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# AutoCAD Plant 3D vs SolidWorks Electrical 3D Comparison - What are their main differences?

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AutoCAD P&IDSolidWorks Electrical 3D[+ Add Product](#)

Pricing

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**
No pricing available

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**
Not enough reviews yet

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**
Not enough reviews yet

Return on Investment

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**
Not enough reviews yet

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**
Not enough reviews yet

Perceived Cost

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**
$$$$$

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**
Not enough reviews yet

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**
Not enough reviews yet

**Pros & Cons**
from reviews

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**
[
Customization (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-plant-3d/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1979699&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Design Development (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-plant-3d/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1979697&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Missing Features (2)
](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-plant-3d/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1578155&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
3D Modeling Issues (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-plant-3d/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1979701&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**
[
BIM Integration (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-electrical-3d/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2313387&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Collaboration (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-electrical-3d/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2313415&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
High Hardware Requirements (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-electrical-3d/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2313440&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Learning Curve (1)
](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-electrical-3d/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=2313457&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Integrations

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_271552315c04a03aac2d91953498dcd4/autodesk-forma-formerly-autodesk-construction-cloud.png "Product Avatar Image")

Autodesk Forma (formerly...

](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-forma-formerly-autodesk-construction-cloud/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-plant-3d/integrations)

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**
Not enough data

**Ratings**
from reviews

Meets Requirements

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**

9.0

9.036

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**

9.0

9.029

Ease of Use

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**

8.7

8.736

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**

8.4

8.429

Ease of Setup

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**

8.2

8.212

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**

7.9

7.98

Ease of Admin

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**

8.7

8.710

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**

8.3

8.37

Quality of Support

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**

8.7

8.736

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**

8.3

8.327

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**

8.7

8.710

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**

8.6

8.67

Product Direction (% positive)

**AutoCAD Plant 3D**

9.3

9.335

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D**

8.8

8.829

**Features**
ratings from reviews

Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM)[Hide 63 FeaturesShow 63 Features](javascript:void(0);)

8.7

23

9.0

28

Design

Visualizing

9.5(won by 0.3)

19

9.2

26

Rendering

8.5

17

9.2(won by 0.7)

23

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Drawing

9.3(won by 0.1)

20

9.2

27

Editing

8.6

17

9.2(won by 0.6)

27

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Sequence Steps

8.5

17

8.8(won by 0.3)

24

Dynamic Updating

9.0(won by 0.2)

18

8.8

10

Collaboration

Multi User

8.2

18

8.9(won by 0.7)

22

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

File Import/Export

9.1(tied score)

19

9.1(tied score)

27

Annotating 

8.8(tied score)

19

8.8(tied score)

24

Document Storage

9.3(won by 0.1)

20

9.2

24

Secure Data Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

Construction

Fabrication

8.9

16

9.1(won by 0.2)

23

Reinforcement Tools

8.2

14

8.8(won by 0.6)

23

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Clash Detection 

8.1

19

9.3(won by 1.2)

20

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Grading

8.5

16

8.6(won by 0.1)

7

Earthwork

8.0

15

8.5(won by 0.5)

8

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

CAD Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

AI Text Generation

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Text Summarization

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Text-to-3D

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Common Data Environment (CDE) - Building Design and Building Information Modeling

Role-Based Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Centralized Data Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Change Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Subcontractor Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Project Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Task Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Bid Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Workflow Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Offline Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mobile Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Contract/License Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Cost Estimation - Building Design and Building Information Modeling

Lifecycle Cost Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Quantity Takeoff & Cost Estimation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Issue Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Conflict Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Project Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Electrical & Circuit Design - Building Design and Building Information Modeling

Load Calculation & Analysis

Not enough data

Not enough data

MEP Coordination

Not enough data

Not enough data

Clash Detection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Electrical System Modeling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Circuit Design Integration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Interoperability with BIM & CAD

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Design Modeling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Scheduling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Audit Trail

Not enough data

Not enough data

Search/Filter

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

For AEC Industry

Not enough data

Not enough data

Project Accounting

Not enough data

Not enough data

Version Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Estimating

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting & Statistics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Updates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Visualization

Not enough data

Not enough data

3D Imaging

Not enough data

Not enough data

Show 1 feature category with incomplete data

Plant Design Management Systems[Hide 14 FeaturesShow 14 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

Not enough data

Design & Modeling - Plant Design Management Systems

Rules-Based Design

Not enough data

Not enough data

Structural Design

Not enough data

Not enough data

3D Modeling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Component Library

Not enough data

Not enough data

Simulation & Optimization - Plant Design Management Systems

Virtual Validation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Processes

Not enough data

Not enough data

Digital Twins

Not enough data

Not enough data

Virtual Tour

Not enough data

Not enough data

Process Simulation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Plant Simulation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Management - Plant Design Management Systems

Data Types

Not enough data

Not enough data

Integration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Import and Export

