--- title: AutoCAD Reviews meta_title: 'AutoCAD Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 1940 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how AutoCAD works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.4 review_count: 1940 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-08-13' parent_category: name: CAD url: https://www.g2.com/categories/cad --- # AutoCAD Reviews **Vendor:** Autodesk **Category:** [General-Purpose CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/general-purpose-cad) **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1,940 ## About AutoCAD Redefine how you create with Autodesk® AutoCAD®. Autodesk AI empowers you to reimagine your creative process in AutoCAD, delivering advanced automation and meaningful performance enhancements that help you design faster and work smarter. Intelligent features reduce repetitive tasks and surface actionable insights, so you can spend more time creating with precision and confidence. Use natural, conversational interactions to ask questions, check standards unique to your team, and quickly validate designs against established workflows. Securely managed data supports informed decision making and helps turn ideas into high quality results more efficiently. A truly collaborative design experience brings teams together through Forma Data Management. Purpose built cloud storage makes it easy to save, manage, and access project files while supporting collaborative design processes. Multiple users can add markups to a single drawing on desktop or web with Multi-user Markup, improving transparency and reducing errors. Checkout transforms collaborative drafting by allowing contributors to work on specific geometry, submit edits for review, and merge changes smoothly by eliminating manual collation and file conflicts. Your data and intellectual property remain secure and governed, giving you confidence across every stage of design. Optimize productivity with seven specialized toolsets, including Electrical, Mechanical, and Plant 3D. Automate routine tasks with AutoLISP, tailor workflows to your discipline, and extend AutoCAD through APIs and thousands of apps on the Autodesk App Store. ## AutoCAD Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users find **AutoCAD's ease of use** essential for drafting and designing, enhancing both productivity and precision. (183 reviews) - Users value the **ease of drafting** in AutoCAD, enabling efficient 2D and 3D designs for various projects. (116 reviews) - Users value the **precision and professional standards** of AutoCAD, enhancing their drafting and design experiences significantly. (72 reviews) - Users appreciate the **precision and reliability** of AutoCAD for both 2D drafting and basic 3D design projects. (70 reviews) - Users value AutoCAD for its **detailed engineering drawings** , which enhance precision and professional standards in design work. (66 reviews) - Precision (53 reviews) - 3D Visualization (52 reviews) - Tool Efficiency (49 reviews) - Users value the **versatile drawing tools** in AutoCAD, enhancing productivity across various industries through precise designs. (48 reviews) - Accuracy (47 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users find the **high subscription cost** of AutoCAD burdensome, especially for students and small businesses. (65 reviews) - Users highlight the **steep learning curve** of AutoCAD, making it challenging for beginners to learn quickly. (48 reviews) - Users express frustration over the **high cost** of AutoCAD licenses, complicating access for individuals and small businesses. (46 reviews) - Users find the **difficult learning curve** of AutoCAD overwhelming, especially due to numerous complex commands for beginners. (45 reviews) - Users report that AutoCAD has **high hardware requirements** , causing slow performance and leading to lost work on complex projects. (42 reviews) - High System Requirements (41 reviews) - Users find **3D modeling in AutoCAD cumbersome** compared to other software and challenging due to its complex interface. (40 reviews) - Performance Issues (39 reviews) - Users struggle with **3D modeling issues** in AutoCAD, prompting the need for better performance and intuitive design features. (35 reviews) - Slow Performance (33 reviews) ## AutoCAD Reviews ### 1. Unfriendly to Small Firms **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Tom O. | Architect, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 26, 2025 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** AutoCad has a very broad user base and it's the defacto standard for manufacturers and suppliers distributing blocks and other CAD entities. **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** The basic problem for us was that AutoDesk's business practices were inconsistent with the relationship we needed. The basic AutoCad software is quite mature but doesn't really undergo significant upgrades or improvements (that's a user's perspective, not the AutoDesk marketing department's) but the price keeps going up and service keeps going down. We weren't impressed and really couldn't use the multiple little software products they kept adding and trying to bundle. As a small firm, we needed the simple, solid product we'd had at a reasonable price. ultimately left AutoCad as it became way too expensive and there was no customer service for firms of our size. While I regretted leaving we left be we understood that we were unimportant to AutoDesk. Autodesk saw no profit in serving us if you look at it on a customer-by-customer basis. Better to sell one site license for 100 seats than 100 seats 5 seats at a time. **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** Drawing our projects ### 2. AutoCAD is basic software for engineering drawings **Rating:** 1.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Civil Engineering | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 04, 2022 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** AutoCAD becomes almost needed for all Construction and engineering Drawing as it has multiple features and is easy to use and is the most popular software among architects and engineers **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** There are some issues with AutoCAD which lead to data loss and many other things like corrupt files, crashes sometimes, and hardware requirements. But this happen just ocassinally **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am working As Cad Designer, so Autocad is my primary software to create construction models and drawings. working with AutoCAD for more than 10 years and having great experience using it too coordinates and many other task ### 3. AutoCAD to BricsCAD **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 03, 2022 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** AutoCAD is a well-proven stable