DWG-native CAD offering a perpetual-licence alternative to AutoCAD.
Why we recommend it
It reads and writes DWG natively at a one-time price, which makes it the most credible escape from AutoCAD's subscription.
Strengths
- Perpetual licence available
- Native DWG compatibility
- Substantially cheaper than AutoCAD
Drawbacks
- Smaller ecosystem
- Some AutoCAD plugins won't transfer
BricsCAD alternatives and related tools
Hypar
Cloud platform for building and sharing generative building-design functions.
FreemiumMorpholio Trace
iPad sketching app built for architects, with trace-paper layering over plans and photos.
FreemiumCedreo
Fast residential floor plan and 3D visualisation tool aimed at home builders.
PaidArchicad BIMx
Interactive model viewer that lets clients explore BIM models on a phone or tablet.
FreemiumAll product names, logos and brands referenced on this site are the property of their respective owners. They are used here for identification purposes only, to describe the tools being reviewed. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or sponsorship of The Design Tools by those owners.