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AutoCAD vs COMSOL Multiphysics

AutoCAD logo

AutoCAD

Construction

Computer-aided design and drafting software

From
$2095/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
COMSOL Multiphysics logo

COMSOL Multiphysics

CAD

Finite element simulation built around coupling physics, with add-on modules licensed separately

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AutoCAD expensive subscription model with annual price increases of 5-8% and multi-year commitment premiums of 8-18%; COMSOL Multiphysics the base licence covers very little on its own and nearly every practical problem needs one or more add-on modules, each priced separately, so the quoted total is typically a multiple of the headline base figure.
  • They diverge on capability: AutoCAD covers 2D and 3D CAD, COMSOL Multiphysics covers Coupled multiphysics solving.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AutoCAD and COMSOL Multiphysics actually diverge.

Attributes where AutoCAD and COMSOL Multiphysics differ
AttributeAutoCADCOMSOL Multiphysics
Starting price$2095/yearOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
PlatformsWindows, macOS, WebWindows, Linux, macOS
CategoryConstructionCAD
Founded1982Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AutoCAD

  • 2D and 3D CAD
  • Technical drawing
  • Precision modeling
  • Documentation tools
  • Autodesk ecosystem
  • Microsoft Office
  • Revit
  • 3ds Max

Only in COMSOL Multiphysics

  • Coupled multiphysics solving
  • Equation-based modelling
  • Add-on module library
  • Application Builder
  • COMSOL Compiler and Server
  • CAD import and LiveLink
  • Parametric sweeps and optimisation
  • Cluster and cloud computing

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AutoCAD

  • Architectural drawingsnot COMSOL Multiphysics
  • Engineering designnot COMSOL Multiphysics
  • Technical documentationnot COMSOL Multiphysics
  • Construction plansnot COMSOL Multiphysics

COMSOL Multiphysics

  • Modelling a device where physics are strongly coupled, such as induction heating that changes material properties which change the fieldnot AutoCAD
  • Research work needing custom partial differential equations that no packaged solver in a mainstream tool providesnot AutoCAD
  • Packaging a validated model as an app so process engineers can run studies without learning the simulation toolnot AutoCAD
  • A department wanting shared concurrent access via a Floating Network Licence, with cluster runs at no extra licence costnot AutoCAD

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AutoCAD

  • Expensive subscription model with annual price increases of 5-8% and multi-year commitment premiums of 8-18%
  • Desktop-centric design, limited cloud-native collaboration features
  • No perpetual license option, subscription required for continued use

COMSOL Multiphysics

  • The base licence covers very little on its own and nearly every practical problem needs one or more add-on modules, each priced separately, so the quoted total is typically a multiple of the headline base figure.
  • Perpetual licences renew maintenance at 20% of the then-current price each year, and because that percentage applies to the whole module stack the annual bill grows as your module list does and as list prices rise.
  • No pricing at all is published, so procurement cannot benchmark or budget without a sales engagement, and comparisons against Ansys or SolidWorks Simulation are effectively impossible before that point.
  • Named Single-User and CPU-locked licences do not share, so a team of six that bought individual licences ends up with idle seats while a Floating Network Licence would have covered them, and switching licence type is a commercial renegotiation.
  • Solving strongly coupled systems is memory hungry and slow, and models that look modest in the GUI routinely need tens of gigabytes of RAM, so hardware cost is a real and often underestimated part of adoption.

Pricing, plan by plan

AutoCAD

$2095/year

No published plan breakdown. See the AutoCAD review.

COMSOL Multiphysics

On request
  • COMSOL Multiphysics base licence$undefined/year
    • CPU-locked, Named Single-User or Floating Network licence types
    • Perpetual or term licensing
    • Perpetual includes updates and support for 12 months, then renews at 20% of current price
  • Academic licences$undefined/year
    • Class Kit Licence for up to 30 concurrent users per class
    • Academic Server Licence for up to 300 concurrent app users
    • Quote through the academic sales channel

Which should you pick?

Choose AutoCAD if

  • You need 2d and 3d cad.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Web.
  • You also want technical drawing.
AutoCAD review

Choose COMSOL Multiphysics if

  • You need coupled multiphysics solving.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, macOS.
  • You also want equation-based modelling.
COMSOL Multiphysics review

Questions people ask

Is AutoCAD or COMSOL Multiphysics better?
Neither clearly leads. AutoCAD starts at $2095/year and COMSOL Multiphysics at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AutoCAD or COMSOL Multiphysics?
AutoCAD starts at $2095/year and COMSOL Multiphysics at On request.
Does AutoCAD or COMSOL Multiphysics run on more platforms?
AutoCAD runs on Windows, macOS, Web. COMSOL Multiphysics runs on Windows, Linux, macOS.
What is AutoCAD best used for?
AutoCAD is most often used for architectural drawings, engineering design, technical documentation, construction plans. Of those, architectural drawings and engineering design are not what COMSOL Multiphysics is typically brought in for.
What can AutoCAD do that COMSOL Multiphysics cannot?
AutoCAD covers 2D and 3D CAD, Technical drawing, Precision modeling, Documentation tools. COMSOL Multiphysics covers Coupled multiphysics solving, Equation-based modelling, Add-on module library, Application Builder.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AutoCAD: What is AutoCAD's subscription pricing?

AutoCAD 2027 costs $2,095 annually for a single Named User subscription, $235 monthly, or $1,865 yearly. AutoCAD LT costs $500 annually. Prices have been increasing 5-8% annually.

Source
COMSOL Multiphysics: Does the base licence include CFD or structural mechanics?

Only limited capability. Serious CFD, structural, RF and acoustics work each require the relevant add-on module at extra cost.

AutoCAD: Is AutoCAD available for free?

AutoCAD is only available through subscription. However, eligible students can get AutoCAD free for one year with a .edu email address through the Autodesk Education License program.

COMSOL Multiphysics: What does maintenance cost?

Perpetual licences include 12 months of updates and support, then renew at 20% of the then-current price per year.

COMSOL Multiphysics: Which licence type should a team buy?

Floating Network if more than a couple of people use it, since it shares concurrency and includes cluster and cloud computing at no extra charge.

COMSOL Multiphysics: Is pricing published?

No. COMSOL publishes licence types but no prices; every purchase goes through a quote.

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