What Autodesk Fusion subscription type is best for me?

Shannon McGarry March 12, 2025

7 min read

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Fusion integrates design, manufacturing, electronics, and data management in a single platform – enabling designers, engineers, and manufacturers to streamline their product development process. Explore flexible Fusion subscription plans fit for every budget below.

Autodesk Fusion subscription types

Table of Contents

Autodesk Fusion

A Fusion subscription provides users with access to a comprehensive cloud-based product design software for CAD, CAM, CAE, PCB, and data management. Key aspects of a Fusion subscription include:

  1. 3D design and modeling: Create and edit 3D models with powerful parametric, surface, mesh, freeform and direct modeling tools. 
  2. 2D drawings: Generate detailed 2D drawings from 3D models for documentation and manufacturing purposes. 
  3. Simulation: Test the performance of designs under real-world conditions with static stress simulation tools. 
  4. Manufacturing: Plan and execute CNC machining operations with integrated CAM tools including 2, 2.5, and 3-axis machining, multi-axis positional milling, turning, turn-mill, and more. 
  5. Data management and collaboration tools: Share and collaborate on projects in real-time with centralized data and modern communication, review, and markup tools. 
Autodesk Fusion for Manufacturing.

Autodesk Fusion for Manufacturing

Fusion for Manufacturing includes the powerful CAD, CAE, and data management tools that Fusion offers, in addition to the CAM tools needed for advanced manufacturing including: 

  1. 2D, 2.5-axis, 3-axis machining: Rough and finish component parts safely and efficiently with a vast array of machining strategies. 
  2. Automated hole recognition and drilling: Automatically identify all holes on 3D models then use configurable templates to produce high-quality templates. 
  3. Whole part machining strategies: Reduce CAM programming times, and improve surface finish with steep and shallow, deburr, and corner toolpaths. 
  4. Positional 5-axis machining (3+2): Reorient the cutting tool in relation to the workpiece, enabling 3+2 machining to produce complex parts with fewer setups and machining of hard-to-reach features. 
  5. Simultaneous 4- and 5-axis machining: Create efficient, collision-free 4- and 5-axis machine motion with advanced swarf and tool axis controls. 
  6. Toolpath modifications: Save time with post-calculation toolpaths modifications such as limiting to a plane and modifying leads and links without recalculating. 
  7. Process simulations: Accurate 3D machine models of the machine identify collisions, axis over-travel, and other issues. For additive manufacturing, simulations identify print failures.  
  8. In-cycle probing and part alignment: Setup machine datums, measure the accuracy of parts, and automate the setup of large, heavy, or non-prismatic shaped parts with a variety of inspection routines. 
  9. Sheet-based fabrication: Automatically nest multiple component parts into sheet-stock, helping to maximize material utilization. 
  10. Additive manufacturing: Produce components using plastics and metals-based 3D printing hardware and processes with automatic part orientation, associative support structures, and materials-based process parameters. 

Autodesk Fusion for Design

Fusion for Design includes all the powerful tools in Fusion, while allowing you to accelerate your design process with advanced modeling, simulation, and change management tools, including:

  1. Advanced mesh and surfacing tools: Create prismatic, organic, and parametric mesh models or stitch, offset and form surfaces with advanced design tools.
  2.  Simulation: Test the performance of designs under real-world conditions with simulation tools including modal frequencies, electronics cooling, thermal, thermal stress, structural buckling, nonlinear static stress, quasi-static event simulation, dynamic event simulation, and injection molding simulation.
  3.  Generative design: Discover weight reduction and performance enhancements with generative design outcomes from user-specified parameters.
  4.  Plastic design rules: Unlock automatic limits and recommendations for designing plastic parts, such as draft angles, wall thickness, rib design, and material flow to ensure manufacturability and performance.
  5.  Product lifecycle management: Create bill of materials, release management, automated part numbering, and execute change orders

Note: A free 30-day trial is available to evaluate all capabilities and features of Fusion. If you are interested in Fusion for Manufacturing or Fusion for Design, you can subscribe directly at the links above or connect with an expert to discuss more.

Autodesk Fusion extensions.

Fusion extension subscriptions

Existing Fusion subscribers can unlock advanced design and manufacturing technologies with Fusion extensions; offering a range of flexible payment options to best suit your needs.  

Fusion Manufacturing Extension

The Fusion Manufacturing Extension gives you access to advanced manufacturing capabilities including:

Fusion Simulation Extension

The Fusion Simulation Extension gives you access to advanced functionality to analyze part performance and manufacturability, including:

Fusion Design Extension

The Fusion Design Extension is a set of advanced 3D and modeling tools including:

Fusion Signal Integrity Extension

The Fusion Signal Integrity Extension helps to improve the signal reliability of smart products with PCB electromagnetic analysis and features including:

Fusion Manage Extension

The Fusion Manage Extension allows you to manage design changes with cloud-based, pre-built workflows including:

Note: As an existing subscriber, all extension types can be trialed, except for the Fusion Manage Extension. You can download a free 14-day trial of the Manufacturing, Design, Simulation, and Signal Integrity extensions here. If you’d like to speak to an expert about the best options for your business, connect with an expert here.

Autodesk Fusion subscription types.

Additional Fusion subscription types and offerings

Fusion for startups

Fusion for startups offers a comprehensive solution tailored to the unique needs of qualifying startups and entrepreneurs. Approval unlocks 3-year access at just $150 per user and up to 10 users per startup. A qualifying startup needs to be a venture, Angel investor-backed, or bootstrapped company that is less than three years old and needs to generate an annual gross revenue of less than $100,000 USD. Apply today to start accelerating innovation and bringing products to market faster with Autodesk Fusion. 

Fusion for personal use

Autodesk Fusion for personal use is a free, limited version offering basic functionality for users generating less than $1,000 USD annually and using it for home-based, non-commercial projects only. Personal users have limited access including:

Note: Personal users do not have access to Fusion 360 extensions. 

Fusion for education

Autodesk Fusion for education provides students and educators with free access to advanced design and manufacturing tools, fostering hands-on learning and innovation. This platform supports collaborative projects, helping to prepare the next generation of engineers and designers for real-world challenges. Verification is required. 

Speak with an Autodesk Fusion representative

So what are you waiting for, get started with Autodesk Fusion today.

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