Autodesk Design Review vs ABViewer

Autodesk Design Review9.0Visit ABViewer8.6Visit

Higher score Autodesk Design Review #2 in CAD Viewer Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Autodesk

vs

ABViewer #5 in CAD Viewer Software 8.6/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit ABViewer

• Autodesk Design Review fits best

  Free Windows-based design review workflows

• ABViewer fits best

  Windows users needing editing and conversion depth

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Side by side

Feature	Autodesk Design Review 9.0/10 Visit ↗	ABViewer 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.6
Ranking	#2 in CAD Viewer Software	#5 in CAD Viewer Software
Best for	Free Windows-based design review workflows	Windows users needing editing and conversion depth
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	$77/user/yr
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows	Windows, Linux
Support	Live chat, Community, Docs · 24/7	Email, Live chat, Phone, Docs
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Autodesk Design Review 5/5 · ABViewer 5/5
DWG support	✓	✓
Measurement tools	✓	✓
Markup and annotation	✓	✓
Sharing and collaboration	✓	✓
DXF support	✓	✓
Specs
Platforms	Desktop	Desktop
Our review
Pros	Free access to 2D and 3D viewing, measurement, markups, and comparison Combines files into review packages and tracks imported design changes Prints with fidelity to the original design software	Supports DWG and DXF viewing, editing, conversion, and comparison Combines 2D/3D measurement, markups, section views, and printing Adds batch processing, G-code generation, and PDF-to-DWG conversion
Cons	Windows-only desktop availability limits cross-platform review DWG and DXF workflows require the free DWG TrueView software The current installer has not changed since 2017	No free plan; access starts with a 30-day trial or paid license Linux use depends on running the Windows software with Wine Enterprise capabilities are separate from the Professional license tiers
Our verdict	Autodesk Design Review is free desktop CAD viewer software for project teams, clients, contractors, and other stakeholders who need to review designs without the original design software. It supports 2D and 3D drawings, maps, and models,… Read the review →	ABViewer is desktop CAD software for viewing, editing, measuring, converting, comparing, and printing drawings, 3D models, and raster images. It supports DWG, DXF, DWF, HPGL, IGES, STEP, PDF, and other vector and raster formats. Its… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Autodesk Design Review — where it wins

  • Free access to 2D and 3D viewing, measurement, markups, and comparison
  • Combines files into review packages and tracks imported design changes
  • Prints with fidelity to the original design software

  Where it doesn't

  • Windows-only desktop availability limits cross-platform review
  • DWG and DXF workflows require the free DWG TrueView software
  • The current installer has not changed since 2017

• ABViewer — where it wins

  • Supports DWG and DXF viewing, editing, conversion, and comparison
  • Combines 2D/3D measurement, markups, section views, and printing
  • Adds batch processing, G-code generation, and PDF-to-DWG conversion

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; access starts with a 30-day trial or paid license
  • Linux use depends on running the Windows software with Wine
  • Enterprise capabilities are separate from the Professional license tiers

• Autodesk Design Review9.0/10 · Free plan

  A mature free Windows viewer for design review, comparison, measurement, and markups.

  Visit AutodeskFull verdict →
• ABViewer8.6/10 · 30-day trial

  A paid desktop CAD tool with strong editing, conversion, measurement, and batch features.

  Visit ABViewerFull verdict →