Autodesk Inventor vs. Figma

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Autodesk Inventor
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
Autodesk Inventor 3D CAD software offers professional-grade 3D mechanical design, documentation, and product simulation tools. These blend parametric, direct, freeform, and rules-based design capabilities. Inventor includes integrated tools for sheet metal, frame design, tube and pipe, cable & harness, presentations, rendering, simulation, and machine design. It also features TrustedDWG® compatibility and Model-Based Definition capabilities for embedding manufacturing information directly in…
$305
per month per user
Figma
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
Figma, headquartered in San Francisco, offers their collaborative design and prototyping application to support digital product and UI development.
$144
per year
Pricing
Autodesk InventorFigma
Editions & Modules
Subscription - Monthly
$305
per month per user
Subscription - Yearly
$2440
per year per user
Subscription - 3 Years
$7320
3 years per user
Professional
$144
per year
Organization
$540
per year
Starter
Free
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Autodesk InventorFigma
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsAlso available for limited use through tokens on a Flex plan.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Autodesk InventorFigma
Considered Both Products
Autodesk Inventor
Chose Autodesk Inventor
Fusion works very similarly to Inventor as it is from the same company. SolidWorks is also fairly similar, with only small features/functions and user interface differences. Onshape functions similarly to Inventor, but is web-based, so it requires no download to use. It is …
Chose Autodesk Inventor
Very similar products. In my opinion, Autodesk Inventor is better at sheet metal and that is why we are not using SolidWorks. It has been a while since we have used SolidWorks so beyond that the comparison is difficult.
Chose Autodesk Inventor
I have no current experience with Solidworks
Chose Autodesk Inventor
I used to work on Solidworks CAD modeling software. but now, I am working with Autodesk Inventor. Inventor in budget software for new start-up companies. and Inventor provide a product bundle in one. So, you will get the other beneficial software also. and we can also design …
Chose Autodesk Inventor
Autodesk seems more detailed and easier to use when it comes to the 3D side and the compatibility is easier to convert when needed.
Chose Autodesk Inventor
We chose Inventor because the team had some historic experience with older versions of AutoCAD. Our market services primarily building engineers, so to export directly to a REVIT file was critical.
Chose Autodesk Inventor
I definitely prefer SOLIDWORKS to Inventor. For part modeling, SOLIDWORKS is second to none. Because Inventor is part of the Autodesk suite, if you are wrapped up in AutoCAD information and data, it's possible that Inventor may be the part modeling tool you would naturally use. …
Chose Autodesk Inventor
In my opinion, Autodesk Inventor is easier to set up and use. It also has iLogic that has added many more design options over what I have been able to accomplish in SOLIDWORKS.
Chose Autodesk Inventor
Solidworks: Better with surfaces and weld
Catia: Works well with complex assemblies with 1000+ components
Chose Autodesk Inventor
When it comes to solid modeling, the bad choices died out years ago. So we looked at the total ecosystem and chose Autodesk Inventor because of the integration with Nastran, HSM (machining), Autodesk CFD, MoldFlow, and AutoCAD. This means our legacy data (2D) is still a valid …
Chose Autodesk Inventor
As previously mentioned in an earlier question, Autodesk Inventor has found the happy middle ground for my 3D CAD needs. Autodesk is easy to pick up but complex enough to allow for all our CAD needs to be filled. I personally didn't select Autodesk Inventor (it was what the …
Chose Autodesk Inventor
Some of the features are more intuitive in Inventor. For example, there is an auto mid-plane function in Inventor that doesn't exist in Solidworks. Also, the mouse controls are easier to use in Inventor. It is easier to spin and rotate the part in Inventor, this action is a …
Chose Autodesk Inventor
Autodesk inventor has a free trial, and CATIA doesn’t.
Chose Autodesk Inventor
Inventor and SolidWorks compare nicely with it coming down to user preference. Both are great modeling tools, with Autodesk providing more flexibility through its subscription add-ons. Although AutoCAD exists in a different environment it is still used for design although less …
Chose Autodesk Inventor
We selected Inventor since we were deeply invested in AutoCAD for previous 2D designs and this was smoother integration with existing design practices.
Chose Autodesk Inventor
AutoCAD is difficult to use and adapt to while Inventor is easier to use. AutoCAD works based on designing and discovering new items while Inventor targets users who want to test something in motion.
