Autodesk AutoCAD VS AutoCAD LT

AutoCAD LT is a cheaper version of AutoCAD and comes with features like printing and plotting 2D designs, external referencing, comparing sketch versions, automatically counting blocks in drawings, etc. AutoCAD is a comprehensive CAD software that can be used for both 2D and 3D sketching. It offers features like raster graphics designing, automated CAD workflows, meshing objects, annotate sketches, and so on. Let's make a detailed comparison of these two to find out which one is better.

AutoCAD vs AutoCAD LT: Overview

AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are two variations of AutoCAD. Both offer similar features like document management, BIM modeling, and PCB design. However, some differences are there between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.

AutoCAD comes with both 2D and 3D drafting capabilities whereas AutoCAD LT provides 2D drafting toolsets. Here is a detailed comparison of AutoCAD vs AutoCAD LT based on the following metrics:

• Intelligent Electrical Symbols
• Wiring diagram error checker
• Intelligent manufacturing parts layouts
• Raster Design toolset
• Mechanical Toolset
• Parametric Modelling
• Mechanical Designing
• Electrical and PCB Designs
• Collaboration
• Documentation
• Pricing

AutoCAD vs AutoCAD LT: Pros and cons

• 8 model management features available in AutoCAD and only 3 in AutoCAD LT
• BIM models integration supported only in AutoCAD
• Wiring diagram error checking available in AutoCAD and not in AutoCAD LT
• Different toolset types are only supported in AutoCAD

AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT: In Terms of Features

• Intelligent Electrical Symbols: AutoCAD provides 65,000+ colorful and customizable electrical symbols that you can use in your projects. These electrical symbols are not supported in AutoCAD LT.
• Wiring diagram error checker: With this feature, you can easily identify duplicated schematic components in the product design during editing. This feature is currently supported only in AutoCAD.
• Intelligent manufacturing parts: With AutoCAD, you get 700,000+ intelligent manufacturing parts layouts to speed up the product designing process. However, these layouts are not available in AutoCAD LT.
• Raster Design toolset: This toolset will assist you in creating polylines and lines via raster images and converting raster files into vector images. If you want to use this toolset, consider AutoCAD.
• Mechanical Toolset: With this toolset, you can easily create all the mechanical parts of your project. The mechanical toolset is currently supported only in AutoCAD. Many AutoCAD alternatives provide mechanical toolset for mechanical designing.
• Parametric Modelling: This type of modelling enables you to record design intentions via features and constraints. If you want to use this feature, you can buy AutoCAD, as AutoCAD LT does not support parametric modelling.
• Mechanical Designing: For mechanical design, AutoCAD LT offers only three modules whereas AutoCAD supports eight modules. However, you will find multiple AutoCAD LT alternatives that offer more than three modules of mechanical design.

AutoCAD vs AutoCAD LT: Electrical and PCB Designs

You will find multiple options in both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT for creating and managing electronic and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) designs. AutoCAD offers five options and AutoCAD LT gives three options for electronic and printed Circuit Board designing.

In AutoCAD, you can add objects to layers with colors, integrate BIM models, and validate data files, etc. Whereas, with AutoCAD LT 3, you get BIM Interoperability, you can add objects to layers with colors, and validate data files. Therefore, for advanced PCB design management features, choose AutoCAD.

AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT: In Terms of Collaboration

Both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT support real-time collaboration to work and collaborate on projects. With them, you can provide unlimited access to the document, collaborate in groups, share product models with team, share commenting privilege, etc. However, AutoCAD is one step ahead of AutoCAD LT because it also lets you attach, edit, and display point clouds. This function is not available in AutoCAD LT.

AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT: Documentation

For creating and managing documents, both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT offer multiple modules. AutoCAD supports 10 modules and AutoCAD LT supports only 6 modules. With AutoCAD, you can print drawings in batch, create 2D manufacturing drawings, annotate documents, implement CAD standards, etc. On the other AutoCAD LT can help you with annotating documents, printing product drawings in batch, creating geometric dimensions, etc. If you need more documents options, AutoCAD is a better choice.

AutoCAD vs AutoCAD LT: Pricing

Both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT offer per month pricing plans along with annual and three-year plans. AutoCAD LT monthly plan is available for INR 4,202, annual plan at INR 28,320, and 3-years plan at 84,960. It comes with features, such as CAD blocks creation and edition, parts and assemblies designing, schematic diagrams creation, etc.

AutoCAD’s monthly plan is available at INR 15,407, annual plan at INR 1,10,920, and 3-years plan at INR 3,32,760. AutoCAD offers advanced features such as 3D modelling and rendering, more collaboration features, APIs, and various toolsets. For more advanced CAD modeling features, you can consider AutoCAD.

AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT: Which is Better?

Both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are good products for CAD designing. However, which one is best for you depends on the features you want for your product design. Consider AutoCAD LT if you are tight on budget and looking for 2D modeling, reusable block libraries, private designing, and exporting documents. Whereas go for AutoCAD, if you prefer more advanced features like mesh and parametric modeling, 3D modeling, 3D designs printing and modeling, etc.