The AutoCAD Alternative You’ve Never Tried?
A Perpetual License for CAD Software!
This week has been a nice change of pace around here. Kids’ activities are slowing down, the weather is finally nice out, and I’ve been able to deliver a handful of rush projects over the last few weeks!
I’m excited to share this week’s new video since it’s a topic that comes up weekly in the comments and my inbox.
I know many of us are tied to AutoCAD or more specifically the Autodesk vertical software stack. Whether we use Civil 3d, Infraworks, Fusion, Navisworks or any number of the other various software or industry-specific toolsets, it can often be a daunting task to make the switch to a new program just based on file type in addition to having to learn a whole new UI.
This is why I was so surprised when I tried out ZWCAD for the first time a few weeks ago…
Is This the AutoCAD Alternative We’ve Been Waiting For?
If you’ve ever felt like AutoCAD’s pricing is getting out of hand—you're not alone. As software costs continue to rise, more designers and engineering teams are exploring alternatives. That’s why in this week’s video, I took a deep dive into ZWCAD, a lesser-known AutoCAD alternative that’s gaining traction in the CAD design world.
ZWCAD claims to offer full DWG compatibility, a nearly identical interface to AutoCAD, and a significantly lower price tag (Plus it’s a perpetual License). But does it really deliver?
In the video, I put ZWCAD to the test by trying it out on both old and new drawings, checking out the usual tools (annotation styles, xrefs, layouts, etc..) as well as some of their unique/proprietary features.
In the video break down:
How well it handles existing DWG files
Key differences (and similarities) in the UI and shortcuts
Where it excels—and where it still lags behind
Who it’s best suited for (hint: small teams and solo designers take note)
If you're a freelance designers or small business looking to cut software costs without compromising quality, this video is a must-watch.
I also share some honest thoughts on where ZWCAD fits and whether it could actually replace AutoCAD for certain users.
Check it out here now: I Tried ZWCAD, the AutoCAD Alternative... Here's What I Learned!
What do you think about making the switch to an AutoCAD Alternative? Would you make the jump?
For me I am likely too tied to the other Autodesk verticals to make the jump, but if I was primarily a 3d Designer using Solidworks or another brands software and needed a 2d/3d CAD software for occasional use or wasn’t tied to Autodesk I’ve really liked working in ZWCAD!
Let me know what you think in the comments or on twitter: @cadintentions !
That’s all for today, I hope you enjoyed this week’s video and newsletter!
As always, thank you so much for reading and watching, I am super excited for the rest of the year, growing the content, tutorials, and blog with you all.
Cheers and happy Drafting!