Comparison

AutoCAD vs Onshape 3D CAD

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

AutoCAD

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
Read full description

The official AutoCAD app. View & edit CAD drawings anytime, anywhere! Essential drafting and design capabilities for your everyday needs: Autodesk® AutoCAD® Web on mobile is a trusted solution that gives you access to the core AutoCAD commands that you need for light editing and generating fundamental designs, all at an attractive price. AutoCAD Web subscription plans are available in the following options: • Monthly for $9.99 • Yearly for $99.99 • Included free with AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT subscriptions Use familiar AutoCAD drafting tools on your mobile device in a simplified interface, allowing you to access, create, and update DWG™ files anytime, anywhere. 30 day trial: Enjoy a fully functional free trial of AutoCAD Web for 30 days. After the trial is completed, you can access limited read-only functionality without a paid subscription. Current AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT desktop subscribers: Sign in with your Autodesk account to access AutoCAD Web on mobile. Key Benefits: • Work offline on your projects without an Internet connection and sync later • Safeguard drawings in your Autodesk account or with your own external accounts • Collaborate in real time with team members and reduce mistakes • Replace blueprints at job sites with drawings on mobile • Simplify workflows by opening DWG files directly from Autodesk Drive, Autodesk Docs, Microsoft OneDrive, Box, Dropbox, or Google Drive. Features: • 2D file viewing • Create, edit, and share 2D drawings • Work offline and sync your changes once back online • Insert blocks from your DWG drawing • Manage layers and layer visibility • Drafting and geometry editing tools • Annotation and markup tools • Measure distance, angle, area, and radius • View and edit DWG files from your internal storage, email, or from the cloud • View coordinates and properties All new users have access to a free trial of AutoCAD Web for 30 days. Subscriptions will be charged to your credit card through your Apple ID. Subscriptions are automatically renewed unless cancelled at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. You will not be able to cancel a subscription during the active period. Manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. *Free products and services are subject to the Autodesk Terms of Use at https://www.autodesk.com/company/terms-of-use/en/general-terms Learn more: Autodesk Website: https://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad-web Term of Use: https://www.autodesk.com/company/legal-notices-trademarks/terms-of-service-autodesk360-web-services/autodesk-autocad-mobile-terms-of-service AutoCAD Service is not provided to children under the age of 14, and users under 14 cannot use this Service.

About

Onshape 3D CAD

A cloud-based 3D CAD platform for professional users to create, edit, and collaborate on designs in real-time from any device. It offers robust parametric modeling tools and seamless data management for teams.

Highlights
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Parametric modeling tools
  • Cloud-based data management
  • Cross-device accessibility
  • Integrated commenting
  • Version control
Read full description

Onshape is a full mechanical CAD platform designed for professional users and extended teams. Create, edit, collaborate, and comment in real time with others from any computer or mobile device with an internet connection (free sign-up required). With Onshape’s secure cloud workspace teams can work together from anywhere on any device without the hassles of file management, IT overhead, and license key distribution, helping engineers focus more on doing their best work. Parametric CAD: • Design parts together in Part Studios with a full suite of parametric modeling tools • Create mechanical Assemblies to capture complex motion Ease of Access: • Create, edit, and view from any computer or mobile device (internet connection required) • Begin a project from one device and seamlessly continue from another Collaboration: • Instantly share your CAD data with your teams and partners. Monitor, change, and revoke permissions at any time • Work together with other users and view changes in real-time as they are made • Use Follow mode to see exactly what your teammate sees and add suggestions using Onshape’s built-in commenting tools Data Management: • Maintain a single source of truth for your data, no more sending around or checking in and out of files • Never worry about losing your work, all of your changes are saved automatically • Explore multiple design ideas in parallel and create professional release and approval processes for your designs Onshape for iOS also features Apple Pencil support for more intuitive sketching, navigation, and precise selection. Onshape proudly supports students and educators free of charge and is available free for non-commercial projects in an open-source public work space. Since Onshape is updated every few weeks with dozens of new features and user-requested enhancements, keep an eye out for update notifications from the Apple App Store.

Screenshots

AutoCAD4 screens
Onshape 3D CAD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AutoCAD at 4.4 against Onshape 3D CAD's 3.5. AutoCAD also leads on ratings volume (6.3K vs 418). Onshape 3D CAD's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AutoCAD holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AutoCAD has 6.3K ratings behind it against 418, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of AutoCAD's written reviews are positive against 47% of Onshape 3D CAD's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AutoCAD ships an update every 2 months, Onshape 3D CAD every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
AutoCAD versus Onshape 3D CAD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAutoCADOnshape 3D CAD
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (6.3K ratings) — better3.5 (418 ratings)
Positive reviews51.8% of reviews — better47.3% of reviews
Number of ratings6.3K — better418
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size502 MB77 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAutodesk Inc.PTC Inc.

Customer experience

AutoCAD

All ratings6,266 ratings
Positive86.1%
Neutral4.8%
Negative9.1%
Written reviews716 reviews
Positive51.8%
Neutral10.3%
Negative37.8%

Onshape 3D CAD

All ratings417 ratings
Positive61.4%
Neutral6.0%
Negative32.6%
Written reviews425 reviews
Positive47.3%
Neutral6.4%
Negative46.4%

User reviews

AutoCAD

From 6.3K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Onshape 3D CAD

From 418 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful CAD features
  • 🌐 Accessible from any device
  • 👍 Intuitive interface
  • 💡 Great for on-site work
  • 🌟 Exceptional for a free app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
  • 👎 Unintuitive and clunky UI
  • 🔒 Requires account sign-up
  • 💰 Expensive paid plans
  • 🔍 Difficult to find/use key features

Bugs and requests

AutoCAD

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

Onshape 3D CAD

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Dimensions not visible/editable
  • Rotation/view controls unreliable
  • Unable to create account
  • Incompatible with older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add keyboard shortcuts
  • Improve dimensioning tools
  • Allow private file storage
  • Optimize for iPad/Apple Pencil
  • Provide better documentation/tutorials

In-app purchases

3 purchases

AutoCAD

Subscriptions3
  • AutoCAD Web monthly$9.991 Month
  • AutoCAD Web annual$99.991 Year
  • AutoCAD Web annual (Ultimate)$99.991 Year
None

Onshape 3D CAD

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AutoCAD free?
AutoCAD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Onshape 3D CAD free?
Onshape 3D CAD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AutoCAD or Onshape 3D CAD?
AutoCAD is rated higher. AutoCAD averages 4.4 out of 5 from 6.3K ratings, while Onshape 3D CAD averages 3.5 from 418 ratings.
Do AutoCAD or Onshape 3D CAD have ads?
Neither AutoCAD nor Onshape 3D CAD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AutoCAD or Onshape 3D CAD?
AutoCAD ships an update every 2 months, and Onshape 3D CAD every 3 weeks. Most recently, AutoCAD was updated on November 6, 2026 and Onshape 3D CAD on November 5, 2026.

Other comparisons