How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Only a few vendors publish real prices. Of the eight tools here, Autodesk Fusion Manage was the only one with a number on its own buy page (about $1,115 per year, paid annually). The rest sell through quotes.
- Salesforce-native platforms (Propel and ComplianceQuest) and PTC Arena are the most direct fits for small and mid-size device and hardware makers that need BOMs and CAPA in one system.
- Siemens Teamcenter and Aras Innovator cover the widest scope, but both usually mean a longer implementation and a services partner.
- Autodesk Fusion Manage is the cheapest way in. Its quality tools cover NCR, CAPA, FMEA and SCAR, but check document control and training depth before you commit.
- Ask every vendor to trace one customer complaint to a CAPA, a part, a change order and a retrained employee in a live demo. That single test separates true PLM and QMS platforms from two products with a connector.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Arena (PTC) | Hardware and device makers wanting BOM-linked quality | See website | Free trial |
 Propel | Mid-size manufacturers already comfortable with Salesforce | See website | No |
 ComplianceQuest | Regulated life science and medical device teams | See website | No |
 Autodesk Fusion Manage | Small engineering teams that want low-cost cloud PLM | $1,115 per year (billed annually) | No |
 Aras Innovator | Complex products that need a configurable platform | See website | No |
 Siemens Teamcenter | Large enterprises with deep engineering and IT teams | See website | No |
 SoftExpert Suite | Companies that want PLM, QMS and BPM from one vendor | See website | No |
 MasterControl | Life science firms centered on quality and compliance | See website | No |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best PLM and QMS combined software
#1Arena (PTC)
Best for: Hardware and device makers wanting BOM-linked quality4.2/5 on
G2 (465 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit arenasolutions.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Arena is the name most buyers meet first when they search for this category, and it is now part of PTC. The pitch is simple. Quality information and product information live in the same record, so a nonconformance, a complaint or a CAPA points at the exact item, revision and supplier involved.
That product-centric design is its real strength. Arena's own compliance pages describe design controls, sourcing, CAPA and training running on one cloud platform aimed at ISO, AS9100 and IATF 16949 requirements, and there is a GovCloud edition for US government work. An independent QMS review notes that the QMS packages include document, change and quality management, with supplier quality and advanced analytics reserved for the Enterprise tier.
The catch is flexibility and price transparency. A Software Advice reviewer says advanced workflows and customization felt limited next to larger enterprise PLM systems, and you will need a sales call to get a quote. If your needs are mostly SOPs, training and complaints for a small team with no hardware, a lighter eQMS will be cheaper and faster to roll out.
What we like- Quality records tie directly to the product BOM and change process
- PLM and QMS sold as one platform
- Supplier access with role-based controls
Watch out for- Pricing is quote-based
- Reviewers say deep customization and reporting are more limited than in large enterprise PLM
#2Propel
Best for: Mid-size manufacturers already comfortable with Salesforce4.3/5 on
G2 (146 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit propelsoftware.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Propel is built natively on Salesforce, which shapes almost everything about how it behaves. If your sales and service teams already live in Salesforce, product data, complaints and customer records can sit close together. If they do not, you are adopting a platform that feels different from classic engineering PLM.
The QMS side is wide. Propel lists document control, training, CAPA, complaints, NCMR, audits, deviations, equipment calibration, supplier quality, SCAR and First Article Inspection, with support for FDA 21 CFR Part 820, ISO 13485 and ISO 9001. It can be bought as a standalone QMS and joined to PLM on the same platform later, which is useful if quality is your urgent problem and engineering change is next year's.
Be careful with the speed claims on vendor pages. Propel's listings talk about a roughly eight-week QMS deployment and strong audit pass rates, but those are the vendor's numbers and your timeline depends on how many processes you migrate. Ask for references at your company size.
What we like- PLM, QMS, PIM and supplier management on one platform
- Broad QMS module list including audits, deviations and calibration
- Can run QMS standalone and add PLM later
Watch out for- Pricing is not published
- Salesforce-native design may suit some IT teams better than others
#3ComplianceQuest
Best for: Regulated life science and medical device teams4.3/5 on
G2 (83 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit compliancequest.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
ComplianceQuest sells a single Salesforce-built system covering PLM, QMS, supplier management and EHS. Its marketing leans heavily toward regulated manufacturing, including biologics and devices, and its materials describe a 21 CFR Part 11-ready platform built for GxP.
The useful idea is the unified digital thread. Product design, process data, quality events, CAPA, change management and documentation are meant to connect, so a change to a raw material or process condition runs through a controlled review and approval flow. For a company that has been passing spreadsheets between R&D and QA, that is the right shape of solution.
The honest catch is scope. A platform that spans EHS, supplier quality, PLM and QMS can be more than a 40-person device startup needs. Scope it tightly, buy the modules you need now, and confirm in writing what adding the others later will cost.
