Autodesk Software Guides: AutoCAD, Fusion, Inventor and 3ds Max
Autodesk software covers a lot of ground — drafting in AutoCAD, 3D modelling in Fusion and Inventor, rendering in 3ds Max and Maya, and building design in Revit. Choosing the right product, understanding what a licence actually gives you, and paying a fair price for it are three different questions, and the answer to each one changes with every release. This page brings together everything we have written on the subject, organised so you can go straight to what you need.
Getting started with AutoCAD
If you are new to the software, start with what AutoCAD is used for — it explains where the program fits in architecture, engineering and manufacturing before you commit to anything. From there, the single biggest gain in day-to-day speed comes from learning the AutoCAD commands that experienced drafters type instead of clicking. For a practical first exercise, our walkthrough on how to fill colors in AutoCAD covers hatching and solid fills, which trip up most beginners. And if you are still deciding whether to buy at all, we have also reviewed the free AutoCAD alternatives honestly, including where they fall short.
Which Autodesk product do you actually need?
The most common question we get is AutoCAD LT vs full AutoCAD, and the honest answer depends on whether you work in 3D at all. We break down the difference between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT feature by feature so you are not paying for tools you will never open. For mechanical design, the comparison that matters is AutoCAD vs Inventor, and for anyone printing parts rather than drawing them, Fusion or AutoCAD for 3D printing settles a debate that comes up constantly. If Fusion is new to you, our overview of Autodesk Fusion 360 explains what it does and who it suits.
What changed in each release
Autodesk ships a new version every year, and the upgrade is not always worth it. We have covered each one as it landed: AutoCAD 2023, the wider Autodesk 2024 release, the specific changes in AutoCAD 2024, the new features in AutoCAD 2025, then AutoCAD 2026 and most recently AutoCAD 2027. Reading two consecutive years side by side is usually the fastest way to judge whether skipping a version costs you anything.
Licences, product keys and activation
Licensing is where most of the confusion sits. If you are buying for a company rather than for yourself, the rules differ — our guide to the AutoCAD licence for business explains what commercial use requires. For the rendering side of the range, we cover how to find your 3ds Max product key and, separately, how to activate a 3ds Max licence key step by step. And when a machine is replaced or an employee leaves, transferring an AutoCAD licence is simpler than most people expect, provided you follow the right order.
Paying less for Autodesk software
Autodesk list prices are high, and there is more room to move than the official store suggests. We looked at what Autodesk actually costs across the range and where the savings are, collected the current Autodesk promo code and the Fusion 360 coupon, and set out the Autodesk promotions worth using at renewal time rather than at first purchase. If you already own a licence, getting more out of AutoCAD LT may save you more than switching products would. Students and teachers should start with Fusion 360 for education, which is free under conditions worth knowing.
Browse the full archive
Everything we publish on this range is collected in the Autodesk and AutoCAD article archive, which updates automatically as new guides go live. Licences for the products discussed above are available in our Autodesk product catalogue, delivered by email as digital keys.