 within stated version ranges. That makes it a reasonable way to check how your existing models come across before you commit to a switch.
Only need 2D? Look at DraftSight
SOLIDWORKS' trials page also offers DraftSight, which Dassault describes as 2D CAD software that's a familiar alternative to more expensive tools, now with 3D modelling and drawing capabilities. If your work is mostly drawings and layouts rather than parts and assemblies, try that first. You may not need SOLIDWORKS at all.
Who the online trial suits
It's ideal for students, career switchers and engineers who used SOLIDWORKS years ago and want to see what's changed, because you can start in minutes and the lessons are built in. It's less suited to a small manufacturer deciding whether to move a whole team over. For that, you want the reseller evaluation, your own hardware and your own drawings.
How to start the online trial
- Go to the Try SOLIDWORKS page on the SOLIDWORKS site.
- Sign in or create a SOLIDWORKS account.
- Choose the product trial you want, such as SOLIDWORKS Premium or SOLIDWORKS Electrical.
- Accept the terms about not uploading confidential data.
- Launch the session in your browser. The sample part, assembly and drawing files are already loaded.
SOLIDWORKS includes a short learning path covering parts, assemblies and drawings. If you're new to it, start there rather than diving straight into your own files.
Is there a cheaper way in?
For hobbyists, yes. SOLIDWORKS for Makers is a full 3D CAD licence for personal use at US$48 a year, as of October 2026, for makers who earn less than US$2,000 a year from their projects, with a 15-day refund policy on yearly subscriptions. It's not for business use, so it won't help a design firm, but it's the right route if you're building things for fun.
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How to use the online trial well
- Plan short sessions. Four hours a day goes further in two focused blocks than one long, distracted afternoon.
- Work through the built-in lessons on day one so you're not learning the interface on your own files.
- Bring one non-confidential model you know well and rebuild part of it.
- Download anything you want to keep through the Home Folder before every session ends.
- If it passes, ask a reseller for the 7-day evaluation to test real work on your own machine.
My advice
Treat the online trial as a test drive and the reseller evaluation as the real decision. The browser trial is great for seeing whether SOLIDWORKS clicks with you, but the daily cap, idle timeouts and the no-confidential-data rule make it a poor fit for client work. If you're buying for a business, talk to a reseller early and get the 7 days on your own computer with your own files.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free trial of SOLIDWORKS?
Yes. SOLIDWORKS offers a free online product trial that runs in your browser, and resellers can set up a full 7-day online or desktop evaluation.
How long is the SOLIDWORKS online trial?
SOLIDWORKS says you have a maximum of 100 hours to use over 60 days, with a daily maximum of 4 hours.
Will my files be saved in the SOLIDWORKS online trial?
Files saved locally in the session are erased when it ends or times out. Save to your Home Folder and download them before closing.
Can I use my own files in the SOLIDWORKS trial?
Yes, but you agree not to upload confidential information, personal data, production data or trade secrets.
Is there a cheap SOLIDWORKS licence for hobbyists?
SOLIDWORKS for Makers is US$48 a year, as of October 2026, for personal use by makers earning under US$2,000 a year from their projects.
