Onshape vs AutoCAD

SketchUp

SolidWorks Premium

Revit

Autodesk Fusion

MicroStation

FreeCAD

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

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.

SketchUp is a design and collaboration solution that helps businesses streamline AEC and interior design workflows. Its intuitive 3D modeler allows users to visualize projects, while its 2D documentation and AR/VR viewing applications keep stakeholders aligned throughout the design-build process.

Autodesk Fusion is a 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE tool that combines industrial and mechanical design, simulation, collaboration, and machining to connect the entire product development process in an integrated, concept-to-production toolset

Onshape is a cloud-based 3D CAD solution for agile design & engineering teams, with tools for version control, collaboration, analytics, reporting, and more

2D Drawing

3D Design & Modeling

3D Imaging

Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Dashboard

Animation

Annotations

Bill of Materials Management

Bills of Material

CAD Tools

Change Management

Collaboration Tools

Component Library

Configurable Workflow

Configuration Management

Content Library

Customizable Branding

Customizable Templates

Data Import/Export

Data Visualization

Design Analysis

Design Management

Document Management

Electrical

File Management

For 3D Printing

For Manufacturers

For Solar Companies

Manufacturing Design Data

Mechanical

Mechatronics

Modeling & Simulation

Multiple Format Support

Multiple Projects

Product Data Management

Project Templates

Real Time Comparisons

Real-Time Updates

Reference Management

Reporting/Analytics

Role-Based Permissions

Rules-Based Workflow

Secure Data Storage

Sketching and Annotation Tools

Solar Design

Template Management

Third-Party Integrations

Version Control

Visual Analytics

Workflow Management

Onshape

Android

Linux

Web-based

Windows

iPad

iPhone

Software Engineer

Then I realized that I could myself produce my own 3D models and I found on Onshape the perfect tool for it. It also has great features that allows you to produce perfect models.

Principal Engineer

This is because Onshape is so portable, stable and reliable. It is a solid solid modeler with some very thought through features that are tested with the community before deploying it into the wild.

Designer

I'm sure the best Onshape feature is its super user-friendly interface, very, very good. I loved it an how the software still looking like a CAD software.

Lead Development Engineer

The stability of the software has been flawless, with minor hiccups being rapidly fixed by the outstanding customer support team.

Lack of offline caching causes Models to need to be reloaded when experiencing poor network coverage such as riding down the interstate while working on a customer design.

General manager

Great support; excellent training available; powerful but economical; fairly easy to begin, even for newbies.

Technical Director

It will be great if you organize on site training,  I am sure you can get a good turn out in KL. As a start you can help to build the local Onshape community.

Mechanical Design Engineer

I also love how easy it is to share designs with other members of my team. The import from other CAD file types works great and so far it's just been very easy to use and get used to.

Mechanical Engineer

It offers a lot of lessons for rookies and is generally a great platform for people who are transitioning from a simple CAD software like Tinkercad, to something more complicated.

Senior Engineer

My productivity and efficiency when generating 3D drawings have substantially increased because to the user-friendly interface and comprehensive range of tools.

This software helps generating complex 3D printed objects and smaller architectural projects. It helps with with getting the projects done.

Owner

This software seemed to have the best workflow out of the other similar design products I evaluated.

Engineer

Onshape is perfect for people looking for a funcational CAD without the prohibitive cost. It will do just about all that the major CAD programs will do.

Director

Browser accessibility, live collaboration, app integration. Being able to share with customers instantly is also a great perk.

I love that my designs are cloud-based. I can hop on to any device including my phone and start editing.

Owner / Designer

Printing is a bit of a pain; gotta export / download file and then print.

Director 

It is training and support that differentiates competitors. Onshape training is totally inadequate in my experience.

Machinist

The lack of well-integrated CAM makes the final step in engineering solutions a bit harder than some other packages.

Onshape screenshot: Detailed 3D assembly in Onshape with a section view for internal component design and gear alignment.

Onshape screenshot: Onshape’s structured BOM view with part revisions and ‘where used’ traceability for complex assemblies.

Onshape screenshot: Onshape simulation showing modal analysis with visualization of mode shapes, and excitation energy for individual modes.

Onshape screenshot: Onshape 3D trailer assembly with integrated bill of materials for accurate part tracking and design management.

Onshape screenshot: Onshape version control graph with full history tracking and branching for iterative machine design.

Onshape screenshot: Onshape drawing with an integrated inspection table for precise dimension tracking and quality control.

Onshape screenshot: Photorealistic rendering of a jackhammer created in Onshape’s integrated Render Studio for high-quality visualization.

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

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.

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.


MicroStation is a 3D architecture software that helps businesses in the oil and gas, construction, mining, manufacturing, and other sectors create and visualize 2D drawings and 3D computer-aided designs. The platform enables creators to build models using various parametric designing tools including mesh, surface, and solid modeling.

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 Modeling

Civil

Commercial

Compliance Management

Customizable Fields

Design Templates

Document Generation

Document Storage

Drafting

Drag & Drop

Estimating

Floor Plans & Maps

For AEC Industry

For Architects

For Residential

Landscape Design

Mobile Access

Offline Access

Parts Management

Planning Tools

Project Management

Project Workflow

Rendering

Reusable Designs

Scheduling

Search

Search/Filter

AutoCAD

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.

interior designer 

The AutoCAD is very good to be used for many industries like construction and industrial / manufacturing process as well, good for beginners and professional level as well.

architecture

I use this program all of the time because their Features are awesome powerful tool and easy for professional and beginners.

excellent application

Excellent for architects and engineers, all functions and tools are easy to use, and have an excellent cost benefit.

Co Founder

It is the most accessible CAD software to date with lots of documentation and a great and responsive community. Very user friendly and a well designed interface.

Telecommunications Specialist

I have been using AutoCAD (Mostly 2D) for almost 9 years now and I found it very useful, easy to use, and great platform for drafting anything you like.

Sometimes the user interface becomes annoying, file can get very big and may crash the computer, drawings can get corrupt.

Web Developer 

It was one and still is the best Architectural software they was and will every be. I remember how easy it was to make designs and configure settings to my liking.

Student

Great software with a great user interface that has a ton of functionality to it.

Firstly, I like all the features in AutoCAD which make the software one of the best in engineering designs. Also, it is not complected and that make the software easy to use for any user.

INDEPENDENT BUSINESS CONSULTANT

I love the shortcut keys for various tools, it makes the job a lot quicker. As a Mechanical Engineer , I really love spending time with different drawings in this cool software.

Front-End Web Developer

Overall, I think AutoCAD has been a great addition to our company. We needed a 3D drawing tool and even with the price, I believe AutoCAD was the best software for us.

Landscape Architect

I love how easily other pieces of software can integrate with it and how you can produce quality looking technical drawings within a relatively short time-span.

Planner

It is frustrating when in the AutoCAD updates over the years that the interface has changed so much that it makes it hard to adjust and find things.

Applications Engineer

This is also backed up by AutoDesk's excellent customer service and a very large catalogue of training documentation and tutorials online.

Innovation Manager

The 3d is terrible and right now the 3d is absolutely need for design.

Freelancer

The software keeps improving with update and the integration with other software as well as the online version gives me interest working experience.

Onshape vs AutoCAD Comparison (2026)

Onshape

AutoCAD

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives