Autodesk vs Krea AI — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Autodesk starts at $260/mo. Krea AI starts at $10/mo. Krea AI is $250/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Autodesk.
Multi-product design and engineering software vendor (AutoCAD, Fusion 360, Revit, Maya, Civil 3D, Inventor), founded 1982. Positioned as the industry-standard alternative to Bentley MicroStation (engineering) and open-source FreeCAD (hobbyist). Distinctive for its Collections bundles (AEC, Product Design & Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment) that unlock 5+ apps per subscription. Priced $64-$375/seat/mo depending on product; flagship AutoCAD at $255/mo monthly / $213/mo annual (17% discount). Completed $3.6B all-cash acquisition of MaintainX in Aug 2026 — expanding beyond design into day-to-day operations. Publicly traded (NASDAQ: ADSK), $60B market cap.
AI creative suite — real-time image/video generation with a canvas-first interface. Pricing: Free (limited daily generations), Basic $10/mo, Pro $35/mo, Max $60/mo. Popular with creative directors and product designers who want interactive AI generation with immediate feedback loops.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Autodesk monthly | Autodesk annual | Krea AI monthly | Krea AI annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | — / Free | — | — | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Fusion 360 / Basic | $85 | $64 | $10 | $8 |
| Mid tier 1 | AutoCAD / Pro | $260 | $175 | $35 | $28 |
| Mid tier 2 | Maya / — | $260 | $175 | — | — |
| Mid tier 3 | Revit / — | $342 | $243 | — | — |
| Pro / power | AEC Collection / Max | $375 | $291 | $60 | $48 |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Autodesk is worth it if… architects, engineers, designers, and manufacturers who need industry-standard CAD tools — particularly where deliverables must be DWG or RVT compatible for regulatory or client-handoff reasons. AutoCAD covers general 2D/3D drafting; Fusion 360 for integrated product design; Revit for BIM/architecture; Maya for 3D animation; AEC Collection bundles multiple apps for AEC firms.
Krea AI is worth it if… Krea is worth it for creatives who want a real-time AI generation interface that feels more like design software and less like a chatbot. Basic ($10) suits hobbyists; Pro ($35) suits professional creatives; Max ($60) unlocks the highest-quality models.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Autodesk over Krea AI if…
Choose Autodesk if…
- You're comfortable with Autodesk's from $260/mo entry point.
- You match the profile Autodesk is built for: architects, engineers, designers, and manufacturers who need industry-standard CAD tools — particularly where deliverables must be DWG or RVT compatible for regulatory or client-handoff reasons.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Krea AI if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (tiered, from $10/mo).
- You match the profile Krea AI is built for: Krea is worth it for creatives who want a real-time AI generation interface that feels more like design software and less like a chatbot.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Autodesk | Krea AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Entry price | $260/mo | $10/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | No |
| Pricing model | — | Tiered |
| Verification | Pricing under review | Pricing under review |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified October 1, 2026. Tracked daily.