# Compare Design Flex vs AutoCAD 2026 | Capterra > Unsure of what to choose? Check Capterra to compare Design Flex and AutoCAD based on pricing, features, product details, and verified reviews. Source: https://www.capterra.com/compare/218525-265024/2020-Design-Live-vs-AutoCAD --- # Design Flex vs AutoCAD Features and Cost Comparison Last updated April 20th, 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: Design FlexAutoCAD2/4 selected [Design Flex](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/)[4.3 (357)](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/reviews/) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.7 (3,209)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) [## Design Flex](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/)[4.3 (357)](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/reviews/) Starting Price Contact vendor Value-for-Money 3.9 Functionality 4.2 Ease of Use 4.2 Customer Service 4.3 Reviews Sentiment JD KG Based on [357 reviews](#user-reviews) Positive 298 Neutral 50 Negative 9 [## AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.7 (3,209)](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 [3,209 reviews](#user-reviews) Positive 3,115 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. ### Civil 3D 4.4 (39) * * * Starting Price $320.00 Flat Rate,Per Month Free Trial Free Version * * * User rating 90% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars * * * ### Enscape 4.4 (72) * * * Starting Price $52.90 Other,Per Year Free Trial Free Version * * * User rating 90% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars * * * Highest Rated ### Revit 4.6 (482) * * * Starting Price $365.00 Flat Rate,Per Month Free Trial Free Version * * * User rating 96% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars * * * ### 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 * * * ## 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. ## Summary * * * Features in Architecture Software Best performer 19 / 50 Only Design Flex - 3D Imaging - Billing & Invoicing - BIM Modeling 16 / 50 Only AutoCAD - 2D Drawing - API - Data Import/Export User satisfaction User satisfaction 4.3 User reviews[357](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/reviews/) Ease of use 4.2 Functionality 4.2 Value for money 3.9 Customer support 4.3 User satisfaction 4.7 User reviews[3,209](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 Kitchen Designers Bathroom Designers Kitchen Remodelers Bathroom Remodelers Independent Designers Kitchen Dealers 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 JD Jodi D. Kitchen and Bath Designer > "For the manufacturers that offer accurate pricing in their catalogs, it's great that you can get a price without having to enter it into..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7139619) JD Jodi D. Kitchen and Bath Designer > "Some of these include: difficulty in getting printing/display settings right, strange ceiling lines that shouldn't be there (especially..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7139619) KG Karly G. President > "What I like most is its flexibility and the ability to quickly build detailed layouts that clients can easily visualize." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7115676) KG Karly G. President > "Rendering can also be inconsistent, and while it’s good for general visuals, it doesn’t always deliver the level of realism clients expect." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7115676) MG Michelle G. Kitchen design Manager > "Mostly, I like the rendering quality and the ability to plug in full cabinetry manufacture catalogs for quick design and pricing" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6882450) KG Karly G. President > "Some of the features feel less intuitive than they should be, requiring extra steps." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7115676) JM Jackie M. Project Assist > "What Design Flex offers us is the ability to design and order through our manufacturers with ease." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7151467) CC Cheryl C. Lead Designer > "At $2,500 per year, having to pay extra for assistance feels out of step with the investment." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7091852) LM Lindsay M. Cabinet Design > "I also love the 3D renderings, as they have helped our clients really visualize what the outcome will be in their space." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7078472) BM Barb M. Kitchen and Bath Designer > "None of our designers have upgraded to the latest version V14.2 because of reports of the instability/ crashing or lack of control over..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6497186) IM Isha M. Accountant > "The high-quality 3D rendering capabilities were impressive and beneficial for client presentations. Although there were occasional..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6384584) BM Barb M. Kitchen and Bath Designer > "The inability to edit size and color and textures of cloud base decorative items." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6497186) MS Matt S. Kitchen and Bath Design > "The ease of adjusting heights, tilt, depth of field, etc. make showing a design fun." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7079801) SK Stacey K. Interior Designer > "Freezing and crashing, difficulty with updates and reaching customer service and the cost of the software is gouging." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#SoftwareAdvice___6419039) CC Cheryl C. Lead Designer > "This Software delivers a reliable intuitive platform that makes detailed design easy and work fast and accurate." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7091852) CW Crystal W. Owner > "The software still has some issues with running slow when a lot of walls or sketchup items are in the file." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6835518) IM Isha M. Accountant > "Additionally, the software's flexibility, seamless integration with other tools, and cloud-based access significantly improved my workflow." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6384584) JH Jennifer H. Sales Manager > "Sometimes I have trouble reading catalogs or material lists I need to zoom in on other areas other than the work space" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6396837) DC Danitza C. interior designer and project manager > "love the countertop option, and most of the time use the SAMPLE-F base catalogs because I can change sizzes easily if I need it and color,..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6378557) EM Eric M. V.P. of Sales > "Setting up cost and sell pricing is a little tricky. Or, it's possible I haven't seen the best tutorial on it yet." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6664931) LM Lindsay M. Cabinet Design > "I think this program is great and has a lot of amazing qualities and capabilities for new and experienced users alike." