When I first started using xDesign, I often heard the question, “xDesign or SOLIDWORKS?” At first glance, you might sense that xDesign carries the spirit of SOLIDWORKS. However, as you dive deeper, you’ll realize that this cloud-based, next-generation platform offers a completely different experience.
Developed to have similarities and functions from both SOLIDWORKS and CATIA, xDesign combines the power of cloud technology with an intuitive design flow. In this blog post, we’ll highlight some of the differences between xDesign and SolidWorks, as well as a deeper look at the innovations xDesign brings.
1. File format
Both softwares use their own unique file formats. SOLIDWORKS users typically work with SLDPRT (part), SLDASM (assembly) and SLDDRW (technical drawing). In contrast, xDesign — more broadly referred to as xApps — uses a single file format for all data: 3DXML.
What I love most about the 3DXML format is that, even if you have an assembly with 2,000 parts, it provides a single file for transfer. This format works similarly to compressed file formats, with all parts stored within a single file. When you import this file into a different xDesign account, all parts contained in the file are automatically added to the workspace.
Thanks to this feature, you can work on your assemblies without worrying about missing parts or other transfer-related issues.
2. Design workflow
If you’ve used SOLIDWORKS before, the xDesign interface will feel familiar. For example, the command icons are nearly identical. So, the main difference between the two softwares lies not in menu layouts but in design workflows.
In SOLIDWORKS, when you click the New button, you first need to choose between part, assembly or technical drawing. The workflow progresses accordingly: you design the parts first, then move to the assembly environment to establish assembly relationships.
The SOLIDWORKS “Make Assembly from Part” design workflow button. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
In xDesign, you can follow the same workflow. However, it takes a different approach by integrating part and assembly commands within the same window. This feature comes with certain advantages. For instance, if you’re creating a multi-body design where bodies reference each other and you want to convert each body into a separate component, or define assembly relationships between them, there’s no need to switch to a different window. You can perform all these tasks seamlessly within the same interface.
The xDesign action-bar, design workflow. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
3. Design Guidance
The Design Guidance feature in xDesign (included by default) offers functionality similar to the topology optimization available in SOLIDWORKS’ Simulation Professional Package (sold separately). However, its key distinction lies in its ability to create a 3D model directly based on the loads applied to a sketch. This feature allows you to prepare your design, even in the drawing phase, for real-world conditions.
Additionally, Design Guidance leverages the power of a cloud-based system to complete the analysis in a remarkably short amount of time. This not only accelerates your design process but also enhances accuracy.
For more information on how to use the Design Guidance tool, please refer to my blog post, here.
xDesign-Design Guidance. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
4. Assembly mates
Over the years, SOLIDWORKS has evolved to include a wide variety of assembly mate commands. In xDesign, on the other hand, the most essential and frequently used commands have been carefully selected by the developers and integrated into the software.
Since xDesign is developed to have similiarities with SOLIDWORKS and CATIA, it’s possible to notice differences in the commands and their implementation. That said, I haven’t felt the absence of any command while working on assemblies.
Additionally, the xDesign development team regularly adds new commands based on feedback and requests from users. This approach not only makes the software user-friendly but also ensures its continuous improvement.
Some assembly mate commands available in xDesign are not found in SOLIDWORKS. For instance, the Cable Joint command is not included in SOLIDWORKS; it’s a feature available in CATIA. The Cable Joint command enables the creation of complex systems like forklift mechanisms using assembly mates.
An xDesign Cable Joint example. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
In the example above, there is a Rack and Pinion assembly mate between the pulley and the orange linear slide. Additionally, there is a Cable Joint assembly mate between the linear slide and the green fork part. When the pulley moves, the linear slide moves as well, and the fork part follows the movement as if connected by a chain.
As I mentioned earlier, mechanical assembly mates include different commands. The application logic for these mates is also different from SOLIDWORKS and is more similar to CATIA.
For example, when you want to define a gear relationship between two gears in SOLIDWORKS, you simply align the teeth of the gears and select the cylindrical surfaces to specify the gear ratios.
A SOLIDWORKS Gear Mate example. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
In xDesign, however, the process is more detailed. It requires you to complete three different assembly steps for the selected gears.
If you’ve already defined the mates to position your gear in its slotting, you’ll notice that the first two steps are automatically marked as complete in the gear relationship window. At this point, you only need to specify the references for the initial angle. These references can be set using planes and axes. Additionally, you can adjust the alignment angles of your gears during this step.
