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Autodesk AutoCAD vs Siemens NX comparison

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Autodesk AutoCAD
Ranking in CAD
4th
Average Rating
9.0
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
Spatial Information Management Software (2nd)
Siemens NX
Ranking in CAD
1st
Average Rating
7.6
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
CAM (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2026, in the CAD category, the mindshare of Autodesk AutoCAD is 1.7%. The mindshare of Siemens NX is 21.3%, down from 28.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
CAD Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Siemens NX21.3%
Autodesk AutoCAD1.7%
Other77.0%
CAD
 

Featured Reviews

AB
VP Commercial at Descon Engineering Limited
Has supported efficient drafting and design workflows across multiple engineering disciplines
We think the split between 3D and 2D areas needs to be addressed. While loading Autodesk AutoCAD on a normal desktop PC, it seems to be very graphic-intensive, even for 2D. Upcoming versions are very high-demanding of hardware. We think that is a very key factor that needs to be addressed. The second issue is the licensing matter. It is on a subscription model. Other companies in parallel are offering perpetual licenses. That is also in the competition, with BricsCAD from Hexagon. They are offering perpetual licenses, but Autodesk has dropped the perpetual license option. That is a big challenge with the subscription model.
Özkan Tekin - PeerSpot reviewer
Powertrain Design Engineer at Bugatti Rimac
Has handled complex assemblies efficiently but has struggled with user guidance and feature accessibility
I struggle to follow all the updates when the product was updated because, for example, in CATIA, when you right-click and select a feature, only one click is needed to see exactly where this feature or geometry is coming from as a command from the product tree. Making this in Siemens NX is more difficult because I should do more clicks, and it is hard to understand for the shading and graphical property, which is not very user-friendly. Modeling itself is easy, and it is quite fast to generate quick models, but when it comes to making changes or following up what I have done and making modifications to the model, it becomes tricky. I do not understand what integrated design validation in Siemens NX exactly is, so I have not used it. I use synchronous technology in Siemens NX, and I find it helps me make design decisions easier because it is more user-friendly in terms of generative design. I am able to see where the modeling will go, and I can successfully perform some DMU checks between the parts or the clearance distances or DFAs or DFM. This kind of feature is quite user-friendly. I do not tailor Siemens NX to my industry-specific requirements. I have heard that some OEMs are using macros or particular tools inside of Siemens NX, but unfortunately, I have not used such macros or auxiliary tools. Siemens NX's support for hybrid modeling impacts my design process, and I struggle with hybrid modeling because I struggle to find out the links and how to proceed or make sure that links are updated or still connected to each other. We try to use some hybrid modeling and Boolean operations, trying to integrate particular bodies or design features, references from a master part into the other slave parts. However, we struggle to follow up the links and their validity, which leads us to switch from hybrid design. If I were still using Siemens NX, I would want the hybrid modeling to be more optimized and more user-friendly for future updates. When Siemens switched from versions NX 10, 11, 12 to these 1950s versioning, every toolbar and command changed. I find myself always using the search button to find the corresponding command, which is not very user-friendly. When considering improvements to Siemens NX beyond what I already mentioned, I would say that when a tool is used for designing activities, there are many design approaches and manufacturing methods. This kind of tool, CAD systems, should perfectly combine designability and manufacturability on the same platform. For example, when I work on a part design, I commonly use commands that should be placed where I can reach them directly. Although there are ways to access them through tabs or shortcuts, a new engineer unfamiliar with the software may not find or understand these shortcuts. It would be better to place the most used commands in visible areas, such as the right upper side, so users can see them directly and start modeling right away. When switching to the sheet metal design, I create a sketch and then make a wall command. However, in the sheet metal module, the features are mixed up, making it hard to connect commands according to our workflow and manufacturing type.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Autodesk AutoCAD is a very generic tool, we believe worldwide it is acceptable, so there is a big demand, every format is comfortably converted to any other software engine, and this is a very good supportive tool."
"Siemens NX has achieved a trade-off to provide its users with the ability to handle large assemblies with lower GPU loads while maintaining good graphical quality."
"I would recommend Siemens NX to other organizations because it's good compared to other software, especially for plant design."
 

Cons

"The second issue is the licensing matter. It is on a subscription model."
"The most important thing I want to see improved in Siemens NX, compared to other software, is the basic sketch functionality."
"When Siemens switched from versions NX 10, 11, 12 to these 1950s versioning, every toolbar and command changed, and I find myself always using the search button to find the corresponding command, which is not very user-friendly."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
No data available
Manufacturing Company
19%
Computer Software Company
12%
University
9%
Comms Service Provider
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Autodesk AutoCAD?
We think the split between 3D and 2D areas needs to be addressed. While loading Autodesk AutoCAD on a normal desktop PC, it seems to be very graphic-intensive, even for 2D. Upcoming versions are ve...
What is your primary use case for Autodesk AutoCAD?
We are still using Oracle as a database engine because we are still on the engineering applications which support Oracle databases. This is basically related to engineering applications for the oil...
What advice do you have for others considering Autodesk AutoCAD?
Drafting becomes more efficient within a system when someone adopts this as a CAD engine. We think their ability automatically grows and they get more productive. Our main streamline is the 2D in A...
What needs improvement with Siemens NX?
The most important thing I want to see improved in Siemens NX, compared to other software, is the basic sketch functionality. When you draw sketches, the constraints are more challenging; you have ...
What is your primary use case for Siemens NX?
My company is a German company, and we are doing bulk material handling system and cement industries; we're using Siemens NX for plant design and product modeling. We are using Siemens NX for plant...
What advice do you have for others considering Siemens NX?
I have not used the NX integrated Design Validation feature so far. I am not using Synchronous Technology in Siemens NX. I would recommend Siemens NX to other organizations because it's good compar...
 

Also Known As

Autodesk Map
PLM NX
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

GDF SUEZ Energy Romania
Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering, Manthorpe Engineering, Avcon Controls, American Axle & Manufacturing, Jyothy Laboratories, Compuplast