# AutoCAD vs Flatter Files

The clearest difference is rating: AutoCAD at 4.4 against Flatter Files's 3.0. AutoCAD also leads on ratings volume (6.3K vs 2). Flatter Files's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AutoCAD sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Flatter Files sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

AutoCAD holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AutoCAD has 6.3K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of AutoCAD's written reviews are positive against 50% of Flatter Files's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and July 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AutoCAD | Flatter Files |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (6.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/autocad/id393149734/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flatter-files/id522498741/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.3K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **51.0% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 502 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Autodesk Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/295089690) | [CMV Technologies, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/384233214) |

## 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


### Flatter Files

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flatter-files/id522498741)

This app provides a digital filing system for companies to efficiently distribute drawings and documents. It allows for easy searching, automatic updates, and organized grouping of items for quick access. Users can also share external links to their content.

**Highlights:** Digital flat file cabinet, Efficient document distribution, Searchable content, Automatic updates, Grouped assemblies, External sharing links, Mobile viewer capabilities

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PDF Viewer Upgrade | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AutoCAD free?

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

### Is Flatter Files free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AutoCAD or Flatter Files?

AutoCAD is rated higher. AutoCAD averages 4.4 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while Flatter Files averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do AutoCAD or Flatter Files have ads?

Neither AutoCAD nor Flatter Files shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AutoCAD or Flatter Files?

AutoCAD ships an update every 2 months, and Flatter Files every 2 months. Most recently, AutoCAD was updated on September 24, 2026 and Flatter Files on July 4, 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.*