AutoCAD vs. Microsoft Visio

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
AutoCAD
Score 8.7 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 Visio
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
Microsoft offers Visio, a diagramming tool for building flowcharts, diagrams (e.g. network diagrams), org charts and floor plans, available online as a subscription and also in enterprise level packages (e.g. Visio Professional).
$5
Per User Per Month
Pricing
AutoCADMicrosoft Visio
Editions & Modules
Monthly Subscription
$245
per month per user
Yearly Subscription
$1975
per year per user
3-Year Subscription
$5925
3 years per user
Plan 1
$5.00
Per User Per Month
Plan 2
$15.00
Per User Per Month
Standard
$280.00
Professional
$530.00
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
AutoCADMicrosoft Visio
Free Trial
YesNo
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 Visio
Considered Both Products
AutoCAD
Chose AutoCAD
We chose AutoCAD because it was the professional software package, we had been using simpler and cheaper solutions but we found that our drawings were suffering because of it and that we had a lack of technical skill in CAD because of the ease of use of the more amateur …
Chose AutoCAD
Basically AutoCAD has the highest number of pre-modeled 3D models and library. When we are preparing models of our process diagrams and installations we just assemble them, as compared to the other modeling software where every time you have to make and model for each equipment.
Chose AutoCAD
Revit is another (separate) AutoCAD (AutoDesk) product that we also use. It is not as widely-used as AutoCAD and has some capabilities and different uses. As a result, it's like starting over again and while its possible for an existing AutoCAD user to get up to speed with it …
Microsoft Visio
Chose Microsoft Visio
Visio is kind of in a class by itself (or Microsoft wouldn't have purchased the company way back in the 2000s) There have been a couple of competitors, but they really don't have the same functionality as Visio. I picked the upper and lower limit competitors Samrtdraw and Auto…
Chose Microsoft Visio
there is not many options for drawing building and security controls. The major software for drawing creation is AutoCAD. It is good at drawing but it is cumbersome when dealing with BOM's and is not able to link items from one sheet to another. We needed another solution to …
Chose Microsoft Visio
We still use SketchUp for certain things - especially where the library of existing elements and drawings can be more easily grabbed and manipulated for our needs. Vectorworks is used by some of our main clients, and for theatrical lighting it’s the best out there. We also have …
Chose Microsoft Visio
Being a seasoned Microsoft user, Visio is easy to learn and catch onto because it's similar to other MS apps that we're all so familiar with already. This makes it easy when you have to create highly complex and detailed work that would be a struggle on another platform.
Top Pros
Top Cons
Best Alternatives
AutoCADMicrosoft Visio
Small Businesses
Rhino
Rhino
Score 9.1 out of 10
OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle
Score 9.3 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Rhino
Rhino
Score 9.1 out of 10
OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle
Score 9.3 out of 10
Enterprises
Rhino
Rhino
Score 9.1 out of 10
OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle
Score 9.3 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
AutoCADMicrosoft Visio
Likelihood to Recommend
9.3
(82 ratings)
8.3
(67 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.0
(3 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
Usability
8.0
(3 ratings)
7.4
(2 ratings)
Support Rating
7.2
(14 ratings)
7.3
(14 ratings)
Implementation Rating
8.0
(2 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
AutoCADMicrosoft Visio
Likelihood to Recommend
Autodesk
I think AutoCAD is great for creating precise site plans that show the layout of buildings, roads, parking lots, and other features on a piece of land. you can use it for designing roads and highways, including lane configurations, intersections, signage, and pavement markings, as well as for designing utility systems like water, sewer, and stormwater drainage. Engineers can create detailed layouts and profiles for these systems. However, I think it is less appropriate for advanced 3D modelling tasks compared to dedicated 3D modelling software, BIM (Building Information Modelling), advanced geospatial analysis.
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Microsoft
Given the versatility and diversity of the diagrams that can be created with Microsoft Visio, we use this tool for the most diverse activities. With our students, we use it to organize group activities and manage the tasks that everyone has to complete. In research groups, we use it to divide tasks and create organization charts. For research activities, especially the more complex ones carried out, for example, in PhD programmes, the diagrams allow us to display all the work phases graphically.
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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
  • Visio comes with icons that can help differentiate processes within a map. These can be used to be a legend and helps create a visually appealing flow.
  • Visio is user-friendly and allows the user to easily navigate through the different creative options that can be used.
  • Because this is a Microsoft product, Visio works well with other Microsoft products for easy translation.
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Cons
Autodesk
  • It needs more help in 3D world, eventually some parametric support
  • Better connection with Revit or Inventor
  • Dynamic blocks could get some updates
  • Parameters can be more developed; excel capabilities could be added
  • Sheet set could be more evolved to support a workflow involving data management
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Microsoft
  • For me personally I cannot highlight anything specific that has any bearing on how I use the product. Everything is very straightforward and clearly signposted including template desgins and categories. The layout is easy to navigate and as it's part of the MS Office ecosystem means there is less to learn as I'm used to a lot of the cross product functionality.
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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
We use Microsoft Visio to keep our diagrams updated and to that end we will need the subscription to keep using the software. Otherwise we will be left with PDF versions of the diagrams.
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Usability
Autodesk
Is an extremely usefull and accurate software , yo certainly can do almost every task requiered to document a project drawings and specifications , the only is that to be confortable with it you need a little of practice and to be familiarized with the commands and the core functioning to get expected results.
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Microsoft
Some things that I think should be easy to do are not, at least not for a beginner user. I'm sure it's easy once you get the hang of it but the two main issues I have with Visio are the connecting of different states and searching for graphics/icons after you have chosen a starting template.
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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
Overall, I feel that Microsoft's support is weak. They are now such a behemoth that their model of putting documentation online for their users to sift through is totally outgrown. Given the amount of money you pay for these licenses, Microsoft should provide easy one-on-one support for their products via email or chat. The idea of paying their rates for support incidents is ridiculous. If you have an enormous amount of time on your hands, use their support websites and you will eventually find a solution most of the time.
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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
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Autodesk
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.
I have experience with this software because it is the industry standard in the jobs that I applied to, and was required to the company that I interviewed for. Part of the interview process was a proof-of-work test to create a mock solution for a client, which would demonstrate knowledge and skill with using AutoCAD.
I have little experience with CorelCAD, but I found AutoCAD to be more in-depth with your options and what you could create.
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Microsoft
Even though it’s a more expensive solution, Vizio is built for the enterprise. Therefore, it integrates perfectly with our existing Microsoft stack, and quite frankly, because it’s such a more mature product, it provides exactly the functionality we need and expect.
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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
  • Visio diagrams have help us streamline processes that reduce costs and improve efficiencies.
  • It is a very complete program, it allows you to make industrial and civil works diagrams. It also allows you to design 3D graphics. It is a very reliable program.
  • Its ability to work with vectors is a big plus. It can easily import SVG graphics, edit their individual lines and then being able to export the edited SVG again.
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ScreenShots