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7078472) KM Ken M. Owner > "Still learning the system, but making adjustments to designs can be a little frustrating, and time consuming. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6599431) KB Kristin B. Designer-owner > "It also allows me to draw in the actual appliances my client is purchasing, which is nice as well." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6395562) MB Matt B. Corp Co-Ord of K and B Displays and Training > "I don't like that the colors have been removed from the Icons, in V13 it was easier to identify them as the new colors are very similar in..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6363780) KB Kristin B. Designer-owner > "It does render beautiful drawings once I go in and change all the cabinet colors." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6395562) AB Angela B. Kitchen & Bath Designer > "It seems to not like it when you fill your plan with too much data (cloud items, changing textures, revising your designs)" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___5014753) JD Jodi D. Kitchen and Bath Designer > "I like most of the versatility it offers in designing. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7139619) LT Lee T. Manufacturer's Sales Representative > "I am having a problem with my textures constantly tiling. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6590469) LR Leah R. Owner > "As a cabinet designer since 2005 this is the only software i have used that allows me to do it all from design and project presentation to..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___5069689) BK Brieana K. Design Center Associate > "My experience with 2020 Design Live has been bittersweet because I can create designs a lot faster, but I find myself becoming frustrated..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___5010778) TD Tanya D. President > "It makes my job so easy for kitchen design since all my cabinet suppliers have catalogues on it." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6755873) CH Carol H. owner/designer > "Slow, over-priced, crashes, will not connect to clouderrors on top of errorsIt reverts to programs from other yearsThe appliances are..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___5069889) KM Ken M. Owner > "As a contractor it also allows for full home design and room layouts too." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6599431) AJ Andy J. owner > "it is not being used at this time due to the issue above." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6407018) IM Isha M. Accountant > "The strong support system and regular updates were also major advantages, keeping the software up-to-date and reliable." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6384584) SP Shanna P. Owner > "Cloud items are slow to add to a design and often corrupt your file, making a design unusable" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6267740) PM Patrick M. Kitchen Designer, Project Estimator > "It also has the ability to do a very nice and realistic 3D rendering." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6709008) JS Jonathan S. Cabinetry Design Consultant > "Also the .shf files are set to read only so changing something to apply universally is a multi step process that should be unnecessary. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___5069757) SK Stacey K. Interior Designer > "Ease of use, 3D abilities and ability to create order forms and price kitchens with the designs." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#SoftwareAdvice___6419039) TH Taylor H. Architectural Technologist > "Some features are difficult to use or require a lot of time to navigate thru to get the look you are trying to achieve -mostly when using..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___4976384) PB Patrick B. owner > "It works well but is very expensive for what it does." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7092875) SP Shanna P. Owner > "The most frustrating part is that 2020/Cyncly is aware their product needs improvement but won't do anything to address the underlying..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6267740) JD Jodi D. Kitchen and Bath Designer > "The designing part is also user friendly. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7139619) JG Juliana G. Designer > "I do not like how the new cloud library works." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6660792) JH Jennifer H. Sales Manager > "Ability to create nice drawings if you spend the time to learn it" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6396837) RS Rosalyn S. Designer > "bit pricey." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6433554) SH Shannon H. Senior Designer > "It's easy and quick to do a drawing and show everything I need to my client." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7004087) VW Vincent W. Owner > "That was already a stretch because I never would use customer service due to extended hold times and inability to fix my issue." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#SoftwareAdvice___6070977) JG Juliana G. Designer > "I have been using 2020 since 2019 and I really like how the renderings are looking more realistic." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6660792) JS Janine S. Kitchen and Bath Designer > "I use it almost everyday and I often dread going through the time comsuming task of getting working drawings with correct dimensions that I..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___4696233) IM Isha M. Accountant > "The high-quality 3D rendering made visualizing concepts easy and impressive." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6384584) AC Amber C. Director of Design > "The search feature for the cloud items is so much harder than previous versions, not very user friendly. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6363674) JS Jen S. Kitchen Bath Designer > "I have been happy with Design Live and what it allows me to offer to my customers. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6428839) JM Jamie M. Kitchen and Bath Designer > "Lastly, when choosing and modifying the attributes of a fridge, specifically REF.2D.1DW36, from the ROOM\_APP catalogue, 2020 freezes, shuts..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___4697242) VR Verified Reviewer Accounts Manager > "So far so good, we are still in the training stages switching from ProKitchen to Design Flex but we've heard great things." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6859042) DF Daryl F. Kitchen Design/Sales > "Crashes too much WHEN DOING COMPLICATED DESIGNS." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___5034944) JP Jill P. General Manager > "Fairly easy to use, a lot of different features to explore." