AutoCAD has been synonymous with CAD software and the industry standard in architecture, mechanical engineering, construction, and other engineering fields for decades. As one of Autodesk’s most established products, it offers a wide range of tools, precision, and capabilities recognized by professionals worldwide. However, despite these advantages, the user community often voices criticism and dissatisfaction. The most frequent complaints relate to its high cost – but this is by no means the only weakness.
Below, we highlight the most common drawbacks of AutoCAD – directly from user experiences – and explain why many are searching for more affordable and efficient alternatives such as GstarCAD.
1. High Costs and Subscription Model
One of the most common criticisms of AutoCAD is its high price. In recent years, Autodesk has completely abandoned perpetual licenses (a one-time purchase with lifetime use) and switched exclusively to a subscription model. This means users must pay monthly or annual fees – otherwise, the software stops working.
For large companies this is often not a problem, as costs are distributed across multiple projects and employees. It is quite different for small businesses, sole traders, and freelancers who do not use AutoCAD daily. For them, the subscription cost quickly becomes irrational.
As one long-time user put it:
“AutoCAD was excellent, but the high subscription costs became unsustainable for our small studio. After testing GstarCAD, we found it just as reliable and capable of handling large projects.”
— Marko Petrović, Architect
2. Steep Learning Curve
AutoCAD offers a huge number of functions, which can be an advantage for experienced users but a real obstacle for beginners. The program requires a lot of time for onboarding and training, which increases costs and slows productivity for new employees.
“For new users AutoCAD is intimidating. So many commands and settings that it takes months before you are truly fast and efficient.”
— Anonymous forum user
3. Performance Issues
Another frequent complaint is slow performance, freezes, and crashes – especially when working with large files. Without a very powerful computer, AutoCAD can quickly become frustratingly sluggish.
This is exactly where many users praise GstarCAD as an alternative:
“We needed a solution that could handle large datasets without crashing. GstarCAD exceeded our expectations, while AutoCAD often froze.”
— Klara Novak, Civil Engineer
4. Frequent Updates and Compatibility Problems
Autodesk regularly releases new versions, which on one hand brings improvements, but on the other creates compatibility issues. Users working across different versions often face mismatched file formats, making collaboration harder.
“Updates are constant, but sometimes it means you can no longer open a colleague’s file properly in an older version.”
5. Complex User Interface
Many users feel that AutoCAD’s interface is overcrowded with tools. Customization options exist, but are often clunky and unintuitive. This can give the impression that the program is not designed for straightforward use.
6. Inadequate Customer Support
Contacting Autodesk technical support is not always effective. Many users report that responses are slow or unhelpful – especially when dealing with licensing issues.
“When we had trouble activating the license, it took weeks to get a concrete answer. In the meantime, we couldn’t work normally.”
7. Underdeveloped Cloud Features
Although Autodesk promotes cloud integration (storage, collaboration, file sharing), users report that the functionality is often unreliable or less seamless compared to modern cloud solutions.
8. Inflexible Licensing
The shift to subscriptions also means loss of flexibility. Users no longer feel ownership of the software – they are tied to continuous payments, otherwise they lose access. This is particularly painful for those who used older versions successfully for decades.
9. File Corruption
Several users have encountered the issue of DWG files suddenly becoming corrupted, often without warning. This results in hours of lost work, since repair is not always possible.
10. Demanding Hardware
AutoCAD requires powerful computers. To work smoothly on larger projects, you need high RAM, fast processors, and strong graphics cards – meaning extra investments.
Why Many Switch to GstarCAD
Given all these drawbacks, many users are choosing alternative solutions. GstarCAD is one of the most popular, offering:
– lower costs (perpetual license or more affordable subscription),
– better responsiveness with large files,
– similar functionality to AutoCAD,
– simpler licensing and more flexibility.
As one long-time AutoCAD user put it:
“I was skeptical about switching, but after testing GstarCAD I was impressed. Faster, easier to use, and above all cheaper. Now we use it every day.”
— Ivan Kovač, Mechanical Designer
Conclusion
AutoCAD remains synonymous with professional CAD software, with a rich history and unmatched precision. But the weaknesses users point out – from high price, subscription-only model, steep learning curve, to performance issues, file problems, and customer support – cannot be ignored.
For many freelancers and small businesses, the costs and complexity are simply too high. It’s no surprise that more users are choosing alternatives like GstarCAD, which offers better value, stability, and a simpler user experience.
If you too are questioning whether AutoCAD is really the best choice for you, now is the perfect time to try other options – you may find you can save money while boosting productivity.
GstarCAD as an Excellent Alternative
Although AutoCAD is powerful and widespread, for many users its weaknesses outweigh its high cost and limitations. This is where GstarCAD proves itself as an excellent alternative, addressing many of the problems that AutoCAD users face.
First is affordability. GstarCAD allows both perpetual licenses and affordable subscriptions, giving users more flexibility and a real sense of ownership. There is no fear that the software will stop working if the subscription is not renewed.
Performance is another key reason why more companies are switching. GstarCAD is optimized for large files and complex projects. While AutoCAD often freezes or slows down on less powerful computers, GstarCAD users report faster performance and greater stability.
GstarCAD also has a more user-friendly interface – designed to remain compatible with AutoCAD workflows, yet more streamlined and intuitive. This means faster onboarding and less training time for new users.
It also offers excellent DWG compatibility without unnecessary update issues, allowing seamless collaboration with others.
Real User Opinions
“GstarCAD has been our choice for three years now. No more frustration over subscriptions and expensive updates, plus it runs faster than AutoCAD.” — Milan Jurić, Architect
“Switching was simple, because the interface is so similar. My team adapted in just a few days.” — Petra Horvat, Designer
“What convinced me most was how smoothly it runs with large files, which in AutoCAD often caused freezes.” — Luka Šarić, Mechanical Engineer
Download the free 30-day trial of GstarCAD today and see for yourself why more and more professionals are choosing it over AutoCAD. Faster performance, easier use, full DWG compatibility, and significantly lower costs. Start today and experience the difference in productivity and savings.
