What the three Dassault Systèmes solutions are used for, what their requirements are and what to look for when choosing. Official sources only, as of September 2026.
This article gives short, accurate information about three well-known engineering solutions: SOLIDWORKS, CATIA and 3DEXPERIENCE. All three are developed by Dassault Systèmes. The data comes from official pages and is current as of September 2026. Requirements change every year, so official links are given at the end of the article.
SOLIDWORKS: what you can do
SOLIDWORKS is a 3D CAD (computer-aided design) program. According to the official page, it is used to create parts, assemblies and manufacturing-ready documentation (drawings). In parametric modeling, changing a dimension propagates through the whole model.
- SOLIDWORKS Design is installed on your computer and can optionally connect to cloud capabilities: file sharing, comments and change history.
- SOLIDWORKS xDesign runs in the browser. According to the official description, it needs no installation, no updates and no special hardware.
- There are two license types: named user (works on several devices) or tied to a single device.
- The SOLIDWORKS family also includes products such as PDM, Electrical, Visualize, Composer and eDrawings.
- New in the 2026 release: AI tools that automate repetitive work (for example, creating drawings) and loading only the needed parts of large assemblies (Selective Loading).
CATIA: what you can do
The name CATIA V5 comes from Computer-Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application V5. Dassault Systèmes describes it as a widely used software suite for CAD, CAM and CAE and mentions industries such as automotive, aerospace and industrial equipment.
- Modules: Part Design, Assembly Design, Drafting, Surfacing and others.
- CAM: generating toolpaths for CNC machines.
- Simulation and analysis: evaluating product behavior and strength.
- The official CATIA page groups its areas as: buildings and infrastructure, design and styling, electrical and fluid engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering.
- Alongside CATIA V5, the product line also includes 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA and CATIA Magic.
3DEXPERIENCE: what it is
3DEXPERIENCE is the Dassault Systèmes platform. According to official documentation, the desktop and browser clients of CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, ENOVIA, SIMULIA and other applications are certified within this platform. Both a cloud (SaaS) option and an option installed on your own server (on-premise) are mentioned. SOLIDWORKS Design connected to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform enables real-time feedback, data management and teamwork. Today the official page describes the platform in terms of enterprise knowledge, artificial intelligence and virtual twins (Virtual Twin).
Requirements
SOLIDWORKS (official requirements):
- Operating system: Windows 11 (64-bit). The last version that supports Windows 10 is SOLIDWORKS 2025 SP5. Windows Home editions are not supported.
- Processor: x86_64 (Intel 64 or AMD64).
- RAM: 16 GB (32 GB recommended).
- Graphics card: certified cards and drivers.
- Disk: SSD recommended.
- Running Windows on a Mac through Boot Camp is not supported.
CATIA and 3DEXPERIENCE: Dassault Systèmes publishes a list of certified workstations. There are separate new lists for April, May, June and July 2026. Certification applies to 64-bit desktop and browser clients. Before moving to the cloud, it is recommended to check that your computer is certified with the official "Cloud Eligibility" tool. Before installing on your own server, see the "On-Premise Program Directories" documentation.
Tips
- Before buying a computer, open the official requirements page for the exact version you plan to install: requirements change from year to year.
- The official recommendation is 32 GB of RAM. If you are buying a new computer, aim for that.
- When buying a laptop, check that it does not run Windows Home.
- Choose the graphics card from the SOLIDWORKS certified list.
- If your computer does not meet the requirements, consider SOLIDWORKS xDesign, which runs in the browser.
- If you are a student or a teacher: the CATIA page lists separate Academic and Student license programs. Read the terms on the official page.
Sources
All are official pages, as of September 2026: