Simulation licensing
Ansys vs. SOLIDWORKS Simulation vs. Abaqus: Solver Lease Rates, HPC Core Packs & Cloud Token Audit
These three tools are priced in three different ways: Ansys by solver seat plus HPC core packs, SOLIDWORKS Simulation as a CAD tier upgrade, and Abaqus by analysis tokens that scale with cores. A typical Ansys Mechanical seat benchmarks at $22,000 a year, 32-core scaling adds about $12,500, and moving linear checks to CAD-embedded simulation saved $15,250 a year in our worked example.
01The short answer: match the license model to the analysis mix
Most simulation overspend comes from running every analysis on the most expensive license. A linear static check on a bracket does not need the same solver seat as a transient CFD model or a nonlinear contact problem. The three products compared here sit at different points on that ladder:
- SOLIDWORKS Simulation runs inside the CAD tool. Linear static analysis comes with the Premium tier, and higher simulation packages are sold as add-ons. It suits design engineers checking their own parts.
- Ansys (Mechanical, Fluent, HFSS and others) is licensed per solver seat, with HPC packs to unlock more CPU cores. It suits dedicated analysts doing multiphysics, CFD and electromagnetics.
- Abaqus, part of Dassault Systèmes SIMULIA, is commonly licensed through a token pool. Each job draws tokens according to the cores it uses. It is widely used for nonlinear structural and contact problems.
The buyer-side question is not which solver is best. It is how many hours of each kind of analysis you run, and which license model makes those hours cheapest. Engineer Aid is independent of all three vendors and their resellers.
02How each tool is licensed and priced
Prices below are typical 2025-2026 market ranges. Abaqus token pricing is set per agreement and region, so we compare its structure and use the general solver-lease range as the market check.
| Tool | License unit | Benchmark / range | Core scaling | Typical user |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOLIDWORKS Simulation (in Premium) | CAD seat tier | $5,100 Premium vs. $3,800 Professional per seat / yr | Desktop cores of the workstation | Design engineer, linear static |
| Ansys Mechanical / Fluent | Solver seat, annual lease | $22,000 (range $14,000-$32,000) per seat / yr | 4 cores per seat; HPC packs add more | Dedicated analyst |
| Ansys enterprise multiphysics + HPC | Bundle | $38,000-$65,000+ / yr | Workgroup HPC included or added | CAE group |
| Ansys HPC pack (32-core) | Add-on | $12,500 (range $8,000-$28,000) / yr | Scales one job to 32+ cores | Large models |
| Abaqus | Token pool | Quote-based; check against the solver-lease range | Tokens rise with core count | Nonlinear and contact analyst |
03Core scaling: HPC packs vs. tokens
The biggest structural difference is how each model charges for speed. An Ansys base seat commonly unlocks 4 CPU cores. To run one job on 32 or 128 cores you buy HPC packs, a fixed yearly cost whether you use them every day or once a month.
Abaqus commonly uses a token formula. The widely documented rule is tokens = int(5 x N^0.422), where N is the number of cores. Tokens grow much more slowly than cores, so a pool sized for a few large jobs can instead run several smaller jobs at once. Check the formula in your current license agreement, as terms vary.
| Cores per job | Tokens per job | Tokens per core | Jobs a 24-token pool runs at once |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 8 | 2.0 | 3 |
| 8 | 12 | 1.5 | 2 |
| 16 | 16 | 1.0 | 1 |
| 32 | 21 | 0.66 | 1 |
| 64 | 28 | 0.44 | 0 (pool too small) |
Read the table as a sizing tool. A pool of 24 tokens runs three 4-core jobs in parallel, or one 32-core job. If your analysts mostly run many small jobs, token pools are efficient. If you run a few very large jobs, compare the token count needed against the cost of an Ansys HPC pack for the same core count.
04Owning an HPC pack vs. cloud burst capacity
The benchmark rule is that on-demand cloud capacity is cheaper than an owned HPC pack whenever solver use sits below about 28 hours a week. That threshold implies a price you can check any cloud quote against: $12,500 / (28 hours x 52 weeks) = about $8.59 per solver hour. If a cloud offer costs less than that per equivalent hour, the owned pack is only worth keeping above 28 hours a week.
Now look at real use. A team that runs large jobs 14 hours a week pays $12,500 / (14 x 52) = $17.17 per solver hour for its owned pack, twice the implied cloud rate. A team at 40 hours a week pays $6.01 per hour and should keep the pack.
How to get the number: pull the license manager logs for the HPC feature and count hours checked out per week over at least two quarters. Peaks around design reviews and launches matter; a pack sized for the peak may sit idle for most of the year. Our Ansys HPC pack and elastic pricing audit walks through the log review and the contract terms to ask for.
05Worked example: re-tiering a 3-seat Ansys estate
A machinery OEM holds three Ansys Mechanical seats and one HPC pack. Analysts report that about a third of jobs are linear static checks requested by ten design engineers, and HPC use runs about 14 hours a week. The plan: give the ten designers SOLIDWORKS Premium for their own linear checks, drop one Ansys seat, and move large jobs to cloud burst at the implied $8.59 hourly benchmark.
| Line item | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Ansys Mechanical seats | 3 x $22,000 = $66,000 | 2 x $22,000 = $44,000 |
| HPC capacity | Owned pack $12,500 | Cloud burst 728 hrs x $8.59 = $6,250 |
| SOLIDWORKS Professional to Premium | $0 | 10 x $1,300 = $13,000 |
| Total per year | $78,500 | $63,250 |
Saving: $78,500 - $63,250 = $15,250 a year, about 19%. The analysts also get time back, because simple checks no longer queue behind complex models. The cloud line is an implied benchmark; replace it with a written cloud quote before deciding.
06Which tool fits which analysis
Fit depends on physics and on who runs the job. The guide below describes common practice, not a ranking of quality; all three are used in serious production work.
- Linear static and simple frequency checks on parts and small assemblies: CAD-embedded simulation is usually enough, with an analyst reviewing critical results.
- CFD, thermal-fluid and electromagnetics: dedicated solvers such as Ansys Fluent or HFSS are the common choice.
- Nonlinear materials, large deformation and complex contact: Abaqus and Ansys Mechanical are both common; the license model and your analysts' experience often decide.
- Crash and highly parallel explicit dynamics: core scaling dominates the cost, so compare the HPC pack price with the token count for the same cores.
Medical device and aerospace teams should also check that the tool's verification records meet their quality system; that matters more than a few thousand dollars of license cost.
07Contract terms to check on any simulation renewal
Simulation renewals are usually smaller in seat count than CAD renewals but much larger per seat, so one unused license can cost as much as six CAD seats. Treat each line on the order as a decision, and use the checklist below before you sign.
- Lease vs. perpetual. Ask for both prices. Leases are the common model now, but some estates still hold perpetual licenses with maintenance.
- HPC terms. Confirm how many cores the base seat unlocks and whether HPC can be bought short-term for a project peak.
- Token pool size. Ask for the pool's peak and average use over the last year before renewing at the same size.
- Cloud or elastic units. If the vendor offers pay-per-use units, get the per-hour rate in writing and compare it with the $8.59 implied benchmark.
- Uplift cap. Ask for a fixed number for each renewal year, as with CAD seats.
- Bundled modules. Each module on the order should have a named user and a usage record.
One more check for multi-site firms: ask whether licenses can be shared across sites and time zones from one license server. A seat that serves a team in two time zones covers more working hours, and some agreements restrict use by geography.
08A four-week simulation license audit
Week one: export license manager logs for every solver feature and HPC feature, plus Abaqus token use. Week two: classify jobs by type (linear, nonlinear, CFD, EM, explicit) and by who ran them. Week three: price three options, current estate, re-tiered estate and cloud-heavy estate, using the benchmarks on this page. Week four: send the reseller a written request with the seat mix you want and ask for fixed renewal prices.
Run the numbers in the CAD and CAE license audit calculator. Automotive teams with large crash and thermal models should also read the Tier-1 CAE token optimization playbook, and SOLIDWORKS users can compare reseller terms in GoEngineer vs. Hawk Ridge Systems vs. TriMech.
09Run the numbers: cAD, PLM and simulation software license audit calculator
The same benchmarks as this sheet, with your inputs. Share link and printable brief open the full calculator page.
Benchmarks are typical 2025-2026 market ranges compiled by Engineer Aid, an independent desk not affiliated with the vendors named. Quotes vary by region, volume and timing; nothing here is legal, tax or engineering advice. Revised 2026-11-06.
Questions buyers ask
How much does an Ansys license cost per year?
A standard commercial Ansys Mechanical or Fluent solver seat typically leases for $14,000 to $32,000 a year, with $22,000 as a common benchmark. Enterprise multiphysics bundles with HPC run $38,000 to $65,000 or more. Scaling a job to 32 cores adds an HPC pack of about $12,500 a year.
Is SOLIDWORKS Simulation enough instead of Ansys?
For linear static and simple frequency checks on parts and small assemblies, CAD-embedded simulation is often enough, and moving from SOLIDWORKS Professional to Premium costs about $1,300 per seat per year. CFD, electromagnetics and complex nonlinear work usually still need a dedicated solver.
How are Abaqus tokens calculated?
Abaqus commonly uses the formula tokens = int(5 x N^0.422), where N is the number of cores per job. A 4-core job needs 8 tokens, a 16-core job 16 and a 32-core job 21. Confirm the formula in your own license agreement.
When is cloud simulation cheaper than an Ansys HPC pack?
The benchmark rule is below about 28 solver hours a week. At $12,500 a year that threshold implies about $8.59 per solver hour, so a team using the pack 14 hours a week pays about $17.17 per hour and should price cloud burst capacity instead.
How many CPU cores does an Ansys seat include?
A base Ansys solver seat commonly unlocks 4 cores. Running larger jobs on 32 to 128 cores requires HPC packs, which add roughly $8,000 to $28,000 a year depending on scale, so check job sizes before buying more cores.