Compare AutoCAD and SOLIDWORKS 
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (46.6% of reviews)
Small-Business (43.8% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
$260.00 1 user
No pricing available
AutoCAD
Star Rating
(1,903)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (46.6% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
$260.00 1 user
Free Trial is available
Browse all 4 pricing plansSOLIDWORKS
Star Rating
(630)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (43.8% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about SOLIDWORKSSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that AutoCAD excels in delivering unmatched precision for both 2D and 3D drafting, making it a go-to choice for complex technical drawings. Users appreciate its parametric constraints and automation features, which streamline design iterations effectively.
- Users say that SOLIDWORKS shines in its Assembly feature, particularly for those working with sheet metal products. Reviewers highlight its powerful parametric design capabilities, allowing for quick changes without the need to rebuild models, which enhances productivity.
- According to verified reviews, AutoCAD's reliability during detailed project revisions is a significant advantage. Users find it easy to collaborate since many in design and engineering are familiar with AutoCAD files, making it a practical choice for team environments.
- Reviewers mention that while SOLIDWORKS has a slight edge in modeling and rendering tools, AutoCAD still provides solid performance in these areas. Users appreciate SOLIDWORKS for its advanced modeling capabilities, but AutoCAD remains a strong contender for general drafting needs.
- G2 reviewers highlight that both products offer similar ease of setup, but SOLIDWORKS is often noted for its intuitive onboarding process, which can be particularly beneficial for new users transitioning from other software.
- Users express mixed feelings about the support quality for both products, with SOLIDWORKS receiving praise for its dedicated support team, while AutoCAD users appreciate the extensive resources available online, making troubleshooting more accessible.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
AutoCAD
Monthly Subscription
$260.00
1 user
Access software 1 month at a time for the lowest up-front investment.
- Access to the latest software releases
- 1-on-1 online support
- Includes AutoCAD Mobile App
SOLIDWORKS
No pricing availableFree Trial
AutoCAD
Free Trial is available
SOLIDWORKS
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.8
1,549
8.8
524
Ease of Use
8.3
1,557
8.6
528
Ease of Setup
8.2
317
8.2
100
Ease of Admin
8.0
204
8.0
47
Quality of Support
8.2
1,394
8.2
464
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.5
203
8.3
47
Product Direction (% positive)
8.0
1,525
8.6
519
Features by Category
Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM)Hide 28 FeaturesShow 28 Features
8.1
484
Not enough data
Design
8.4
412
Not enough data
7.3
379
Not enough data
9.2
423
Not enough data
8.8
410
Not enough data
8.2
372
Not enough data
8.3
199
Not enough data
Collaboration
7.9
367
Not enough data
8.9
420
Not enough data
8.7
414
Not enough data
8.7
397
Not enough data
Construction
8.4
367
Not enough data
8.2
358
Not enough data
7.5
336
Not enough data
8.1
187
Not enough data
7.8
181
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.2
48
Not enough data
7.1
46
Not enough data
6.2
48
Not enough data
Common Data Environment (CDE) - Building Design and Building Information Modeling
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Cost Estimation - Building Design and Building Information Modeling
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Electrical & Circuit Design - Building Design and Building Information Modeling
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
CAD to CAM
Not enough data
9.0
42
Not enough data
8.8
42
Not enough data
8.9
42
CNC Programming
Not enough data
8.7
38
Not enough data
8.6
38
Not enough data
8.4
37
Machining
Not enough data
8.6
39
Not enough data
8.7
39
Not enough data
8.8
39
Design
9.5
510
9.4
103
8.1
484
9.4
103
8.2
479
9.2
99
7.4
425
8.1
99
Edit
8.7
490
8.5
96
8.2
438
8.4
89
8.5
482
9.3
98
8.5
456
8.3
84
Collaboration
8.6
475
8.6
93
8.7
468
9.0
95
8.4
443
8.4
89
Data Management
8.6
38
Not enough data
8.8
39
Not enough data
8.6
37
Not enough data
8.9
38
Not enough data
