Autodesk Buying Guide
What's included in the Autodesk AEC Collection?
Every product and cloud service in the Architecture, Engineering & Construction Collection, in plain English — 20 inclusions across design, infrastructure, structures, coordination, and visualization, explained by the Autodesk Gold Partner that teaches them.
The short answer: the AEC Collection includes AutoCAD (with all seven specialized toolsets), Revit, Civil 3D, InfraWorks, Vehicle Tracking, Structural Bridge Design, Advance Steel, Robot Structural Analysis Professional, Fabrication CADmep, Navisworks Manage, ReCap Pro, the Forma suite (Data Management, Design Collaboration, and Site Design), Twinmotion, 3ds Max, Insight, Autodesk Drive, Autodesk Rendering, and cloud credits — one subscription, every discipline.
Design & documentation
The core authoring tools — for many firms these three alone justify the collection.
AutoCAD (with specialized toolsets)
The industry-standard 2D/3D drafting platform, including all seven specialized toolsets — Architecture, MEP, Electrical, Mechanical, Map 3D, Plant 3D, and Raster Design.
Revit
Autodesk’s BIM authoring platform for architecture, structural engineering, and MEP. Model, document, and coordinate buildings in a single intelligent 3D model shared across disciplines.
Civil 3D
Civil engineering design and documentation: corridors, grading, pipe networks, surfaces, and plan production for land development, transportation, and water projects. Subscription also unlocks extras like Grading Optimization and Project Explorer.
Civil & infrastructure
Planning, preliminary engineering, and analysis tools that surround Civil 3D.
InfraWorks
Conceptual infrastructure planning and visualization. Aggregate GIS, terrain, and CAD data into a real-world context model to evaluate road, rail, and site alternatives early — including bridge design capabilities.
Vehicle Tracking
Swept-path analysis for vehicle movement: parking layouts, roundabout design, and turning simulations for anything from passenger cars to WB-67 trucks and aircraft.
Structural Bridge Design
Loading, analysis, and code checking for small-to-medium bridge design, integrated with the rest of the infrastructure workflow.
Structures & fabrication
From structural analysis to shop-ready detailing.
Advance Steel
Steel detailing on the AutoCAD platform: connection design, shop drawings, and NC output for fabricators, with a bidirectional Revit link.
Robot Structural Analysis Professional
Finite-element structural analysis for buildings and structures — wind simulation, code-based design checks, and BIM-integrated results that round-trip with Revit.
Fabrication CADmep
MEP fabrication detailing: turn design-intent models into buildable, estimable ductwork and pipework with real manufacturer content.
Coordination, review & reality capture
Bring every trade’s model together — and bring the real world into the model.
Navisworks Manage
Whole-project model aggregation, clash detection, and 4D construction simulation. The coordination hub for multi-discipline, multi-format projects.
ReCap Pro
Reality capture: convert laser scans and drone photos into point clouds and meshes you can design against in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and Revit.
Forma Data Management
Cloud document management (formerly Autodesk Docs) — a common data environment for drawings, models, and markups with version control, on Autodesk’s cloud platform.
Forma Design Collaboration
Multi-team design coordination in the cloud (formerly part of BIM Collaborate): share Revit packages, track changes between teams, and review models together.
Concept, visualization & analysis
Win the project, then show clients exactly what they’re getting.
Forma Site Design
Cloud-based early-stage planning and site design with real-time environmental analysis — sun, wind, noise, and microclimate — that hands off cleanly to Revit.
Twinmotion
Real-time architectural visualization powered by Unreal Engine — drag-and-drop materials, entourage, and lighting for instant walkthroughs and VR from your Revit model.
3ds Max
High-end modeling, rendering, and animation for hero shots, marketing imagery, and cinematic project visualizations.
Insight
Building performance analysis tied to Revit: energy, carbon, daylighting, and heating/cooling analysis to support sustainable design decisions.
Cloud services & extras
The quiet inclusions people forget to count.
Autodesk Drive
Cloud storage for individuals and small teams, with viewing for 60+ file formats.
Autodesk Rendering
Cloud rendering service — offload photorealistic rendering instead of tying up your workstation.
Cloud credits
Each subscription includes cloud credits for cloud-based services like rendering and analysis jobs.
Autodesk adjusts collection contents occasionally. If a specific product matters to your purchase decision, ask us and we'll confirm current entitlements before you buy.
Why buy through CAD Masters
Same Autodesk price. A lot more included.
The AEC Collection costs the same wherever you buy it. Subscribe through CAD Masters — an Autodesk Gold Partner — and your subscription also comes with benefits Autodesk doesn't offer:
Real technical support
Phone and email access to our CAD engineers for installation, licensing, and how-do-I questions — humans who use the software daily.
10% training discount
On every regularly scheduled class at our Autodesk Authorized Training Centers — in person or live online.
Digital training library
The e-books, videos, and project files our instructors wrote for class — included with your subscription.
Exclusive extensions
CMI Tools for AutoCAD and Civil 3D, Revit QuickSelect, and more — productivity add-ins we build in-house.
AEC Collection FAQ
How many products are included in the AEC Collection?▾
Around 20, depending on how you count cloud services: AutoCAD (with all seven specialized toolsets), Revit, Civil 3D, InfraWorks, Vehicle Tracking, Structural Bridge Design, Advance Steel, Robot Structural Analysis Professional, Fabrication CADmep, Navisworks Manage, ReCap Pro, Forma Data Management, Forma Design Collaboration, Forma Site Design, Twinmotion, 3ds Max, Insight, Autodesk Drive, Autodesk Rendering, and included cloud credits.
Is Twinmotion included in the AEC Collection?▾
Yes. Twinmotion (the Unreal Engine–based real-time visualization tool) is included with AEC Collection subscriptions, letting you produce walkthroughs and VR experiences directly from Revit models.
Are the AutoCAD specialized toolsets included?▾
Yes — the collection includes AutoCAD with all specialized toolsets: Architecture, MEP, Electrical, Mechanical, Map 3D, Plant 3D, and Raster Design.
When does the AEC Collection make more sense than individual licenses?▾
As a rule of thumb, if you regularly use two or more of the big products (say Civil 3D plus AutoCAD, or Revit plus Navisworks), the collection usually costs less than subscribing separately — and everything else comes along with it. We’re happy to run the numbers for your team.
Is Autodesk Docs included? What is Forma Data Management?▾
Autodesk Docs is now called Forma Data Management, and yes — it’s included, along with Forma Design Collaboration and Forma Site Design. Other Autodesk Construction Cloud modules like Build, Cost Management, and Takeoff are separate subscriptions.
What do I get by buying the AEC Collection through CAD Masters?▾
The same Autodesk subscription price, plus benefits Autodesk doesn’t provide: direct phone and email support from our engineers, a 10% discount on our Autodesk Authorized Training Center classes, our full digital training library, and exclusive extensions like CMI Tools for Civil 3D and Revit QuickSelect.
Not sure the AEC Collection is the right fit?
Compare it against individual licenses and the other collections, or ask us to run the numbers for your team.