SOLIDWORKS Perpetual License vs Subscription: Which Should You Buy?

Should we go for a perpetual license or a subscription?

When Indian engineering companies have a mind to invest in SOLIDWORKS, it is only half the battle to decide on edition (Standard, Professional, Premium). The other half and in a good many ways the more strategically important one is the way you purchase it.

The most frequent query we get at TechSavvy Engineers Ltd by engineers and procurement managers throughout the country is:
“Should we go for a perpetual license or a subscription?”

They are both legitimate avenues. But they are very suitable in the case of various businesses, cash flow situations, and various growth periods. This guide will reduce all the significant differences in a manner that you will make a decision with a lot of confidence without necessarily flipping through price sheets.

Table of Contents

  1. What Does a SOLIDWORKs Perpetual License Mean?

  2. What Is a SOLIDWORKs Subscription License?

  3. What Is a SOLIDWORKS Term License?

  4. The contents of each model.

  5. Perpetual License: Advantages and disadvantages.

  6. Subscription License: Pros and Cons

  7. Minimum Two-Year Subscription Rule.

  8. In Which Cases to Use Perpetual?

  9. Circumstances to subscribe.

  10. Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a SOLIDWORKS Perpetual License?


A perpetual license is one license purchase and gives you unlimited right to ownership of the version of SOLIDWORKS you purchased. Consider it as purchasing a car, once you own it and it has no expiry date; you service it (maintenance) annually to ensure that it is up to date.

Having a perpetual license:

  • You possess the software version forever it is not out of date.

  • The license is with a one-time initial fee.

  • Service packs and technical support, and to receive new version upgrades, require a yearly Subscription Service fee (maintenance).

  • By stopping with maintenance, you leave your software running on the last release you had--no further upgrades or maintenance.

  • You can always access your intellectual property and design data with or without renewing maintenance.

Perpetual licenses are available as Standalone (attached to single machine, transferable) and Floating/SNL (shared across a network of users).

What is a SOLIDWORKS Subscription License?



A subscription license also known as a term license or annual license is an annual recurring payment that provides you with access to SOLIDWORKS for that period. Think of it as renting a car you get the car model of the day but you lose access once you cease payment.

When using a subscription license:

  • You spend money every year to employ the software.

  • Updates, full technical support and the latest version of SOLIDWORKS are always provided.

  • When you cease payment, the license will expire and this will revoke all the access.

  • The initial cost is much, much cheaper than perpetual.

  • Billing plans can be provided monthly or quarterly.

What is a SOLIDWORKS Term License?

A term license is the same as a subscription license but available at shorter periods of time, usually 3 months or one year. It is the most free form, and is suitable to:

  • Engineers on a project basis.

  • Companies with temporary increases in design capacity

  • Companies that are experimenting with SOLIDWORKS prior to investing in it long-term.

The least committed but most expensive on a monthly basis license is the quarterly term license.

Perpetual License

One-Time License Fee covers:

  • Indefinite right to ownership of the version purchased.

  • The authority to install the software and have it running indefinitely.

Annual Subscription Service includes:

  • Version upgrades (e.g., 2026 to 2027)

  • Hotfix and service packs.

  • Access to MySolidWorks portal

  • Your reseller will provide you with technical assistance.

  • Accompanying programs such as SOLIDWORKS CAM and Visualize.

  • CSWP certification vouchers (dependent on reseller)

In case of maintenance termination:

  • The software will still operate on the previous version.

  • No support and updates.

  • Limited portal access

Subscription License

Includes:

  • Always up-to-date SOLIDWORKS version

  • Updates and service packs.

  • Full technical support

  • MySolidWorks portal access

  • Accompanied programs such as CAM and Visualize.

  • Certification vouchers (varies)

You are not renewed and all is at an end.

Perpetual License: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Ownership: You will always have the access to the software.

  • Security of design data: You can access your files at all times.

  • Reduced long run expenditure: Cost efficient in the long term.

  • CapEx advantages: Indian tax advantages of depreciation.

  • Additional expenses that are predictable: Maintenance is simpler to budget.

  • No access cliff: Work is continued regardless of a stop of payments.

Cons

  • Expensive initial outlay: Great initial expense.

  • Less flexibility: Unutilized licenses are not free.

  • Two-year commitment: New licenses have to be maintained.

Subscription License: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Less capital outlay: best in startups and SMEs.

  • Always modern: There is no maintenance of upgrades.

  • OpEx accounting: Simpler budgeting to most companies.

  • Scalability: Easily add or reduce seats.

  • Less risk: Ideal in the first time.

Cons

  • More expensive in the long-term: Proven to be costly in 3-5 years.

  • Loss of access: Software expires automatically.

  • Design data risk: Files are unable to be opened unless an active license is used.

  • Continuous dependency: Payment has to be made continuously.

Minimum Two-Year Subscription Rule 

All new perpetual licenses since 2025 must have at least two years of Subscription Services. Without initial maintenance you cannot buy an everlasting license.

When to Select Perpetual

Select a perpetual license when:

  • You intend to use SOLIDWORKS in the long run.

  • You prefer ownership

  • You desire access to design data that is guaranteed.

  • CapEx accounting is a preference of your company.

  • Your workload in the field of engineering is stable.

  • You desire the least long-term cost.

  • You are purchasing several seats.

  • Business continuity is critical

When to Select Subscribe

Select a subscription license when:

  • You are a start up with little money.

  • Your workload is project-based

  • You are fond of OpEx accounting.

  • You want automatic updates

  • You are new to SOLIDWORKS

  • You should be scalable.

  • Your buying policy favors subscriptions.

Conclusion: Which Model to use in your business?

The choice of perpetual or subscription ends up being that of ownership against flexibility.

Select perpetual when your business is stable, long-term oriented and cares about cost-effectiveness and data security.
Select subscription provided you require flexibility, reduced upfront investment and scalability.

The best solution is often a hybrid, where core teams are given perpetual licenses and temporary demand is given subscription licenses.

The correct option is contingent on your level of business, cash flow, number of people using it, and length of use. The two alternatives are both modelable alongside each-other to see which one would save your business the most in the long-term.

What is the Price of SOLIDWORKS Software License?

To know the price of Permanent SOLIDWORKS Software Licenses and Subscription Services. Get in touch with our Industry Consultants, they will guide you on which SolidWorks Software products to buy and to get the best prices for the chosen SolidWorks Software, please fill in the below details for request pricing.

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For further queries, Contact us


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