Autodesk AEC Collection vs. Blender

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Autodesk AEC Collection
Score 9.0 out of 10
N/A
The AEC Collection provides a set of BIM and CAD tools supported by a cloud-based common data environment that facilitates project delivery from early-stage design through to construction. The bundle includes popular Autodesk tools such as Revit, AutoCAD, FormIT, and Navisworks Manage, with access to 12 integrated CAD and BIM tools.
$435
per month
Blender
Score 9.2 out of 10
N/A
Blender is a free and open source 3D creation suite available in under the GNU General Public License. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, video editing and 2D animation pipeline. Blender Cloud is a related service accessible via subscription, and is a training and content platform providing access to expertise from the Blender Institute for advancing one's use of Blender.
$11.50
per month
Pricing
Autodesk AEC CollectionBlender
Editions & Modules
AEC Collection - Monthly Subscription
$435
per month per user
AEC Collection - Yearly Subscription
$3,465
per year per user
AEC Collection - 3-Year Subscription
$10,395
3 years per user
Blender Cloud Membership
$11.50
per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Autodesk AEC CollectionBlender
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Autodesk AEC CollectionBlender
Features
Autodesk AEC CollectionBlender
Computer-Aided Design Software
Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of Product A and Product B
Autodesk AEC Collection
9.4
1 Ratings
24% above category average
Blender
-
Ratings
3D Modeling10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
2D Drafting10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Rendering and Visualization10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Parametric Design9.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Collaboration and Sharing10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Compatibility with other software and formats8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Assembly Design10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Simulation and Analysis8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Documentation and Annotation10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Customization and Extensions9.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Autodesk AEC CollectionBlender
Small Businesses
Onshape
Onshape
Score 7.4 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 7.4 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Onshape
Onshape
Score 7.4 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 7.4 out of 10
Enterprises
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.3 out of 10
Navisworks
Navisworks
Score 9.3 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Autodesk AEC CollectionBlender
Likelihood to Recommend
10.0
(4 ratings)
9.8
(25 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.0
(1 ratings)
8.6
(2 ratings)
User Testimonials
Autodesk AEC CollectionBlender
Likelihood to Recommend
Autodesk
If you are a commercial contractor or subcontractor, Autodesk AEC Collection, along with other Autodesk software is a must. There is no other way to design estimate and plan large construction. For residential construction, It may not be as necessary but it could still be useful if your primary construction projects are new builds rather than renovations.
Read full review
Open Source
Blender is an excellent tool for everything from simple to complex 3D animations, the creation of 3D images, etc. It performs excellently in all of these areas. In the realm of 3D modelling, animation and rendering, there is very little that Blender is not suited for.
Read full review
Pros
Autodesk
  • Collaboration with multiple users and
  • Software for Computer Assisted Design
  • Saving and Documentation of Plans and Blueprints
Read full review
Open Source
  • Creating complex polygonal geometries is very easy in Blender.
  • Edit Mode and Sculpt Mode helps in creating non uniform surfaces for objects like rocks, surfaces, terrains etc.
  • Blender can use various external plugins to make it work in more smoother way. For example to import any 3d object one can use sketchfab plugin and easily import the free assets from web after logging in.
  • Blender has a better rendering engine known as Cycles, it is far more better than any other stock rendering engine which can generate realistic lightning, shadows and reflections.
  • The animations can easily be generated with blender animation toolbar and also it incorporate any other animations made in any other software.
  • The bone generation and its behavior of animations can be achieved easily in blender.
Read full review
Cons
Autodesk
  • Revit is limited in its use for civil engineering and landscape architecture.
  • There are bugs due to the complex nature of the software.
  • Use of software requires the latest high-tech computers.
Read full review
Open Source
  • It's really a hard question, but it could be: a game engine. Older versions used to have it; I would use it to simulate machines game-like.
  • I'm struggling to find another one; maybe the fact that it is so powerful and has so many features that learning it can be daunting; better documentation WITH examples and/or a map of Blender capabilities would help to know where you are in terms of knowledge and the planning the roadmap to where you want to go.
  • Precision modeling. Coming from CAD and using Blender as part of my design workflow, I'd love to be able to model inside Blender as I model with CAD tools. At this moment, it's simply impossible.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Autodesk
I gave a rating of 10 because, thus far, Autodesk AEC Collection Seems to be on the leading edge for what is required for the construction planning, implementation, and continued of real-world assets. Autodesk has been a great benefit for our organization and has allowed us to continue to improve not only ourselves but the people we work with. We have been using Autodesk AEC Collection for a number of years and hope to continue for a long time coming.
Read full review
Open Source
No answers on this topic
Usability
Autodesk
The software has a significant learning curve. You also must know and understand construction standards and codes. Each member of our BIM team has spent 10+ years in construction and has had years of software training. The software also requires powerful computers to render the models. Without a BIM focused gpu and processor, the software will seem less usable when in reality, the computer is not capable of running the software properly
Read full review
Open Source
Because while it's a pretty good piece of software, the default built-in commands, the interface layout, and certain functions aren't as logical in their way of being arranged and executed. This, of course, doesn't diminish its use or effectiveness in your field of work, but it is quite awkward at first. A big advantage is that Blender lets you customize the interface however you want as well as keyboard shortcuts and several general program parameters.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Autodesk
Other products that have been used include Civil Designer and Model Maker for civil services. Other products for structural designs include aq product called "SEDA" These products are not included in the listings.
Read full review
Open Source
We've only used the consumer (non-pro) version of SketchUp, which we love, but is very limited in features and output capabilities compared to Blender. While Blender's learning curve is MUCH steeper than SketchUp, it feels like truly complete, professional design software.
Read full review
Return on Investment
Autodesk
  • Positive impact on collaboration between disciplines.
  • Products are the industry standard, which allows for collaboration with other firms.
Read full review
Open Source
  • As it is a beginner-friendly software with increasing demand in the animation sector again, it positively impacts the business.
  • Except in some specific cases, no one will use Blender on their own at a professional level.
  • When I was a beginner, it took me a lot of time to learn, consequently designing the creation. But if we want to learn to master Blender, we can do it. As long as we have time and a lot of willpower, since, we repeat, it is not a simple program and hides thousands of tools and possibilities.
Read full review
ScreenShots