Onshape Explained: 17 Features That Define Cloud-Native CAD

Cloud-native CAD represents a fundamental shift in how design software works. Instead of files and folders, you get databases and real-time sync. Instead of installation packages, you get browser access.

For engineers evaluating browser-based CAD as a SOLIDWORKS alternative, or simply curious about what “cloud-native” actually means in practice, here’s a feature-by-feature breakdown of how the platform operates and what sets it apart from traditional desktop CAD systems.

(Note: This blog doesn’t include Onshape’s beyond-CAD capabilities, like CAM Studio, Render Studio, Simulation, and custom features. This is just the start.)

1. Access CAD From Any Browser

Open Chrome, Safari, or Firefox, log in, and start designing. That’s the browser CAD software experience: no software to download, no IT setup required.

The platform runs on AWS infrastructure, handling compute-intensive tasks like large assembly rendering on the server side rather than your local machine. This architecture supports any device: laptops, tablets, phones, regardless of operating system. The database structure (think Google Docs) replaces traditional file management, storing your work centrally where any authorized user can access it.

2. Documents (Instead of Files) for Your Design Data

Think of a document as a project folder that lives in the cloud. Parts, assemblies, drawings, reference PDFs, images – everything related to a design can exist in a document. This contrasts with file-based CAD where each element is a separate file that needs to be linked and managed. When you share a document, collaborators get access to the complete package, not just individual files that might reference missing dependencies.

3. Parametric Modeling With Keyboard Shortcuts

The modeling fundamentals (sketches, constraints, extrudes, feature trees) work just as expected in any CAD system. However, keyboard shortcuts give design work a new layer of ease. Hit S for the shortcut menu, Shift+S to start sketching, D to dimension. The interface consolidates related operations: extrude commands include surface, cut, and thin options in one dialog instead of separate tools. Users coming from similar platforms will recognize the core workflow, though cloud CAD software organizes the toolset differently in places.

4. Share Links Instead of Files

Sharing works like any other web-based tool: send a link and set permissions. Choose who can view, edit, export, or share further. For external collaborators without Onshape accounts, public view-only links open directly in a browser. Remove someone’s access by updating the share settings, and their link stops working. No need to track down emailed files or wonder who has the latest version.

5. Multiple People, Same Model, Real Time

Two engineers open the same document. One adds a fillet. The other sees it appear immediately with no refresh and no sync delay. Onshape shows avatars of who’s in the document, and “follow mode” lets you watch someone else’s screen position and selections. The database backend eliminates the check-in/check-out workflow that file-based systems require. Changes propagate instantly to everyone viewing the document, a core advantage of browser-based CAD over traditional desktop architectures.

6. Automatic Version History, No Save Button

Look for a save button, and you won’t find one. Every edit gets logged automatically. The version history shows the complete timeline: who changed what, when. Click any point to view that state of the design. Want to go back? Restore to any previous moment. The system stores unlimited undo/redo states, and even the restore action becomes part of the history.

7. Version Control and Branches

Named versions act as permanent snapshots, unchangeable markers in your timeline. From any version, create a branch to test ideas without disrupting the main workspace. Your teammate keeps working while you experiment with a design-for-manufacturing iteration in your branch. When both efforts are ready, merge them back together. The workflow mirrors software development practices, enabling parallel exploration without version chaos.

8. Comments and Create Tasks within CAD

Leave a comment directly on a part. Assign it as a task. Tag specific edges or faces with markup annotations. These conversations stay attached to the geometry, creating a discussion thread that lives alongside the design itself. No separate PowerPoint decks or email chains, the feedback exists in context, visible to anyone who opens the document.

9. Visually Compare Versions, Branches

Select two branches and hit compare. See a side-by-side feature list showing what changed, plus a visual slider that reveals geometry differences as you drag it. The tool makes branch divergence obvious, no more squinting at models trying to spot what’s different. Works for any two points in history, not just branches.

10. Intelligent Merging of Design Changes

File-based CAD isn’t able to take two diverged designs and combine them automatically. Onshape’s database tracks every edit, so it can stack changes from separate branches into one design. When conflicts arise, like a feature referencing deleted geometry, the system flags them rather than crashing. The merge becomes a history entry you can undo if something goes wrong.

11. Single Source of Truth: Drawings

ANSI, ISO, JIS standards come built-in. Generate multi-view drawings that adjust to part geometry, then add dimensions, GD&T, notes, BOMs, and revision tables. The drawings live in the same document as the 3D models, so they reference the current geometry. Change the model, and the drawing can update accordingly. All standard manufacturing documentation tools are present.

12. Simplified Assembly Mates

Mate connectors are coordinate systems embedded in parts. Align two connectors, pick your constraint type: fastened, revolute, slider, cylindrical. One mate typically defines the relationship. There’s no combining multiple constraints to lock things in place. The BOM updates as components are added, and part numbers integrate with the built-in data management.

13. Database-Driven Search

Search by name, part number, description, revision state, custom properties. The database structure makes this possible. Instead of hunting through folder hierarchies for file names, queries pull components based on their attributes. Need to find everywhere a specific bolt is used? The search handles that. It’s PDM functionality without the separate system.

14. Built-In Release Management

Right-click a component, select release. The system runs checks: missing part numbers, outdated references, and approval requirements. Default release workflows are included, while Enterprise users can customize them. Released components lock at that revision, so there are no accidental edits. Track usage across assemblies to see where each released part appears.

15. Free Training Resources

The Onshape Learning Center includes 40+ courses: basic modeling, advanced surfacing, and specific workflows. Videos, step-by-step guides, and searchable content are all free for users. People with parametric CAD experience can usually navigate the platform without extensive training, since the core concepts translate. The courses help with Onshape-specific features and interface differences.

16. AI-Powered Documentation Help

AI Advisor knows Onshape’s documentation. Ask questions, get answers based on official help content. Looking for a feature? Stuck on a workflow? The AI pulls from the knowledge base to point you toward solutions.

17. Seamless Support Experience

Contact support from within Onshape. Add screenshots, markups, and share your document with the support engineer. They can open your actual design, see the context, check your feature tree. No pack-and-go exports, no explaining over email what went wrong. The shared platform means support sees what you see.

What This Means for Your Workflows

These 17 features reflect a different design philosophy. Cloud-native CAD eliminates the local/remote divide, treats collaboration as default rather than exception, and replaces file management with database operations.

The cloud-native approach to CAD isn’t theoretical anymore. It's operational, scalable, and in active use. Whether it fits your workflows depends on your priorities: collaboration needs, data management pain points, and hardware infrastructure. The features above show what’s possible when CAD moves to the cloud.