Open-Source AutoCAD Alternatives (2026)

Identifying AutoCAD · Mark source

Identification graphic of a CAD drafting workspace with a command line and a floor-plan viewport — forkalt original identification graphic (not an Autodesk screenshot). Source · License: CC0.

People look for an AutoCAD alternative when they want an OSI-style license or a local DXF/DWG editor. This hub lists 2D drafting tools we verified on 2026-10-20. AutoCAD is named only to identify that product class. Parametric 3D CAD hangs off the SolidWorks hub.

Quick take.

LibreCAD — GPL-2.0 2D CAD. Reads DXF/DWG, writes DXF/DWG/PDF/SVG. Latest release v2.2.1.6.
CADCraft — Pure-Rust AutoCAD-style 2D/3D CAD in the ArtCraft suite (pre-alpha).

How we pick

Open-source license files we could open on an official host.
2D CAD / DXF-DWG drafting (not parametric 3D as the lead job).
Honest maturity: CADCraft’s ROADMAP calls it pre-alpha.
No unsourced “beats AutoCAD” claims.

Comparison

Name	License	Price	Platforms	Runs locally	Maturity	Last release
LibreCAD	GPL-2.0	free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	See page	v2.2.1.6
CADCraft	MIT OR Apache-2.0	free	macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Web	Yes	See page	v0.8.0

Two AutoCAD-class jobs: LibreCAD for 2D CAD today, CADCraft for a new Rust command line — forkalt comparison graphic (2026-10-20). Not a ranking. 3D parametric CAD is on the SolidWorks hub.

Why these two

The 2026-10-20 check covers LibreCAD (mature 2D) and CADCraft (new Rust, pre-alpha).

LibreCAD — GPL-2.0 (LICENSE file; GitHub API NOASSERTION), 6,514 stars / 1,443 forks, created 2011-04-10, release v2.2.1.6 (2026-10-17). DXF/DWG read, DXF/DWG/PDF/SVG write (description). Qt, Windows/macOS/Linux.

CADCraft — created 2026-10-07, 6,003 stars / 2,655 forks, dual MIT OR Apache-2.0, GitHub release v0.8.0 (2026-10-17). ROADMAP.md: pre-alpha. Same ArtCraft family as PhotoCraft.

Sourced snapshot (2026-10-20)

Field	LibreCAD	CADCraft
License	GPL-2.0	MIT OR Apache-2.0
Stars	6,514	6,003
Last release	v2.2.1.6 (2026-10-17)	v0.8.0 (2026-10-17)
Job	2D CAD	Command-line CAD (2D first)
Maturity	Long-standing (master is pre-release; 2.2.1 is stable)	ROADMAP: pre-alpha
DWG	Read/write claimed; DWGSUPPORT build	Read via acadrust; write R2000; unmodelled entities dropped
Quality vs AutoCAD	Not independently tested	Not independently tested

Who should switch

Need 2D CAD you can install this week: LibreCAD v2.2.1.6.
Want a new Rust command-line CAD and accept pre-alpha: CADCraft v0.8.0.
Need parametric 3D parts/assemblies: SolidWorks alternatives (FreeCAD, SolidCraft).
Need illustration, not CAD: Adobe Illustrator alternatives (Inkscape).

Limitations we actually sourced

CADCraft ROADMAP: object snap tracking incomplete; no block editor; plots ignore plot styles; DWG save drops unmodelled content and has never been checked in AutoCAD; 3D modelling ≈ 2% in that table. LibreCAD is 2D, not a 3D solid modeler. We did not open a real DWG corpus.

Setup notes

LibreCAD: GitHub v2.2.1.6 Windows EXE, universal macOS DMG (ad-hoc signed; README documents Gatekeeper), Linux AppImage/snap. CADCraft: signed v0.8.0 desktop/web builds, or cargo run --release -p cadcraft -- --sample (UI builds want Rust 1.95+). Not run here.

License notes

Not legal advice. GPL-2.0 (LibreCAD) is copyleft. CADCraft is permissive dual MIT/Apache-2.0.

LibreCAD · CADCraft
SolidWorks alternatives
PhotoCraft · PhotoCraft vs GIMP · FigCraft
Image & Design

Listed options

LibreCAD

GPL-2.0 2D CAD. Reads DXF/DWG, writes DXF/DWG/PDF/SVG. Latest release v2.2.1.6.

GPL-2.0

CADCraft

Pure-Rust AutoCAD-style 2D/3D CAD in the ArtCraft suite (pre-alpha).

MIT OR Apache-2.0

FAQ

What is the best free AutoCAD alternative?

Among 2D options sourced 2026-10-20, LibreCAD is the long-standing GPL-2.0 editor (6,514 GitHub stars, v2.2.1.6). CADCraft is a new pure-Rust command-line CAD (MIT OR Apache-2.0, 6,003 stars, v0.8.0) whose own ROADMAP says pre-alpha. “Best” depends on maturity vs a new codebase. We have no bake-off.

Is CADCraft a drop-in AutoCAD?

No. ROADMAP.md (opened 2026-10-20) lists four failing alpha-gate workflows, including DWG save dropping unmodelled entities. Vendor estimate about 38% ready for real work.

Where do FreeCAD and SolidCraft go?

Parametric 3D. See SolidWorks alternatives. This hub is drafting / DXF-DWG.

Does LibreCAD read DWG?

The GitHub description says it can read DXF/DWG. README says DWG I/O needs a DWGSUPPORT build. We have not tested a real architectural DWG.

Sources & verification

Last verified 2026-10-20 · Last updated 2026-10-20· Edited by forkalt editors · Editorial policy

License notes are not legal advice. Read the original LICENSE. Trademark & disclaimer.