I tried Fusion 360 for the first time, and here's why I'm still using it for CAD projects

My new go-to CAD tool.

Fusion 360
(Image: © Future / Paul Hatton)

Our Verdict

Fusion 360 is the go-to software for CAD and CAM with a particular emphasis on collaborative working in the cloud. By providing a wide range of easy-to-use tools, Fusion 360 is perfect for beginners and professionals with a tonne of online support to help along the way.

For

  • Fantastic collaboration tools
  • Beginner friendly
  • Includes a free trial

Against

  • Lacks professional features
  • Clunky performance

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

If you're looking for the best CAD software for design, then Autodesk AutoCAD has to be at the top of anyone's list. But if you're looking for a more versatile alternative, especially for manufacturing workflows, then it has to be Autodesk Fusion 360.

Now in a 2026 release cycle, Fusion 360 is a fantastic entry-level tool for creatives and professionals who value cloud-based working and collaboration above having the most groundbreaking design tools.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Fusion 360 pricing
Header Cell - Column 0

Fusion 360

Monthly

£78 / $106

1 year

£642 / $875

3 years

£1,932 / $2,635 (locked-in price, paid annually)

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Fusion 360 score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value:

Flexible pricing plans mean Fusion 360 will be affordable to most.

4.5/5

Setup:

Simple and straightforward for beginners to get up and running quickly.

4.5/5

Features:

A range of industry-leading features for manufacturing and 3D printing.

4/5

User experience:

An intuitive user interface that makes using the software simple and easy.

4/5

The Verdict
8

out of 10

I tried Fusion 360 for the first time, and here's why I'm still using it for CAD projects

Fusion 360 is the go-to software for CAD and CAM with a particular emphasis on collaborative working in the cloud. By providing a wide range of easy-to-use tools, Fusion 360 is perfect for beginners and professionals with a tonne of online support to help along the way.

Paul Hatton
Writer

Paul is a digital expert. In the 20 years since he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Computer Science, Paul has been actively involved in a variety of different tech and creative industries that make him the go-to guy for reviews, opinion pieces, and featured articles. With a particular love of all things visual, including photography, videography, and 3D visualisation Paul is never far from a camera or other piece of tech that gets his creative juices going. You'll also find his writing in other places, including Creative Bloq, Digital Camera World, and 3D World Magazine.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.