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___7110385) BP Brian P. Designer > "I also am irritated how a construction line is so easily selected. If I have a construction line near what I'm trying to grab, it always..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___4696564) TR Tracy R. Kitchen designer > "I also like the cloud item I can add to my design." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6716536) AB Andrea B. Owner > "Almost $2k per license and I don’t even use all of the features." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#SoftwareAdvice___5005794) AB Angela B. Kitchen & Bath Designer > "Having the capabilities for rendering your overall designs is beneficial to communication process with your clients during the design..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___5014753) BK Brieana K. Design Center Associate > "I do not like how the system lags and crashes frequently during use." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___5010778) SP Shanna P. Owner > "The only pro about this software is the ability to download cabinet brand specific catalogs with pricing." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6267740) SS Scott S. interior designer > "Moving the counter in a design and it crashes." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6364875) BM Barb M. Kitchen and Bath Designer > "I would love to take advantage of the newer features, but not at the expense of losing other features." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6497186) JT Jamie T. Owner, Kitchen & Cabinetry Designer > "Bugs need to be fixed before rolling out more features." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___4900183) VK Valerie K. Kitchen - Bathroom Designer > "I like how I can share my designs with my client's!" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6569558) YE Yvonne E. Sales Representative & Designer > "Rendering capabilities of this program are horrible every-time it is updated and there is no easy way to find/learn from tutorials to help..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___4696394) KB Kristin B. Designer-owner > "It's frustrating but the best product out there since I'm a cabinet dealer." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6395562) TR Tanya R. Owner > "Sometimes if not most of the time it would crash and I would lose my project." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6363667) BF Barbara F. Administrative Assistant - Designer > "I can navigate through a drawing with a lot of ease." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6697417) RA Robert A. Kitchen Designer > "After upgrade to current version, the program became really slow and every attempt to save etcresulted in a lengthy repopulation of all..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___4696439) JS Jen S. Kitchen Bath Designer > "The recent improvements with perspectives is huge to me." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6428839) AS Amy S. Sales and Marketing Consultant > "Renderings are difficult to manipulate and generally show poorly compared to older versions. When working on multiple computers it is..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___4836530) CT Craig T. Owner/Kitchen Designer > "design lives helps me draw kitchens quickly and accurately and allows my customers to envision what their space will look like. 2020 has..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___4696045) RH Robin H. Lead CAD Designer > "Also, when we try to print directly from the program, we've found our lines are not dark enough, so we've had to commit to printing..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___4696455) KB Kristin B. Designer-owner > "The fact that is prices the cabinets is why I continue to use it." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6395562) LM Laura M. Cabinet Design > "The Annotations - Running Line drawing Feature will not let you draw 3D countertops. " [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___4695935) JL Julia L. Sales and design > "The SketchUp imports, cloud catalogs' are a great and time tracker are also great new features." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___5071466) SP Shanna P. Owner > "For its price point, it just doesn't give you back everything you're putting into it." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#Capterra___6267740) [View Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/reviews/) DK Divya K. Mechanical Engineer I > "It is reliable for electrical, mechanical, and architectural drawings, and the extensive command set helps improve productivity once users become familiar with the..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7162031) 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) Alessandro N. admin > "expensive and difficult to create 3d space projects,it needs tecnical formation like architectural or engineering studies" [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7179091) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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 program." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___7012159) 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) 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 several..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6595744) 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) 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 > "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) 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 in..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6810354) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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 work...." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6408549) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) Mohamed K. electrical and Instruments Engineer > "It's precision in creating detailed designs and its powerful 2D and 3D tools." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6547011) 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) CT Christopher T. Sales Manager > "We can produce our Precast Storm drawings in no time when they are requested." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6538915) 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) 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) TM Thandwa M. Draughtsman > "It was also the size of the software , taking a lot of time to install." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___6602452) VR Verified Reviewer Projet Manager > "AutoCAD play a critical role in aiding with visualization, communication, coordination, documentation, estimation, compliance, problem-solving, and overall project..." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___4968881) GC Gordon C. Managing Director > "Some of the files exported to pdf take a lot of time to open especially detailed graphics and drawings." [See full review](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#Capterra___4967802) [View Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) ## User interface [Design Flex](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/) 4.31 (357) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/) 4.65 (3,209) ### Features Design Flex Top features 19/50 - 2D Drawing - 3D Imaging - Activity Dashboard - AI Copilot - API - Approval Process Control - Billing & Invoicing - Bills of Material - BIM Modeling - Commenting/Notes - Communication Management - Contact Management - Contract/License Management - Customizable Branding - Customizable Reports - Customizable Templates - Data Import/Export - Data Visualization - Design Management - Document Management - Document Storage - Drafting - Drag & Drop - For AEC Industry - Generative AI - Invoice Management - Job Costing - Mobile Access - Multiple Projects - Planning Tools - Presentation Tools - Projections - Project Management - Project Planning - Project Time Tracking - Project Tracking - Project Workflow - Quotes/Estimates - Real-Time Data - Real-Time Notifications - Reporting & Statistics - Role-Based Permissions - Search/Filter - Secure Data Storage - Status Tracking - Summary Reports - Task Management - Task Progress Tracking - Task Scheduling - Template Management [See all features](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/#features) AutoCAD 16/50 - 2D Drawing - 3D Imaging - Activity Dashboard - AI Copilot - API - Approval Process Control - Billing & Invoicing - Bills of Material - BIM Modeling - Commenting/Notes - Communication Management - Contact Management - Contract/License Management - Customizable Branding - Customizable Reports - Customizable Templates - Data Import/Export - Data Visualization - Design Management - Document Management - Document Storage - Drafting - Drag & Drop - For AEC Industry - Generative AI - Invoice Management - Job Costing - Mobile Access - Multiple Projects - Planning Tools - Presentation Tools - Projections - Project Management - Project Planning - Project Time Tracking - Project Tracking - Project Workflow - Quotes/Estimates - Real-Time Data - Real-Time Notifications - Reporting & Statistics - Role-Based Permissions - Search/Filter - Secure Data Storage - Status Tracking - Summary Reports - Task Management - Task Progress Tracking - Task Scheduling - Template Management [See all features](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/#features) ### Recognition No recognitions have been awarded to Design Flex AutoCAD is recognized as a top-rated tool in 2 Capterra Shortlist reports ### Deployment & support Design Flex 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 Design Flex - By Cyncly - Located in Canada - Founded in 1987 AutoCAD - By Autodesk - Located in United States - Founded in 1982 ## Popular Comparisons [Design Flex](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/)[4.31 (357)](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/reviews/) vs [Programa](https://www.capterra.com/p/248518/Programa/)[4.75 (73)](https://www.capterra.com/p/248518/Programa/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.2 Features 4.4 4.2 Ease of Use 4.8 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/218525-248518/2020-Design-Live-vs-Programa) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.65 (3,209)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) vs [SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/p/93121/SolidWorks-Premium/)[4.63 (758)](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) [Design Flex](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/)[4.31 (357)](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/reviews/) vs [RIB SpecLink](https://www.capterra.com/p/267349/SpecLink/)[4.47 (118)](https://www.capterra.com/p/267349/SpecLink/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.2 Features 4.2 4.2 Ease of Use 4.3 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/218525-267349/2020-Design-Live-vs-SpecLink) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.65 (3,209)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) vs [Alibre Design](https://www.capterra.com/p/172312/Alibre-Design/)[4.69 (183)](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) [Design Flex](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/)[4.31 (357)](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/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 4.2 Features 4.6 4.2 Ease of Use 4.0 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/218525-265023/2020-Design-Live-vs-Revit) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.65 (3,209)](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) [Design Flex](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/)[4.31 (357)](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/reviews/) vs [Planner 5D](https://www.capterra.com/p/164022/Planner-5D/)[4.48 (118)](https://www.capterra.com/p/164022/Planner-5D/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.2 Features 4.4 4.2 Ease of Use 4.5 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/164022-218525/Planner-5D-vs-2020-Design-Live) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.65 (3,209)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) vs [CATIA](https://www.capterra.com/p/100453/CATIA/)[4.57 (224)](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) [Design Flex](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/)[4.31 (357)](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/reviews/) vs [Monograph](https://www.capterra.com/p/178124/Monograph/)[4.50 (236)](https://www.capterra.com/p/178124/Monograph/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price Contact vendor for pricing 4.2 Features 4.1 4.2 Ease of Use 4.4 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/178124-218525/Monograph-vs-2020-Design-Live) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.65 (3,209)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/reviews/) vs [Inventor](https://www.capterra.com/p/236745/Inventor/)[4.53 (278)](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) [Design Flex](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/)[4.31 (357)](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/reviews/) vs [ARCHICAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/2018/ArchiCAD/)[4.44 (279)](https://www.capterra.com/p/2018/ArchiCAD/reviews/) Contact vendor for pricing Price $33.33/month 4.2 Features 4.4 4.2 Ease of Use 4.2 [View full comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/2018-218525/ArchiCAD-vs-2020-Design-Live) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[4.65 (3,209)](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)