Short answer: an Autodesk Inventor add-in (also called a plugin or add-on) is a program that loads inside Autodesk Inventor and adds commands to its ribbon. You get them from the Autodesk App Store or directly from a developer, install them with an installer, and switch them on or off in the Add-In Manager. Most solve one repetitive job — drawings, exports, BOMs, saving — and most commercial ones come with a free trial.
What an Autodesk Inventor add-in is
An add-in is a compiled .NET (or C++) program that Autodesk Inventor loads at start-up. Once loaded it can do anything a user can do through the Autodesk Inventor API — create drawings, place views, edit iProperties, export files, react to events like a save — and it shows up as buttons on a ribbon tab, like a built-in command.
“Add-in”, “plugin”, “add-on” and “app” mean the same thing here. Autodesk’s own documentation says add-in; the Autodesk App Store calls them apps.
Add-in, iLogic or VBA — which is which?
Autodesk Inventor has three ways to automate it, and they suit different jobs:
| iLogic | VBA macro | Add-in | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it lives | Rules inside your documents or as external rules | A macro project on your machine | An installed program |
| Who writes it | Engineers, with little coding | Engineers who know some VBA | Software developers |
| User interface | Simple forms | Basic dialogs | Full ribbon buttons, dialogs, panels |
| Best for | Company-specific rules on your own models | Quick personal tools | Reusable tools for a whole team, or a product you buy |
VBA is the oldest of the three and rarely the best choice for new work. If a rule only ever runs on your own models, iLogic is usually the honest answer. Add-ins earn their place when the job is the same for everyone, needs a real interface, or has to run reliably across many users and Autodesk Inventor versions.
What add-ins are typically used for
- Drawing automation — creating finished 2D drawings from a model: views, dimensions, parts lists, balloons, title block. Our Automatic Drawing Creator (ADC) and SMDC for sheet metal do this.
- Drawing clean-up — replacing title blocks and borders across many drawings, quick dimensioning. See Drawing Assistant.
- Batch export — STEP, DXF, PDF and Excel BOMs for a whole assembly in one run, as Axcast does.
- Safety nets — Autodesk Inventor has no automatic save; AutoSave adds one.
- Model and file handling — copying a model together with its drawing (Copy Assistant, free), sorting the browser (Browser Rearranger), BOM and sketch helpers (Model Assistant).
- Integration — passing BOMs and item data to an ERP or PDM system, usually built for one company.
Where to get Autodesk Inventor add-ins and plugins
- Autodesk App Store (Marketplace) — the official catalogue. Every app is reviewed by Autodesk before it is listed, which makes it the safest place to start. Many apps are free; paid ones usually offer a trial.
- Directly from developers — most vendors also sell from their own site, often with more documentation and support. Examples: BLUE MECH (drawing automation, export, autosave), MuM Multitool, inventor-tools.de, Assembly Copier and MatProp.
- Free community tools — individual developers publish free add-ins and source code, for example hjalte.nl.
Before you install anything, check three things: that it supports your Autodesk Inventor version, that the installer is signed by the vendor, and that there is a trial or a clear refund policy so you can test it on real work first.
How to install and load an add-in
- Close Autodesk Inventor and run the installer from the App Store or the vendor. App Store apps usually install into
C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins. - Start Autodesk Inventor. The add-in loads and its buttons appear, usually on their own ribbon tab.
- If nothing appears, open Tools → Add-Ins (the Add-In Manager). Select the add-in, tick Loaded/Unloaded to load it now and Load Automatically so it loads at every start.
- If it is listed but will not load, check that the add-in supports your Autodesk Inventor version and that it is not set to Block.
The Add-In Manager is also where you switch add-ins off. If Autodesk Inventor starts slowly or behaves oddly, unloading add-ins one at a time is the quickest way to find the cause.
How to learn to build your own
If the job is specific to your company, writing an add-in yourself is realistic for anyone comfortable with C# or VB.NET. Good starting points:
- Creating Add-Ins for Inventor — Brian Ekins’ Autodesk University class, the classic introduction. It compares VBA, iLogic, add-ins and standalone programs and explains when to pick which.
- Get Started with Visual Studio and the Inventor API (Autodesk Virtual Academy) and Getting Started with the Inventor API (KETIV).
- Autodesk Inventor API reference in the official help.
- Inventor Programming / iLogic forum — the place to ask when you get stuck.
Start with one small command that saves you five minutes a day. A working small add-in teaches more than a large one that never ships.
Frequently asked questions
Are Autodesk Inventor add-ins free? Some are. The App Store has many free apps, and some vendors publish free tools — our Copy Assistant is one. Commercial add-ins are sold per year or as a one-off licence, almost always with a trial.
Do add-ins work with Autodesk Inventor LT? Check before you buy. Autodesk Inventor LT is a reduced edition, and most add-ins — ours included — are built for Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk Inventor Professional. The vendor’s system requirements say which editions are supported.
Will an add-in keep working after an Autodesk Inventor upgrade? Only if the vendor supports the new version. Reputable vendors list the versions they support and release updates for each new Autodesk Inventor release. Ours support Autodesk Inventor 2020–2027.
Can an add-in slow Autodesk Inventor down? A badly written one can, because it loads at start-up and can react to every event. Unload it in the Add-In Manager to test.
Our add-ins for Autodesk Inventor 2020–2027 come with a 15-day free trial. Browse the add-ins.