Autodesk vs Penpot — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Autodesk starts at $260/mo. Penpot starts at $7/mo. Penpot is $253/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.
Open-source design tool positioned as the alternative to Figma for teams that want self-hosting, on-premise deployment, or vendor-lock-in escape. Distinctive for using open web standards (SVG-native, not proprietary format) so files are portable across tools. Fully free when self-hosted; cloud tier launching. Backed by Kaleidos (Spanish OSS studio). Popular with government agencies, enterprises with data residency needs, and open-source purists.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Autodesk monthly | Autodesk annual | Penpot monthly | Penpot annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | — / Free (Professional) | — | — | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Fusion 360 / Unlimited | $85 | $64 | $7 | $7 |
| Mid tier 1 | AutoCAD / — | $260 | $175 | — | — |
| Mid tier 2 | Maya / — | $260 | $175 | — | — |
| Mid tier 3 | Revit / — | $342 | $243 | — | — |
| Pro / power | AEC Collection / — | $375 | $291 | — | — |
| Enterprise | — / Enterprise | — | — | $950 | $950 |
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.
Penpot is worth it if… open-source-oriented design teams that want Figma-alternative UI/UX design with SVG-native files and full self-host option — particularly if data sovereignty or budget matter. Free forever for hosted use; Enterprise for self-hosted deployments.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Autodesk over Penpot 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 Penpot if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (freemium, from $7/mo).
- You match the profile Penpot is built for: open-source-oriented design teams that want Figma-alternative UI/UX design with SVG-native files and full self-host option — particularly if data sovereignty or budget matter.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Autodesk | Penpot | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Entry price | $260/mo | $7/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | — | Freemium |
| Verification | Verified September 3, 2026 | Checked September 19, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 25, 2026. Tracked daily.