Chose Autodesk Inventor
Inventor is more intuitive and directional when it comes to the creation of parts and assemblies. The commands are also simpler and easier to understand than Solidworks. Inventor also has the support and presence in the market that allows for it to be utilized for different …
Chose Autodesk Inventor
Audesk Inventor is better than Solidworks in all ways, better than OnShape in important ways, but not as good on collaboration tools, and more professional than Fusion 360.
Chose Autodesk Inventor
I've listed Solidworks, SDRC Ideas and Pro/Engineer as alternative and comparable applications. SDRC Ideas is an extinct product, and Pro/E is available as it's descendent, PTC CREO, I think. Of the two alternatives, Solidworks is easier for me to use and I can do more with it, …
Chose Autodesk Inventor
Inventor is a more detailed modeling software then Revit or Fabrication. AutoCAD of course has been around for many years and will continue to have a place because it seems to be the base for all of the modeling software using .dwg file types. Inventor has the ability using the …
Chose Autodesk Inventor
I believe Autodesk Inventor is the easiest 3D modeling software to use, but it might not be the most cost effective though. The best thing about Inventor is the learning curve. It makes bringing new people up to speed much easier.

I do believe that Solidworks has better …
Chose Autodesk Inventor
ANSYS is far more expensive and has a steeper learning curve. Autodesk has many flexible and scale-able licensing options that adapt to our institutional needs and IT infrastructure. Furthermore, it allows our students to have free educational software running in their own …
Chose Autodesk Inventor
Inventor is a very similar design platform as SolidWorks. I have used both over the last 19 years. Functionality is very similar. In my own experiences, SolidWorks has proven to be easier for new users to learn but Inventor has improved in that area over the last few years.
Chose Autodesk Inventor
Autodesk Inventor has the same underlying features as both SolidWorks and Fusion 360. Being made by the same company, Autodesk Inventor and Fusion 360 are pretty much the same product, except Fusion 360 is an online version. SolidWorks is much more advanced than the other …
Figma
Chose Figma
Figma was a huge turning point compared to its competitors, especially Adobe XD, a tool designed for the same purpose as Figma. I would say that it and all the other tools I mentioned, including those that do not have the same focus on UX design (Photoshop and Illustrator), …
Chose Figma
Figma is a more advanced tool than Canva, but Canva is easier to use and has a lot of templates.
Chose Figma
Adobe XD is an absurd copycat that never got to have even 10% of Figma's features. It's hyper fast because it's native, but that's the only good thing it has.

Axure RP is an excellent prototyping software, with Local Variables and complex interactions. But it's also extremely …
Chose Figma
Compared to Adobe XD, the Figma tool is much easier to use, offers more features, and has a much lower cost. Its features are less complex, making it very easy to teach beginners how to use it. The navigable prototype is also easier and more efficient to share in Figma compared …
Chose Figma
Figma easily wins against adobe XD. Asset sharing on XD was a pain. Figma makes it really easy by allowing you to export any layer as an asset. XD had no comments making it incredibly hard to communicate with the designer in remote settings. XD's prototyping system was not good …
Chose Figma
Figma is the best for collaboration, most intuitive interface and compatible with the most outside softwares. Plugin library is also expansive
Chose Figma
Figma is by far the best prototyping tool out there. I am such a fan of this tool.
Chose Figma
I prefer using Figma the most so far during the past several years over tools like JustInMind and/or UX Pin.
Chose Figma
I learned UX Design using Sketch and my team was using Sketch when I joined. We no longer use Sketch, and therefore I cannot compare its current functionality to Figma, but at the time of our switch, Figma just had more advanced capabilities- better collaboration, auto-layout …
Chose Figma
Miro is more user-friendly than Figma, but is less robust in terms of web prototyping and graphic design. While Figma isn't made to be used as a design tool, our team has taken to using it as such because it's richer in functions and personalizations compared to Miro and Figma.
Chose Figma
Better auto layouts, components and prototyping capabilities. Variables in Figma are also a fantastic addition to create a robust, and scalable design system. I use these features all the time. Love them!
Chose Figma
Figma compared to other tools has user friendly UI which is very easy for all levels of designers. Compared to Adobe XD and Sketch Figma is stable, while in other tools I have faced software crashing in the middle of the work which resulted in loss of data/design. Compared to …
Chose Figma
Figma definitely has better UX than Adobe XD and also is light-weight compared to XD. The eco-system is stronger with Figma if you are tech company.
Chose Figma
I prefer to use it comparing to Adobe Xd. It surely is more intuitive and still develops itself providing new features (e.g. variables; however, I had to get used to the new interface). Now, if I had to compare it to Axure it'd depend on the project I'm working on. In case of …
Chose Figma
Figma is the only tool that was build from the ground up for enterprise level distributed teams. If I were a one man shop or even a small team, I would consider sketch or other cheaper alternatives. For a large enterprise team, the only winner is Figma.
