Introducing G2.ai, the future of software buying.Try now

Compare AutoCAD and SOLIDWORKS

Save
    Log in to your account
    to save comparisons,
    products and more.
At a Glance
AutoCAD
AutoCAD
Star Rating
(1,846)4.4 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (46.4% of reviews)
Information
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
$2940/2 years
Browse all 4 pricing plans
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS
Star Rating
(621)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (43.4% of reviews)
Information
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about SOLIDWORKS
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
  • Users report that SOLIDWORKS excels in 3D/solid modeling tools, scoring 9.2, while AutoCAD lags behind at 7.2. Reviewers mention that SOLIDWORKS' parametric design capabilities allow for more intuitive modeling, making it a preferred choice for complex designs.
  • Reviewers mention that both SOLIDWORKS and AutoCAD score equally high in drawing capabilities, each at 9.4. However, users on G2 highlight that SOLIDWORKS offers superior documentation features, scoring 9.0 compared to AutoCAD's 8.6, making it easier to create detailed technical documents.
  • Users say that SOLIDWORKS shines in visualization, scoring 9.3, while AutoCAD scores 8.2. Reviewers mention that SOLIDWORKS' rendering tools provide more realistic visual outputs, which is crucial for presentations and client approvals.
  • Reviewers mention that AutoCAD has a slight edge in customizability, with custom scripts scoring 9.2 compared to SOLIDWORKS' 8.5. Users report that AutoCAD's flexibility in creating custom commands and menus enhances workflow efficiency for many users.
  • Users on G2 report that SOLIDWORKS has a better ease of use score at 8.6 compared to AutoCAD's 8.3. Reviewers say that the user interface in SOLIDWORKS is more intuitive, which helps new users get up to speed faster.
  • Reviewers mention that both products have similar quality of support, with SOLIDWORKS at 8.1 and AutoCAD at 8.2. However, users report that AutoCAD's support is slightly more responsive, which can be a deciding factor for businesses that rely heavily on timely assistance.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
AutoCAD
2 Year Subscription
$2940
/2 years
Browse all 4 pricing plans
SOLIDWORKS
No pricing available
Free Trial
AutoCAD
Free Trial is available
SOLIDWORKS
No trial information available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
8.8
1,522
8.8
517
Ease of Use
8.3
1,527
8.6
521
Ease of Setup
8.2
288
8.2
93
Ease of Admin
8.0
201
7.9
46
Quality of Support
8.2
1,368
8.1
457
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.5
199
8.3
46
Product Direction (% positive)
8.0
1,498
8.6
512
Features by Category
Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM)Hide 28 FeaturesShow 28 Features
8.0
474
Not enough data
Design
8.4
408
Not enough data
7.3
376
Not enough data
9.2
414
Not enough data
8.8
405
Not enough data
8.1
370
Not enough data
8.3
196
Not enough data
Collaboration
7.9
362
Not enough data
8.9
415
Not enough data
8.7
409
Not enough data
8.7
393
Not enough data
Construction
8.4
364
Not enough data
8.2
356
Not enough data
7.5
335
Not enough data
8.1
186
Not enough data
7.8
180
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
Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM)Hide 9 FeaturesShow 9 Features
Not enough data
8.7
51
CAD to CAM
Not enough data
9.1
41
Not enough data
8.8
41
Not enough data
8.9
41
CNC Programming
Not enough data
8.6
37
Not enough data
8.6
37
Not enough data
8.4
36
Machining
Not enough data
8.6
38
Not enough data
8.7
38
Not enough data
8.7
38
8.4
537
8.8
103
Design
9.4
491
9.5
100
8.0
467
9.4
100
8.2
469
9.3
96
7.4
422
8.1
96
Edit
8.7
481
8.5
94
8.2
435
8.3
87
8.5
479
9.3
95
8.4
454
8.3
82
Collaboration
8.6
471
8.6
91
8.6
458
9.0
93
8.4
440
8.4
87
8.5
43
Not enough data
Data Management
8.6
38
Not enough data
8.8
37
Not enough data
8.6
36
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
8.1
30
Not enough data
Not enough data
8.8
32
Library
Not enough data
