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Head-to-head · CAD Viewer Software

Autodesk Design Review vs Bentley View

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Autodesk Design Review #2 in CAD Viewer Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Autodesk
Bentley View #4 in CAD Viewer Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Bentley View

Autodesk Design Review leads on 0 checks, Bentley View on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAutodesk Design Review · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresAutodesk Design Review · 5 of 5

Autodesk Design Review scores higher on our rubric for cad viewer software: 9.0 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

Autodesk Design Review is the better fit for free Windows-based design review workflows. Bentley View is the better fit for free Windows users reviewing complex models.

  • Autodesk Design Review fits best

    Free Windows-based design review workflows

  • Bentley View fits best

    Free Windows users reviewing complex models

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Autodesk Design Review 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Bentley View 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.7
Ranking #2 in CAD Viewer Software #4 in CAD Viewer Software
Best for Free Windows-based design review workflows Free Windows users reviewing complex models
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Windows
Support Live chat, Community, Docs · 24/7 Community, Docs
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Autodesk Design Review 5/5 · Bentley View 3/5
DWG support ✓ ✓
Measurement tools ✓ ✓
Markup and annotation ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Sharing and collaboration ✓ (best) Not checked yet
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 more than 50 formats, including DWG, DGN, and DXF
  • Measures distances, areas, and volumes
  • Clips, analyzes, searches, and prints 2D and 3D models
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
  • Windows desktop support limits platform flexibility
  • Focused on viewing and analysis rather than authoring
  • Not suited to workflows centered on markup and collaboration
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 →

Bentley View is a free desktop CAD viewer for infrastructure professionals, engineering firms, public-sector organizations, students, and educators. It is designed for opening, navigating, measuring, analyzing, and printing engineering…

Read the review →
  1. Autodesk Design ReviewCAD Viewer Software 9.0Free plan
  2. Bentley ViewCAD Viewer Software 8.7Free plan

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

  • Bentley View — where it wins

    • Supports more than 50 formats, including DWG, DGN, and DXF
    • Measures distances, areas, and volumes
    • Clips, analyzes, searches, and prints 2D and 3D models

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows desktop support limits platform flexibility
    • Focused on viewing and analysis rather than authoring
    • Not suited to workflows centered on markup and collaboration
  • Autodesk Design Review9.0/10 · Free plan

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

    Visit AutodeskFull verdict →
  • Bentley View8.7/10 · Free plan

    A capable free Windows viewer for complex CAD review, measurement, analysis, and scaled printing.

    Visit Bentley ViewFull verdict →

More comparisons

All CAD viewer software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update