Choosing the right software setup is the foundational first step toward an efficient digital fashion workflow. Whether you are a solo freelancer drafting custom patterns or a lead designer managing an enterprise apparel team, your licensing choice dictates how smoothly your projects move from initial concept to production.

In 2026, we offer two primary licensing paths: CLO Individual and CLO Enterprise. Both options give you access to our core 3D garment simulation technology, meaning your pattern drafting accuracy, fabric drape, and render quality remain identical under both plans. The distinction comes down to administrative controls, file management, and team collaboration. We break down what each license delivers so you can choose the setup that matches your daily design routine. Note that CLO is our software, and we are evaluating our own licensing options here as of August 2026.

What is the difference between CLO Individual and CLO Enterprise?

CLO Individual is a single-user license built for independent designers, freelancers, students, and one-person brands. CLO Enterprise is an organizational license designed for apparel brands and corporate teams that require central administration, shared asset libraries, and dedicated support.

The dividing line is not feature access but who is using the software. CLO Individual covers personal use and individual commercial use such as a freelancer, sole proprietor, or one-person company, while any company with more than one employee needs the organizational license, as stated in What is the difference between CLO for Individual and CLO for Enterprise?.

How we compared

To help you evaluate both plans, we assessed them across four practical criteria:

1. Core design tools: Pattern drafting, fabric simulation, and rendering features.
2. File collaboration: Managing, sharing, and versioning 3D assets across teams.
3. User administration: License assignment, Single Sign-On (SSO), and domain management.
4. Support and onboarding: Technical assistance and dedicated account management.

Feature comparison at a glance

Feature Category	CLO Individual	CLO Enterprise	Target User
3D Garment Simulation	Full access	Full access	All designers and patternmakers
User Administration	Single user account	Userpool for license assignment	IT and department managers
Team Collaboration	Local file saving	Shared CLO-SET workspaces with role-based access	Multi-designer teams
Custom Assets	Local user library	Centralized team asset hub	Corporate brand teams
Technical Support	Help Center and forums	Priority support and account team	Enterprise organizations

What are the core strengths of CLO Individual?

CLO Individual delivers every design feature needed to create production-ready 3D garments. You receive full access to the Pattern Drafter to create and edit accurate parametric patterns from minimal physical measurements. You also get the Knit Swatch Editor to adjust stitch structures and yarn thickness, alongside the Toon Shader for stylized 2D renders.

The main constraint of the Individual license is file isolation. You store project files locally or on personal drives. When you hand off a ZPAC file to another designer, you must package and transfer it manually. There is no central dashboard to manage multiple user seats or track organization-wide assets.

Where does CLO Enterprise stand out?

CLO Enterprise becomes relevant the moment a second person joins your design process. It connects CLO, where you build the garment, to CLO-SET, where your team manages assets, approvals, and versioning.

Seat management runs through the Userpool. The license owner adds or removes member emails, and each member signs in to the software with their own CLO-SET account, so the license ID and password never get passed around a team. Userpool requires CLO Network Onlineauth 2024.2 or later, and the setup steps are in Userpool Settings.

Asset access is handled separately from seats. Who can view, edit, or administer a given project is controlled by CLO-SET roles, described in Permission. That is what keeps your proprietary avatars and fabric libraries from being downloaded by everyone with a link. Your team also gets direct technical support for pipeline integration.

The caveat runs in the opposite direction from what most people expect. Enterprise is not something you opt into by setting up a company domain, it is how your usage gets classified. A company with more than one employee has to be on Enterprise, and signals like a corporate email domain or working on a company-owned machine put you in that category even if you invoice as a freelancer. If you genuinely work alone on your own hardware, none of that applies to you.

Which license should you choose?

If you are a fashion student or independent freelancer, choose CLO Individual. It offers the exact same simulation engine used by global brands, allowing you to build a professional 3D portfolio without corporate administrative costs.

If you run a one-person brand, CLO Individual gives you full freedom to draft patterns, export DXF files for manufacturing, and produce marketing renders on your own schedule.

If you manage a team of patternmakers and 3D artists, choose CLO Enterprise. The moment your team handles versioning, asset sharing, or line reviews, the Individual license creates operational bottlenecks. Enterprise ensures that your entire department works from shared fabric libraries, verified avatars, and centralized project spaces.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use CLO Individual for commercial design work?

Yes, you can use CLO Individual for commercial projects if you operate as a freelancer or a sole proprietor. You retain ownership of all patterns, 3D assets, and renders you create.

Does render quality differ between Individual and Enterprise?

No. Both licenses run the same simulation and rendering engine, so a garment rendered under either license produces the same result. What limits your output is your own hardware, not your license type.

Can I upgrade from Individual to Enterprise as my team grows?

Yes, you can transition your license setup as your business expands. Many designers start with an Individual account and move to Enterprise when onboarding additional team members.

How do team permissions work under the Enterprise license?

Enterprise integrates with CLO-SET to manage permissions. Workspace managers can assign specific read, edit, or administrative access to team members across projects.

Last updated: August 2026

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