Manufacturing · head to head
Autodesk Netfabb vs Fusion 360
Autodesk Netfabb
Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing build preparation and simulation, now sold only bundled with Fusion
- From
- $4415/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Fusion 360 has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Autodesk Netfabb netfabb Ultimate has been retired outright, with no 2026 release and no renewals, so anyone who bought Ultimate is frozen on the 2025.1 build and must accept the repackaged Netfabb instead.; Fusion 360 requires paid subscription for professional use
- They diverge on capability: Autodesk Netfabb covers Mesh repair, Fusion 360 covers 3D CAD modeling.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Autodesk Netfabb and Fusion 360 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Autodesk Netfabb | Fusion 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4415/year | Free |
| Pricing model | Per user per year | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, Desktop | Web, Windows, macOS |
| Founded | Unknown | 1982 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Manufacturing).
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 Autodesk Netfabb
- Mesh repair
- Build orientation and nesting
- Support generation
- Build simulation
- Geometry compensation
- Lattice and shell structures
- Machine library
- Fusion bundle
Only in Fusion 360
- 3D CAD modeling
- Simulation
- CAM programming
- PCB design
- Cloud collaboration
- Autodesk ecosystem
- Manufacturing partners
- PLM systems
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Autodesk Netfabb
- A metal additive bureau predicting distortion on a laser powder bed build before committing twenty hours of machine timenot Fusion 360
- An aerospace supplier applying automatic geometry compensation so printed parts land within tolerance without iterative trial buildsnot Fusion 360
- A production department nesting hundreds of small parts into a single polymer build to raise volume utilisationnot Fusion 360
- An engineering team that already subscribes to Fusion and wants AM preparation without adding a second vendornot Fusion 360
Fusion 360
- Product designnot Autodesk Netfabb
- Prototypingnot Autodesk Netfabb
- Manufacturingnot Autodesk Netfabb
- 3D printingnot Autodesk Netfabb
- Simulationnot Autodesk Netfabb
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Autodesk Netfabb
- Netfabb Ultimate has been retired outright, with no 2026 release and no renewals, so anyone who bought Ultimate is frozen on the 2025.1 build and must accept the repackaged Netfabb instead.
- Autodesk has ended development of the Selective Space Structures, Optimization Utility and Lattice Topology utilities, which removes capability some customers specifically bought the product for.
- It is now only sold bundled as Autodesk Fusion with Netfabb, so a shop that has standardised on other CAD pays for Fusion entitlements it will not use.
- At around 4,415 US dollars per seat per year it is far above slicer-class tools, and the pricing is per named user with no floating option in the standard subscription, which hurts teams where the AM engineer role is shared.
- Machine coverage is broad but not universal, and the newest printers from smaller manufacturers often reach their vendor own preparation software long before a Netfabb profile appears.
Fusion 360
- Requires paid subscription for professional use
- Cloud-based, requires internet connection
- Free tier limited to students and educators
Pricing, plan by plan
Autodesk Netfabb
$4415/year- Autodesk Fusion with Netfabb$4415/year
- Single-user subscription
- Netfabb build preparation, formerly Premium
- Selected functionality from the retired Ultimate edition
- Netfabb Simulation$undefined/year
- Metal powder bed build simulation
- Quoted through Autodesk sales, no published price
Fusion 360
Free- Personal UseFree
- Non-commercial use
- Basic CAD tools
- Cloud storage
- Commercial$70/month
- Full CAD/CAM/CAE
- Simulation
- Rendering
Which should you pick?
Choose Autodesk Netfabb if
- You need mesh repair.
- You work on Windows, Desktop.
- You also want build orientation and nesting.
Choose Fusion 360 if
- You need 3d cad modeling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Windows, macOS.
- You also want simulation.
Questions people ask
- Is Autodesk Netfabb or Fusion 360 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Autodesk Netfabb starts at $4415/year and Fusion 360 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Autodesk Netfabb or Fusion 360?
- Fusion 360 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4415/year for Autodesk Netfabb and Free for Fusion 360.
- Does Autodesk Netfabb or Fusion 360 run on more platforms?
- Autodesk Netfabb runs on Windows, Desktop. Fusion 360 runs on Web, Windows, macOS.
- Can I use Fusion 360 for free?
- Yes. Fusion 360 has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Autodesk Netfabb starts at $4415/year.
- What is Autodesk Netfabb best used for?
- Autodesk Netfabb is most often used for a metal additive bureau predicting distortion on a laser powder bed build before committing twenty hours of machine time, an aerospace supplier applying automatic geometry compensation so printed parts land within tolerance without iterative trial builds, a production department nesting hundreds of small parts into a single polymer build to raise volume utilisation, an engineering team that already subscribes to fusion and wants am preparation without adding a second vendor. Of those, a metal additive bureau predicting distortion on a laser powder bed build before committing twenty hours of machine time and an aerospace supplier applying automatic geometry compensation so printed parts land within tolerance without iterative trial builds are not what Fusion 360 is typically brought in for.
- What can Autodesk Netfabb do that Fusion 360 cannot?
- Autodesk Netfabb covers Mesh repair, Build orientation and nesting, Support generation, Build simulation. Fusion 360 covers 3D CAD modeling, Simulation, CAM programming, PCB design.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Autodesk Netfabb: Is Netfabb discontinued?
No, but Netfabb Ultimate is. There is a 2026 release of Netfabb, sold only as Autodesk Fusion with Netfabb. Ultimate licences cannot be renewed.
Fusion 360: Is Fusion 360 free?
Fusion 360 is free for students, educators, and academic institutions with full features. It offers a 30-day free trial for all users, and a limited personal-use license for hobbyists and makers.
SourceAutodesk Netfabb: What does it cost?
The Fusion with Netfabb single-user subscription is listed at roughly 4,415 US dollars a year. Netfabb Simulation is quoted separately.
Fusion 360: How much does Fusion 360 cost for professionals?
Fusion 360 professional subscriptions start at $85/month, $680/year, or $2,040 for a 3-year commitment. Startups that qualify can get a discount starting at $150.
SourceAutodesk Netfabb: Is there a perpetual licence?
No. Autodesk sells subscription only across its product range.
Fusion 360: Does Fusion 360 support 3D modeling, CAD, and CAM?
Yes. Fusion 360 is a cloud-based platform that integrates 3D modeling, CAD, CAM, CAE (simulation), and PCB design in one software.
SourceAutodesk Netfabb: Do I need Fusion to use it?
You do not have to use Fusion, but you now pay for it, because the bundle is the only way Netfabb is sold.
Related pages
More on Autodesk Netfabb
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