# Compare FreeCAD vs AutoCAD 2026 | Capterra > Unsure of what to choose? Check Capterra to compare FreeCAD and AutoCAD based on pricing, features, product details, and verified reviews. Source: https://www.capterra.com/compare/167527-265024/FreeCAD-vs-AutoCAD --- # FreeCAD vs AutoCAD Features and Cost Comparison Last updated May 4th, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team.[Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) Your comparison: FreeCADAutoCAD2/4 selected [FreeCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/)[4.3 (142)](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/reviews/) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.7 (3,207)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) [## FreeCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/)[4.3 (142)](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/reviews/) Starting Price Contact vendor Value-for-Money 4.7 Functionality 4.1 Ease of Use 3.9 Customer Service 3.8 Reviews Sentiment Based on [142 reviews](#user-reviews) Positive 123 Neutral 14 Negative 5 [## AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.7 (3,207)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) Starting Price $250.00/month Value-for-Money 4.2 Functionality 4.6 Ease of Use 4.1 Customer Service 4.2 Reviews Sentiment Based on [3,207 reviews](#user-reviews) Positive 3,113 Neutral 82 Negative 12 ## Not a match? Find software alternatives tailored to your priorities. These software suggestions are similar to those you’re currently comparing. ### Onshape 4.5 (342) * * * Starting Price $1500.00 Per User,Per Year Free Trial Free Version * * * User rating 94% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars * * * ### IronCAD 4.3 (60) * * * Starting Price $1.00 Per Year Free Trial Free Version * * * User rating 90% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars * * * ### ArcSite 4.7 (160) * * * Starting Price $15.00 Per User,Per Month Free Trial Free Version * * * User rating 98% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars * * * Highest Rated ### Beyond Typicals 4.8 (30) * * * Starting Price $209.00 Per User,Per Month Free Trial Free Version * * * User rating 100% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars * * * ## Send this comparison chart to my inbox ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. What’s your intended use case? ## Summary * * * Key features rated by users Features selected based on 2,904 reviews from 3d cad software users. about the Fit Score methodology. Fit Score methodology Our Fit Score reflects how reviewers rate a product’s performance against a set of features reviewers rate as most important. A higher score indicates the product is rated better in delivering what reviewers most care about. If the Fit Score is not shown for a specific product, that only means there are currently not enough relevant data points to develop a meaningful score. It does not indicate that the product should be excluded from further evaluation. Best for Methodology 68%Fit Missing features Feature ratings 3D Design & Modeling 4.3 Data Import/Export 4.0 2D Drawing 4.0 Annotations 3.9 Component Library NA 87%Fit High performer Feature ratings 3D Design & Modeling 4.3 Data Import/Export 4.5 2D Drawing 4.7 Annotations 4.4 Component Library 4.4 User satisfaction User satisfaction 4.3 User reviews[142](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/reviews/) Ease of use 3.9 Functionality 4.1 Value for money 4.7 Customer support 3.8 User satisfaction 4.7 User reviews[3,207](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) Ease of use 4.1 Functionality 4.6 Value for money 4.2 Customer support 4.2 Price starts from Price starts from \-- - Free version - Free trial Price starts from $250Per User, Per Month - Free version - Free trial Best for Best for On-premise 3D parametric modeler platform that enables architects, programmers, and teachers to make machine tools and architectural designs in 2D and 3D thereby creating production-ready drawings. Best for Designed for architects, designers, engineers, project managers, real estate developers, students, construction professionals who want to create precise 2D and 3D drawings. ## User reviews Pros & cons JG James G. Library Tech > "This allows students the opportunity to use a parametric 3d modeler to model 3d components that they can then print on a 3d printer and finally actually see..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___5081898) FF Francesco F. Engineer > "The interface may not be as intuitive for beginners; some users have reported stability issues, such as occasional crashes; some specific workbenches in..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___6048821) Rubén E. Hardware Engineer > "Also it has many integrated tools to work with 3D and 2D designs, you can review models, import many file formats and convert some meshes like STL to a solid." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4073956) VR Verified Reviewer R&D engineer > "One thing I dislike about FreeCAD is that it can be a bit slow at times. When working with large models or assemblies, it can take a while for the software to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4330805) Rubén E. Hardware Engineer > "I usually work with non-very complicated designs and I am used to created them from the typical 2D sketches, but I can highlight some features I like and the..