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Indie alternatives to AutoCAD

3 products made by independent developers and small teams that do what AutoCAD does, 3 of them with a free plan. Free and open-source options come first.

At a glance

Product	Price	Open source	Self-host	Platforms
FreeCAD	Free	Yes	–	Mac, Windows, Linux
LibreCAD	Free	Yes	–	Mac, Windows, Linux
QCAD	Free plan	–	–	Mac, Windows, Linux

The alternatives

1. FreeCAD

Open-source parametric 3D CAD modeler

Free parametric 3D modeler for mechanical engineering, product design and architecture.

Free · Mac, Windows, Linux · Website ↗

2. LibreCAD

Open-source 2D CAD application

Free 2D CAD program for technical drawings, floor plans and schematics, using the DXF format.

Free · Mac, Windows, Linux · Website ↗

3. QCAD

2D CAD for technical drawings

Cross-platform 2D CAD application for technical drawings such as building plans, mechanical parts and schematics.

Free plan · Mac, Windows, Linux · Website ↗

Questions

Is there a free alternative to AutoCAD?

Yes. 3 of the 3 indie alternatives listed here have a free plan or are free: FreeCAD, LibreCAD and QCAD.

Is there an open-source alternative to AutoCAD?

FreeCAD and LibreCAD are open source.

What makes these alternatives to AutoCAD “indie”?

They are built by independent developers or small teams rather than large companies. Each one is listed because it does the same core job as AutoCAD.

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