Is there seriously no option to buy a copy of Autocad LT outright?

[Anonymous]

Our needs are simple and we absolutely do not require a $400/year subscription.. Yet for 20 minutes clicking back and forth on the store site, I cant seem to find any option to purchase a basic copy of Autocad LT..

Have you really moved everything over to a non-option subscription service?

thanks,

Brett

[DarrenP]

yea they made that move over 2 years ago

they only sell subscription licenses where you need to keep paying or the software goes dead

they have a forum dedicated to this new business model: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/moving-to-subscription/bd-p/2017

[Anonymous]

Wow.  Ridiculous.  Well, there's no way that's going to happen.  Off to the competitors I suppose.  

[leowarren34]

Everything is going to subscription, I don't know many companies who still are on perpetual, it's annoying I know as now it's industry standard, but they have 20% off at the moment...

[deamag]

I am in the same dilemma.   Work from home, very small business & can't afford this subscription price.

This has put me, a few friends and one family member out of business.  After over 20 years working with this software, I've decided to look for different type of work.

[pendean]

You can rent the software monthly if that helps with the finances.

[deamag]

Thanks for your reply. The monthly rental IS the problem. I don't have work on a month-to-month basis. I sometimes only have one or two contracts per year which may (or may not) pay for software rental but little else. You have to have a full time job that pays well to afford it.

[pendean]

Monthly means you can start renting when you need it. Stop when you do not. Start back up if new work shows up.

When you need it, never when you do not.

But if I may ask if you don't make enough for the monthly rentals how did you plan on paying for an outright full purchase?

Or is this a "bought AutoCAD 20-years ago and now it doesn't work now and I'm looking for a free fix" type posting? In which case there are still free to use CAD programs out there that pretty much still look like AutoCAD from 20-30 years ago, lots of low-earnings folks use them successfully. They are just not from Autodesk. Explore them and break the chain, be free.

HTH

[deamag]

No, I dodn't mind you asking. I bought AutoCAD back in 2015 when I had more steady work. It was perfect because it lasted through multiple contracts over about 4 years and ended up paying for itself.
Now, that I only have part-time work, I have to deduct $50 from my income for the month. That gets expensive when your contract is only (for example) $200 to $300. I get it. This software is for "full time employees". AutoDesk needs their income, the same as everyone. All the same, I'll miss my work! I totally love AutoCAD!

[jmarenic]

• No option whatsoever and in my case they converted my perpetual license without my understanding of what they were doing and won’t change it back. They basically put me out of business. When my subscription expires I can’t afford to renew it.

[deamag]

Believe me, I understand. Autodesk is puting a lot of people out of business.
I am a contractor who works on small drafting electrical or architectural jobs for Seattle area businesses.
Due to the fact customers can no longer buy software outright, the only way I can take a job is if my employer is willing to pay for AutoCAD for length of contract.
I'm basically out of work, same as you, but have not lost a business.

[rkmcswain]

@deamag wrote:
Believe me, I understand. Autodesk is puting a lot of people out of business.
I am a contractor who works on small drafting electrical or architectural jobs for Seattle area businesses.
Due to the fact customers can no longer buy software outright, the only way I can take a job is if my employer is willing to pay for AutoCAD for length of contract.
I'm basically out of work, same as you, but have not lost a business.

How? Why?  Trust me, I'm not defending the actions of Autodesk, but all businesses have a cost of doing business. Are your customers requiring you by contract to use Autodesk software? If so, then any competitor of yours would be under those same requirements at the same cost to them. If not, there are less costly applications that can read/write DWG files.

More specific to you, the rental option sounds like it's a better option since you would only pay for the time you are using it.

[deamag]

Thank you for your response.
Honestly, I do not have a cost of running a business because my work takes place from my home computer.
All of my competitors do have same requirement. Am 100% certain they have same thoughts as I about the prohibitive cost of "renting" software.
In answering the concerned AutoCAD customer who lost his software after paying for it in full, it seems to me he has means for a class action law suit. but who of us has the money?
No, it is not cheaper to rent software because I loose the use of it in between jobs for my own projects. Basically, Autodesk refuses it's customers the option to own their own software.
Doesn't sound like an equitable offer to me.

[rkmcswain]

@deamag - To continue your last thought. This is what Autodesk has brought to the table. It's up to each customer to decide if this is the right solution for him/herself. Autodesk's CEO himself has said "If you don't see value in subscription, you should probably find another software solution" [¹].

Accepting the new terms, abandoning ship, or legal action are probably the only available choices. Autodesk pays their people a lot money to come up with these business plans that will survive and keep the shareholders happy. So far, it seems to be working OK. You can look that up yourself.

Cheers and have a good weekend.

[deamag]

Of course it is working for AutoDesk. Making more money than every before.
The way I read your response is that "if you are unsatisfied, find another software." I am not satisfied. Not going to another software. Retiring.
Thank you for puting me out of business.

[rkmcswain]

@deamag - that's not my response, I was just trying to put it in different terms.

That is Autodesk's response, make no mistake.

[deamag]

Thanks for the clarification. I looked online and there is a class action suit going on but AutoDesk is spending big $'s in defense. Don't hold out much hope but will keep my eye on developments.

[eddie]

As of today, 9 Aug 21, the cost of a 3 year licence is 4,795 usd.

I am in the UK and, again today, the exchange rate is 1.39usd to £1 sterling.

So you would assume a 3 year licence in the UK would be around £3,450.

In fact it is £5,364!

How is that acceptable and reasonable? 

[jmarenic]

It’s called a monopoly on an international level. Yet none of our governments will come to help their workers.

[rkmcswain]

@eddie - nobody is making you rent this from Autodesk. There a plenty of competitors out there.