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4073956) JG James G. Library Tech > "Freecad has one major bug that needs to be fixed before I can generally recommend it. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___5081898) SB Stuart B. RF & Antenna Specialist > "The active community has done a lot of great work in creating a fully-functional CAD program, with many industry-standard drafting tools and a plethora of..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___3685301) VR Verified Reviewer R&D engineer > "I also find that the rendering can be slow, which can make it difficult to visualize my designs in real-time." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4330805) Rubén E. Hardware Engineer > "It is for free and there is a great community that can give support to you, with a lot of tutorials in Youtube. Since I am a contributor of other free and..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4073956) JG James G. Library Tech > "That is the infamous "topological naming problem"." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___5081898) Adedayo F. CAD technician > "I do design 2D and 3D drawings with this software which makes it my favourite,cause I make use of it everyday." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___3667115) LS Luca S. Mechanical engineer > "I have experienced some bugs with elementary features as well, making modeling even simple parts very tiring" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4536000) FV Fabian V. Civil Engineer > "The easy, efficient and cross-platform tool such as Linux, Windows and Mac, with modules for the most complex 2 and 3D design representations, with import and..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___3379370) FM Felipe M. Research Associate > "It is clear that this software is inferior compared to other more fancy paid options but it gets the job done." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4751719) LS Luca S. Mechanical engineer > "FreeCAD, as the name suggests, is free and considering alternatives on the market available for free right now, this is the only CAD with so many..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4536000) FV Fabian V. Civil Engineer > "The Interface can generate brief difficulty when navigating without representing major inconveniences." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___3379370) LS Luca S. Mechanical engineer > "The possibility of having a parametric CAD together with FEM analysis are great." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4536000) Robson G. Architect and 3D modeler > "There are too many tutorials in their website to know how to use it, but still was hard to me to work with this CAD." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___2959680) VR Verified Reviewer Freecad, 3D drawing for beginners. > "Which thanks to known shapes allow to realize new shapes." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4014159) JR Jim R. Director > "Tutorials are written for cyborgs not architects." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#SoftwareAdvice___3255057) MK Marius K. Hobbyist > "Can create any part you can imagine, exports to 3d printing friendly formats, sketching and part design workbenches are relatively easy to learn." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___2977569) MV Matthew V. Project Engineer > "This software was much more difficult for me to work with than Inventor or SolidWorks." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___2874065) VR Verified Reviewer R&D engineer > "I love that it's open-source, which means that it's constantly being updated and improved by a dedicated community of users." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4330805) VR Verified Reviewer Project Engineer / Program Facilitator > "Most of the limited in-software help info is Windows specific, making it difficult because tools can be in different places." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___2192344) VK Vikash K. Architect > "First it is free and you can do almost everything in it that you can do in Autocad." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4520194) Sooraj N. Graduate Research Assistant > "So, the software might be limited in handling complex CAD files." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___2216347) TM Thomas M. engineer > "Great simulation tools, similar workflow to other CAD." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___4427884) SP Supun P. Undergraduate > "Rendering speed is very low." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___2405490) JC John C. Entrepreneur > "Surprisingly powerful and visually similar to other 3D CAD modelers." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___3523218) RP Rahul P. QC Technician > "For me, it was a hard learning curve because of no previous CAD experience." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___2698211) AL Alessandro L. Technician > "You can create professional documentation and edit problem files imported from other formats saves your life." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___3301484) RP Rahul P. QC Technician > "Not so friendly user interface. Except the learning cure nothing bad in this software." