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Autodesk AutoCAD vs Dassault SolidWorks comparison

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Autodesk AutoCAD
Ranking in CAD
5th
Average Rating
9.0
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
Spatial Information Management Software (1st)
Dassault SolidWorks
Ranking in CAD
4th
Average Rating
9.0
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the CAD category, the mindshare of Autodesk AutoCAD is 3.0%. The mindshare of Dassault SolidWorks is 9.0%, up from 8.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
CAD Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Dassault SolidWorks9.0%
Autodesk AutoCAD3.0%
Other88.0%
CAD
 

Featured Reviews

AB
VP Commercial at Descon Engineering Limited
Has supported efficient drafting and design workflows across multiple engineering disciplines
We think the split between 3D and 2D areas needs to be addressed. While loading Autodesk AutoCAD on a normal desktop PC, it seems to be very graphic-intensive, even for 2D. Upcoming versions are very high-demanding of hardware. We think that is a very key factor that needs to be addressed. The second issue is the licensing matter. It is on a subscription model. Other companies in parallel are offering perpetual licenses. That is also in the competition, with BricsCAD from Hexagon. They are offering perpetual licenses, but Autodesk has dropped the perpetual license option. That is a big challenge with the subscription model.
Julio Siraldo - PeerSpot reviewer
Mechanical Engineer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Design projects have reduced maintenance costs and improved part quality for industry and personal use
Regarding Dassault SolidWorks's AI capabilities, I have not used the AI capabilities yet, but I plan to use them and provide feedback; however, I think it is a great improvement and very useful. I am looking for videos of AI capabilities of Dassault SolidWorks, and I believe it is very useful and will help me in the future, so I am very satisfied exploring the video content. My advice to others looking into using Dassault SolidWorks is that you can use it without any concerns; it is very useful and better than Fusion, Catia, and Siemens NX. I would rate this product 90 out of 100.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Autodesk AutoCAD positively impacts my organization by allowing us to teach this course that a lot of students want to learn; it's one of the most well-recognized software in the industry, enabling students to get jobs in the industry in Calgary, thus allowing us to get more students and achieve higher revenue."
"Autodesk AutoCAD is a very generic tool, we believe worldwide it is acceptable, so there is a big demand, every format is comfortably converted to any other software engine, and this is a very good supportive tool."
"Dassault SolidWorks has positively impacted my organization and my projects by reducing time, costs, and improving quality, as I projected the parts, changed the materials, and helped the client with the costs and time of maintenance."
 

Cons

"The scalability of Autodesk AutoCAD does become an issue when working on larger files, as it tends to slow down significantly, requiring very powerful computers for big projects, which I think is a con for Autodesk AutoCAD."
"The second issue is the licensing matter. It is on a subscription model."
"Dassault SolidWorks can be improved in terms of the subscription model, not only for students or companies, but for people in general."
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Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Autodesk AutoCAD?
I think the best improvement Autodesk AutoCAD can make is to keep it consistent over Windows and Mac computers. Improvements should focus on making it seamless throughout different operating system...
What is your primary use case for Autodesk AutoCAD?
My main use case for Autodesk AutoCAD is teaching the AutoCAD course in the college where students are doing the architectural technology program, so we want to learn how to create floor plans and ...
What advice do you have for others considering Autodesk AutoCAD?
My experience with the accuracy and reliability of the output from Autodesk AutoCAD is that it's pretty good. I have never used the AI capabilities of Autodesk AutoCAD. My advice for others conside...
What needs improvement with Dassault SolidWorks?
Dassault SolidWorks can be improved in terms of the subscription model, not only for students or companies, but for people in general.
What is your primary use case for Dassault SolidWorks?
My main use case for Dassault SolidWorks is through my work at Procter & Gamble, where I project parts and components for the industry, which helps save money and maintenance. A specific exampl...
What advice do you have for others considering Dassault SolidWorks?
Regarding Dassault SolidWorks's AI capabilities, I have not used the AI capabilities yet, but I plan to use them and provide feedback; however, I think it is a great improvement and very useful. I ...
 

Also Known As

Autodesk Map
SolidWorks
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

GDF SUEZ Energy Romania
Landscape Forms Inc., Design Dreams LLC, CP Manufacturing, Cardiovascular Systems Inc. (CSI), Wolverine Worldwide Inc.