Free alternatives to AutoCAD

Last updated 19 Oct 2026 · 2 options

Quick answer: LibreCAD has the most stars on its repository of the 2 options here (★ 6.5k), followed by QCAD (★ 1.9k). Stars show popularity, not fit, so check formats, platforms and licence for your own work.

Autodesk's 2D and 3D drafting software, including AutoCAD LT. Here are 2 free options, most-starred first.

What AutoCAD costs

Annual subscription£1,890 per year
Monthly subscription£234 per month
Students and educatorsFree 1-year education access

Autodesk UK suggested retail prices, excluding tax.

From the vendor's own pricing page (autodesk.com), checked 19 Oct 2026. Prices change and may exclude tax, so check before you decide.

LibreCAD

2D drafting

Open-source 2D CAD application

Stars: ★ 6.5k
Licence: GPL-2.0
Updated: yesterday

Commercial OK
DXF

Alternative to AutoCAD

QCAD

2D drafting

Free, open-source 2D CAD for technical drawings

Stars: ★ 1.9k
Licence: GPL-3.0
Updated: yesterday

Commercial OK

Alternative to AutoCAD

How to switch

How to convert AutoCAD DWG drawings to DXF with LibreCADStep-by-step, from LibreCAD's own docs

LibreCAD's command-line converters turn DWG drawings into DXF (or PDF, PNG and SVG) without opening the editor: librecad dwg2dxf -o drawing.dxf drawing.dwg.

FAQ

Is there a free alternative to AutoCAD?

Yes. CADAlts lists 2 options: LibreCAD and QCAD.

How much does AutoCAD cost?

Annual subscription: £1,890 per year; Monthly subscription: £234 per month; Students and educators: Free 1-year education access. These are the vendor's published prices, checked 19 Oct 2026 on autodesk.com.

Which AutoCAD alternatives are open source?

LibreCAD (GPL-2.0) and QCAD (GPL-3.0).

Which AutoCAD alternatives run on a Mac?

LibreCAD and QCAD (all of them).

How do I move from AutoCAD to LibreCAD?

LibreCAD's command-line converters turn DWG drawings into DXF (or PDF, PNG and SVG) without opening the editor: librecad dwg2dxf -o drawing.dxf drawing.dwg. Our step-by-step guide follows LibreCAD's official documentation.

Related categories: 2D drafting

Check file compatibility before switching. Free tools import STEP, DXF and other neutral formats well, but native SolidWorks, Altium or Revit files, drawing standards and PDM workflows may not carry over cleanly.