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___2698211) AL Alessandro L. Technician > "Thanks to freecad I was able to modify the file, export it and send it to the cnc machine." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___3301484) AA Andrew A. Administrative > "It is not the best, but not the worst." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#Capterra___2185486) [View Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/reviews/) WJ Walter J. Sr Project Manager MEP > "Even as architectural disciplines shift toward Revit and BIM software, AutoCAD remains essential, seamlessly integrating with the Autodesk suite and standing tall as..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6810354) VR Verified Reviewer Electrical Engineering Student > "Sometimes, even in simple files (like a small house plan), placing a single object/block causes the software to freeze indefinitely, forcing me to restart my entire..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7071099) Saara P. Interior Designer > "floorplans, elevations, electrical drawing, ceiling drawing, false ceiling drawing. Once the drawing is properly detailed it can be very hassle free to execute it in..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7012847) WJ Walter J. Sr Project Manager MEP > "there is very little easy ways to fix it if you make an error early on , newer version cannot understnad when you are using an old version what AEC object are and..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6810354) VR Verified Reviewer Electrical Engineering Student > "For my electrical engineering projects, the layer management is perfect for separating lighting circuits from the architectural floor plan." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7071099) WJ Walter J. Sr Project Manager MEP > "the thing i used to hate the most was when an error occured and you could spend 100 hours making this plan that looks so great and one error will keep it from..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6810354) WJ Walter J. Sr Project Manager MEP > "Viewports allow for real-world-scale drawings that can be effortlessly resized for print in any metric or imperial format." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6810354) WJ Walter J. Sr Project Manager MEP > "Those masters engineers may know how to solve the real problem in the field or have the deepest understanding of the code and those people get the hardest problems..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6810354) SS Steven S. Show Manager > "In my opionion it is the pinnacle of software for technical creation that needs to be finite in details or measurements." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7099858) AK Anthony K. Mechanical Engineer > "The thing that I liked the least about AutoCAD is just that some commands are not too easy to find and require a few digging into the menus to find the right command..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7133535) Jose L. Salesman - Engineering > "What I like most about AutoCAD is the ability to create blueprints for architectural designs and create 3D images of an engineering product / idea." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6473310) JS Jalal S. Optical Engineer > "AutoCAD lacks specialized optical simulation tools, so it won’t handle lens design, ray tracing, or optical performance analysis." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6492422) Jose L. Salesman - Engineering > "I really like AutoCAD because it allows me to create drawings for my machine shop and helps the machinist see exactly what needs to be done with visual dimensions." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6473310) Caleb T. Mechanical Engineer > "The only other thing is that it does not use the native file explorer very well, and sometimes it is a little tricky to find files on your computer inside the..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7012159) WH Waleed H. Freelance Writer > "With its fully packed toolset and effective drafting abilities, AutoCAD brings out even the smallest details in your 2D and 3D design." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6526746) VR Verified Reviewer Project Manager, Architectural Technician > "At first, there was a bit of a learning curve to AutoCAD. As it can be a big program, my computer had a bit of a hard time operating efficiently while running..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6595744) Caroline B. Bachelor in Supply Chain Management > "This design software has saved me time by being able to create 3D and 2D drawings in a very perfect way, which completely eliminated the need to make manual drawings..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6510370) M Marek Ž. Service Team Leader > "When we were zooming in/out while drawing into the schemas, we had some strange bugs that the screen went white on upper half and grey on the lower." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6402612) JS Jamal S. safety officer > "AutoCAD developed by autodisk,is a highly versatile and powerfull computer aided design software used by proffesional accross various industries including..