software. **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** Cost of subsciption. Not being able to purchase a perpetual license. Lack of functionality within dynamic blocks. **Recommendations to others considering AutoCAD:** BricsCAD is a cheaper alternative. **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** Standard 2D drafting. ### 4. Outdated **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jessica S. | Junior Designer, Design, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 27, 2019 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** AutoCAD is a tit-for-tat replacement of hand drafting. **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** So archaic, smart tools & 3D is a decade behind Revit. **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** N/A. It’s a slow program. ### 5. Best CAD software **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** darko s. | Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 16, 2019 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** I just want to note that every newer version is better and better, with added more features that are really helpful. **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** For newbies newest version will be hard to get better start with older one. Maybe more interactive tutorials should be added **Recommendations to others considering AutoCAD:** If you are new users go step by step don`t rush it you`ll be lost **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** Designing products, modeling products ### 6. Pleasant experience **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Architecture & Planning | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 19, 2019 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** It is a flexible software, and the Ease of use is commendable. **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** Not progressing with the needs as much Revit is taking over **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** Ease of flexibility ### 7. Great for Detailed Design **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Defense & Space | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 01, 2018 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** The detail available for rendering and design is fantastic. **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** For pure engineering purposes, it lacks some ease of use for simpler parts that may simply need to be 3D printed or run in CFD or stress testing programs. **Recommendations to others considering AutoCAD:** Try other products from Autodesk first depending on your needs. **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** I've used AutoCAD for a few different examples to show during proposal talks and explanations as the detail available is impeccable. ### 8. Getting Better **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Entertainment | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 24, 2018 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** Ability to model in 3d space. Easy generation of base views. **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** Constant crashing. Annotation stops snapping to end points. **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** Taking concept sketches and turning them into reality. Build drawings are done quicker than ### 9. Not My Favorite **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Fine Art | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 26, 2018 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** I like that it loads quickly and had a simplified user interface with type in commands. **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** The user interface is overly simplified and you have to know the name of each type command to use the software effectively. It is not as easy to navigate as other programs. **Recommendations to others considering AutoCAD:** Use AutoCAD once you have learned another AutoDesk software. **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** AutoCAD is cheap, quick to install, saves space on your PC, and opens faster than any pther program I hhavr used. ### 10. Out of Date **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Tab C. | Interior Designer, Architecture & Planning, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 27, 2017 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** I used CAD for 14 years and loved it. Until I met Revit. Goodbye CAD. **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** No longer needed in the building industry. Cost is a major issue with this program as well. **Recommendations to others considering AutoCAD:** Move over to Revit. You will not regret it. It only makes sense to design your building in 3d from the beginning. **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** None anymore. Still get consultant files in CAD but those can be imported in Revit. ### 11. Basic 2D CAD uses **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Design | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 18, 2017 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** Shortcuts and ease of use for simple drawings **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** Too basic for drawing anything too complex **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** 2D drawings ### 12. It is the basis of CAD **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Constantinos N. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 12, 2016 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** It's easy to use and its probably the best induction to CAD programs. **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** If you are using it for Architectural purpose i suggest to switch to a BIM program such as Revit or Archicad. It is really good for 3d drafting and most of the companies still use it today. However it is not a complete solution and BIM programs can do what it does plus a ton more. 3D is really really bad **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is a simple effective however incomplete solution in the Architectural practice ### 13. A reliable workhorse but becoming outdated with BIM development **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Anne Beatrice B. | Design Intern, Architecture & Planning, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 09, 2015 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** It is still hanging on as the industry standard software - so every architecture office pretty much needs to have this software at their disposal when circumstances require. Since engineers and architects alike use this, it helps to coordinate drawings and update consultants with changes. It is also nice that it can work with Adobe Creative Suite when necessary. It is good for drafting details and doing anything specialty which wouldn't be possible in Revit, which can sometimes be too "smart" and