What we like- PLM, QMS, supplier management and EHS on one Salesforce-based platform
- Positioned for GxP and 21 CFR Part 11 work
- Digital thread from design to CAPA
Watch out for- Pricing is not published
- The platform is broad, so smaller teams may pay for modules they will not use
#4Autodesk Fusion Manage
Best for: Small engineering teams that want low-cost cloud PLM4.3/5 on
G2 (114 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit autodesk.com
Starting price$1,115 per year (billed annually)
Free planNo
Autodesk Fusion Manage is the budget-friendly entry on this list, and it is one of the few where you can see a price without talking to sales. Autodesk's buy page lists it at $1,115 paid annually and says it is a separate subscription from Autodesk Fusion, the CAD product. Core PLM processes such as change and release management, BOM management, supplier collaboration and quality management are included, with dozens of specialized process templates at no extra cost.
On quality, Autodesk describes a closed-loop setup. NCR, CAPA, FMEA and SCAR run as configurable, workflow-driven processes, and engineering change requests can be triggered from a quality event so fixes land in the design record. Signatures and actions are recorded centrally for audits.
The limit is depth. What Autodesk lists is strong for manufacturing quality events, but I did not see training management or controlled SOP libraries highlighted the way dedicated eQMS vendors do. If an auditor will examine your document and training system, test that in a trial before you rely on it.
What we like- Published price on Autodesk's own site
- Core PLM processes included at no extra cost
- Quality processes cover NCR, CAPA, FMEA and SCAR
Watch out for- Quality tooling is process-based rather than a full eQMS with deep training and SOP control
- Sold as a separate subscription from Autodesk Fusion
#5Aras Innovator
Best for: Complex products that need a configurable platform4.4/5 on
G2 (119 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit aras.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Aras Innovator suits companies whose products and processes do not fit a template. Aras describes a flexible PLM platform with applications spanning product development, manufacturing, quality and field service for discrete manufacturers. Partner material explains that its quality management links to product designs, manufacturing plans and change management, so proactive and reactive quality work sit together.
Think of Aras as a platform you shape. That is a strength if you have unusual workflows, regulated product lines or several divisions to harmonize. It is a weakness if you want a finished QMS on day one, because configuration takes planning and, in practice, a services partner such as the resellers that sell Aras implementation work.
Small companies often find the investment hard to justify. Mid-size and larger manufacturers with an engineering IT group get more from it. Ask how upgrades work with your customizations before you sign.
What we like- Quality management built into the PLM platform and linked to designs and change management
- Wide set of applications across product development, manufacturing and quality
- Flexible data model
Watch out for- Usually needs an implementation partner and internal ownership
- Pricing is not published
#6Siemens Teamcenter
Best for: Large enterprises with deep engineering and IT teams4.3/5 on
G2 (1,482 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit siemens.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Teamcenter is the heavyweight here. Siemens positions quality as part of the same PLM backbone, with quality planning in the design phase, control plans built from CAD and product manufacturing information, and audit support. A separate Siemens Digital Quality Management offering combines cloud QMS with Teamcenter X Quality and Opcenter X Quality for manufacturing operations.
This is the right class of tool for aerospace, automotive, industrial equipment and other firms that already run Siemens software and need quality tied to complex product structures. The integration depth is real, and that matters when thousands of parts and many plants are involved.
For a 50-person company it is probably too much. One Software Advice reviewer warns that you need strong programmers, license experts, IT staff and a large budget, and that matches what most small buyers hear from peers. Plan on a long evaluation and a formal implementation project.
What we like- Quality and compliance management built on a PLM backbone
- Ties quality planning to CAD and design data
- Cloud QMS options through Teamcenter X Quality and Opcenter X Quality
Watch out for- Heavy on cost, licensing and IT effort
- Reviewers describe it as demanding for small teams
#7
SoftExpert Suite
Best for: Companies that want PLM, QMS and BPM from one vendor
Visit softexpert.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
SoftExpert comes at the problem from the business process side. Its suite includes PLM, QMS, BPM, content management and project and portfolio management, and the company says modules can be added as demands grow. Its QMS covers audits, nonconformities, documents and risks.
That makes it attractive to a company that wants one vendor for quality, document control and workflow, and treats product development as one process among several. A food, consumer goods or industrial manufacturer with many non-engineering processes is a typical fit.
The trade-off is engineering depth. If your engineers live in CAD and want tight BOM-level control, compare how SoftExpert's PLM handles CAD integration and revisions against Arena, Aras or Teamcenter. Ask for a reference customer of similar size who runs both the PLM and QMS modules.
What we like- PLM and QMS sit in a wider suite with process management, content management and project portfolio modules
- Modules can be added as needs grow
- Long-established vendor
Watch out for- PLM is one module among many, so engineering depth may trail PLM-first vendors
- Pricing is not published
#8MasterControl
Best for: Life science firms centered on quality and compliance4.3/5 on
G2 (536 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit mastercontrol.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
MasterControl is a quality-first vendor. Its Quality Excellence product is described by reviewers as a QMS for life sciences, covering flexible quality event management, document management and training. The company also markets product lifecycle management for pharmaceutical firms, CROs and other regulated companies, and an independent medical device buyer's guide lists it as an enterprise eQMS with extensive PLM capability.
Buy it when your biggest risk is an audit, not an engineering change. Pharma, biotech and device firms with heavy document and training burdens get the most from it.
