AutoCADvs
Fusion 360
Fusion 360: Integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE software from Autodesk, cloud-first approach with collaborative features and lower cost than AutoCAD.
AutoCAD
Computer-aided design and drafting software
As of 30 August 2026, AutoCAD starts at $2095/year. AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting software application developed by Autodesk. Softwr lists it under Construction. AutoCAD is made by Autodesk Inc, launched in 1982, available on Windows, macOS, Web.
Overview
What AutoCAD does
AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting software application developed by Autodesk. It's used for 2D and 3D design and drafting, widely used by architects, engineers, and construction professionals to create precise drawings and technical documentation.
What people use it for
- Architectural drawings
- Engineering design
- Technical documentation
- Construction plans
Related searches
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about 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
Cross-shopped
What people choose instead of AutoCAD
Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.
- AutoCADvsSolidWorks
SolidWorks: Professional 3D CAD software for solid modeling and engineering design, industry standard for mechanical engineering with comprehensive feature set.
- AutoCADvsRhino 3D
Rhino 3D: Freeform 3D modeling software with strong capabilities in complex geometry and design, popular with architects and designers for organic shapes.
Capabilities
Features
2D and 3D CAD
Technical drawing
Precision modeling
Documentation tools
Autodesk ecosystem
Integration with Autodesk ecosystem
Microsoft Office
Integration with Microsoft Office
Revit
Integration with Revit
3ds Max
Integration with 3ds Max
Enterprise security
Enterprise security security feature
Data encryption
Data encryption security feature
Access controls
Access controls security feature
Windows support
Available on windows
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
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.
SourceIs 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.
Behind it
Who makes AutoCAD
- Company
- Autodesk Inc
- Based in
- San Rafael, CA
Timeline
AutoCAD over time
Keep looking
Where to go from AutoCAD
- AutoCAD alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- AutoCAD pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- AutoCAD badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All Construction softwareThe full category
- Best Construction softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best Construction software for
Compare AutoCAD with
- Vectorworks Architect
- SketchUp
- ArchiCAD
- BricsCAD BIM
- Oracle Textura Payment Management
- Billd
- Buildots
- Chief Architect
- Houzz Pro
- Siteline
- Sitemark
- Topcon MAGNET
- Egnyte
- Fieldwire
- Raken
- Smartsheet
- Vectorworks Architect
- Primavera P6
Other Construction software
Construction payment, lien waiver and compliance workflow where the subcontractor pays the fee
Pricing on request12 researched notesMaterial financing and pay application advances for commercial subcontractors
Pricing on request12 researched notesHard hat mounted 360 cameras and computer vision that score build progress against the BIM model
Pricing on request12 researched notesProfessional home design and construction software
Free, then $166.25/mo12 researched notesPay application and billing workflow built only for speciality subcontractors
Pricing on request11 researched notesDrone-based progress tracking, quality control and commissioning built specifically for solar farms
Pricing on request13 researched notesField, office and cloud software for surveying and civil construction, built around Topcon instruments
Pricing on request12 researched notesEnterprise project portfolio management for construction
From $2,500/yr5 researched notes
Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for AutoCAD, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on AutoCAD
AutoCAD alternatives
What people switch to, and what they give up
AutoCAD pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
Compare AutoCAD
Put it head to head with anything we hold
AutoCAD badge
Its rating, and an embed for your own site
Best Construction software alternatives
Hard hat mounted 360 cameras and computer vision that score build progress against the BIM model
quote
Subcontractor pay application and lien waiver exchange for general contractors in North America
quote
Generative construction scheduling that produces and compares millions of build sequences
quote
Australian estimating and on-screen takeoff in one window, priced openly per user per month
Per user per month
Heavy civil estimating and bidding built on crew, equipment and production rates rather than unit prices
quote