Head to head · CAD, 3D & engineering software
FreeCAD vs AutoCAD
Pricing, features, India readiness and rating compared. FreeCAD rates highest.
| Compare | FreeCAD | AutoCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Category | CAD, 3D & engineering software | CAD, 3D & engineering software |
| Vendor | FreeCAD | Autodesk |
| Headquarters | Global, Open source | San Francisco, United States |
| Made in India | No | No |
| Starting price | Free | ₹18,000/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Published pricing | Yes | Yes |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Mobile apps | No | No |
| Founded | 2002 | 1982 |
| Best for | Startup, Small business, SMB | Small business, SMB, Mid-market |
| App Advisor rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
FreeCAD: pros & cons
- +Completely free to use
- +24 years in business — a mature, stable product
- −Global vendor — check India-specific compliance (GST, TDS) and support hours before you commit
Key features
- 2D drafting and 3D modelling
- BIM and structural analysis
- Simulation and FEA
- CAM and CNC programming
- Rendering and visualisation
- Collaboration and versioning
AutoCAD: pros & cons
- +Pricing is published, so there is no sales call to see costs
- +44 years in business — a mature, stable product
- +One of the top-ranked cad, 3d & engineering software options in our catalogue
- −No permanently free plan
- −Global vendor — check India-specific compliance (GST, TDS) and support hours before you commit
Key features
- 2D drafting and 3D modelling
- BIM and structural analysis
- Simulation and FEA
- CAM and CNC programming
- Rendering and visualisation
- Collaboration and versioning
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Frequently asked questions
Which is better, FreeCAD or AutoCAD?+
FreeCAD scores higher on App Advisor's rating (4.6/5) for pricing transparency, India readiness and maturity. FreeCAD has a free plan, which matters if you want to try before paying. The right choice depends on your workflow — request demos of both.
Is FreeCAD cheaper than AutoCAD?+
FreeCAD starts at Free and AutoCAD at ₹18,000/mo. Compare per-user costs at your team size, and remember GST is added on top.
Can I switch from FreeCAD to AutoCAD?+
Most cad, 3d & engineering software products import CSV or Excel data; check whether historical records, attachments and integrations move too before you switch.