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DesignSpark Mechanical vs Autodesk Fusion 360: catalog facts
DesignSpark Mechanical	Autodesk Fusion 360
Best for: Engineers and makers who need quick 3D models and edits without a full parametric CAD package	Best for: Cloud-connected parametric CAD, CAM, and CAE platform with a free personal tier
Free + paid options A free Explorer plan is available, with paid Creator and Engineer plans adding more tools.	Free + paid options Free tier for personal use, with paid subscriptions for commercial use and advanced features.
Windows	Windows, macOS
Push-pull direct modelling that suits non-specialists Imports and exports STEP, IGES, STL and DXF All 3 strengths for DesignSpark Mechanical Push-pull direct modelling that suits non-specialists Imports and exports STEP, IGES, STL and DXF Free plan with no project limit	Combines CAD, CAM, and simulation in one subscription instead of separate tools Free personal-use tier makes it accessible to hobbyists and makers
Assembly tools require the paid Engineer plan Some import and export features depend on the plan	Cloud-connected design means an internet connection is effectively required for full functionality Free tier has feature and project-count limits compared to paid subscriptions
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Not open source	Not open source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for DesignSpark Mechanical rs-online.com/designspark/mechanical-software Catalog checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Autodesk Fusion 360 autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/overview Catalog checked September 22, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.