A xDesign Gear Joint example. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
5. Flexibility in use
Since SOLIDWORKS is software designed to run on a Windows operating system, it is primarily used on high-performance devices such as desktop computers and laptops. On the other hand, xDesign offers much greater flexibility as it operates through a web browser.
For instance, I use xDesign on my Android tablet to create various designs. Being a cloud-based system that runs directly on a web browser, it eliminates the need for any installation process. This not only saves time but also provides device independence.
xDesign use on an Android Tablet. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
Mobility doesn’t just mean the ability to work on different devices. It also involves providing additional features when used on touchscreen devices. Both xDesign and SOLIDWORKS offer touchscreen support to their users.
In xDesign, when the Touch Mode feature is activated, the size of the commands in the actionbar increases, and a tool provides some keyboard functionalities as buttons. For instance, commands like ESC, CTRL, S, and rotation lock can be used through these buttons. This feature significantly enhances the experience on a tablet.
xDesign in Touch Mode. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
In SOLIDWORKS, there is a functional tab called Sketch Ink, specifically designed for use in the sketch environment when using touchscreens.
The SOLIDWORKS Sketch Ink tab. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
Another feature that sets xDesign apart from SOLIDWORKS is its ready-made shape support. This feature allows you to skip a few steps while drawing on a tablet, speeding up your design process. For more information on using ready-made shapes, feel free to check out my blog post, here.
6. Features
Super Features
Many CAD programs operate based on a feature tree hierarchy. In this structure, features have parent and child dependencies, which impose certain limitations. However, xDesign offers an innovative solution that sets itself apart from SOLIDWORKS. That is why one of the features that impressed me the most in xDesign is Super Features.
Let’s take a simple example: You design a shaft and create mounting holes on it. Later, you perform multiple operations on this shaft. However, you realize that instead of holes, you need to create protrusions. In SOLIDWORKS, since there is no command transition feature, you would have to delete the hole feature and create a new protrusion. Deleting this feature would affect all dependent features, making the process time-consuming and potentially complex to fix. For simple cases, you might think of quickly closing the hole and adding a protrusion, but this approach may not always be viable for more complex scenarios.
In xDesign, on the other hand, there is support for transitioning between solid modeling commands, called Super Features. For example, if you want to modify a hole feature, you can change it from Cut to Extrude, creating a protrusion instead of a hole.
Super Features allows you to switch between Extrude, Sweep and Revolve commands, illustrated below.
An example of xDesign Super Features. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
Using multiple sketches in one extrusion
In SOLIDWORKS, when performing an Extrude, you can select only one sketch at a time. For instance, if you have created multiple sketches on the same face or plane and want to combine them into a single Extrude, you need to use a separate Extrude commands for each sketch.
In xDesign, however, it works differently. As shown below, you can include all sketches in a single Extrude. This feature not only speeds up the design process but also helps maintain a more organized feature structure.
An example of an xDesign user using a single Extrusion on multiple sketches. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
Zero-thickness geometry
In SOLIDWORKS, if you try to create a zero-thickness geometry, you will receive a warning indicating that this operation is not allowed.
Warning example for a SOLIDWORKS zero-thickness geometry. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
However, in xDesign, it is possible to create zero-thickness geometries. This capability is enabled by xDesign’s use of the CATIA Kernel, specifically the CGM (Convergence Geometric Modeler).
Zero-thickness geometry in xDesign. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
With this feature, you can design parts that have zero-thickness — such as touching surfaces. In SOLIDWORKS, however, achieving this requires leaving a slight gap between the parts.
Extrusion without Sketch
In xDesign, when you select the surface of a part, Extrude is among the suggested commands in the shortcut menu. This feature allows you to perform solid modeling directly from the surface without the need for a Sketch.
In SOLIDWORKS, similarly, you can perform operations like Loft by selecting two surfaces without using a Sketch. However, unlike in xDesign, you cannot directly create an Extrude from any selected surface. Instead, you can achieve this using the Move Face command to modify the geometry based on the surface.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Move Face command is available in xDesign. However, xDesign’s direct Extrude option provides an added advantage in terms of ease and efficiency.