Chose Figma
Figma is the go-to design tool that can be pushed to production very easily with developer tools. In my opinion it's the most complete design tool that considers the entire design process including the creation of solid design systems, high-fidelity prototyping, user testing, …
Chose Figma
Much nicer to not have to open a million pages at once.
Much faster and embeds are good for Jira even if slow.
Chose Figma
I think Figma is better because it's easier to create more visually appealing work. I would say that Figma is better for people who are used to using this sort of visual design software/platform. Whereas I think Miro is better for first time users, it doesn't offer as many …
Chose Figma
Figma is the best for collaborative work. Very easy to learn, so easy that most people dont use it properly (which is good and bad at the same time). Prototyping is where I'd wish it will improve. Axure was awesome.
Chose Figma
Figma is way better than Adobe Illustrator because of its ability to seamlessly integrate multiple use cases like mobile design and vector-based shape building. While Adobe Illustrator is great for adding texture and depth to illustration you can still build high-end …
Chose Figma
In comparison to Figma, other tools which can accomplish similar tasks (Adobe XD, Sketch, and Adobe Photoshop) feel outdated, clunky, and lacking in functionality.

When switching over to Figma, the experience feels much more elegant, convenient, and cutting-edge in a number of …
Chose Figma
Figma is the most efficient tool for teams and sharing with clients. It's also easier to learn than other Adobe products. When sharing designs with clients, Figma looks more professional than Canva.
Chose Figma
In Figma I can make websites and apps. With Miro I can brainstorm about how I want the app to be and what my ideas are.
Features
Autodesk InventorFigma
Computer-Aided Design Software
Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of Product A and Product B
Autodesk Inventor
6.8
Ratings
5% below category average
Figma
-
Ratings
3D Modeling8.50 Ratings00 Ratings
2D Drafting6.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Rendering and Visualization6.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Parametric Design7.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Collaboration and Sharing6.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Compatibility with other software and formats7.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Assembly Design6.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Simulation and Analysis5.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Documentation and Annotation6.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Customization and Extensions7.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Autodesk InventorFigma
Small Businesses
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.9 out of 10
OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle
Score 9.1 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.9 out of 10
OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle
Score 9.1 out of 10
Enterprises
Rhino
Rhino
Score 9.0 out of 10
OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle
Score 9.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Autodesk InventorFigma
Likelihood to Recommend
8.0
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.2
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(0 ratings)
8.6
(0 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
5.5
(0 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.1
(0 ratings)
5.1
(0 ratings)
In-Person Training
6.0
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
6.4
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Configurability
10.0
(0 ratings)
6.4
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
6.4
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Autodesk InventorFigma
Likelihood to Recommend
Autodesk Inventor is well-suited for situations where you are creating 3D models of small, simple parts and assemblies. It is hands-down the fastest and most reliable way to get this done. When you are looking for a software that has many advanced features and controls to create an assembly of 20+ parts, you need to look for other software.
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Figma is a solid design tool to craft the UX design concepts/solutions for digital products. For printed marketing materials such as brochures, marketing flyers, press releases, etc, other design tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign might make more sense to use for those use case scenarios.
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Pros
  • You can make designs (CAD) and you can also manufacture them (CAM) and do not need an interface like Solidworks to recognize it in a CNC.
  • Inventor is very easy to use to create realistic, solid designs.
  • The software allows you to design and see where problems are in real-time.
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  • It's efficient, very efficient. Many things that take multiple clicks on other platforms can be completed in less than half the clicks, for example.
  • Alignment of objects is fast, accurate and easy as red line guides appear when moving objects around.
  • Autolayout ensures a balanced visual experience and aligns with CSS grid systems.
  • The ability to specify a grid and use it. For example, a 2pt or 4pt or 8pt grid.
  • Components and the ability to create a design system speeds up future work tremendously and creates design and brand consistency.
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Cons
  • Inventor demonstrates a lack of fluidity in the process of transferring data between programs.
  • Inventor shows some lack of sophistication that certain features that are readily available in other design software packages are limited in use in Inventor.
  • Inventor can often have difficulty in creating models that show true color, as in blacks can come out as dark grays in certain renders, even when the material and appearance settings are the same from part to part.
Read full review
  • Animated prototyping.
  • Tappable overlaid layers - bugs on fixed components, such as an app navigation footer in a prototype
  • Swapping a component but retaining inputted copy or imagery.