Not enough data

Not enough data

Insights

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![AutoCAD Plant 3D](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0dffa74045b1b5023e7395fdd336d1ef/autocad-plant-3d.png "AutoCAD Plant 3D")](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-plant-3d/reviews)

AutoCAD Plant 3D

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

37.5%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

40.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

22.5%

[![SolidWorks Electrical 3D](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_ea04c67664d908309a8c87d564e90c29/solidworks-electrical-3d.png "SolidWorks Electrical 3D")](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-electrical-3d/reviews)

SolidWorks Electrical 3D

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

40.6%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

37.5%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

21.9%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

37.5%

40.6%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

40.0%

37.5%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

22.5%

21.9%

Reviewers' Industry

[![AutoCAD Plant 3D](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0dffa74045b1b5023e7395fdd336d1ef/autocad-plant-3d.png "AutoCAD Plant 3D")](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-plant-3d/reviews)
AutoCAD Plant 3D

Oil & Energy

20.0%

Construction

12.5%

Chemicals

10.0%

Mechanical or Industrial Engineering

10.0%

Information Technology and Services

10.0%

Other

37.5%

[![SolidWorks Electrical 3D](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_ea04c67664d908309a8c87d564e90c29/solidworks-electrical-3d.png "SolidWorks Electrical 3D")](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-electrical-3d/reviews)
SolidWorks Electrical 3D

Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing

31.3%

Automotive

6.3%

Construction

6.3%

Design

6.3%

Education Management

6.3%

Other

43.8%

FAQs

## AutoCAD P&ID vs SolidWorks Electrical 3D FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 15, 2026

### What is the difference between AutoCAD P&ID vs SolidWorks Electrical 3D?

AutoCAD P&ID stands out for its higher Ease of Setup and Quality of Support scores, while SolidWorks Electrical 3D is noted for its strong integration of electrical and mechanical design.

| [AutoCAD P&ID](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-plant-3d/reviews) | [SolidWorks Electrical 3D](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-electrical-3d/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| G2 Rating (reviews) | 4.5/5 (43) | 4.4/5 (33) |
| Largest Segment | Mid-Market | Small-Business |
| Ease of Setup score | 8.2 | 7.9 |
| Quality of Support score | 8.7 | 8.3 |
| Top Reviewer-Cited Strength | Customization | BIM Integration |

### How do the pricing models of AutoCAD P&ID and SolidWorks Electrical 3D compare?

AutoCAD P&ID is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing compared to SolidWorks Electrical 3D.

- **AutoCAD P&ID:** In recent reviews, several reviewers mention that while the price is high, they feel the feature set justifies the cost and delivers strong value for the investment.
- **SolidWorks Electrical 3D:** Reviewers frequently cite high licensing costs and note that the software can be expensive for small or medium-sized teams, with additional costs for required modules.
- **Switching reasons:** Reviewers switching to AutoCAD P&ID highlight its comprehensive feature set and value for money as key factors.

### What are the best alternatives to AutoCAD P&ID and SolidWorks Electrical 3D?

The top three alternatives to AutoCAD P&ID and SolidWorks Electrical 3D are SketchUp, Revit, and Archicad.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [AutoCAD P&ID](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-plant-3d/reviews) | 4.5/5 (43) | Mid-Market | High price, but strong value for features | Customization |
| [SolidWorks Electrical 3D](https://www.g2.com/products/solidworks-electrical-3d/reviews) | 4.4/5 (33) | Small-Business | High licensing cost, especially for small teams | BIM Integration |
| [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) | 4.5/5 (1327) | Small-Business | — | User-friendly modeling |
| [Revit](https://www.g2.com/products/revit/reviews) | 4.6/5 (956) | Mid-Market | — | Comprehensive BIM capabilities |
| [Archicad](https://www.g2.com/products/archicad/reviews) | 4.6/5 (294) | Small-Business | — | Flexible architectural design |

### Which Plant Design Management Systems features should I prioritize when comparing AutoCAD P&ID and SolidWorks Electrical 3D?

Buyers should prioritize Ease of Setup, Quality of Support, Customization, BIM Integration, and User Interface when comparing AutoCAD P&ID and SolidWorks Electrical 3D.

- **Ease of Setup:** AutoCAD P&ID scores 8.2, SolidWorks Electrical 3D scores 7.9.
- **Quality of Support:** AutoCAD P&ID scores 8.7, SolidWorks Electrical 3D scores 8.3.
- **Customization:** AutoCAD P&ID is cited for customization (1 all-time mention); SolidWorks Electrical 3D has limited customization (1 all-time mention).
- **BIM Integration:** SolidWorks Electrical 3D is cited for BIM integration (1 all-time mention); AutoCAD P&ID does not have this mention.
- **User Interface:** Both products are cited for user interface strengths (1 all-time mention each).