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6417740) JA Jana A. Student > "It takes time to learn,especially for beginners some tools are very not intuitive at first and it can be heavy on weak devices" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6837673) SS Steven S. Show Manager > "From updating to the newest software each year to keeping it up and going on multiple devices working in tandem, I never once had a software issue. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7099858) VB Virginia B. Security Specialist > "I'm not totally happy with its cost and licensing plan, quite complex and not so intuitive sometimes. Although it is very suitable also for simple designs, in this..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6395918) RS Radha S. Legal Assistant > "Overall, AutoCAD delivers a robust and industry‑standard drafting experience that’s ideal for professionals who need accuracy and flexibility." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7132508) LS Leila S. Research Scientist > "the file sizes are too large and some functions take very long time to process if the computer that you are using is not a high speed one." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6452560) PK Pradeep K. Assistant Professor > "Supports 2D as well as 3D modeling, which makes it more comprehensive in handling different users' requirements at different stages in a project." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6544789) IA Ian A. Student > "The processor requirements for AutoCAD are quite high for those who do not have a specific computer built for handing the software." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6500676) RS Radha S. Legal Assistant > "It’s most rewarding when used regularly and for complex work—but may feel overwhelming for casual users or those with lighter design needs." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7132508) VR Verified Reviewer team manager > "Large projects and 3D work require a lot of power from your computer, and can be slow on some lower-end PCs." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6645923) AK Anthony K. Mechanical Engineer > "It is great that the overall layout has not changed too much over time where it would be difficult to find many items you are used to in previous versions. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7133535) VR Verified Reviewer Product Marketing Manager > "It takes a lot of computer memory to install and it is unsuitable for small RAM Laptops and then it didnt work properly" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6615545) JS Jalal S. Optical Engineer > "I'm an optical engineer and AutoCAD excels in precision drafting, making it suitable for designing mechanical and optical systems with exact dimensions." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6492422) MAN Muhammad Abid N. Renewal Specialist > "It can be resource-intensive, requiring a powerful computer for optimal performance, which can be a barrier for some users." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6496626) AT Aniruddha T. Operations Support > "I have been using this software since 2021 and upgraded to AutoCAD 2023 version last year and it has helped me work on my facility layout projects with ease and..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6506180) GA Greyson A. Research Scientist > "I've had to completely start from scratch more than a handful of times which can be frustrating. Once you find out the things that tend to bog it down, there's work..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6408549) SA Subhan A. Assitant professor > "Its intuitive interface and vast library of features support efficient workflows, especially with 2D drafting and 3D modeling." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6581175) PK Pradeep K. Assistant Professor > "It sometimes becomes too messy when designing something but it can't be helped with, I guess as the complexity of the tasks demands it." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6544789) JA Jana A. Student > "Very precise and professional.i like hpw it allows me to draw electrical diagrams with high accuracy and flexibility." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6837673) AT Aniruddha T. Operations Support > "Still some glitches which causes me to close entire application before I can work back normally." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6506180) NS Nicole S. Project Manager > "AutoCAD is essential to our structure and design capabilities with 3D modeling and understanding our jobs in detail." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6464271) Gowtham S. Manufacturing Engineering > "The only con i saw in this software is that you cannot section view the drawing created and also we cannot assemble the drawing to analysis the assembly" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___4827909) WJ Walter J. Sr Project Manager MEP > "OSNAP instantly snaps to precise locations, ensuring every connection is clean and mathematically perfect." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6810354) NV Nitin V. Student > "Sometimes AutoCAD can be a bit frustrating to use as it might be a little less intuitive to use than other CAD softwares." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6517834) AA Ana A. Estagiário de Investigação > "The precision drawing tools are perfect for creating detailed architectural plans and technical layouts." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6700856) MM Maverick M. Electrical Engineer > "If you havent used a CAD platform before, its very difficult to learn all the different options with AUTOCAD." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6483052) AS Adam S. Founder > "Even though we don't use this software as close to its full potential, it helped us convey ideas into realistic 3D models instead of pitching them in the form of..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6345219) SY Saurabh Y. student > "Interface can be visually cluttered and overwhelming due to the sheer number of options" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6450009) EC Edwin C. Technical Designer > "Overall Autocad is fantastic for simple Line Drawings, however can be very time consuming for larger projects as one drawing does not correlate with one another." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6585328) VR Verified Reviewer Traffic Engineer > "The software cannot handle the large CAD files/" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6453221) GA Greyson A. Research Scientist > "It's really an industry standard for a reason, and is incredibly powerful when it comes to land development and other civil and environmental engineering design..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6408549) Basanta T. owner > "Some features and workflows feel outdated or clunky compared to modern software" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6616830) Caleb T. Mechanical Engineer > "There is basically no learning curve, and even if you do get stuck, it has a convenient search bar that works well." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7012159) KS Kevin S. BIM Manager > "I think I least like the 3D aspect of AutoCAD, mostly because there are other Autodesk products that does this better." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6657835) TM Thandwa M. Draughtsman > "I also allows a flexible space in making inorganic shapes too ,not only a very geometric work space." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6602452) ME Marcelo E. Student > "The number of features can be overwhelming at first, and it takes time to understand how everything works together." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6491347) AE Ali E. Purchasing Manager > "The best application that can be used for drawing in projects, there is no other program that can replace it from the past to the present." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6500697) SA Subhan A. Assitant professor > "Additionally, it’s resource-intensive, requiring a powerful system and can be costly for individual users." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6581175) Nilesh C. BIM Lead > "It is the lighter variant of the AutoCAD Programming, and hence, it's working, and execution is excessively smooth and useful, particularly the individuals who work..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6312716) VR Verified Reviewer team manager > "High license fees can be prohibitive for individual users or small businesses." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6645923) AE Ali E. Purchasing Manager > "We use it for electrical projects, it is a program that we can use to run our business more cleanly and easily." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6500697) PS PARNEET S. ARCHITECT > "There are two things i want to mention first the pricing its expensive for a fresher architect its impossible to buy it sometimes." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6592166) TM Thandwa M. Draughtsman > "It has allowed for me to utilize tools that have made tons of my projects quicker compared to ,having used tools and hands." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6602452) KS Kevin S. BIM Manager > "These types of projects usually do not need a 3d model developed." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6657835) Xavier C. Plan Drawer and administration > "besides the design options that have been great for a number of versions, maintaining quality, and coherence for commands and user interaction" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6631379) UA Usman A. Lecturer in Engineering > "D modelling within AutoCAD is slightly messy." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6568260) FF Fahed F. Senior Electrical Engineer > "Its strengths lie in its precision, extensive toolset, and ability to handle both 2D and 3D projects." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6555792) SM Saravanakumar M. Engineering manager > "Changes in new version may affect the previous version so its hard to use sometime." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6637521) TT Tommy T. AV Technician > "The amount of features and ability to design from wiring diagram to product design itself is amazing." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6562613) PR Pranita R. Freelancing > "The software interface is little more complex and confusing to the beginners." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6380380) CB Chris B. SDR - Sales Development Rep > "Used this software for many years and has delivered for us in every part of our design business." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6821535) MGK Muhammad Ghufran K. Documents Controller > "These cons suggest that while AutoCAD is a powerful and versatile software, it may not be the best fit for everyone, particularly those who require real-time..