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Manufacturing · head to head

Fusion 360 vs Siemens NX

Fusion 360 logo

Fusion 360

Manufacturing

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Siemens NX logo

Siemens NX

CAD

Integrated product design and manufacturing

From
$29/month
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; Siemens NX siemens NX offers only a 30-day free trial with no published subscription or perpetual license price; buyers must go through a sales process to get pricing, per the vendor's own product page.
  • They diverge on capability: Fusion 360 covers 3D CAD modeling, Siemens NX covers Advanced CAD.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fusion 360 and Siemens NX actually diverge.

Attributes where Fusion 360 and Siemens NX differ
AttributeFusion 360Siemens NX
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOSWindows, Linux
CategoryManufacturingCAD
Founded19821963

Identical on both: 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 Fusion 360

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

Only in Siemens NX

  • Advanced CAD
  • CAE simulation
  • Additive manufacturing
  • Sheet metal
  • Mold design
  • Industrial machinery
  • Teamcenter PLM
  • Simcenter

Both cover

  • CAM programming
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Fusion 360

  • Product designnot Siemens NX
  • Prototypingnot Siemens NX
  • Manufacturing
  • 3D printingnot Siemens NX
  • Simulation

Siemens NX

  • Enterprise product designnot Fusion 360
  • Manufacturing
  • Simulation

Both are used for manufacturing, simulation, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Siemens NX

  • Siemens NX offers only a 30-day free trial with no published subscription or perpetual license price; buyers must go through a sales process to get pricing, per the vendor's own product page.

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

Siemens NX

$29/month
  • NX Design$4500/month
    • CAD design
    • Core modeling
  • NX CAM$5500/month
    • Manufacturing programming
  • NX Complete$8500/month
    • Full suite
    • CAD/CAM/CAE

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 Siemens NX if

  • You need advanced cad.
  • You work on Windows, Linux.
  • You also want cae simulation.
Siemens NX review

Questions people ask

Is Fusion 360 or Siemens NX better?
Neither clearly leads. Fusion 360 starts at Free and Siemens NX at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fusion 360 or Siemens NX?
Fusion 360 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Fusion 360 and $29/month for Siemens NX.
Does Fusion 360 or Siemens NX run on more platforms?
Fusion 360 runs on Web, Windows, macOS. Siemens NX runs on Windows, Linux.
Can I use Fusion 360 for free?
Yes. Fusion 360 has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Siemens NX starts at $29/month.
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 Siemens NX is typically brought in for.
What can Fusion 360 do that Siemens NX cannot?
Fusion 360 covers 3D CAD modeling, Simulation, PCB design, Cloud collaboration. Siemens NX covers Advanced CAD, CAE simulation, Additive manufacturing, Sheet metal. Both handle CAM programming, Windows support.

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
Siemens NX: Does Siemens NX offer a free trial?

Yes, Siemens offers a 30-day free trial of both Designcenter CAD and NX CAM software that is fully functional. Users can get a hands-on feel for the software without any financial commitment before purchasing.

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
Siemens NX: Is NX free for students?

Yes, Siemens offers free CAD/CAM Student Edition access to Designcenter and NX for students and educators. Academic offerings are available for those in educational institutions.

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
Siemens NX: What licensing options does NX provide for different business sizes?

Siemens offers scalable licensing for startups, mid-size companies, and multinational corporations. Designcenter and NX CAM support flexible team-based licensing to match organizational size and manufacturing needs.

Source
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