8.8
27
Not enough data
8.5
26
Not enough data
8.3
27
Not enough data
8.6
22
CAD
Not enough data
8.9
23
Not enough data
9.4
29
Not enough data
9.0
28
Integration
Not enough data
8.5
25
Not enough data
9.6
27
Not enough data
8.5
23
Not enough data
8.7
30
Data
Not enough data
9.1
25
Not enough data
8.6
24
Not enough data
8.2
24
Not enough data
8.9
24
Not enough data
8.1
22
Not enough data
8.6
23
Logistics
Not enough data
9.1
25
Additive ManufacturingHide 14 FeaturesShow 14 Features
Not enough data
7.9
64
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
58
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
Not enough data
9.0
47
File Options
Not enough data
8.8
43
Not enough data
9.1
42
Not enough data
9.0
41
Not enough data
9.3
43
Not enough data
8.3
34
Not enough data
8.2
40
Tools
Not enough data
9.4
42
Not enough data
9.0
40
Not enough data
9.2
42
Design
Not enough data
9.4
42
Not enough data
8.0
14
Design
Not enough data
7.7
11
Not enough data
7.7
11
Tools
Not enough data
9.2
12
Not enough data
8.8
12
Library
Not enough data
8.1
12
Platform
Not enough data
8.5
12
Not enough data
7.9
11
Customization
Not enough data
7.6
11
Not enough data
8.2
11
Not enough data
8.2
60
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
Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)Hide 18 FeaturesShow 18 Features
8.5
14
8.3
27
Tools - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.2
13
9.3
25
7.4
13
8.5
24
9.1
13
9.3
25
9.2
13
9.0
24
8.8
13
7.6
24
File Options - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.6
13
8.5
24
8.8
13
8.4
24
8.2
13
8.1
25
8.3
13
8.2
23
8.5
13
7.6
26
Customization - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.6
13
8.3
21
8.7
13
8.3
21
8.3
12
7.5
22
8.3
13
8.2
22
Environment - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
8.3
12
8.3
22
8.5
12
8.3
22
8.5
12
7.8
22
9.2
12
8.8
23
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
AutoCAD
AutoCAD
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS
AutoCAD and SOLIDWORKS are categorized as General-Purpose CAD and Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
AutoCAD
AutoCAD
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
46.4%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
34.4%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
19.2%
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
43.4%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
34.4%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
22.1%
Reviewers' Industry
AutoCAD
AutoCAD
Architecture & Planning
22.5%
Civil Engineering
10.5%
Construction
9.3%
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
8.7%
Design
8.3%
Other
40.6%
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
22.8%
Design
12.1%
Automotive
6.6%
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
6.0%
Medical Devices
5.8%
Other
46.8%
Alternatives
AutoCAD
AutoCAD Alternatives
SketchUp
SketchUp
Add SketchUp
Altium Develop
Altium Develop
Add Altium Develop
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros
Add Rhinoceros
Onshape
Onshape
Add Onshape
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS Alternatives
Autodesk Fusion
Autodesk Fusion
Add Autodesk Fusion
Onshape
Onshape
Add Onshape
Designcenter Solid Edge
Designcenter Solid Edge
Add Designcenter Solid Edge
Inventor
Inventor
Add Inventor
Discussions
AutoCAD
AutoCAD Discussions
Can we add simulation?
4 Comments
saurabh  y.
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
Zuki M.
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
Can you do 3d in AutoCAD?
3 Comments
Suyash S.
SS
Yes 3D modelling is possible in AutoCAD.Read more
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS Discussions
What is SOLIDWORKS used for?
3 Comments
Yagnik P.
YP
SOLIDWORKS IS USED FOR MULTIPLE WORK LIKE 2D & 3D CAD MODELING, ASSEMBLY MODELING, SHWWET METAL MODELING, SURFACE MODELING, RENDERING, SIMULATION, 3D...Read more
How to stop or cancel a ongoing command.
2 Comments
Gaurav P.
GP
By pressing escape key.Read more
best use o this software
2 Comments
Onkar S.
OS
Making 2D sketches and extruding them to make 3d sketches.Read more