AutoCAD vs. Microsoft Project

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
AutoCAD
Score 8.1 out of 10
N/A
AutoCAD 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
Microsoft Project
Score 7.7 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft Project is a project management software. It provides core PM functionality, including agile workflow support and resource management. Project can be deployed in the cloud or on-premise.
$10
per month per user
Pricing
AutoCADMicrosoft Project
Editions & Modules
Monthly Subscription
$245
per month per user
Yearly Subscription
$1975
per year per user
3-Year Subscription
$5925
3 years per user
Project Server
$0
Planner Plan 1
$10
per month per user
Planner Plan 1
$10
per month per user
Planner and Project Plan 3
$30
per month per user
Planner and Project Plan 3
$30
per month per user
Planner and Project Plan 5
$55
per month per user
Planner and Project Plan 5
$55
per month per user
Project Standard 2024
$679.99
one-time fee per installation
Project Professional 2024
$1,129.99
one-time fee per installation
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
AutoCADMicrosoft Project
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
AutoCADMicrosoft Project
Considered Both Products
AutoCAD
Chose AutoCAD
While these other products are useful, their complexity does not make it user friendly in my industry.
Chose AutoCAD
AutoCAD works well with Revit and SketchUp. We have attempted to migrate to Revit-only, however, AutoCAD offers certain features that make it more efficient for production. Many experienced users have invested significant amounts of time learning and keeping with AutoCAD, also …
Microsoft Project
Chose Microsoft Project
Our company already has our client and tracking database in microsoft 365 so it was the logical step to stay with microsoft although it is a bit lacking compared to other offerings. If our team was on the go one of these other products might work better. We needed something …
Chose Microsoft Project
I do not use any other software
Chose Microsoft Project
I like Microsoft Project for scheduling and project analysis. Access has worked better as a storage software for information, not necessarily for schedule or project tracking.
Features
AutoCADMicrosoft Project
Computer-Aided Design Software
Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of Product A and Product B
AutoCAD
6.4
6 Ratings
12% below category average
Microsoft Project
-
Ratings
3D Modeling5.36 Ratings00 Ratings
2D Drafting9.06 Ratings00 Ratings
Rendering and Visualization5.56 Ratings00 Ratings
Parametric Design6.46 Ratings00 Ratings
Collaboration and Sharing7.06 Ratings00 Ratings
Compatibility with other software and formats8.06 Ratings00 Ratings
Assembly Design5.86 Ratings00 Ratings
Simulation and Analysis3.55 Ratings00 Ratings
Documentation and Annotation7.56 Ratings00 Ratings
Customization and Extensions6.36 Ratings00 Ratings
Project Management
Comparison of Project Management features of Product A and Product B
AutoCAD
-
Ratings
Microsoft Project
8.0
110 Ratings
5% above category average
Task Management00 Ratings7.7109 Ratings
Resource Management00 Ratings7.0106 Ratings
Gantt Charts00 Ratings8.7106 Ratings
Scheduling00 Ratings8.0108 Ratings
Workflow Automation00 Ratings9.983 Ratings
Team Collaboration00 Ratings7.498 Ratings
Support for Agile Methodology00 Ratings6.482 Ratings
Support for Waterfall Methodology00 Ratings7.082 Ratings
Document Management00 Ratings8.977 Ratings
Email integration00 Ratings5.182 Ratings
Mobile Access00 Ratings9.967 Ratings
Timesheet Tracking00 Ratings9.973 Ratings
Change request and Case Management00 Ratings8.064 Ratings
Budget and Expense Management00 Ratings8.085 Ratings
Professional Services Automation
Comparison of Professional Services Automation features of Product A and Product B
AutoCAD
-
Ratings
Microsoft Project
8.9
78 Ratings
16% above category average
Quotes/estimates00 Ratings8.055 Ratings
Invoicing00 Ratings10.045 Ratings
Project & financial reporting00 Ratings7.975 Ratings
Integration with accounting software00 Ratings9.850 Ratings
Best Alternatives
AutoCADMicrosoft Project
Small Businesses
Onshape
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Score 8.1 out of 10
Stackby
Stackby
Score 9.1 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Onshape
Onshape
Score 8.1 out of 10
Planview AgilePlace
Planview AgilePlace
Score 9.6 out of 10
Enterprises
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.5 out of 10
Planview AgilePlace
Planview AgilePlace
Score 9.6 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
AutoCADMicrosoft Project
Likelihood to Recommend
7.6
(87 ratings)
7.1
(110 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(3 ratings)
10.0
(3 ratings)
Usability
8.4
(8 ratings)
8.3
(8 ratings)
Support Rating
6.9
(13 ratings)
8.2
(34 ratings)
Implementation Rating
8.0
(2 ratings)
5.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
AutoCADMicrosoft Project
Likelihood to Recommend
Autodesk
AutoCAD is the Industry best and standardized software used industry wide. This comes with support of some free to use plugins which can be downloaded form AutoDesk Store. AutoDesk has already nurtured a strong community of Developers, Students and Architects this helps any one new with Forms which help them get integrated with the commiunity very quickly.
