SmartDraw vs AutoCAD

Visio

draw.io

SolidWorks Premium

Revit

FreeCAD

ArboStar

Compare SmartDraw and AutoCAD based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Microsoft Visio is a cloud-based flowchart and diagram creation tool, designed to aid collaboration and connect real-time data with business workflows. The platform enables communication of complex information through data-linked diagrams, flowcharts, org charts, floor plans, and more.

draw.io is a free diagramming application for creating and sharing diagrams within any web browser, with integration to G Suite/Google Drive & Dropbox

Discover the ultimate solution for tree care businesses with ArboStar. Streamline your operations, grow your business and provide exceptional customer service with this intuitive and easy-to-use cloud-based management platform. ArboStar offers a range of management tools to optimize your processes.

SmartDraw makes professional drawings and diagrams accessible to everyone. With leading floor-planning tools, data integrations, and an intuitive interface, SmartDraw delivers enterprise power without complexity.

2D Drawing

Access Controls/Permissions

Ad hoc Reporting

Annotations

Appointment Scheduling

Architectural Symbol Library

Audit Trail

Automatic Adjustments

Automatic Formatting

Brainstorming

CAD Tools

Change Management

Charting

Chat/Messaging

Collaboration Tools

Commenting/Notes

Commercial

Communication Management

Component Library

Content Library

Customizable Branding

Customizable Fields

Customizable Templates

Customization

Dashboard

Data Import/Export

Data Linking

Data Visualization

Design Management

Design Templates

Desktop Interface

Diagramming

Dispatch Management

Document Embedding

Document Management

Document Storage

Drafting

Drag & Drop

Drag & Drop Editor

Employee Photos

File Management

File Sharing

Flowchart

For AEC Industry

For Architects

For Residential

Freehand Sketch

Gantt/Timeline View

Goal Setting/Tracking

Graphical Data Presentation

Graphical Workflow Editor

Groundskeeping Management

Idea Management

Image Library

Interactive Elements

Job Scheduling

KPI Monitoring

Labeling

Landscape Design

Milestone Tracking

Mind Maps

Mobile Interface

Mockup Creation

Modeling & Simulation

Multiple Projects

Multiple User Accounts

Network Diagram

Offline Access

One Line Diagram

Org Chart Creation

Organizational Charting

Parts Management

Presentation Tools

Process Builder

Process Modeling & Designing

Project Management

Project Planning

Project Workflow

Publishing/Sharing

Quality Control Management

Quotes/Estimates

Real-Time Data

Reusable Designs

Risk Assessment

Roadmapping

Scenario Planning

Scheduling

Scorecards

Screen Capture

Search/Filter

Single Sign On

Smart Chart Legend

SSL Security

Status Tracking

Strategic Planning

Succession Planning

Symbol Library

Task Management

Task Planning

SmartDraw

Web-based

Windows

Business Manager

This software is CRAP if this is how they treat their clients who spent a years subscription, only to find all the work they did in a year is no longer accessible.

IT Manager

An inexpensive but fantastic software for both network diagrams and any other business and other needs.

Owner

A program that is incredibly complicated to understand. They attempt to simplify the architecture process but it is miserably complicated and lacks an intuitive interface.

CISO

We loved SmartDraw for its ease of use and integration options with other related services.

Senior IT Assistant

There are lots of templates to start with, which makes it a lot easier to get started with this software. I like the integration with popular tools such as Trello and Jira.

Further, it constantly just stops and closes itself - and dumps all of your work during that session, even if you have been saving.

Database Admin

Weak collaboration features. It is very expensive you asked me.

director

I like the assortment of graphics that are available with Smartdraw.

Your projects are also all saved online, you can access your software and files from any computer with an internet connection.

Instructor 

Smart Draw is relatively easy to use. It has all the various kinds of charts and graphs on its website you can imagine.

Self employed

When it works it does a good job. Customer support were good when I contacted them several times in the first year.

Seeking Opportunity- Project/Program Management -Organizational Transformation & Change Catalyst

Lots of examples and help videos. Enterprise discovery tools are great but expensive.

Building manager

They refuse to acknowledge this bug, but, over the phone, they did explain to me how to use templates, which gives a decent workaround for this bug, for me.

Smartdraw is easy to use and is loaded with templates and graphics.

SmartDraw is great if starting from scratch to create drawing ( both simple & complex).

