GrabCAD Workbench was discontinued on June 1, 2023, leaving thousands of engineering teams without a PDM solution. CAD ROOMS is the natural successor, offering multi-CAD support, a modern user experience, and affordable pricing without vendor lock-in. If you’re evaluating options, here’s a practical framework: How to Choose a Cloud PDM System for Enterprise.
What Happened to GrabCAD Workbench?
On June 1, 2023, GrabCAD Workbench, a beloved cloud-based Product Data Management (PDM) tool, was officially discontinued [1]. All services were shut down, and all user data was deleted. For the thousands of engineering teams who relied on Workbench for collaboration and version control, this was a significant blow.
According to GrabCAD, the decision was part of a strategic pivot towards additive manufacturing solutions like GrabCAD Print and GrabCAD Shop [1]. While this made sense for GrabCAD (owned by Stratasys, a 3D printing company), it left a major gap in the market for a simple, affordable, cloud-native PDM solution — especially for teams that need structured change control.
"GrabCAD Workbench has now 'really' died. The native Windows client was fully functional until recently. We found nothing comparable..." - David MacKenzie, LinkedIn [2]
Why Users Loved GrabCAD Workbench
GrabCAD Workbench was popular for its simplicity and focus on core PDM features:
Easy CAD File Sharing: Simple sharing with team members and external stakeholders.
Viewer for Non-CAD Users: Anyone could view and inspect 3D models in a browser.
Markup & Measurement Tools: In-context feedback and communication.
Desktop App with Local Sync: A familiar, Dropbox-like experience for CAD files.
Team Collaboration: Centralized workspace for engineering teams.
It was a simple, effective tool that just worked. Its discontinuation left many teams scrambling for an alternative.
The Problem with Common "Alternatives"
Many solutions have been suggested as GrabCAD alternatives, but most fall short:
Alternative
Why It's Not a Good Fit
GrabCAD Shop
Not a PDM replacement - it's a 3D printing workflow tool.
Onshape/Fusion 360
Requires switching to their CAD software (vendor lock-in).
SOLIDWORKS PDM
Expensive, complex, and requires on-premise infrastructure.
Google Drive/Dropbox
Not built for CAD - lacks version control, file locking, and viewer.
Bild PDM
Good, but primarily SolidWorks-focused and can be expensive.
CAD ROOMS: The Natural Successor to GrabCAD Workbench
CAD ROOMS is the modern, multi-CAD alternative that provides all the features users loved about GrabCAD Workbench, plus significant improvements.
Feature
GrabCAD Workbench
CAD ROOMS
Cloud-Native
✅
✅
Desktop App with Sync
✅
✅
Browser-Based Viewer
✅
✅
Markup & Measurement
✅
✅
Team Collaboration
✅
✅
Multi-CAD Support
❌ (Limited)
✅ (35+ formats)
Active Development
❌ (Discontinued)
✅ (Weekly updates)
Affordable Pricing
✅ (Free)
✅ ($75/user/month)
Vendor Lock-in
❌
❌
EU Data Residency
❌
✅
Why CAD ROOMS is the Best Alternative
True Multi-CAD Support: CAD ROOMS supports 35+ CAD formats natively, so you can keep using SolidWorks, Inventor, CATIA, or any other tool. No forced migration. (Managing Multi-CAD Projects)
Modern User Experience: An intuitive interface designed for engineers, not IT administrators. Get your team productive in days, not months.
Affordable & Transparent Pricing: At $75/user/month, CAD ROOMS is a fraction of the cost of traditional PDM, with no hidden infrastructure fees.
Actively Developed: CAD ROOMS is constantly improving, with new features released weekly. You won't be left behind again.
Built for Modern Teams: Remote-first architecture, unlimited guest viewers, and seamless collaboration for distributed teams.
How to Migrate from GrabCAD (or any other system)
Migrating to CAD ROOMS is simple:
Sign up for a free trial.
Install the desktop app.
Drag and drop your existing projects into the CAD ROOMS folder.
Invite your team.
Our team can also help with a free data migration assessment to ensure a smooth transition. Want to see CAD ROOMS in action? Watch this short walkthrough: Get started with CAD ROOMS.
Conclusion
The discontinuation of GrabCAD Workbench left a void in the market for a simple, affordable, and effective cloud PDM solution. CAD ROOMS fills that void, offering a modern, multi-CAD platform that honors the spirit of GrabCAD while providing the features and support that modern engineering teams need.
Q1: Is CAD ROOMS a good alternative for SolidWorks users?
A: Yes, CAD ROOMS is an excellent alternative for SolidWorks users. It provides robust version control, a desktop app with sync, and seamless collaboration without the complexity and cost of SOLIDWORKS PDM.
Q2: Can I use CAD ROOMS with other CAD softwares?
A: Absolutely. CAD ROOMS supports 35+ CAD formats (see the full list of supported file formats), including Inventor, Fusion 360, CATIA, NX, Creo, and more. It's a true multi-CAD platform. You can view files directly in the platform's CAD viewer.
Q3: Is CAD ROOMS affordable for small teams and startups?
A: Yes. CAD ROOMS is designed to be affordable and scalable for teams of all sizes. You can start with a free trial and upgrade anytime as your team grows.
Q4: How is CAD ROOMS different from using Google Drive or Dropbox?
A: While Google Drive and Dropbox are great for general file sharing, they lack critical PDM features like version control, file locking (check-in/check-out), and CAD-specific viewing tools. CAD ROOMS is purpose-built for engineering data.
Q5: What if my team was using GrabCAD for university projects (like Formula Student)?
A: CAD ROOMS is a great fit for university teams. You can get started quickly by creating your first workspace and project: Create a Workspace and Create a Project.
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