Map Creation
8.4
38
Not enough data
8.0
33
Not enough data
8.7
37
Not enough data
8.7
35
Not enough data
Analysis
8.5
35
Not enough data
8.0
35
Not enough data
8.0
29
Not enough data
Library
Not enough data
8.9
28
Not enough data
8.5
27
Not enough data
8.4
28
Not enough data
8.6
23
CAD
Not enough data
8.8
24
Not enough data
9.4
30
Not enough data
9.1
29
Integration
Not enough data
8.5
26
Not enough data
9.6
28
Not enough data
8.5
24
Data
Not enough data
9.2
27
Not enough data
8.7
26
Not enough data
8.3
26
Not enough data
9.0
26
Not enough data
8.3
24
Not enough data
8.7
25
Logistics
Not enough data
9.1
25
File Support - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
8.8
60
Not enough data
8.6
46
Not enough data
8.4
51
File Editing - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
7.6
54
Not enough data
8.6
59
Software Integrations - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
7.6
48
Not enough data
8.8
57
Software Type - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
7.7
47
Not enough data
8.6
52
Generative AI - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
6.1
19
Not enough data
6.1
19
Building Preparation - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
File Options
Not enough data
8.9
44
Not enough data
9.1
43
Not enough data
9.0
42
Not enough data
9.3
44
Not enough data
8.3
35
Not enough data
8.3
41
Tools
Not enough data
9.5
43
Not enough data
9.1
41
Not enough data
9.2
43
Design
Not enough data
9.4
43
Design
Not enough data
7.9
12
Not enough data
7.8
12
Tools
Not enough data
9.2
13
Not enough data
8.7
13
Library
Not enough data
8.2
13
Platform
Not enough data
8.6
13
Not enough data
8.1
12
Customization
Not enough data
7.8
12
Not enough data
8.3
12
Design
Not enough data
9.2
59
Not enough data
9.0
60
Not enough data
8.8
60
Not enough data
7.6
58
Tools
Not enough data
8.0
53
Not enough data
7.9
55
Not enough data
7.4
48
Work
Not enough data
7.5
40
Not enough data
7.8
41
Not enough data
8.3
49
Not enough data
8.1
43
Not enough data
8.4
46
Environment
Not enough data
8.3
52
Not enough data
8.4
50
Not enough data
8.2
48
Not enough data
8.6
52
Tools - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.1
12
9.3
27
7.2
12
8.6
26
9.1
13
9.3
27
9.2
12
9.1
26
8.8
12
7.7
25
File Options - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.5
12
8.7
29
8.8
12
8.5
26
8.2
13
8.2
27
8.2
12
8.1
25
8.1
13
7.6
29
Customization - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.5
12
8.3
22
8.6
12
8.3
23
8.2
11
7.6
24
8.1
13
8.2
24
Environment - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.1
12
8.3
24
8.3
11
8.4
23
8.3
11
7.9
23
8.8
12
8.9
24
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
AutoCAD and SOLIDWORKS are categorized as General-Purpose CAD and Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Unique Categories
AutoCAD is categorized as GIS and Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM)
SOLIDWORKS is categorized as Simulation & CAE, CAD Viewers, Sketching, PCB Design, Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), CAD Libraries, CAD Data Exchange, and Additive Manufacturing
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
AutoCAD
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
SOLIDWORKS
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Architecture & Planning
22.3%
Civil Engineering
10.5%
Construction
9.4%
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
8.7%
Design
8.4%
Other
40.7%
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
23.0%
Design
11.9%
Automotive
6.7%
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
5.9%
Medical Devices
5.7%
Other
46.7%
Alternatives
Discussions
Can we add simulation?
4 Comments
SY
you can get your answer with AWS Classes in Pune.
https://www.sevenmentor.com/amazon-web-services-training-institute-in-pune.php
Read more
Which of the features might be useful for CAD software?
3 Comments
ZM
Photorealistic rendering techniques in AutoCAD are a way to create realistic images of 3D models. These techniques use lighting, material, and rendering...Read more
What is SOLIDWORKS used for?
3 Comments
YP
SOLIDWORKS IS USED FOR MULTIPLE WORK LIKE 2D & 3D CAD MODELING, ASSEMBLY MODELING, SHWWET METAL MODELING, SURFACE MODELING, RENDERING, SIMULATION, 3D...Read more
best use o this software
2 Comments
OS
Making 2D sketches and extruding them to make 3d sketches.Read more
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