Compare software

QCAD vs Design: catalog facts
QCAD	Design
Best for: Drawing accurate 2D plans and technical drawings without a subscription	Best for: Linux users who need a free 2D drafting tool that exchanges DXF files
Free + paid options QCAD Community Edition is free and open source under GPLv3. The commercial Professional edition adds DWG support and… Full pricing details for QCAD QCAD Community Edition is free and open source under GPLv3. The commercial Professional edition adds DWG support and further tools for a one-off fee.	Free Free and open source under the GPL-3.0-or-later licence.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Linux, Web
Over forty construction and twenty modification tools with layers and blocks DXF input and output, printing to scale and across multiple pages All 4 strengths for QCAD Over forty construction and twenty modification tools with layers and blocks DXF input and output, printing to scale and across multiple pages Thirty-five CAD fonts plus TrueType, metric and imperial units An interface people consistently describe as easy to pick up without CAD experience	Reads and writes the standard DXF format Command line prompts guide each operation All 4 strengths for Design Reads and writes the standard DXF format Command line prompts guide each operation Dimensions with full dimension style support Desktop and in-browser versions
2D only; there is no 3D modelling at all DWG support and some tools are in the paid Professional edition All 4 limitations for QCAD 2D only; there is no 3D modelling at all DWG support and some tools are in the paid Professional edition Not aimed at parametric or constraint-driven design Community and Professional builds differing in features can be confusing at first	Desktop version is Linux only 2D drafting only, no 3D modelling
Downloadable app	Downloadable app, Web application
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-3.0	License: GPL-3.0-or-later
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Offline features available	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for QCAD qcad.org Catalog checked September 21, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Design design-app.readthedocs.io Catalog checked October 1, 2026

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