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Microsoft
Microsoft Project Online is suited to Turnkey Projects where more Collaboration is required in Project Progress monitoring, risk assessment and conveying, issue recording and tracking. It is less appropriate when ERP Suites other than MS Dynamics are used, i.e when Enterprises need to integrate Finance / Accounting with It and having straight project management workflow
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Pros
Autodesk
  • The tools are easy to use and the learning curve is fairly minimal to be able to create blueprints.
  • The 3D application is very fun to use and it is nice to be able to see your product instead of having to imagine what it will look like.
  • The speed and accuracy in which students can create plans is a huge bonus. Students can plan their industrial art projects out and use their own set of plans to build them.
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Microsoft
  • I love the Gantt Chart that Microsoft Project offers me, because it provides me with a view from various aspects, it provides me with exact details about the fulfillment of tasks over a period of time, it also allows me to make comparisons with the necessary data and the fulfilled data. by the employees, in order to know exactly if the project's expectations have been met.
  • I love the Gantt Chart that Microsoft Project offers me, because it provides me with a view from various aspects, it provides me with exact details about the fulfillment of tasks over a period of time, it also allows me to make comparisons with the necessary data and the fulfilled data by the employees, in order to know exactly if the project's expectations have been met.
  • The alert system for the fulfillment and delay of assignments is perfect. Microsoft Project allows me to configure the task system, I can assign the necessary tasks to fulfill the project, and the software alerts me immediately if the managers are fulfilling the assignments.
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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.
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Microsoft
  • Seems overly complicated for users sometimes in using Project and its functionalities
  • Hard to share files for those folks who do not have MS Project, and then have to print out for them
  • Can be confusing since it looks and feels like MS Excel
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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.
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Microsoft
I like using Microsoft Project. It simplifies building a schedule
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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.
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Microsoft
It is great for simple project management and is critical for out success. It is pretty user friendly and easy to manipulate for all users. The drag and drop feature makes it easy to move things around. It lacks some features espically with document management, time tracking and generating reports
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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.
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Microsoft
Microsoft in recent years has transformed itself and gives a positive feeling when one interacts with the company. The company is focusing on its customers and willing to go extra mile to make customers happy.The company continues to invest in its products and bringing new features from time to time. Overall it is a positive feeling to be associated with such an iconic company.
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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.
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Microsoft
I wasn't part of it so I don't know
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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.
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Microsoft
While many of the above tools are extremely well-versed, Microsoft Project's largest advantage comes from it being related to the largest business productivity company in the world. Project does have its sharing limitations - but regardless, offers one of the most robust tools in the market today. Microsoft Project is built with large-scale projects in mind but is more than up to the task for smaller projects as well. However, there are options available (especially cloud-based options) that may be more fitting for higher-level projects that do not require going into the weeds.
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Return on Investment
Autodesk
  • AutoCAD has helped our smaller firm produce lots of finished products matching that of a much larger size firm. With its many features, we have been able to do so much more and meet deadlines that much faster.
  • Since we do use AutoCAD, we're able to work with many other engineering firms to collaborate together to complete various building projects.
  • We have many clients now who expect us to provide for them at the end of a project not just printed construction drawings but also the digital AutoCAD drawing so they can in turn use it for future modifications themselves.
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Microsoft
  • Project saved me, as the project manager, countless hours of digging through tickets and schedules to plan everything out. It also saved me time in adjusting the project triangle as needed, since it does so much automatically.
  • It is costly, and since it requires extensive training to master, it's not just the high licensing cost that you need to take into account.
  • The reporting features - even just printing out Gantt charts - makes it far easier to communicate with stakeholders. That means less time for PMs doing all of this manually, and it means less follow-up questions and delays moving forward.
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ScreenShots