tech from europe
vsFusion 360

CATIA vs Fusion 360

Last updated October 2026

Looking for a European alternative to Fusion 360? Here's how CATIA compares, on EU hosting, GDPR and what it does.

Our pick for a European buyer: CATIA. We weight data residency, GDPR and EU jurisdiction above everything else — that is the constraint this directory exists to solve.

CATIA
Fusion 360
What it is
French industrial-grade CAD/PLM suite for complex 3D modeling, surface design and systems engineering.
Cloud platform for 3D CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB design and engineering.
Headquarters
🇫🇷 FR
🇺🇸 US · 1982
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
Available on some plansEU data residency available on request for certain plans.
DSGVO / GDPR
No
Yes
Certifications
No
ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II
Price from
$7,560/yr
No
Free plan
No
No
Open Source
No
No
Ratings
No
No
Integrations
3DEXPERIENCE platform, Teamcenter, Synera, CADLink, A360
Inventor, AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks (via plugins), Siemens NX (via plugins) +6

Where each one wins

CATIA

Strengths

  • +Advanced 3D modeling and parametric design capabilities for complex engineering tasks
  • +Strong surfacing tools for high-precision product design, particularly in automotive and aerospace
  • +Seamless integration with PLM systems like ENOVIA for end-to-end product lifecycle management
  • +Efficient handling of large, multi-part assemblies with flexible design modification options
  • +Comprehensive simulation and analysis features to prevent production issues and improve quality
  • +Supports multidisciplinary collaboration across engineering teams and departments
  • +Proven robustness for managing extensive product lifecycles in industrial environments

Limitations

  • −Steep learning curve and complex interface, making onboarding difficult for new users
  • −High licensing costs and modular pricing structure that can become expensive
  • −Performance issues with slow loading and saving of large files

Fusion 360

Strengths

  • +Unified platform for CAD, CAM, and CAE
  • +Cloud-based collaboration tools
  • +Generative design capabilities
  • +Regular feature updates

Limitations

  • −Steep learning curve for beginners
  • −Requires stable internet connection
  • −Limited offline functionality
  • −Pricing can be high for small teams

Data residency & compliance

CATIA
Fusion 360
EU data residency
Yes, for all customers
Available on some plansEU data residency available on request for certain plans.
Transfer mechanism
Not required — data stays in the EU
not established
DPA
not established
Published →
Sub-processors
Listed →
not established
Certifications
No
ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II

Pricing

CATIA

  • Annual Subscription $7,560 per yearIncludes CATIA Mechanical Designer · Access to 3DEXPERIENCE collaboration tools · Basic training included
  • Quarterly Subscription $2,268 per quarterShort-term access to CATIA suite · Same feature set as annual plan · No long-term commitment

Pricing varies by region and local currency. Contact sales for a custom quote including services and recommended add-ons.

Fusion 360

No published pricing we could verify.

Pricing is subscription-based; exact figures vary by region and plan. Contact Autodesk for details.

Features

CATIA

3D Modeling & Design
Parametric 3D solid and surface modeling, Advanced surface design and shape optimization, Assembly design with kinematic simulation, Generative shape design for complex geometries
2D & Technical Documentation
Automated 2D drawing generation from 3D models, Annotation and dimensioning tools, Bill of materials (BOM) creation and management, Standards-compliant technical documentation
Simulation & Analysis
Finite element analysis (FEA) for structural simulation, Kinematic and dynamic motion analysis, Thermal and fluid flow simulation, Generative part stress analysis
Collaboration & Data Management
Integration with 3DEXPERIENCE platform for cloud collaboration, Version control and revision management, Multi-user access and concurrent engineering, PLM connectivity for enterprise workflows

Fusion 360

Design & Modeling
Parametric modeling, Surface modeling, Mesh modeling, Assemblies
Manufacturing
2.5-axis to 5-axis milling, Turning, Additive manufacturing, Nesting
Simulation & Analysis
Static stress analysis, Modal analysis, Thermal analysis, Buckling analysis
Electronics
Schematic capture, PCB layout, Spice simulation, 3D PCB modeling
Collaboration
Cloud-based project sharing, Version control, Real-time co-editing, Comments & markups
See CATIA →More Fusion 360 alternatives