UPDATED March 11, 2021. Several cloud based apps were suggested and have been added.
Software as a service (SaaS) is predicted for the next generation of engineering software with all its advantages for users as well as for its vendors. Vendors run SaaS applications on a remote server in the cloud. With number crunching done in the cloud, SaaS applications can run on any computer and on any device usually through a web browser. Users don’t need to have expensive workstations with equally expensive graphic cards to use this software. Users are also freed from installing and maintaining software. Their companies don’t have to hire IT resources to handle the installation and maintenance. For example, CAD managers using Onshape no longer have to shut down the design department—or work through the weekend—to update the CAD software. Somebody at Onshape does that, with no bother or interruption to the software’s users, save receiving a notification that new features have been added.
For vendors, the advantages are considerable. Users pay regularly, renting rather than owning the software. This avoids the need to have paid annual upgrades with a draught between them or a maintenance contract whose only purpose may be to insure against costly upgrades. By contrast, with SaaS software user revenue is based on license subscription—and the money flows regularly. And in the case of two software giants, Adobe and Autodesk, the flow is considerable. Both companies switched to subscription-based software platforms and generate millions more dollars now, without annual spikes, than they had with the previous generation of perpetually licensed desktop software.
What follows is an initial list of engineering applications that use the cloud by category, from fully cloud based to those that might use the cloud for part of their functionality—like storage.
If you know of others, please notify us in the comment section below. We will periodically update this list.
CAD
Onshape - professional, mechanical design that is fully based on the cloud, so it requires a constant connection to the Internet. The software requires no download, is free for personal use, and was created by the same team that created SOLIDWORKS. Acquired by PTC.
Fusion 360 - can do mechanical design, generative design, simulation, manufacturing (includes CAM), and electrical design, and it can be used without an Internet connection because it only uses the cloud for some processing and for storage. By Autodesk.
CATIA - cloud-based CATIA, powered by 3DEXPERIENCE. By Dassault Systèmes.
Solid Edge Portal - online CAD management, viewing and collaboration. By Siemens.
ARES Kudo - view and edit DWG files on the cloud; works with Onshape. By Graebert.
CMS IntelliCAD - AutoCAD-like CAD, but on the Web.
SculptGL - free online CAD software. By Stephane Ginier.
3D Sculptor - 3D design solution on the cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform for making organic surfaces with subdivision (Sub-D) modeling on a browser; includes the xShape app. By Dassault Systèmes.
EnSuite-Cloud ReVue - online CAD viewer. By CCE.
Viewing, Rendering and Collaboration
Envisioneer Online - easy to use, requires no installation, is guided by AI, and can be used for home design or remodeling. By Cadsoft.
RealityServer new - cloud based rendering. By Migenius (acquired by PTC)
Autodesk Viewer new - full fledged viewer, multiple CAD formats supported. Free.
3D Printing
MakePrintable - a cloud-based solution to analyze and repair 3D models for 3D printing. By Mixed Dimensions.
Simulation
CAEplex new - thermal and mechanical FEA in your browser. Free plan for up to 80K nodes. By Seamplex.
SIMULIA new - simulation powered by 3DEXPERIENCE. By Dassault Systèmes.
Intact.Design new - simulation in the cloud. Free.
SimScale - computer-aided engineering, CFD, FEA on the cloud.
Onscale - multiphysics solver runs on the cloud.
Ansys Cloud - cloud-based HPC for simulation.
Kaliedosim - scientific computing on the cloud.
Rescale - cloud-based HPC; includes many CFD applications plus FEA, EMI and more.
SkyCiv - structural simulation for civil engineers.
ClearCalcs - thousands of formulas for civil and structural engineers.
ECAD
Electra Cloud new - electrical schematic application. By Radica Software.
Technical Documentation
cadasio new - 3d animated interactive instructions from CAD data.
Mathematics and Graphing
MATLAB in the Cloud - use MATLAB on your browser. By MathWorks.
Mathematica Online - Mathematica on the cloud. By Wolfram.
Tableau Online - data analysis and great graphs.
PLM
Aras - cloud-based PLM.
Arena - cloud-based PLM. Acquired by PTC.
Duro PLM new - cloud-based PLM. By Duro.
Enovia new - enterprise cloud based PLM, powered by 3DEXPERIENCE. By Dassault Systèmes.
OneIPM new - cloud-based project management for Onshape
Propel - cloud-based PLM.
Upchain - cloud-based PLM.
FusePLM - cloud-based PLM.
Teamcenter X - heavyweight of enterprise PLM—now on the cloud. By Siemens.
OpenBOM - online PLM. By Oleg Shilovitsky.
Kenesto - online PLM. By legendary CAD founder, Mike Payne.
Centro - online product information. By Actify.
Low Code
Mendix - cloud-based low code application. By Siemens.
IoT
MindSphere - industrial IoT as a service. By Siemens.
Intosite - cloud-based digital twins of factory floors, based on Tecnomatix. By Siemens.
Electrical
SystemVision - electrical circuit diagrams on the cloud. By Siemens.
Electra Cloud - cloud-based electrical schematic software. By Radica Software.
Manufacturing
DELMIA new - cloud-based CAM, powered by 3DEXPERIENCE. By Dassault Systèmes.
Kiri:Moto new - cloud-based tool-path generator for CAM, 3D printing and laser cutting. By Grid Space.
General
Frame - runs desktop applications on cloud, freeing local resources.