An example of performing an extrusion in xDesign without using a Sketch. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
7. Sketch
Circle diameter Equality Detection
When using the circle sketch command in xDesign, the software works intuitively and suggests equal diameters for subsequent sketch circles — based on the diameter of the first circle you create. If you align your sketch with the dashed purple circle, the newly created circle will automatically have the same diameter as the first one.
An example of the circle diameter equality detection method in xDesign. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
There is another way to utilize the circle diameter detection and equalization feature. The first method works for consecutive sketch circles. However, if you’ve already created a circle and later decide to draw a new one, simply move the new sketch close enough to touch the circle whose diameter you want to match. At this point, you’ll see a dashed purple circle indicating the equal diameter suggestion.
Another example of the circle diameter equality detection method in xDesign. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
With this feature, xDesign differentiates itself from SOLIDWORKS by offering users a more intuitive experience.
Reconnecting the Corners
What happens in SOLIDWORKS when you delete a fillet applied to edges using sketch commands? The fillet is removed, and the edge remains open. To create a closed geometry, you need to manually close this open area.
Deleting a fillet in SOLIDWORKS. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
In xDesign, however, it works differently. When you delete a fillet, the edge does not remain open, and the geometry is automatically closed. This feature not only speeds up the design process but also provides a more intuitive user experience.
xDesign reconnecting the corners after deleting a fillet. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
8. Assembly: Make Component
In xDesign, thanks to the integration of the part and assembly environments in the same window, you can instantly convert your multi-body designs into an assembly-ready component using the Make Component feature. This tool allows you to either transfer selected features directly into a new component or create a component that references the selected body.
As I mentioned earlier in the Design Workflow section, this difference is entirely unique to xDesign.
A Make Component example in xDesign. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
9. Design assistance
xDesign comes with an AI-powered assistant. This assistant detects tasks that are likely to be repeated and provides suggestions. If you see the AI logo pop up while using xDesign, it means the AI assistant has a suggestion for you.
An example of the AI logo popping up in xDesign. This means the AI has a suggestion for the user. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
The design assistant can provide the following suggestions based on your actions:
- Selection Helper: If you need to apply chamfers to multiple edges, it suggests other edges based on your initial selection.
- Mate Helper: If your design includes multiple M12 bolt holes, after mounting the first bolt, it automatically detects similar repetitive tasks and suggests applying them to other locations.
- Sketch Helper: When drilling holes in a metal plate, it predicts the remaining steps based on the holes you’ve already created and provides suggestions.
The design assistant is not limited to these suggestions; it can make broader predictions and learns from your actions to provide the most relevant suggestions. To see more recommendations, you can adjust the assistant’s settings and filter its predictions accordingly.
SOLIDWORKS also includes features that assist you based on your selections. However, these features work slightly differently compared to the Design Assistant. For example, when you want to apply fillets to multiple edges, SOLIDWORKS classifies the edges on your part and provides suggestions.
An example of the Selection Helper in SOLIDWORKS. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
Though SOLIDWORKS introduced AI support in 2025, it is currently in beta. This feature, called Command Predictor, uses AI to track the commands you use most frequently while designing and adds them to the Command Predictor section in the Command Manager. This section works dynamically and updates itself continuously.
To explore the innovations in SOLIDWORKS 2025, check out the blog post at this link.
SOLIDWORKS Command Predictor is still in beta, but it brings AI to the tool. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
Conclusion
While both software share some similarities, they possess fundamentally distinct characteristics. SOLIDWORKS has been a trusted leader in the design world since 1995, consistently incorporating user feedback to introduce countless features that have cemented its position as an industry giant.
However, the rise of cloud-based systems is driving a major transformation across all industries today. Recognizing this shift, Dassault Systèmes took a bold step by introducing xApps, a series of innovative design programs under the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. These tools are not only cloud-based but also seamlessly integrate with PLM tools, turning this transformation into an opportunity for innovation.
xDesign and other xApps stand out for their hybrid usage capabilities, offering flexible solutions tailored to users’ needs. Developed to have similar functionalities of both SOLIDWORKS and CATIA, xDesign builds on a strong legacy while paving the way for a future of intuitive, AI-driven, and user-focused platforms.
As xApps continue to evolve alongside advancements in cloud technology, I am confident they will incorporate even more powerful features and play a pioneering role in the design industry. In the future, these groundbreaking tools will not only redefine design workflows but also set new benchmarks, reshaping the rules of the industry itself.