Design & Creative · Graphic Design

AutoCAD

AutoCAD is Autodesk's 2D and 3D CAD software for Windows and Mac, sold by subscription only: $2,095 a year or $260 a month, with a 15-day free trial.

Our take: AutoCAD's price list is short: $2,095 for a year, $6,285 for three years or $260 monthly in Autodesk's US store, with LT at $540 a year.

Best for2D and 3D drafting

ReviewedNov 2026Free Trial

6.65 criteria · see breakdown

Try AutoCAD$2,095/year or $260/month

Autodesk sells AutoCAD, its 2D and 3D CAD and drafting software, by subscription only: in Autodesk's US store it is $2,095 for a one-year term, $6,285 for three years or $260 a month, and Autodesk says it no longer sells perpetual licenses. AutoCAD LT, a lower-priced 2D drafting edition, is $540 a year or $70 a month. Autodesk lists a 15-day free trial and free one-year educational access for eligible students and educators (checked 5 November 2026).

The bottom line

Subscription-only CAD at $2,095 a year, with LT at $540 a year as the 2D route and a 15-day trial and education access as the free routes.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isAutodesk's CAD software for 2D and 3D drafting on Windows and Mac, sold by subscription only, with AutoCAD LT as the lower-priced 2D edition.

Our takeAutoCAD's price list is short: $2,095 for a year, $6,285 for three years or $260 monthly in Autodesk's US store, with LT at $540 a year.

What to check is that there is no one-time license, that the toolsets are Windows only, and that the trial is 15 days on desktop but 30 days on the AutoCAD Web page.

Why we rate itAutodesk publishes every plan price, term and return window, but the price is high for one named user and the free routes are a 15-day trial and education access.

The catchNo perpetual license, one named user per subscription (installable on three devices, one sign-in at a time), toolsets that are Windows only, and a desktop trial that cannot be extended after 15 days.

Best / not good for

Best for

Drafters and engineers who need 2D and 3D drawings in DWG files
Architecture, mechanical, electrical, MEP, plant and mapping work that uses the included toolsets
Students and educators who qualify for free educational access

Not good for

Anyone who wants to buy a license once and keep it, since Autodesk no longer sells perpetual licenses
People who only need 2D drafting, who can compare AutoCAD LT at $540 a year
Teams that want to share one seat, since each subscription is assigned to one named user

Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

Time to value
Autodesk says files and settings made in the trial carry over when you subscribe with the same Autodesk account, and the 15-day trial starts from a download.
Scale breakpoint
Each added user needs a separate subscription, because Autodesk says seats cannot be shared; at $2,095 a year, five seats come to $10,475 a year.
Walled garden
Access runs through an Autodesk account sign-in, and Autodesk says an unrenewed subscription moves through expired, suspended and canceled stages, after which access is permanently removed.

Still a fit?

If none of these block you, try it on the official site.

Try AutoCAD

AutoCAD subscription prices in Autodesk's US store (US dollars)

Plan	Price shown	How it is billed	Notes
AutoCAD, 1-year term	$2,095 a year ($175 a month)	Paid annually, 1 user	30-day return policy; Autodesk says a 1-year or 3-year term saves 33% over the monthly price
AutoCAD, 3-year term	$6,285 for 3 years	Paid annually, 1 user	Autodesk says a 3-year term protects you from price increases for 3 years
AutoCAD, monthly	$260 a month	Paid monthly	15-day return policy; no long-term commitment; you can change to a 1-year or 3-year term in your Autodesk account
AutoCAD Flex	$99 for 33 tokens (minimum)	Prepaid tokens, pay as you go	7 tokens a day for AutoCAD with one toolset; additional toolsets need extra tokens; Autodesk says tokens give 24-hour access
AutoCAD LT, 1-year term	$540 a year ($45 a month)	Paid annually, 1 user	2D drafting and documentation edition
AutoCAD LT, monthly	$70 a month	Paid monthly	15-day return policy on monthly subscriptions

From Autodesk's AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT buy pages and its product store (autodesk.com/products), US site, checked 5 November 2026. Autodesk calls these suggested retail prices that exclude taxes, handling and freight, and says all pricing is subject to change without notice. The AutoCAD overview page shows "Starting at $175 / month", which matches the annual plan's $175 a month on the buy page. Autodesk says it no longer sells perpetual licenses; AutoCAD is available by subscription with monthly, annual and 3-year options.

AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT and AutoCAD Web in Autodesk's words

Item	AutoCAD	AutoCAD LT	AutoCAD Web
What Autodesk says it is	2D and 3D CAD tools; the subscription includes AutoCAD on desktop, web, mobile and seven specialized toolsets	Best-in-class tool for 2D CAD drafting, drawing and documentation	Edit, create and view CAD drawings in a web browser, with no software installation; Autodesk says it is for markups or light editing of 2D files
3D modeling	Included: Autodesk says AutoCAD has all of LT's features plus 3D modeling	Autodesk describes it as 2D drafting software for people who do not need full 3D	Not described as a 3D modeling tool on the pages read
Platforms	Windows and Mac; the specialized toolsets are Windows only	Windows and Mac installers come with the subscription	Runs in 64-bit Chrome, Firefox or Edge on Windows or Mac; the mobile app runs on iOS, Android and Windows
Price in the US store	$2,095 a year or $260 a month	$540 a year or $70 a month	Included with an AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT subscription
Free trial	15 days	15 days	30 days, per the AutoCAD Web sign-in page

From Autodesk's AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT buy pages, the AutoCAD license and subscription FAQ, the free-trial page and web.autocad.com, checked 5 November 2026. Autodesk's pages give 15 days for the desktop trials and 30 days on the AutoCAD Web page. Free educational access for students and educators is a separate route and is limited to educational use.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is an AutoCAD subscription?Is AutoCAD a one-time purchase?Can I get AutoCAD for free?What is AutoCAD, and how is it different from AutoCAD LT?Can I cancel an AutoCAD subscription or get a refund?How do I sign in to AutoCAD?

How much is an AutoCAD subscription?

Autodesk's US store lists a one-year term at $2,095 (shown as $175 a month, paid annually), a three-year term at $6,285 paid annually, and a monthly plan at $260. AutoCAD LT is $540 a year or $70 a month. Autodesk calls these suggested retail prices that exclude taxes, and says prices may change without notice (checked 5 November 2026).

Is AutoCAD a one-time purchase?

No. Autodesk's AutoCAD FAQ answers "Can I buy AutoCAD permanently?" with No, says it no longer sells perpetual licenses, and offers AutoCAD by subscription with monthly, annual and 3-year options. For occasional use Autodesk also sells Flex, a pay-as-you-go option where tokens give 24-hour access, from $99 for 33 tokens (checked 5 November 2026).

Can I get AutoCAD for free?

Only in limited ways. Autodesk lists a 15-day free trial of desktop AutoCAD, which it says cannot be extended after it expires, and free one-year educational access for students and educators, renewable while you stay eligible. Autodesk limits educational access to educational use and bars commercial or other for-profit work, and the separate AutoCAD Web page offers its own 30-day free trial (checked 5 November 2026).

What is AutoCAD, and how is it different from AutoCAD LT?

AutoCAD is Autodesk's computer-aided design (CAD) software for precise 2D and 3D drafting, design and modeling, used by students, architects, designers, engineers, project managers, real estate developers and construction professionals. Autodesk describes AutoCAD LT as 2D CAD software for precision drafting and documentation and says AutoCAD includes all of LT's features plus 3D modeling, automation, APIs and add-on apps and, on Windows, seven industry toolsets. In Autodesk's US store LT is $540 a year or $70 a month, against $2,095 a year or $260 a month for AutoCAD (checked 5 November 2026).

Can I cancel an AutoCAD subscription or get a refund?

You can stop a subscription from renewing: Autodesk says you can turn off auto-renew or cancel at renewal, and the subscription stays active until the end of the current term. Autodesk says a full refund must be requested within 15 days of the purchase or renewal date for monthly subscriptions and within 30 days for annual or 3-year subscriptions, and that this policy applies to purchases made directly from Autodesk or through Cleverbridge on its behalf. Autodesk also says subscriptions cannot be paused and resumed later (checked 5 November 2026).

How do I sign in to AutoCAD?

Conversion Gems is a review site and cannot sign anyone in. Autodesk's account page for your products and subscriptions is https://manage.autodesk.com, and the AutoCAD Web sign-in page is https://web.autocad.com/login. Autodesk's AutoCAD FAQ says available downloads are listed in your Autodesk account after you subscribe.