therefore limit you. So in that respect it is just as good as the drafting tools in Revit. **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** I dislike the old-fashioned workspace. The standard black background in particular is unpleasant for me. I think AutoCAD would benefit from redesigning their workspace. I also dislike the slow pace of work flow in this software when compared to BIM softwares like Revit. **Recommendations to others considering AutoCAD:** AutoCAD is essential as far as coordination, but your efforts (in the architectural field at least) would be better spent learning BIM software like Revit. It is a good tool for students and draftspeople but in my opinion is becoming quickly outdated as the industry evolves into utilizing a more holistic design process. **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** We would not be able to operate without this software, primarily because the industry shift to BIM is still in process, and many of our consultants have not transitioned yet. So, AutoCAD allows us to bridge the gap with them. ### 14. A workhorse, but no longer the right way to work **Rating:** 1.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Andrew H. | Associate / Design Computation, Architecture & Planning, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 08, 2015 **What do you like best about AutoCAD?** There's no debating it - Autocad is the industry standard for 2D CAD. It's powerful, packed with features, easily handles massive drawings, and has decades worth of users out in the field. It would be hard to imagine having an architectural practice without some licenses of autocad. **What do you dislike about AutoCAD?** It's 3d modeling tools are famously horrible. The GUI has suffered from bloat over the years. But the biggest problem I see is simply that CAD is no longer the right way to do architectural design - BIM is where the industry has arrived at, period. If you're still doing 2D drawings instead of working from a data-rich model, you're behind the times. **Recommendations to others considering AutoCAD:** If you're an architect.... try BIM instead. **What problems is AutoCAD solving and how is that benefiting you?** CAD is a necessity, pure and simple - if you work in design you've just gotta be able to work with it. Autocad is the lingua franca of CAD and any substitute is likely to cause headaches. ## AutoCAD Discussions - [Can we add simulation?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/15648-can-we-add-simulation) - 4 comments, 3 upvotes - [What is AutoCAD Architecture used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-autocad-architecture-used-for) - 3 comments, 2 upvotes - [What is AutoCAD Mechanical used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/autocad-mechanical-what-is-autocad-mechanical-used-for) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [What are the advantages of learning Tableau?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/autocad-what-are-the-advantages-of-learning-tableau) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [What are the best features in AutoCAD that Civil Engineers can make use of?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-the-best-features-in-autocad-that-civil-engineers-can-make-use-of) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [View AutoCAD pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews?filters%5Bnps_score%5D%5B%5D=2§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-08-13+12%3A54%3A50+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=632fe187-874b-4119-9350-cb247f7f2517&secure%5Btoken%5D=c61958d9f20f77b965b7266eefa24099b6f47f10f26430ef8529cc7930674d0c&format=llm_user) ## AutoCAD Integrations - 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Visualize - Rendering **Data Management** - Data Capture - Data Storage - Data Manipulation - Data Visualization - Data Capture and Transfer **Tools - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)** - 3D/solid modeling Tools - Rendering Tools - Drawing Tools - Editing Tools - Text Editing Tools **Collaboration** - Multi User - File Import/Export - Annotating - Document Storage - Secure Data Storage **Edit** - File Import - Push/Pull - Views - Grips **Map Creation** - Geocoding - Buffer Zone Query - Overlaying - Publishing **File Options - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)** - Export Files - Import Files - File Interoperability - Backwards compatibility - File size **Construction** - Fabrication - Reinforcement Tools - Clash Detection - Grading - Earthwork - CAD Tools - Collaboration Tools **Collaboration** - Annotate - Documentation - Data Extract **Analysis** - Spatial Analysis - Reporting - Real-Time Streaming - Trend Analysis - Statistical Analysis **Customization - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)** - Custom Commands - Custom Scripts - Custom Menus - Custom Interface **Additional Functionality** - Monitoring - Reporting & Statistics - Color Codes/Icons - Map Creation - Geographic Maps - Location Tracking - AI Copilot - Internet Mapping - API - Map Sharing - Third-Party Integrations - Interoperability - Reporting/Analytics - Image Management - Activity Dashboard - Geotargeting - Labeling - Data Collection - Route Optimization - Geolocation - Generative AI - Data Import/Export - Multi-Location - Census Data Integration - 3D Imaging - Data Mapping **Additional Functionality** - API - Image Editing - Activity Dashboard - Animation - Reference Management - Secure Data Storage - Third-Party Integrations - Configuration Management - Annotations - Drag & Drop - Data Synchronization - For 3D Printing - Customizable Templates - Modeling & Simulation - For Manufacturers - Multiple Format Support - Workflow Management - Version Control - Document Management - Sketching and Annotation Tools - Multiple Projects - For Architects - Content Library - Bill of Materials Management - Collaboration Tools - Design Management - Rules-Based Workflow - Reporting/Analytics - Data Visualization - Generative AI - Data Capture and Transfer - Projections - AI Copilot - Real Time Comparisons - Document Generation - Component Library - Compliance Management - Customizable Branding - File Management - Real-Time Updates - Configurable Workflow **Generative AI** - AI Text Generation - AI Text Summarization - AI Text-to-3D - Generative AI **Environment - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)** - Hardware support - Task-based interfaces - Manage Multiple Profiles - Command Clarity **Common Data Environment (CDE) - Building Design and Building Information Modeling** - Role-Based Access - Centralized Data Management - Change Management - Subcontractor Management - Project Management - Task Management - Bid Management - Workflow Management - Offline Access - Mobile Access - Contract/License Management **Cost Estimation - 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