autocad-vs-draftsight

AutoCAD and DraftSight are both extremely popular Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs. They both lead the category in ratings and reviews, both having over 250 each. Compared to most SaaS platforms, CAD software has been around for several decades. And while CAD software is most commonly used for engineering and architectural purposes, it has a growing variety of applications.

AutoCAD is a CAD product from Autodesk, a major software company specializing in design tools for various industries. On TrustRadius, most of its users are from mid-sized construction companies. This is in contrast to DraftSight which represents mostly small businesses and/or engineering firms.

Features

In addition to running as desktop software, AutoCAD also has a mobile and web-based version for both Mac and Windows OS. Its major selling points are its pre-built architecture, electrical, and mechanical toolsets. AutoCAD’s key features set support 2D drafting, drawing, and annotation; 3D modeling and visualization; online collaboration; and issue tracking. AutoCAD allows users to access their drawing history, compare Xrefs, and remove and edit multiple objects at once as well.

Draftsight has 5 different tiers of pricing: Standard, Professional, Premium, Enterprise Plus. The key difference between the different tiers is whether or not they support 3D design. While Standard and Professional do not, Premium, Enterprise, and Enterprise Plus do.

Standard is best for non-professional use cases, whereas the other three tiers. The more advanced tiers feature APIs for integrating your ERP, PDM, and LISP tools. as well as complete tools for drafting, modeling, prototyping, manufacturing, laser cutting, and 3D printing. The Enterprise offers are best for organizations with many users across multiple sites.

Limitations

While AutoCAD is extremely popular, no software is perfect. AutoCAD excels at 2D design, but reviewers on TrustRadius frequently call out that its 3D design tools require some improvements to be on the same level as its 2D features. AutoCAD in general seems to have a steep learning curve, so may be best for more experienced users. Reviewers also mention that AutoCAD is a bit slower than comparable programs.

With DraftSight, reviewers mention that it is not as customizable as they would like, and that often updates will add new features that make using the tool more difficult to use. When reviewers have ran into issues, they report that customer service with DraftSight leaves much to be desired and that online support is not useful for troubleshooting.

Pricing

While AutoCAD is free for students and educators, its pricing starts at $1,690/year or $210/month. Buyers also have the option of committing to 3-year licenses at $4,565 total. AutoCAD can be installed on multiple computers, but can only be used on one station at a time.

DraftSight is marketed as being a cheaper alternative to AutoCAD. Its cheapest tier (Standard) starts at $99/year per user. Professional is $199/yr, Premium $499/yr, and Enterprise or Enterprise Plus tiers have customized pricing depending on the size your business and number of users. Expect to pay more than $500/yr at this tier.