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Outdated but still useful
Updated March 11, 2020

Outdated but still useful

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with AutoCAD

AutoCAD is used by architects and designers to draw details, review consultants drawings, and to convert files. In general, AutoCAD has been replaced by Revit for the production of large complex document sets, and by Rhino and SketchUp for early conceptual studies. It is still used often for tasks that do not require the BIM complexity of Revit.
  • Lots of control over graphic style, line weights, etc
  • Easy to use; easy to draw without constraints
  • 3D functionality is rudimentary
  • Lacking tools for complex geometry.
AutoCAD is an industry-standard, and there are no alternatives. Revit is used more often for 3D modeling and document set production, Rhino and SketchUp are used more often for conceptual studies. AutoCAD still has a place in our workflow for drawing details, file conversion, and quick reviews, but has mostly been supplanted by other software.
AutoDesk customer support is notoriously bad. Feature requests and bugs often go unaddressed for years. With a near-monopoly, AutoDesk seems to have no incentive to improve their software based on user input. Most "support" is found on user forums, which can be helpful but often contain out-of-date information based on previous versions. For the most part, you're on your own.

Do you think AutoCAD delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with AutoCAD's feature set?

Yes

Did AutoCAD live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of AutoCAD go as expected?

I wasn't involved with the implementation phase

Would you buy AutoCAD again?

Yes

AutoCAD has been surpassed mainly by Revit for the production of architectural document sets. It severely lacks in 3D modeling tools and "intelligent" features that make Revit such a robust tool for building design. However, the complexities of Revit mean that it is ill-suited to "sketching" or early-stage concept work that AutoCAD excels at. AutoCAD places no constraints on drawing, and so it can be useful as a tool for drawing details and sketching quick ideas and design options, where Revit is overconstrained and challenging to use for these purposes.