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GstarCAD vs ZWCAD: catalog facts
GstarCAD	ZWCAD
Best for: Drafters and engineers who work with DWG drawings	Best for: Drafters and firms that need DWG-compatible CAD without a subscription
Paid Paid licence, with a 30-day free trial.	Paid Perpetual licences start at $899, with a 30-day free trial.
Windows	Windows
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	Native DWG compatibility for sharing with AutoCAD users Perpetual licence option instead of a subscription All 4 strengths for ZWCAD Native DWG compatibility for sharing with AutoCAD users Perpetual licence option instead of a subscription Covers both 2D drafting and 3D work Supports add-on applications and custom development
Paid software after the 30-day trial Specialised editions are separate products	Paid software with a high upfront cost Closed source
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Not open source	Not open source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is 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 GstarCAD gstarcad.net Catalog checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for ZWCAD zwsoft.com/zwcad Catalog checked September 23, 2026

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