Hardware teams with complex multi-level BOMs and CAD-driven change control may find the PLM side less natural than in engineering-first tools. Ask to see a BOM change order flow from your own product, not a generic demo.
What we like- Established eQMS for life sciences with document, quality event and training management
- Offers product lifecycle management for regulated companies
- Strong fit for pharma and device compliance workflows
Watch out for- Starts from quality and compliance rather than engineering BOMs
- Pricing is quote-based
How we chose
We built this list from public information, not hands-on testing. For each tool we read the vendor's product and pricing pages, documentation and solution briefs where available, then cross-checked claims against public reviews on G2, Capterra and Software Advice and independent QMS write-ups. We favored products where PLM and QMS are sold or positioned as one platform, not two products joined by a connector.
We looked at features (BOMs, change control, CAPA, complaints, audits, training), integrations, deployment model, regulatory fit, and the size of company each vendor appears to serve best. We mixed enterprise leaders with newer and mid-market vendors. Where a vendor does not publish pricing, we say "See website" instead of repeating third-party estimates that may be out of date.
Start with the regulation you answer to
A medical device maker under FDA 21 CFR Part 820 and ISO 13485 needs design controls, a design history file and training records. An aerospace supplier cares about AS9100 and first article inspection. An industrial manufacturer may mainly need ISO 9001, supplier quality and engineering change. Write down your standards first, then drop any vendor that does not list them.
Decide where you are weaker today
If your BOMs and engineering changes are already under control and quality is the mess, look at quality-led vendors such as MasterControl or at Propel's standalone QMS. If quality is fine but your BOMs live in spreadsheets, a PLM-led tool such as Fusion Manage or Arena may be the quicker win. The combined platform pays off most when both sides are weak.
Count the real cost
Subscription price is only part of it. Ask about implementation fees, validation documentation for regulated work, extra charges for supplier seats, sandbox environments and extra modules like training or supplier quality. Check the contract term (many are annual or multi-year) and what happens to your data on exit.
Run a scenario-based demo
Give each vendor the same script. Open a customer complaint, link it to the affected part, launch a CAPA, raise an engineering change, release the new revision, and show who was retrained. If a vendor needs to switch products or screens to do this, you are looking at two systems. Also ask how you export records and audit trails if you leave.
Match the tool to your team size
Teams under 50 people usually do better with a cloud-first tool that can be live in weeks, with a vendor who sells in your size range. Teams above a few hundred, with many sites, can justify a configurable platform such as Aras or Teamcenter, as long as someone internally owns it.
Frequently asked questions
What does a combined PLM and QMS actually do?
It keeps product records (parts, BOMs, documents, change orders) and quality records (complaints, CAPA, audits, training) in one system. When a quality issue appears, you can see the affected part and revision and launch a change from the same place. That traceability is what auditors and engineers both want.
Do I need both PLM and QMS, or is one enough?
Small teams sometimes start with only one. A pure eQMS covers SOPs, training and CAPA, while a pure PLM covers BOMs and engineering change. Hardware companies selling into regulated markets usually end up needing both, and buying them together avoids a later integration project.
How much does combined PLM and QMS software cost?
Most vendors on this list do not publish prices, so expect to request quotes. Autodesk Fusion Manage is the exception, with about $1,115 paid annually listed on its buy page. Budget for implementation, validation and extra modules on top of subscription fees.
How long does implementation take?
It depends on scope and data migration. Lighter cloud tools can be configured in weeks, while platforms like Aras and Teamcenter are typically projects measured in months. Ask each vendor for timelines from customers of your size, not their best case.
Can I buy the QMS first and add PLM later?
Some vendors allow it. Propel, for example, says its QMS can run standalone and be joined to PLM on the same platform. Confirm in writing how licensing and data migration work when you add the second half.
Sources we checked (20)
- https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/fusion-manage/buy
- https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/blog/quality-management-plm-autodesk-fusion-manage/
- https://www.arenasolutions.com/solutions/compliance-management/qms-compliance/
- https://openregulatory.com/qms_software/arena-qms
- https://www.softwareadvice.com/manufacturing/arena-plm-profile/
- https://www.capterra.com/p/6101/Arena-PLM/
- https://www.propelsoftware.com/products/qms
- https://www.capterra.com/p/147317/PropelPLM/
- https://www.compliancequest.com/about-compliancequest/
- https://www.compliancequest.com/cq-guide/plm-qms-integration-for-biologics-scale-up-and-risk-management/
- https://aras.com/en/why-aras/platform-as-a-service
- https://enterprise.trimech.com/aras-innovator/quality-management/
- https://www.siemens.com/en-us/products/teamcenter/solutions/quality-compliance-management/
- https://plm.sw.siemens.com/en-US/opcenter/quality-management-system-qms-capabilities/
- https://www.softwareadvice.com/manufacturing/teamcenter-profile/
- https://www.softexpert.com/en/products/
- https://www.softexpert.com/en/products/enterprise-quality-management-qms/
- https://www.mastercontrol.com/plm/product_lifecycle_management_software.html
- https://www.trustradius.com/products/mastercontrol-quality-excellence/reviews
- https://www.qualio.com/blog/medical-device-product-lifecycle-management
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.