  • Performance on prototypes to work better in UserZoom - having to delete hidden layers manually, optimize images, and streamline the file, in general, is time-consuming
  • Folder structures - larger teams need multiple layers of folder structure to help find things.
  • Branch performance - we need better, more user-friendly solutions to get designs to merge better.
  • Branch performance - branching with the option to choose which pages you want in the branch without deleting each page you don't need.
  • Default sharing options need improvement.
  • Responsive ratios' in prototyping without having to recreate pages.
  • Better collaboration with Jira to bring in links in the design mode not just dev mode.
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Likelihood to Renew
Inventor continues to meet our enterprise needs. I don't see a need to change unless we change our business model significantly.
Read full review
Figma is a pretty cool tool in many areas. My team almost uses it on daily basis, such as, brainstorming on product/design topics, discussing prototypes created by designers. We even use it for retrospectives, which is super convenient and naturally keeps records of what the team discusses every month. Furthermore, I do see the potential of the product - currently we mainly use it for design topics, but it seems it is also a good fit for tech diagrams, which we probably will explore further in the future.
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Usability
It is quite user-friendly as long as you have the computing power to download and use it. However, this makes it quite inconvenient if you are trying to access files on different devices, as Inventor has to be loaded on all of those devices. While the program itself works just fine, it would be much better for my application if it, or a version, were web-based and allowed users to access and modify projects from anywhere.
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It's easy to use for designers who are familiar with design terms and functions from Photoshop and Illustrator. However, non-tech and non-designer collaborators have a hard time figuring out how to leave comments and apply changes, compared to other online design tools like Canva and Squarespace. Even simple drag-and-drops and rearrangement of certain blocks become too complicated due to uncommon functions like Hug and Lock.
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Reliability and Availability
No answers on this topic
The only regret I have is, its not available when there is no internet
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Performance
No answers on this topic
I think its great, As there are many other software or systems which can be integrated with it as plugins or API's
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Support Rating
I'm giving the overall support rating a 5 only because I rarely have to use it. Trying to find the answer on the help pages hardly ever helps me because any problem I have is usually too deep for what the help offers. Given the popularity of Autodesk, I have always been able to find an answer online after doing enough looking!
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I haven't used their support lately but in the past, they had a chat that I used often. They often responded in a few hours and were able to give a satisfactory solution. I would imagine it's less personal now but the community has expanded drastically so there are more resources out there to self serve with a bit of Google magic.
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In-Person Training
I got the training during college, so mostly i learned on my own
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In-person training has its own benefits - 1. It helps in resolving queries then and there during the training. 2. I find classroom or in-person training more interactive. 3. Classroom or in-person training could be more practical in nature where participants can have an hands on experience with tools and clarify their doubts with the trainer.
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Online Training
No answers on this topic
Online training has its own merits and demerits - 1. Sometimes we may face issues with connectivity or the training content 2. The way training is being delivered becomes very important because not everyone is comfortable taking online training and learning by themselves. 3. With the advancement of technology online training has become popular but there is a segment of people who still prefer class-room training over online one.
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Alternatives Considered
ANSYS is far more expensive and has a steeper learning curve. Autodesk has many flexible and scale-able licensing options that adapt to our institutional needs and IT infrastructure. Furthermore, it allows our students to have free educational software running in their own personal computers, allowing them to work at home and be more productive with it.
Read full review
I learned UX Design using Sketch and my team was using Sketch when I joined. We no longer use Sketch, and therefore I cannot compare its current functionality to Figma, but at the time of our switch, Figma just had more advanced capabilities- better collaboration, auto-layout tools, prototyping, etc. From what I can tell, it remains best in class for UX Design tools.
Read full review
Scalability
No answers on this topic
I think this is great and as I mentioned at ADP we use Figma extensively whether by designers, researchers or content writers
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Return on Investment
  • We are working toward full engineering integration with Autodesk Inventor. This will remove most of the human error in our current processes.
  • Production team is moving away from physical samples to using Autodesk Inventor models. This is a cost savings and helps us manage change better.
  • Autodesk Inventor iLogic is allowing us to automate some of our engineering. This is proving to make one job 20% faster to complete with fewer errors.
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  • Allows us to get funding for further phases of the project (which is uncountable)
  • Well, it lets us show off when needed due to well suited UI-oriented character
  • Easily approachable by anyone (browser use)
  • User friendly interface
  • More advanced cooperation requires some of the users to have a license
Read full review
ScreenShots