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QCAD vs nanoCAD: catalog facts
QCAD	nanoCAD
Best for: Drawing accurate 2D plans and technical drawings without a subscription	Best for: Drafters who need DWG-compatible CAD for less than AutoCAD costs
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 + paid options Subscriptions from $289 per year, a full free trial, and a separate free edition.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows
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	Native DWG editing as a lower-cost AutoCAD alternative Modular add-ons for mechanical, construction, raster and survey work All 3 strengths for nanoCAD Native DWG editing as a lower-cost AutoCAD alternative Modular add-ons for mechanical, construction, raster and survey work 2D and 3D parametric constraints in the Pro bundle
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	Windows only Recommended hardware is fairly demanding, including a 1920x1080 minimum screen
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Not open source
License: GPL-3.0	License not stated
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 nanoCAD nanocad.com Catalog checked September 24, 2026

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