SmartDraw helps visualize complex concepts in an accessible way.

District Engineer

Dedicated Software for Charts, Diagrams and Mind Maps.

Bugs are not a thing that customer service seems to be allowed to talk about, which is unfortunate, given how full of bugs this software is.

SmartDraw screenshot: Create all types of scaled drawings and diagrams including: floor plans, CAD drawings, wiring diagrams, landscape designs, accident reconstructions, flowcharts, organizational charts, mind maps, and so much more. 

SmartDraw screenshot: Design your dream home with powerful CAD drawing and floor plan tools. Optimize your office space or facility layouts to maximize productivity, and improve traffic flow in your retail space with better planning.

SmartDraw screenshot: Design your next outdoor space with built-in templates for landscapes, gardens, backyards, and more. Drag-and-drop flowers, shrubs, and other plants. Add sprinkler systems, lights, and walkways. Apply photo-realistic textures for a professional finish.

SmartDraw screenshot: SmartDraw helps police departments document accidents and crime scenes.  Easily import Google Maps or existing floor plan PDFs and drag-and-drop vehicles and evidence. 

SmartDraw screenshot: Easily make wiring diagrams, circuit plans, schematics and more. You can drag and drop symbols and connect them with lines easily. Remove a component and your drawing will adjust and realign automatically.

SmartDraw screenshot: SmartDraw empowers fire departments to create fire pre-plans and fire incident reports. Easily import Google Maps or existing floor plan PDFs and drag-and-drop NFPA symbols.

SmartDraw screenshot: Make flowcharts, swimlanes, and process maps in minutes using SmartDraw's intuitive templates and tools.

SmartDraw screenshot: Document your organizational structure and work as a team to plan for growth or manage change.

SmartDraw screenshot: Plan, monitor, and report on development with roadmaps, Kanban boards, project charts, and more. You can even turn a brainstorming session in a mind map into a Gantt chart with a click. 

SmartDraw screenshot: Invite your team to collaborate on any project or design in real-time. Drag and drop sticky notes, use a markup tool like a pen or highlighter to draw attention to something specific, or start a timer to track your whiteboarding session in real time.

SmartDraw screenshot: Document, troubleshoot, or optimize your cloud infrastructure by connecting to either AWS or Azure. Create reports or work on future plans as a team.

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Non Profit

Public Administrations

Small Business

Revit is a BIM (building information modeling) solution for architects, structural engineers, construction companies, & MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) services. The platform facilitates coordinated 3D design & offers tools such as floor plan design, 3D visualizations, & a WYSIWYG editor.

SolidWorks Premium is the leading 3D design solution in the industry. It seamlessly integrates powerful design tools-including industry-leading part, assembly, and drawing capabilities with built-in simulation, rendering, animation, product data management, and cost estimation. 

SolidWorks will help you get work done faster and easier than before, using innovative phases of product creation to achieve a more productive 3D design experience.

FreeCAD is an on-premise open-source paramedic 3D modeler, which helps businesses design objects of all sizes. Programmers can sketch constrained 2D shapes and utilize them as a base to create other objects. It supports several file formats such as IGES, SVG, DXF, DE, IFC, STL, STEP, OBJ, and more.


AutoCAD is a design and drafting platform which supports automated design tasks and offers features such as 2D drafting, drawing and annotation, 3D modeling and visualization, and more.

3D Design & Modeling

3D Modeling

Animation

Bills of Material

Civil

Compliance Management

Configurable Workflow

Document Generation

Electrical

Estimating

Floor Plans & Maps

For 3D Printing

For Manufacturers

Manufacturing Design Data

Mechanical

Mobile Access

Planning Tools

Product Data Management

Project Templates

Real-Time Updates

Rendering

Reporting/Analytics

Rules-Based Workflow

Search

Secure Data Storage

Sketching and Annotation Tools

Third-Party Integrations

Workflow Management

AutoCAD

Android

Linux

iPad

iPhone

Search Engine Optimization Manager

The biggest disadvantage of AutoCAD is that it comes with a lot of problems, which is to be expected from a tool that can do so much. It seems reasonable to me.

Civil engineer

WOW, all that I can say is that probably this is the most important software to make blueprints in the world.

SmartDraw vs AutoCAD Comparison (2026)

SmartDraw vs AutoCAD Comparison (2026)

SmartDraw

AutoCAD

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives