Autodesk Alias vs Autodesk Inventor
| Autodesk Alias | Autodesk Inventor | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Paid from | — | — |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Modeling method | hybrid | hybrid |
| Assembly design | Yes | Yes |
| Surface modeling | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud collaboration | Yes | Yes |
| Supported platforms | Windows; Alias is desktop software. | Windows |
| File import and export | Alias 2025: USD import/export; Parasolid import/export through version 36; JT 10.9, Inventor 2025, NX 2312 Series and SolidWorks 2024 import. | Import: Autodesk states Inventor supports opening non-native CAD data. Export formats documented for parts include DWG, DWF/DWFx, IGES, JT, OBJ, RFA, SAT, STEP, STL, CATIA V5, Parasolid, and Pro/ENGINEER; assemblies additionally include RVT. Drawing formats include DWG, IDW, DWF/DWFx, and DXF. Format support varies by data type and version. |
| Sheet-metal tools | — | Yes |
Both are listed in Best 3D CAD Software. On Bettesworth Construction, Autodesk Inventor scores higher on our published basis.