# AutoCAD vs BIMx

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BIMx at none against AutoCAD's 3. BIMx also leads on review sentiment (60% vs 51%). AutoCAD's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (6.3K vs 167). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AutoCAD sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. BIMx asks for nothing beyond the download.

AutoCAD holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AutoCAD has 6.3K ratings behind it against 167, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of AutoCAD's written reviews are positive against 60% of BIMx's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

AutoCAD ships an update every 2 months, BIMx every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | AutoCAD | BIMx |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/autocad/id393149734/reviews)** | [4.0 (167 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bimx/id452706864/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.3K** | 167 |
| Positive reviews | 51.0% of reviews | **59.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 502 MB | 175 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Autodesk Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/295089690) | [Graphisoft SE](https://appshunter.io/developer/452706867) |

## What reviewers say

### AutoCAD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/autocad/id393149734)

Access and edit CAD drawings on the go with this official application. It provides essential drafting and design tools for creating, updating, and sharing 2D drawings from any device. Collaborate with teams and simplify workflows by accessing files from various cloud storage services.

**Highlights:** 2D file viewing, Create, edit, and share 2D drawings, Offline work and sync, Insert blocks, Manage layers, Drafting and geometry editing, Measure tools

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AutoCAD Web monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| AutoCAD Web annual | $99.99 | per year |
| AutoCAD Web annual (Ultimate) | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Intuitive and easy to learn
- 📱 Convenient mobile solution
- 👍 Great for site visits and field work
- 🔍 Useful for viewing and marking up drawings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🔒 Difficult login and account management
- 🔍 Limited functionality compared to desktop version
- 📱 Lacks basic CAD features like hatching and dimensioning
- 💰 Expensive subscription model

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to open DXF files
- Numeric keypad not appearing for editing dimensions
- Syncing and saving issues causing data loss
- Compatibility problems with newer iPad models

**Requested features**

- Add support for Arabic text
- Improve Apple Pencil integration
- Allow creating and saving custom blocks
- Implement PDF export functionality
- Restore removed features like GPS positioning


### BIMx

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bimx/id452706864)

Explore and collaborate on architectural BIM projects with interactive 3D models and linked documentation. Visualize designs, access BIM data, and streamline communication between the construction site and office.

**Highlights:** Interactive 2D & 3D BIM model exploration, Linked 2D documentation and 3D views, Access BIM element data, On-site collaboration tools, Game-like 3D navigation, Real-time 3D cutaways, Measure in 3D and 2D

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Excellent BIM viewer for ArchiCAD models
- 👍 Helpful for client communication and presentations
- 🚀 Smooth and fast 3D navigation
- 🔍 Useful for on-site model viewing and collaboration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🤔 Confusing user interface for beginners
- 🔒 Requires Graphisoft account and login
- 💰 Paid subscription model after free trial

**Reported bugs**

- Issues with downloading and opening models
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Inconsistent rendering and color issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to annotate and markup models
- Support for more CAD file formats beyond ArchiCAD
- Improved camera controls and navigation
- Integration with desktop ArchiCAD software


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AutoCAD free?

AutoCAD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BIMx free?

BIMx is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, AutoCAD or BIMx?

AutoCAD is rated higher. AutoCAD averages 4.4 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while BIMx averages 4.0 from 167 ratings.

### Do AutoCAD or BIMx have ads?

Neither AutoCAD nor BIMx shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AutoCAD or BIMx?

AutoCAD ships an update every 2 months, and BIMx every 5 weeks. Most recently, AutoCAD was updated on September 24, 2026 and BIMx on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*