Autodesk AutoCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting software application used for creating precise two-dimensional and three-dimensional designs. With AutoCAD, users are able to create detailed technical drawings, plans, and models for a variety of industries, including architecture, construction, engineering, and manufacturing. The software offers a wide range of features and tools, including drawing, editing, and plotting tools, dimensioning, annotation, and object-oriented design. Additionally, AutoCAD supports a number of popular CAD file formats, making it easy to share designs with other CAD programs. AutoCAD has become increasingly popular with the development of 3D printing technologies, allowing users to quickly and accurately create 3D models of their designs.
The free version actually reads / writes autocad files.
Despite my continuous research, I have never found anything closer and compatible with autocad. I say this in a critical spirit, because the compatibility is good, not perfect ... Unfortunately.
Freecad is (as mentioned in the description) for parametric 3D CAD, and has no drawing functionality worth mentioning. It is not a bad program, but it is certainly not a replacement for AutoCAD. It has much more similarity to SolidWorks than to AutoCAD.
I use Freecad to design my 3D printing models.
Not bad for a free software, but the workflow seems very outdated and unnecessarily complicated. It lacks logic about the tools available in different workbenches. There are many ways to get to your goal, but all the ways require really many clicks and more trial and error.
Sketchup doesn't seem to be able to open .dwg files
If you know AutoCAD, you will learn quickly and fast.
No blocking or creation of dynamic blocks.
LibreCAD is only a 2D drawing software, while AutoCAD also has 3D modeling capabilities.
BricaCAD runs most of the native AutoCAD programming interfaces, lisp, diesel, pgp, brx (modified arx).
SolidWorks was intended to design parts for manufacturing and mainly for mechanical engineering. AutoCAD is used for general things, from mechanical to civil, it has different ways of use.
SolidWorks is based on solid 3d modeling.
Cloud-based, faster and more modern.
Full-featured, globally valid for life and available at a very affordable price make it a good alternative to Autodesk AutoCAD. Its own license transfer feature also allows me to switch my license from one PC to another on the fly. Highly recommended.
Full 2D and 3D functions without any limitations. Licenses will not expire and we get free technical support.
The best part of ActCAD is being able to do practically anything without an interface. You can execute all commands just by typing them. It's customizable, lightweight, easy to get started.
Discontinued The project is no longer being developed. The latest version, 1.8.8, released in December 2014, can still be downloaded from the official website.
Cheaper than Autocad, and has the same options. I recommend it 100%.
Works stable and fast, not bad. Great experience in opening, editing .dwg drawings.
DraftSight
FreeCAD
SketchUp
LibreCAD
BricsCAD
OpenSCAD
SolveSpace
BRL-CAD
SolidWorks
nanoCAD
Onshape
ActCAD
QCAD
Open CASCADE
CorelCAD
KOMPAS-3D
pCon.planner
NaroCAD
Autodesk Inventor
ZWCAD
Because it is the same in the 2D part. Very well, it has free version, and multiplatform.