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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Adobe PhotoShop

    Score9.2 out of 10
    N/AAdobe Photoshop is the best known graphics product on the market.

    $20

    per month

    AutoCAD

    Score8.1 out of 10
    N/AAutoCAD is a CAD product from Autodesk. It allows designers to work in 2D and 3D, and is available on Windows and Mac, but with extensive online collaboration tools.

    $245

    per month

    Pricing
    Adobe PhotoShopAutoCAD
    Editions & Modules
    Single App
    $20.00
    per month
    Monthly Subscription
    $245
    per month per user
    Yearly Subscription
    $1975
    per year per user
    3-Year Subscription
    $5925
    3 years per user
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Adobe PhotoShopAutoCAD
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Adobe PhotoShopAutoCAD
    Considered Both Products
    Adobe
    No answer on this topic
    Autodesk
    Chose AutoCAD
    AutoCAD is better for drafting construction documents than Rhino. The ability to draft blue print drawings and update them to the specificity we need is a big leg up. Rhino allows me to see the model in 3d instantly where will AutoCAD I need to use a program such as SketchUp to …
    Incentivized
    Chose AutoCAD
    I have experience with Autodesk Maya, and am familiar with their user interface with creating 3D objects. AutoCAD while from the same family, requires a steeper learning curve and more in-depth knowledge of the software.

