PV Elite
Hexagon PV Elite is the most-used software for pressure vessel and heat exchanger design and code compliance — ASME VIII Div 1/2, PD 5500, EN 13445, and many others — with integrated wind/seismic load handling.
Full Pricing Breakdown
Official software licensing terms, volume discounts, educational exemptions, and renewal fees vary significantly across countries, exchange rates, and regional authorized resellers. Click below to verify real-time terms directly on the vendor portal.
Official deployment options, concurrent multi-user licensing, and educational discounts are configured per enterprise seat on the vendor portal.
View Official Pricing PageKey Capabilities
Pressure Vessel
Codes
Analysis
Design
Technical Audit
Compatibility & Interoperability
Trust & Support
The Pros
- De facto industry standard for ASME pressure vessel design
- Comprehensive code library
- Direct material report and fabrication drawing output
The Cons
- Windows-only
- Subscription only — perpetual licenses no longer sold
- Add-on modules can stack up the price
CADGuide Verdict
Final Professional Conclusion
"If you design pressure vessels, you have PV Elite installed. End of discussion."
Expert Q&A
?What is PV Elite used for?
Pressure vessel and heat exchanger design and code-compliance checking. PV Elite is a CAE / CAM solution widely adopted in Oil & Gas, Chemical, Power.
?How much does PV Elite cost?
PV Elite is licensed on a Subscription model. Because official seat rates, multi-currency pricing, educational exemptions, and authorized reseller quotes vary by region, click the Official Live Pricing link on this page to verify real-time pricing directly on the vendor portal.
?Is there a free version of PV Elite?
PV Elite is a commercial product without a free permanent tier. Most vendors offer a 15-30 day evaluation on request; verified educational seats are typically free for students.
?What operating systems does PV Elite support?
PV Elite runs on Windows.
?Which file formats does PV Elite support?
PV Elite imports PVI, CADWorx, AutoCAD (DXF), SolidWorks and exports PVI, ASME Code Calculation Reports, 3D PDF, DXF, Word, Excel. Direct CAD associative interfaces and neutral solver/exchange formats are supported depending on your licensed modules.
?What are the best alternatives to PV Elite?
The closest alternatives to PV Elite are CAESAR II, Bentley AutoPIPE, ANSYS Mechanical. CAESAR II (offered on a Subscription license) competes directly on core Oil & Gas workflows, while Bentley AutoPIPE (offered on a Subscription license) is another top-rated option in the same category. Compare their full technical specifications, file-format compatibility, and official licensing options side-by-side on CADGuide.