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6240039) JD Jacob D. designer > "I like how easy it is to go from a digital model to a 3D print—just export to STL and you're good to go. Plus, it automatically updates things like the bill of..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6771703) MT MICHAEL T. Design Engineer > "occasional freezes, trouble with printing to pdf" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6334752) VR Verified Reviewer project manager > "It is great for both 2D drafting and 3D modelling, though it can be a bit heavy on system resources." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6546595) VR Verified Reviewer Engineering Intern > "steep learning curve which can prevent usage of its full potential." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6469894) CJ Chris J. Operations Engineering Intern > "Perhaps my favorite feature was the ability to customize shortcuts and tools, which made things so much faster! " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6564050) SG Shan G. CTO > "The implement can be a little too complex with other platforms." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6624553) Tamzed Z. Engineering Student > "A very solid software for anyone starting with 3D or 2D cad drawing." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6827028) ME Marcelo E. Student > "On the downside, the learning curve can be steep, especially for beginners." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6491347) Santos T. Designer > "I then import it into a Revit model for future design modifications, but otherwise it is a great program and critical to know how to use for engineering." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6481371) WJ Walter J. Sr Project Manager MEP > "I didnt go to any college for engineering , i had no degree ." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6810354) [View Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) ## User interface [FreeCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/) 4.27 (142) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/) 4.65 (3,207) ## Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ### Features Do these products fit your needs? Prioritize real-user-identified key features according to your needs to find your best fit. \--% Fit vs \--% Fit 2D Drawing 207 Important 3D Design & Modeling 150 Important Activity Dashboard 120 Important FreeCAD 12/44 - 2D Drawing - 3D Design & Modeling - Activity Dashboard - AI Copilot - Animation - Annotations - API - Bill of Materials Management - Collaboration Tools - Compliance Management - Component Library - Configurable Workflow - Configuration Management - Content Library - Customizable Branding - Customizable Templates - Data Capture and Transfer - Data Import/Export - Data Synchronization - Data Visualization - Design Management - Document Generation - Document Management - Drag & Drop - File Management - For 3D Printing - For Architects - For Manufacturers - Generative AI - Image Editing - Modeling & Simulation - Multiple Format Support - Multiple Projects - Projections - Real Time Comparisons - Real-Time Updates - Reference Management - Reporting/Analytics - Rules-Based Workflow - Secure Data Storage - Sketching and Annotation Tools - Third-Party Integrations - Version Control - Workflow Management [See all features](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/#features) AutoCAD Top features 26/44 - 2D Drawing - 3D Design & Modeling - Activity Dashboard - AI Copilot - Animation - Annotations - API - Bill of Materials Management - Collaboration Tools - Compliance Management - Component Library - Configurable Workflow - Configuration Management - Content Library - Customizable Branding - Customizable Templates - Data Capture and Transfer - Data Import/Export - Data Synchronization - Data Visualization - Design Management - Document Generation - Document Management - Drag & Drop - File Management - For 3D Printing - For Architects - For Manufacturers - Generative AI - Image Editing - Modeling & Simulation - Multiple Format Support - Multiple Projects - Projections - Real Time Comparisons - Real-Time Updates - Reference Management - Reporting/Analytics - Rules-Based Workflow - Secure Data Storage - Sketching and Annotation Tools - Third-Party Integrations - Version Control - Workflow Management [See all features](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#features) ### Recognition FreeCAD is recognized as a top-rated tool in 2 Capterra Shortlist reports Best Value 3D CADSoftware (2022)  AutoCAD is recognized as a top-rated tool in 2 Capterra Shortlist reports ### Deployment & support FreeCAD Deployment - Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based - Desktop Mac - Desktop Windows - Desktop Linux - On-Premise Windows - On-Premise Linux - Desktop Chromebook - Mobile Android - Mobile iPhone - Mobile iPad Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos AutoCAD Deployment - Cloud, SaaS, Web-Based - Desktop Mac - Desktop Windows - Desktop Linux - On-Premise Windows - On-Premise Linux - Desktop Chromebook - Mobile Android - Mobile iPhone - Mobile iPad Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos ### Company Details FreeCAD - By FreeCAD - Located in United States - Founded in AutoCAD - By Autodesk - Located in United States - Founded in 1982 ## Popular Comparisons [FreeCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/)[4.27 (142)](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/reviews/) vs [SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/p/93121/SolidWorks-Premium/)[4.63 (756)](https://www.capterra.com/p/93121/SolidWorks-Premium/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.1 Features 4.6 3.9 Ease of Use 4.3 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-167527/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-FreeCAD) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.65 (3,207)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) vs [SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/p/93121/SolidWorks-Premium/)[4.63 (756)](https://www.capterra.com/p/93121/SolidWorks-Premium/reviews/) $250/month Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.6 Features 4.6 4.1 Ease of Use 4.3 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/93121-265024/SolidWorks-Premium-vs-AutoCAD) [FreeCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/)[4.27 (142)](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/reviews/) vs [Alibre Design](https://www.capterra.com/p/172312/Alibre-Design/)[4.69 (182)](https://www.capterra.com/p/172312/Alibre-Design/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price $10/month 4.1 Features 4.6 3.9 Ease of Use 4.6 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/167527-172312/FreeCAD-vs-Alibre-Design) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.65 (3,207)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) vs [Alibre Design](https://www.capterra.com/p/172312/Alibre-Design/)[4.69 (182)](https://www.capterra.com/p/172312/Alibre-Design/reviews/) $250/month Price $10/month 4.6 Features 4.6 4.1 Ease of Use 4.6 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/172312-265024/Alibre-Design-vs-AutoCAD) [FreeCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/)[4.27 (142)](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/reviews/) vs [Inventor](https://www.capterra.com/p/236745/Inventor/)[4.53 (277)](https://www.capterra.com/p/236745/Inventor/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price $310/month 4.1 Features 4.5 3.9 Ease of Use 4.2 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/167527-236745/FreeCAD-vs-Inventor) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.65 (3,207)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) vs [Onshape](https://www.capterra.com/p/164681/Onshape/)[4.51 (342)](https://www.capterra.com/p/164681/Onshape/reviews/) $250/month Price $1500/year 4.6 Features 4.1 4.1 Ease of Use 4.5 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/164681-265024/Onshape-vs-AutoCAD) [FreeCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/)[4.27 (142)](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/reviews/) vs [SketchUp](https://www.capterra.com/p/211798/SketchUp/)[4.49 (1,046)](https://www.capterra.com/p/211798/SketchUp/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price $19.99/month 4.1 Features 4.3 3.9 Ease of Use 4.4 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/167527-211798/FreeCAD-vs-SketchUp) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.65 (3,207)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) vs [CATIA](https://www.capterra.com/p/100453/CATIA/)[4.56 (223)](https://www.capterra.com/p/100453/CATIA/reviews/) $250/month Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.6 Features 4.6 4.1 Ease of Use 3.8 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/100453-265024/CATIA-vs-AutoCAD) [FreeCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/)[4.27 (142)](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/reviews/) vs [Onshape](https://www.capterra.com/p/164681/Onshape/)[4.51 (342)](https://www.capterra.com/p/164681/Onshape/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price $1500/year 4.1 Features 4.1 3.9 Ease of Use 4.5 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/164681-167527/Onshape-vs-FreeCAD) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.65 (3,207)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) vs [Inventor](https://www.capterra.com/p/236745/Inventor/)[4.53 (277)](https://www.capterra.com/p/236745/Inventor/reviews/) $250/month Price $310/month 4.6 Features 4.5 4.1 Ease of Use 4.2 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/236745-265024/Inventor-vs-AutoCAD) [FreeCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/)[4.27 (142)](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/reviews/) vs [Revit](https://www.capterra.com/p/265023/Revit/)[4.61 (482)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265023/Revit/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price $365/month 4.1 Features 4.6 3.9 Ease of Use 4.0 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/167527-265023/FreeCAD-vs-Revit) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.65 (3,207)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) vs [ActCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/168061/ACTCAD-Professional/)[4.22 (214)](https://www.capterra.com/p/168061/ACTCAD-Professional/reviews/) $250/month Price $249one time 4.6 Features 4.2 4.1 Ease of Use 4.3 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/168061-265024/ACTCAD-Professional-vs-AutoCAD)