    Incentivized
    Chose AutoCAD
    I think that AutoCAD is much better than all 3 of these programs when outputting 2D drawings and constructions set drawings, but Rhino and Revit are both better for 3D outputs. Revit is a little bit more confined in what you are able to actually design and gives a less original …
    Incentivized
    Chose AutoCAD
    AutoCAD is the old industry standard that likely will disappear from use someday but somehow manages relevancy in certain isolated use-cases. It is incredibly likely that Revit (BIM) will supplant it entirely in the long run.
    Incentivized
    Chose AutoCAD
    The only reason I use it is that it was taught as the industry standard in school. It's been unpleasant since day one.
    Incentivized
    Chose AutoCAD
    From my experience, AutoCAD is the premier software for CAD services. If you are required to use BIM products in combination with CAD it is easily interfaced with Revit where some of the other software companies do not offer both CAS and BIM. As a CAD software alone it is the …
    Incentivized
    Chose AutoCAD
    AutoCAD & Revit are both sold from the same company Autodesk. Revit comes from the point of view of providing powerful tools to create a three-dimensional model where you can extract two-dimensional drawings. AutoCAD, on the other hand, focuses more on providing powerful tools …
    Incentivized
    Chose AutoCAD
    We use Inventor, but AutoCAD is more friendly in the 2D world for quick technical drawings, or for adding electrical notes.
    Incentivized
    Chose AutoCAD
    I prefer Revit and SketchUp for doing anything 3D, but when it comes to 2D work, AutoCAD is the way to go. I know there are plenty of other CAD programs out there that are used for more specific types of drafting which have their benefits but as far as general drafting goes I …
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    98%
    Would buy again
    152 Answers
    96%
    Would buy again
    45 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    97%
    Delivers good value for the price
    140 Answers
    93%
    Delivers good value for the price
    38 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    99%
    Happy with the feature set
    154 Answers
    91%
    Happy with the feature set
    43 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    98%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    130 Answers
    88%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    29 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    99%
    Implementation went as expected
    132 Answers
    95%
    Implementation went as expected
    38 Answers
    Features
    Adobe PhotoShopAutoCAD
    Computer-Aided Design Software
    Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of Adobe PhotoShop and AutoCAD
    Feature
    Adobe PhotoShop
    -
    Ratings
    AutoCAD
    7.1
    7 Ratings
    5% below category average
    3D Modeling00 Ratings6.17 Ratings
    2D Drafting00 Ratings8.77 Ratings
    Rendering and Visualization00 Ratings6.47 Ratings
    Parametric Design00 Ratings7.57 Ratings
    Collaboration and Sharing00 Ratings8.87 Ratings
    Compatibility with other software and formats00 Ratings8.87 Ratings
    Assembly Design00 Ratings6.77 Ratings
    Simulation and Analysis00 Ratings4.76 Ratings
    Documentation and Annotation00 Ratings7.67 Ratings
    Customization and Extensions00 Ratings5.37 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Adobe PhotoShopAutoCAD
    Small Businesses
    GIMP
    Score8 out of 10
    Onshape
    Score6.4 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Adobe Illustrator
    Score9.4 out of 10
    Onshape
    Score6.4 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Adobe Illustrator
    Score9.4 out of 10
    PTC Creo
    Score7.6 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Adobe PhotoShopAutoCAD
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.2
    (211 ratings)
    7.7
    (88 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.0
    (31 ratings)
    10.0
    (3 ratings)
    Usability
    8.2
    (36 ratings)
    8.3
    (9 ratings)
    Availability
    9.0
    (3 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Performance
    9.0
    (3 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    10.0
    (54 ratings)
    6.9
    (13 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    9.0
    (6 ratings)
    8.0
    (2 ratings)
    Configurability
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    4.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Adobe PhotoShopAutoCAD
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Adobe
    Photoshop is a useful tool for everything from creating social media graphics to editing and sizing photos. There is a bit of a learning curve, so you need to have a bit of experience to master it and use it for a variety of tasks. You also need to have a good sense of file organization so you can find files quickly without losing track of them.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    Once again, for jobs/companies where you are doing a lot of design and modelling of tanks, pipework or filling machine or basic electronics its fantastic as a 3D and 2D modelling tool, however once again when it comes to testing these actual products in the real world, I feel like AutoCAD is let down by its clunky fitting and spec management and also in very limited in-house engineering simulations.
    Read full review
    Pros
    Adobe
    • The fact is that you may quickly pick things up on your own by spending time without using any other resources.
    • It is the program that brings the phrase "to make PhotoShop" to almost all languages. It's not just a photo editing program.
    • Practical and beautiful results are filtered by filtering the desired work without drowning in details.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    • Compatibility of different file formats, and also exports to different file formats.
    • CLI Commands as well as internal functions which are exposed can be used for automation of various tasks.
    • The new 2025 comes with .NET Core support which helps AutoCAD to connect with Cloud based features.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Adobe
    • The effect applying time could be faster.
    • There could be a smarter way to make mockups using smart objects, maybe by directly selecting an area, and generative AI can automate a few steps.
    • If Photoshop can suggest the right stock imagery in case the generative AI doesn't get the right answer.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    • User Interface Customisation: AutoCAD's user interface could benefit from more robust customisation options. Allowing users to rearrange toolbars, menus, and panels according to their specific workflows and preferences would enhance productivity.
    • Enhanced 3D Modeling Tools: While AutoCAD is capable of 3D modeling, it's not as intuitive or feature-rich as dedicated 3D modeling software. Streamlining the process and adding more advanced modeling tools would be a welcome improvement.
    • Enhanced Collaboration and Version Control: AutoCAD could improve its collaboration tools, such as real-time editing and version tracking, to facilitate smoother teamwork, especially in multi-disciplinary projects.
    • Intelligent Object Libraries: AutoCAD could benefit from an expanded and more intelligent library of standard objects and components. This would save time for designers who often have to create custom components from scratch.
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Adobe
    We get a lot of use out of this software. It's vital for work with production in our industry and has a lot of cross-functionality - creating social media images, retouching photos, editing photos, creating gradients, and more. It's pretty fuss-free in that we haven't had to reach out to support and the program hasn't crashed on us. We are trained on the software (so again, this isn't for beginners), but for detail-oriented designers and creatives like ourselves - it's a no-brainer.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    Because rarely we [would] rather wait for a whole year to update, sometimes the new updates don't bring many new features and we are still ok with the current version. Also the change of interface is always something that takes time for every partner in the company to get comfortable with. So those are the main reasons we may want to keep the same version.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Adobe
    Adobe PhotoShop is a professional-grade tool that requires months/years to get a grasp of how to use it well. Even then, after over a decade of using Adobe PhotoShop both casually and professionally, I feel like I'm still unfamiliar with a large percentage of the available tools. Without a dedicated training program, it can be extremely overwhelming and/or you may not get good use out of it. That being said, once you do get comfortable with it, the layout and workspace are excellent with myriad shortcuts that speed up your workflow exponentially. Put in the time to learn it, and you'll love it.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    It is very usable once you understand the program. I believe there is room for improvement in the 2D to 3D modeling capability. We have to use other apps to 3D model and that can be time consuming and sometimes AutoCAD doesn't transfer work that well between apps. They can improve there.
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    Adobe
    Adobe Photoshop is very reliable, but is never 100%. There have been times when Adobe Photoshop has had trouble opening, but nothing a little computer restart couldn't fix. I use Adobe Photoshop on a Mac for both work and at home on a daily basis, and I would be lost without it.
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    No answers on this topic
    Performance
    Adobe
    Speed can be an issue when you are dealing with large files for large format printing or billboards. When working on web images, speed is not an issue.
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    Adobe
    While I never contacted Adobe directly, there is so much content out there in the form of YouTube videos, Lynda/LinkedIn learning that almost any issue, including bugs, can be worked around (and this method is generally faster as there's no turnaround time involved).
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    AutoCAD has the issue of crashing or slowing down the design procedure once a heavy design that includes several disciplines or multiple families/blocks is involved. Customer services gets the feedback from the crash reports but this issue seems like it has never been addressed in the software updates past several years.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    Adobe
    So, I received the training at the HQ and it was train the trainer training. A good time, I spent a week at their campus
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation Rating
    Adobe
    I took a course so it really helped. I didn’t take the course until much later after beginning to use it, so I wish work would have sent me right off the bat. It would have alleviated a lot of frustratinon
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    the implementation was realy easy , to set up our workstation we pay for the licenses we are about to use , there was a little bit of delay to get the payment processed to receive the serial but after that the install runs without any problem , so you can fell secure there will be not issue with the implementation.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Adobe
    [Adobe] Photoshop offers the best photo editing as well as content creation. The layer-by-layer approach of [Adobe] Photoshop helps to work between two apps or even two PCs of entirely different Creative Cloud apps seamlessly. The stability and the speed of the tools in photoshop make it even better to make a canvas of creativity.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    I use Revit far more than I use AutoCAD. AutoCAD is great for simple linework, but even then I will often create the lines in Revit and then export to AutoCAD for final touches and printing. AutoCAD is a bit easier for large-format prints, which is why I almost always end up using it after starting in Revit.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Scalability
    Adobe
    It seems expensive compared to the free/cheap programs now available
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    No answers on this topic
    Return on Investment
    Adobe
    • Adobe PhotoShop in general is a great time saver.
    • It does take a long time for the program to start up, however
    • The most difficult task is onboarding new employees into Adobe PhotoShop who don't have experience with it. It's an investment for their future so we see value in it.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    • As an educational institute there are no overall business objectives.
    • As a negative, the licensing is expensive and we have to limit the number of computers we put it on.
    • As a positive, many of our students will have a leg up when entering into programs or companies that use this software.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots