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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    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

    ETAP PS

    Score9 out of 10
    N/AETAP, headquartered in Irvine, offers ETAP PS, their suite of power system modeling. simulation and optimization software, supporting power management, grid transmission analysis, and other electrical systems.N/A
    Pricing
    AutoCADETAP PS
    Editions & Modules
    Monthly Subscription
    $245
    per month per user
    Yearly Subscription
    $1975
    per year per user
    3-Year Subscription
    $5925
    3 years per user
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    AutoCADETAP PS
    Free Trial
    YesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeOptional
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    AutoCADETAP PS
    Considered Both Products
    Autodesk
    No answer on this topic
    ETAP - Operation Technology
    Chose ETAP PS
    Simulink allows to analyze and simulate different variables with respect to time in an electric power system, but it is more focused on visual programming On the other hand, ETAP is better designed for static simulation of power systems, offering options and studies in a very …
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    96%
    Would buy again
    45 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    93%
    Delivers good value for the price
    38 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    91%
    Happy with the feature set
    43 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    88%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    29 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    95%
    Implementation went as expected
    38 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    AutoCADETAP PS
    Computer-Aided Design Software
    Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of AutoCAD and ETAP PS
    Feature
    AutoCAD
    7.1
    7 Ratings
    5% below category average
    ETAP PS
    -
    Ratings
    3D Modeling6.17 Ratings00 Ratings
    2D Drafting8.77 Ratings00 Ratings
    Rendering and Visualization6.47 Ratings00 Ratings
    Parametric Design7.57 Ratings00 Ratings
    Collaboration and Sharing8.87 Ratings00 Ratings
    Compatibility with other software and formats8.87 Ratings00 Ratings
    Assembly Design6.77 Ratings00 Ratings
    Simulation and Analysis4.76 Ratings00 Ratings
    Documentation and Annotation7.67 Ratings00 Ratings
    Customization and Extensions5.37 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    AutoCADETAP PS
    Small Businesses
    Onshape
    Score6.4 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Medium-sized Companies
    Onshape
    Score6.4 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Enterprises
    PTC Creo
    Score7.6 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    AutoCADETAP PS
    Likelihood to Recommend
    7.7
    (88 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    10.0
    (3 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    8.3
    (9 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    6.9
    (13 ratings)
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    8.0
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    AutoCADETAP PS
    Likelihood to Recommend
    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
    ETAP - Operation Technology
    ETAP is highly recommended for evaluating static conditions in electrical power systems, whether in high or medium complexity networks. For example, study of load flow, analysis of frequency harmonics.
    On the other hand, I would not recommend ETAP for the simulation of highly complex control systems that require a dynamic analysis of the variables.
    Read full review
    Pros
    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
    ETAP - Operation Technology
    • Excellent facility for the design of electrical systems, since it has multiple options and configuration.
    • Truly intuitive, it is easy to adapt to the user interface, so the learning curve is very fast.
    • It offers a wide variety of electrical studies that can be carried out, therefore it is very versatile for multiple applications.
    Read full review
    Cons
    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
    ETAP - Operation Technology
    • Perhaps the interface is somewhat confusing the first time you use the program.
    • It offers a wide configuration, which can be overwhelming.
    • Sometimes the program can freeze depending on the size of the electrical grid that is being simulated. This also depends on the software requirements.
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    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
    ETAP - Operation Technology
    No answers on this topic
    Usability
    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
    ETAP - Operation Technology
    ETAP PS is really easy to use. When recreating the power system to be simulated, it is easy to obtain a result close to reality due to the multiple components offered in the interface. As for the electrical studies available, they are simple to execute and require really little configuration to make them work, always offering a wide variety of options to adjust the program to the simulation of the desired condition.
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    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
    ETAP - Operation Technology
    Sometimes when the program crashes for a random reason, it is difficult to find a direct solution to the problem. I think better documentation is needed for this type of case. Still, more and more people are sharing their work on the web, making it easier to orient yourself when these issues occur.
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    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
    ETAP - Operation Technology
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    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
    ETAP - Operation Technology
    Simulink allows to analyze and simulate different variables with respect to time in an electric power system, but it is more focused on visual programming On the other hand, ETAP is better designed for static simulation of power systems, offering options and studies in a very more direct and easier to execute.
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    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
    ETAP - Operation Technology
    • Improves the reliability of the electrical system.
    • Study of the system operations, allowing a better adjustment of the facilities that are in production.
    • Provides results that allow you to select solutions for energy saving.
    Read full review
    ScreenShots