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Manufacturing · head to head

Fusion 360 vs MachineMetrics

Fusion 360 logo

Fusion 360

Manufacturing

Cloud-based 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MachineMetrics logo

MachineMetrics

Manufacturing

Collect, monitor, analyze and drive action with machine data

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Fusion 360 has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fusion 360 requires paid subscription for professional use; MachineMetrics no specific pricing published; vendor uses volume-based subscription model requiring sales contact
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fusion 360 and MachineMetrics actually diverge.

Attributes where Fusion 360 and MachineMetrics differ
AttributeFusion 360MachineMetrics
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOSWeb
Founded1982Unknown

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 Fusion 360

  • 3D CAD modeling
  • Simulation
  • CAM programming
  • PCB design
  • Cloud collaboration
  • Autodesk ecosystem
  • Manufacturing partners
  • PLM systems

Only in MachineMetrics

Nothing recorded that Fusion 360 does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Fusion 360

  • Product designnot MachineMetrics
  • Prototypingnot MachineMetrics
  • Manufacturingnot MachineMetrics
  • 3D printingnot MachineMetrics
  • Simulationnot MachineMetrics

MachineMetrics

  • Tracking real-time machine performance and outputnot Fusion 360
  • Identifying and analyzing production downtime causesnot Fusion 360
  • Detecting equipment issues before failures happennot Fusion 360
  • Managing job scheduling with drag-and-drop toolsnot Fusion 360
  • Syncing shop floor data to ERP automaticallynot Fusion 360

Where each one falls short

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

Fusion 360

  • Requires paid subscription for professional use
  • Cloud-based, requires internet connection
  • Free tier limited to students and educators

MachineMetrics

  • No specific pricing published; vendor uses volume-based subscription model requiring sales contact
  • Costs scale with number of connected machines; exact rates not disclosed publicly
  • Customers must book demo or request quote to receive pricing

Pricing, plan by plan

Fusion 360

Free
  • Personal UseFree
    • Non-commercial use
    • Basic CAD tools
    • Cloud storage
  • Commercial$70/month
    • Full CAD/CAM/CAE
    • Simulation
    • Rendering

MachineMetrics

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the MachineMetrics review.

Which should you pick?

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.
Fusion 360 review

Choose MachineMetrics if

Nothing in the data separates MachineMetrics from Fusion 360 on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

MachineMetrics review

Questions people ask

Is Fusion 360 or MachineMetrics better?
Neither clearly leads. Fusion 360 starts at Free and MachineMetrics at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fusion 360 or MachineMetrics?
Fusion 360 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Fusion 360 and On request for MachineMetrics.
Does Fusion 360 or MachineMetrics run on more platforms?
Fusion 360 runs on Web, Windows, macOS. MachineMetrics runs on Web.
Can I use Fusion 360 for free?
Yes. Fusion 360 has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MachineMetrics starts at On request.
What is Fusion 360 best used for?
Fusion 360 is most often used for product design, prototyping, manufacturing, 3d printing. Of those, product design and prototyping are not what MachineMetrics is typically brought in for.
What can Fusion 360 do that MachineMetrics cannot?
Fusion 360 covers 3D CAD modeling, Simulation, CAM programming, PCB design.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Source
MachineMetrics: How much does MachineMetrics cost?

MachineMetrics does not publish specific pricing rates on its website. The company uses a volume-based subscription model where the more machines you connect, the less it costs per machine. Exact pricing requires contacting the company for a custom quote or booking a demo.

Source
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.

Source
MachineMetrics: What are MachineMetrics' pricing tiers?

MachineMetrics offers three tiers: Core Platform for entry-level machine connectivity, Intelligent MES for mid-tier with ERP integration, and Enterprise for multi-site support with business intelligence. Exact pricing is based on machine count and requires a quote.

Source
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.

Source
MachineMetrics: What support is included with MachineMetrics plans?

All MachineMetrics plans include customer support with unlimited remote assistance and training, regardless of tier selection.

Source
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