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ZW3D

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ZW3D?
ZW3D is an all-in-one 3D CAD/CAM solution designed for product development and manufacturing. ZW3D belongs to the same software category which includes other similar products e.g. SolidWorks, Inventor, Fusion 360, etc.
Is the ZW3D license perpetual (life-time)?
Yes, you'll get a perpetual license when you purchase ZW3D. That means you OWN the software and the license never expires. Pay once and forget about any recurring monthly/yearly payments.

When a new ZW3D version is released, you can choose to pay for the upgrade or to stay with the version you have. For detailed information, see the question "What is the detailed pricing structure of ZW3D?" below.
Is the ZW3D cloud-based?
No. ZW3D is 100% non-cloud and doesn't store data on any external server. Once activated, you can run ZW3D without internet connection.
Can I install ZW3D on Mac?
Currently ZW3D only supports the Windows systems (64 bit Windows 7 sp1, Windows 8.1 or Window 10/11).
Can I try ZW3D before purchasing it?

Of course! Go to our Download page to get your 30-day trial of ZW3D Premium version with no limitation.

What's the differences between ZW3D versions?

Check HERE for the detailed comparison between different ZW3D versions. Most design firms and freelancers choose the Professional version. The Premium version best suits who needs 2X - 3X machining in a regular basis.

What is the detailed pricing structure of ZW3D?

Unlike other expensive 3D CAD systems that charge accumulated maintenance fees, ZW3D's pricing structure is quite simple, transparent and affordable. 

  1. New license price = MSRP

    This is the price you pay for a new license of the latest ZW3D version. Check the current MSRPs HERE.

  2. Maintenance = 25% of MSRP / per year

    A user can purchase maintenance when (1) purchasing a new license or upgrade (2) deciding to keep the software up-to-date when the current maintenance is still valid.

    For example, a user can purchase a new ZW3D 2025 license + 1-yr maintenance. This way when ZW3D 2026 is out, the user can move up to it freely.

    A user can also purchase maintenance when upgrading (see below) to the latest version.

    Maintenance is always optional. If ZW3D 2025 is the latest version, a ZW3D 2025 user can purchase an 1-yr maintenance anytime before ZW3D 2026 is out.


    A user can purchase 1-yr, 2-yr, or 3-yr maintenance to make sure the software stays the latest version within these years (that's why it's called a "maintenance"; it maintains your software and keeps it up to date).

  3. Upgrading = 35% of MSRP / per time

    If you don't keep the maintenance with the current version then you will have to pay the upgrade fee when you decide to upgrade to the latest version. The difference here between other 3D CAD vendors' pricing model is: when you upgrade, you don’t need to pay the accumulated maintenance fees within the missed years. Say you bought the ZW3D 2018 (without any maintenance), and now you decide to upgrade to the latest version (say ZW3D 2025), you only need to pay the 35% of the current new-license price to upgrade.

    In the same scenario, if you decide to stay with ZW3D 2025, 7 years later you'll still only need to pay 35% of that MSRP to upgrade to ZW3D 2032. No accumulated maintenance hassle whatsoever.

    When you upgrade (paying 35% of MSRP), this is the time you can consider buying extra maintenance (25%). If you think you’ll become a loyal user, this can save you some money (10% per year) for the new version coming in the near future.

What are the licensing options?

ZW3D provides these licensing options:

  1. Soft-key Standalone license (recommended): You'll get a license key (sometimes referred as the Activation ID) as a six letter-number combination like Z1E8-FE3B-YYYY-X3XX-JPIN-XXXX. In ZW3D's License Manager you can use the license key to activate the software with just a few clicks. If you want to use the same license on a different PC, you just need to "return" the license on PC 1, and activate it on PC 2.

    The activation/returning requires the internet connection, but you only need to do it once. When activated, ZW3D doesn't require the internet connection anymore.

    We always recommend this licensing method because it's the easiest way to to deploy and manage ZW3D in your team.


  2. Soft-key Network license: This method needs the Network License Manager software to be installed on a local server for distributing ZW3D licenses to individual PCs.

  3. Dongle: Although available, we don't recommend this method because it always brings more trouble than benefits for these reasons:

    > Shipping/replacing the dongle takes time and has uncertainties.
    > You may lose the dongle easily (that always happens!).
    > The dongle occupies an USB port and may cause compatibility issues with other devices.
How do I install and activate ZW3D?

Please follow the instruction HERE to activate your ZW3D.

Can I use the same ZW3D license on different PCs?
Yes, you can use the same license on different PCs by "returning" and "re-activating" the license in ZW3D's License Manager. It's a matter of just a few clicks.
What should I do if my PC broke and thus can't return the license?

If your old PC is not functional for whatever reasons (e.g.  hard disk failure, OS re-installation, etc) and you forgot to return the license before it happened, please download and fill the ZWSoft Product Activation ID Reset Form and send it to us.

We'll reset your license in 3 business days. Once informed, you can use it again on your new PC.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us HERE. Our ZW3D experts will be more than happy to assist you.

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