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AutoCAD vs GstarCAD: catalog facts
AutoCAD	GstarCAD
Best for: Professionals who draft and exchange DWG drawings	Best for: Drafters and engineers who work with DWG drawings
Paid Commercial software sold by Autodesk, with a trial available.	Paid Paid licence, with a 30-day free trial.
Web	Windows
Native DWG format used widely across industries Desktop and web versions share drawings All 3 strengths for AutoCAD Native DWG format used widely across industries Desktop and web versions share drawings Covers both 2D drafting and 3D modeling	Works directly in the .dwg file format Covers both 2D drafting and 3D design All 4 strengths for GstarCAD Works directly in the .dwg file format Covers both 2D drafting and 3D design Industry editions for mechanical and architectural work Related viewer, cloud and BIM products from the same developer
Expensive commercial licensing Requires an Autodesk account	Paid software after the 30-day trial Specialised editions are separate products
Downloadable app, Web application	Downloadable app
Not open source	Not open source
License not stated	License not stated
Account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for AutoCAD autodesk.com/products/autocad/overview Catalog checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for GstarCAD gstarcad.net Catalog checked September 24, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.