Autodesk vs Leonardo.ai — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Autodesk starts at $260/mo. Leonardo.ai starts at $12/mo. Leonardo.ai is $248/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Autodesk.
See price history: Autodesk · Leonardo.ai
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 image generation platform with a strong game-art community. Pricing: Free (150 daily tokens), Apprentice $12/mo, Artisan $30/mo, Maestro $60/mo. Popular with game developers, concept artists, and marketers who need consistent character generation and stylized art.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Autodesk monthly | Autodesk annual | Leonardo.ai monthly | Leonardo.ai annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | — / Free | — | — | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Fusion 360 / Essential (formerly Apprentice) | $85 | $64 | $12 | $10 |
| Mid tier 1 | AutoCAD / Premium (formerly Artisan) | $260 | $175 | $30 | $24 |
| Mid tier 2 | Maya / — | $260 | $175 | — | — |
| Mid tier 3 | Revit / — | $342 | $243 | — | — |
| Pro / power | AEC Collection / Ultimate (formerly Maestro) | $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.
Leonardo.ai is worth it if… Leonardo is worth it for game developers and concept artists who need consistent character generation across multiple prompts. The pre-trained model library specialized for game art is a real differentiator vs Midjourney's general aesthetic.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Autodesk over Leonardo.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 Leonardo.ai if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (tiered, from $12/mo).
- You match the profile Leonardo.ai is built for: Leonardo is worth it for game developers and concept artists who need consistent character generation across multiple prompts.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Autodesk | Leonardo.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Entry price | $260/mo | $12/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | No |
| Pricing model | — | Tiered |
| Verification | Pricing under review | Checked October 2, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified October 2, 2026. Tracked daily.