### What are the pros and cons of AutoCAD P&ID vs SolidWorks Electrical 3D?

AutoCAD P&ID's headline strength is customization, while SolidWorks Electrical 3D excels in BIM integration and collaboration.

- **AutoCAD P&ID strengths:** Customization (1 all-time mention), design development, drawing, layout design, modeling, user interface.
- **AutoCAD P&ID trade-offs:** Missing features (2 all-time mentions), 3D modeling issues (1), high memory usage (1), slow processing (1), software bugs (1).
- **SolidWorks Electrical 3D strengths:** BIM integration (1 all-time mention), collaboration (1), easy integrations (1), intuitive interface (1), rendering (1), user interface (1).
- **SolidWorks Electrical 3D trade-offs:** High hardware requirements (1 all-time mention), learning curve (1), licensing cost (1), limited customization (1), slow performance (1), update issues (1).

### Is AutoCAD P&ID or SolidWorks Electrical 3D better for small businesses?

SolidWorks Electrical 3D is a better fit for small businesses, as its largest reviewer segment is Small-Business and reviewers highlight its suitability for smaller teams.

- **AutoCAD P&ID:** Largest segment is Mid-Market; reviewers note its comprehensive features but mention higher pricing and complexity for smaller teams.
- **SolidWorks Electrical 3D:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers describe it as accessible for small teams, despite noting licensing costs.

### Which Plant Design Management Systems platform has better integrations?

SolidWorks Electrical 3D is favored for integrations, with reviewers specifically citing its easy integration capabilities.

- **AutoCAD P&ID:** No recent reviewer-cited integrations.
- **SolidWorks Electrical 3D:** Reviewers mention easy integrations (1 all-time mention), particularly with BIM and mechanical design environments.

### How do AutoCAD P&ID and SolidWorks Electrical 3D compare on customer support?

AutoCAD P&ID and SolidWorks Electrical 3D are near parity on Quality of Support, with scores of 8.7 and 8.3 respectively, which is below the materiality threshold for a clear winner.

- **AutoCAD P&ID:** Reviewers consistently describe support as responsive and helpful, with several citing a large support community and accessible resources.
- **SolidWorks Electrical 3D:** Reviewers note that support is generally good but occasionally slow, with some relying on online forums for additional help.

### Which is easier to implement, AutoCAD P&ID or SolidWorks Electrical 3D?

AutoCAD P&ID has a slight edge in Ease of Setup, scoring 8.2 versus SolidWorks Electrical 3D's 7.9, which is below the materiality threshold for a decisive difference.

- **AutoCAD P&ID:** Reviewers highlight a familiar interface for AutoCAD users and a relatively low learning curve, though some mention initial setup can be time-consuming.
- **SolidWorks Electrical 3D:** Reviewers describe the setup as straightforward for those familiar with SolidWorks, but note a learning curve for new users and the need for proper hardware.

Alternatives

**AutoCAD Plant 3D Alternatives**

 ![SketchUp](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/fcc93ca191f4edc5826c62935fefbf14/sketchup.svg "SketchUp")

[
SketchUp
](/products/sketchup/reviews)

 ![Octave Forte 3DWorx](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_a513aeb0071452bcac141bfc8cae8b39/octave-forte-3dworx.png "Octave Forte 3DWorx")

[
Octave Forte 3DWorx
](/products/octave-forte-3dworx/reviews)

 ![Revizto](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/b34e607539f121bed2f5a51498e46617/revizto.svg "Revizto")

[
Revizto
](/products/revizto/reviews)

 ![Archicad](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/8f4e8d9d02c774088c07c555e579c0ca/archicad.svg "Archicad")

[
Archicad
](/products/archicad/reviews)

**SolidWorks Electrical 3D Alternatives**

 ![Revit](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/cd17ee1624d3f48179b4871898b136de/revit.svg "Revit")

[
Revit
](/products/revit/reviews)

 ![AutoCAD](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1531166548/autocad.svg "AutoCAD")

[
AutoCAD
](/products/autocad/reviews)

 ![Navisworks](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/10f00139e99657469e989922c5a884e4/navisworks.svg "Navisworks")

[
Navisworks
](/products/navisworks/reviews)

 ![SketchUp](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/fcc93ca191f4edc5826c62935fefbf14/sketchup.svg "SketchUp")

[
SketchUp
](/products/sketchup/reviews)

## AutoCAD Plant 3D vs SolidWorks Electrical 3D

When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found AutoCAD Plant 3D easier to use, set up, and administer. Reviewers also preferred doing business with AutoCAD Plant 3D overall.

- AutoCAD Plant 3D and SolidWorks Electrical 3D both meet the requirements of our reviewers at a comparable rate.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that AutoCAD Plant 3D is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of AutoCAD Plant 3D over SolidWorks Electrical 3D.