PTC Gives 6 Months Free Access to Onshape Professional

Hanen Bdioui

15 October 2025 4 mins to read

Exciting news for all Champion Xperience followers and subscribers! PTC is giving away 6 months of Onshape Professional for free through its Discovery Program. This is a unique opportunity to explore a full-featured, cloud-based CAD platform and see firsthand how it can transform your design workflow.

Unlike most CAD trials that last only a few days or a week, this six-month access allows professionals, students, and hobbyists to truly learn the software, test it in real projects, and experience the productivity gains of a modern, cloud-native CAD system.

What Is Onshape Professional?

Onshape Professional is a cloud-native 3D CAD and PDM platform built for modern engineering teams. Unlike traditional CAD software, Onshape doesn’t require local installations, complex licensing, or worrying about lost files. Everything lives in the cloud, which means you can work from any device, anywhere, and collaborate in real time with your team.

This is especially helpful for remote teams, distributed engineering groups, or companies with multiple offices. Everyone sees the latest version of a design instantly, eliminating errors and miscommunication that often occur with file-based CAD systems.

And the best part is this: Onshape Professional normally costs $2,500 per year, but we are now offering it completely free for 6 months, a total savings of $1,250. This is an excellent opportunity for teams to experience all of Onshape’s features without any financial commitment.

Key Features of Onshape Professional

Professional-grade CAD: Efficiently design parts, assemblies, drawings, sheet metal, frames, and more.
Real-time collaboration: Multiple team members can work on the same design simultaneously, making teamwork seamless.
Built-in PDM: Modern version control and release management ensure your data is always secure and organized.
Simulation: Test designs virtually to catch potential problems before prototyping.
Rendering: Create realistic visualizations for presentations or marketing materials.
ECAD/MCAD integration: Combine electrical and mechanical design in a single environment.
CAM (Beta): Prepare your designs for manufacturing directly from Onshape.

Why the Discovery Program Is Different

Short CAD trials rarely allow enough time to truly become proficient. Learning CAD software is not just about clicking buttons — it’s about understanding workflows, features, and how to integrate it into real projects.

With six months of free access, Onshape gives users enough time to:

Explore advanced tools like simulation, rendering, and CAM
Train teams and students effectively
Test real-world collaboration across multiple users and devices
Compare workflows against other CAD systems, such as SOLIDWORKS or Fusion 360

By the end of the program, you can confidently evaluate whether Onshape Professional fits your workflow and team needs.

Real-World Applications

Companies across industries are already using Onshape Professional to improve collaboration and reduce errors. For example, startups developing complex mechanical systems, like hydrogen-on-demand generators, rely on Onshape’s built-in version control and real-time collaboration to streamline product development.

Even for smaller teams or individual designers, the cloud platform allows work to continue seamlessly across devices, whether at home, in the office, or on-site with clients. This flexibility is a game-changer compared to traditional CAD systems.

How to Get Started

Getting access is simple:

Visit the Onshape Discovery Program page

Fill out the registration form to confirm eligibility
1. If you are a student or educator, please select the Education Plan.
2. If you are a Maker and wish to use Onshape for your hobbies, you need to select the Fun Plan.
3. Existing customers on a paid plan are not eligible for the program. Existing Free Plan users are eligible for the Discovery Program if they use CAD professionally in any capacity.
Start designing in Onshape Professional instantly

No downloads, no installation, and no credit card required. Your cloud-based CAD environment is ready to use immediately.

Why Onshape Stands Out

Onshape is the only pure-cloud professional MCAD system, meaning you never have to worry about lost files, version mismatches, or complicated IT setups. It’s fast, accessible, and built for collaboration. Over the past few years, Onshape has matured into a robust platform that rivals traditional CAD systems in both capability and reliability.

For engineers and designers considering a switch or exploring cloud CAD for the first time, this six-month free program provides a risk-free, hands-on way to evaluate the software.

Conclusion

The Onshape Discovery Program is a rare opportunity to experience professional CAD software without any financial commitment. With 6 months of full access, you can design, simulate, collaborate, and even prepare your projects for manufacturing.

If you’ve ever wanted to explore a modern, cloud-based CAD platform, now is the perfect time. Take advantage of this program, get familiar with professional tools, and accelerate your design workflow.

Author
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Hanen Bdioui

Sales Development Representative at ChampionXperience

Hanen Bdioui, founder of ChampionXperience, is a Sales Development Representative skilled in SimLab Soft, SOLIDWORKS, 3DEXPERIENCE, and 3DEXCITE. She helps companies and learners explore VR, AR, and PLM solutions to drive innovation.