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AutoCAD vs SolidWorks Premium Comparison (2026)

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AutoCAD Electrical logo

AutoCAD Electrical

4.6

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3ds Max

4.6

AutoCAD LT logo

AutoCAD LT

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Good recommendations?

AutoCAD logo

AutoCAD

SolidWorks Premium logo

SolidWorks Premium

Overview

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

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.

  • Platforms supported
  • Web-based
  • iPhone app
  • Android app
  • Windows Phone app
  • Typical customers
  • Freelancers
  • Small businesses
  • Mid size businesses
  • Large enterprises
  • Customer support
  • Phone
  • Online
  • Knowledge base
  • Video tutorials
  • Platforms supported
  • Web-based
  • iPhone app
  • Android app
  • Windows Phone app
  • Typical customers
  • Freelancers
  • Small businesses
  • Mid size businesses
  • Large enterprises
  • Customer support
  • Phone
  • Online
  • Knowledge base
  • Video tutorials

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

Starting from

250

/user

Per month

  • Free trial available
  • Credit cardless trial
  • Free account
  • Subscription based

Starting from

Free

  • Free trial available
  • Credit cardless trial
  • Free account
  • Subscription based

User reviews

4.6

3.4K

5

4

3

2

1

2.3K

997

95

8

5

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
84%
would recommend this app

4.6

760

5

4

3

2

1

518

215

18

6

3

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
82%
would recommend this app

Pros

“Its extensive drafting capabilities, industry-standard DWG format, and customizable interface make it suitable for a wide range of design and engineering applications.”
DK

Divya K.

Mechanical Engineer I

“It provides a professional and intuitive platform for creating accurate technical drawings and developing designs while maintaining a high level of precision and consistency.”
MB

Megan B.

Systems Administrator

“AutoCAD is a powerful and industry-standard CAD software that provides excellent precision for creating 2D drawings and detailed engineering designs.”
DK

Divya K.

Mechanical Engineer I

Pros

“The software feels stuck in the classic Innovator's Dilemma—protecting its installed base and steadily raising prices while delivering minimal new value. If re-learning was not such a massive barrier, I would actively switch to a more progressive CAD platform that includes PDM for free.”
Verified reviewer profile picture

Mark M.

Automation Engineer

“This is a very intuitive software that allows for suppressing components within the assembly FEA that you want to exclude from analysis, change remote loadings, and much more!”
Verified reviewer profile picture

Vincent M.

Project Engineer, Team Lead

“SolidWorks Premium is THE best software for creating manufacturing/process blue-prints efficiently and it is also a great tool to extract GD&T and PMI data from a 3D model.”
Verified reviewer profile picture

Cody C.

Executive Director of Operations

Cons

“Bue printin used an amonia based machine to copy on to photopaper to make copies , This is where blueprints came from , that machine woudl turn the black in white into this blue paper and white lines , Yuk smelled so bad and was so slow to copy , was slower the then old mimgraphs schools used to sue , photocopying was so expensive at the sizes produced. ”
WJ

Walter J.

Sr Project Manager MEP

“Users frequently cite several drawbacks to AutoCAD, but the most common complaints center on its high cost and subscription model, a steep learning curve, and comparatively limited 3D modeling capabilities.”
Verified reviewer profile picture

Karan P.

Executive

“I also encounter a bug where I create a new object, but it simply doesn't appear on the screen, requiring me to do weird workarounds to make it usable.”
Verified reviewer profile picture

ian v.

Electrical Engineering Student

Cons

“Its cost is high,especially for small business, students, or startups.large or complex assemblies can sometime lead to performance issues.”
DC

Deepak C.

Mechanical Design Engineer

“Maybe when they make the next release even worse -- more unreliable, or when I lose more files, I will make the switch.”
Verified reviewer profile picture

Mark M.

Automation Engineer

“The mating scheme seems overly complicated after using OnShape for a few years.”
Verified reviewer profile picture

Jason H.

