Autodesk Viewer alternative for client review: Autodesk Viewer vs MeshMarkup
Autodesk Viewer is a free way to look at a CAD file online; its files and shared links expire after 30 days. MeshMarkup is built for client review rounds. When to use which.
Autodesk Viewer is a free online viewer for 2D and 3D designs, and a good one for a quick look: it opens AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor, STEP, SolidWorks, CATIA and other formats in the browser. It's built for viewing a design. MeshMarkup is built for what comes after: sending a model to a client, collecting their notes pinned on it, answering them, uploading the next version and getting a sign-off, with nothing expiring in the middle of the job.
This comparison uses Autodesk's public pages and help articles as of October 2026. Autodesk can change its viewer at any time, so check viewer.autodesk.com for the current details. For a wider comparison that also covers Sketchfab, eDrawings, ShareCAD and OmniView 3D, see our 3D model review software alternatives.
The 30-day limit
Autodesk's own help pages are clear about this: shared design views are available "as long as the owner keeps them on Autodesk Viewer or that it expires, after 30 days", and files are "automatically deleted from user accounts after 30 days and cannot be restored". An expired link can't be pointed at a new upload either.
For a one-off look, that's fine. For a client project with several review rounds over a few months, it means re-uploading and sending new links, and the earlier conversation doesn't carry over.
In MeshMarkup, models stay in your account as long as you keep them (on the Free plan, a model you haven't touched for 30 days moves to the Archive, where nothing is lost). Review links can be set to expire after 7 or 30 days, or never.
At a glance
| Autodesk Viewer | MeshMarkup | |
|---|---|---|
| What it's for | Viewing 2D and 3D design files online | Client review rounds on 3D models |
| Price | Free | Free plan; paid plans from €29/month |
| 2D drawings (DWG, DXF, Revit sheets) | Yes | No, 3D only |
| 3D formats | Many CAD formats, incl. STEP, SolidWorks, CATIA, Inventor | GLB, glTF, FBX, OBJ, STL, PLY, DAE, STEP, IGES, 3DM, 3MF, 3DS |
| How long files and links last | 30 days | As long as you keep them; links: 7 days, 30 days or never |
| Notes pinned to the model by the client | — | Yes, no account needed |
| Note statuses and replies | — | Open, in progress, resolved, won't fix; threaded replies |
| Versions with notes carried over | — | Yes, plus a ghost overlay to compare |
| Client sign-off on a version | — | Yes (Solo plan and up) |
| Section cut and exploded view | — | Yes, and the client opens the model the way you left it |
— means we didn't find it described in Autodesk Viewer's public pages, not that it can't exist.
When Autodesk Viewer is the better choice
- You need to show 2D drawings (DWG, DXF) or Revit models: MeshMarkup is 3D only.
- It's a one-time look at a file, and nobody needs to comment on it later.
- Your format is a native CAD format MeshMarkup doesn't read directly. MeshMarkup needs a STEP, IGES or mesh export from most CAD programs; see how to export STEP.
When MeshMarkup is the better choice
- The client has to tell you what to change, and you want each note pinned to the exact spot, with the angle they were looking from.
- The review takes more than one round: upload v2 to the same model, and open notes come with it.
- You need a record: who asked for what, what you answered, and which version was approved. See client sign-off.
- You want the client to see the model your way: with your lighting, cut open or exploded, and still able to change the view.
Try it with your own file
Drop a STEP file on the free STEP viewer: no account, nothing uploaded. If you want to send it for review, here's how to send it to a client who has no CAD.
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