CAD subscription vs. one-time purchase - what I finally switched to

I've been drafting for about 12 years now, mostly doing residential plans for a small builder in Phoenix. For the longest time I was dead set against paying a monthly subscription for drafting software. It felt like a ripoff compared to the old days when you bought a disc once and it was yours. I ran AutoCAD LT 2016 into the ground until it literally wouldn't open on my newer laptop. Finally broke down and tried BricsCAD on a free trial because a buddy swore by it. Six months later I'm paying $85 a month and honestly? The automatic updates and cloud backup are worth the money. No more chasing down install discs or losing files when a hard drive dies. Has anyone else made the switch away from perpetual licenses and actually been happy about it?

3 comments

3 Comments

amy_anderson1mo ago

Everything's moving to subscriptions now, even my coffee subscription.

the_thea1mo ago

I read something last week that said the average person now has like 4 or 5 subscription services they're paying for without even realizing it, @amy_anderson. Honestly, coffee subscriptions kind of make sense though, at least you're getting something physical.

cora5181mo ago

@amy_anderson, are you actually saving money on coffee or just paying more for the convenience?