Owner

  • Vendor responds to reviews
  • Last review2 months ago
  • Vendor responds to reviews
  • Last review2 months ago

Key features

  • Total features18
  • 2D Drawing
  • 3D Design & Modeling
  • 3D Imaging
  • 3D/solid modeling Tools
  • API
  • Access Controls/Permissions
  • Animation
  • Annotations
  • Backwards compatibility
  • Bill of Materials Management
  • Bills of Material
  • CAD Tools
  • Change Management
  • Collaboration Tools
  • Command Clarity
  • Compliance Management
  • Component Library
  • Configurable Workflow
  • Configuration Management
  • Content Library
  • Custom Commands
  • Custom Interface
  • Custom Menus
  • Custom Scripts
  • Customizable Branding
  • Customizable Fields
  • Customizable Templates
  • Data Capture and Transfer
  • Data Import/Export
  • Data Synchronization
  • Data Visualization
  • Design Analysis
  • Design Management
  • Document Generation
  • Document Management
  • Drag & Drop
  • Drawing Tools
  • Editing Tools
  • Electrical
  • Export Files
  • File Interoperability
  • File Management
  • File size
  • For 3D Printing
  • For Architects
  • For Manufacturers
  • Hardware support
  • Image Editing
  • Import Files
  • Manage Multiple Profiles
  • Manufacturing Design Data
  • Mechanical
  • Mechatronics
  • Modeling & Simulation
  • Multiple Format Support
  • Multiple Projects
  • Presentation Tools
  • Process Control
  • Product Data Management
  • Project Management
  • Project Templates
  • Projections
  • Real Time Comparisons
  • Real-Time Updates
  • Reference Management
  • Rendering Tools
  • Reporting/Analytics
  • Rules-Based Workflow
  • Secure Data Storage
  • Sketching and Annotation Tools
  • Task-based interfaces
  • Text Editing Tools
  • Third-Party Integrations
  • Version Control
  • Visual Analytics
  • Workflow Management
  • Total features58
  • 2D Drawing
  • 3D Design & Modeling
  • 3D Imaging
  • 3D/solid modeling Tools
  • API
  • Access Controls/Permissions
  • Animation
  • Annotations
  • Backwards compatibility
  • Bill of Materials Management
  • Bills of Material
  • CAD Tools
  • Change Management
  • Collaboration Tools
  • Command Clarity
  • Compliance Management
  • Component Library
  • Configurable Workflow
  • Configuration Management
  • Content Library
  • Custom Commands
  • Custom Interface
  • Custom Menus
  • Custom Scripts
  • Customizable Branding
  • Customizable Fields
  • Customizable Templates
  • Data Capture and Transfer
  • Data Import/Export
  • Data Synchronization
  • Data Visualization
  • Design Analysis
  • Design Management
  • Document Generation
  • Document Management
  • Drag & Drop
  • Drawing Tools
  • Editing Tools
  • Electrical
  • Export Files
  • File Interoperability
  • File Management
  • File size
  • For 3D Printing
  • For Architects
  • For Manufacturers
  • Hardware support
  • Image Editing
  • Import Files
  • Manage Multiple Profiles
  • Manufacturing Design Data
  • Mechanical
  • Mechatronics
  • Modeling & Simulation
  • Multiple Format Support
  • Multiple Projects
  • Presentation Tools
  • Process Control
  • Product Data Management
  • Project Management
  • Project Templates
  • Projections
  • Real Time Comparisons
  • Real-Time Updates
  • Reference Management
  • Rendering Tools
  • Reporting/Analytics
  • Rules-Based Workflow
  • Secure Data Storage
  • Sketching and Annotation Tools
  • Task-based interfaces
  • Text Editing Tools
  • Third-Party Integrations
  • Version Control
  • Visual Analytics
  • Workflow Management

Integrations

  • Total integrations16
  • 3ds Max
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Autodesk Forma (formerly Autodesk Construction Cloud)
  • Bluebeam Revu
  • CATIA
  • Cinema 4D
  • Civil 3D
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Navisworks
  • Revit
  • SketchUp
  • SolidCAM
  • Total integrations1
  • 3ds Max
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Autodesk Forma (formerly Autodesk Construction Cloud)
  • Bluebeam Revu
  • CATIA
  • Cinema 4D
  • Civil 3D
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Navisworks
  • Revit
  • SketchUp
  • SolidCAM