Software · head to head
Tulip vs Fusion 360
The short version
- Only Fusion 360 has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Tulip priced per Monthly Active Interface with a 10-interface minimum, starting at $100/month per interface on Essentials and $250/month on Professional, billed annually; Fusion 360 requires paid subscription for professional use
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Tulip and Fusion 360 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Tulip | Fusion 360 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Windows, macOS |
| Founded | Unknown | 1982 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Tulip
Nothing recorded that Fusion 360 does not also cover.
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.
Tulip
No use cases recorded yet. See the Tulip review.
Fusion 360
- Product designnot Tulip
- Prototypingnot Tulip
- Manufacturingnot Tulip
- 3D printingnot Tulip
- Simulationnot Tulip
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Tulip
- Priced per Monthly Active Interface with a 10-interface minimum, starting at $100/month per interface on Essentials and $250/month on Professional, billed annually
- Unused AI Actions and automation tasks do not roll over month to month
Fusion 360
- Requires paid subscription for professional use
- Cloud-based, requires internet connection
- Free tier limited to students and educators
Pricing, plan by plan
Tulip
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Tulip review.
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 Tulip if
Nothing in the data separates Tulip from Fusion 360 on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
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 Tulip or Fusion 360 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Tulip starts at On request and Fusion 360 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Tulip or Fusion 360?
- Fusion 360 has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Tulip and Free for Fusion 360.
- Does Tulip or Fusion 360 run on more platforms?
- Tulip runs on Web. 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. Tulip starts at On request.
- What can Tulip do that Fusion 360 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.
SourceFusion 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.
SourceFusion 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