Free CAD software: what do FreeCAD, LibreCAD and nanoCAD Free offer?
Free CAD software is computer-aided design software you can use without paying a licence fee; the best known are the open-source FreeCAD and LibreCAD and nanoCAD Free, which is free for non-commercial use only. In short: for learning and personal projects these programs may be enough; for paid work where you exchange current DWG files with customers, suppliers or partners, we recommend looking at BricsCAD Lite with its perpetual licence, or the free 30-day BricsCAD trial. BricsCAD is free for students and schools.
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What does free CAD software mean?
“Free” means four different things in CAD software. Knowing which one you are dealing with decides whether you can use the program on a commercial project.
- Open source: the program and its source code are distributed under a free licence; FreeCAD and LibreCAD are in this group. There is no licence fee, but support, training and file compatibility are your responsibility.
- Free for non-commercial use: the program costs nothing but may not be used for work that earns revenue; nanoCAD Free is in this group.
- Trial: all features of a commercial program are free for a limited time; the 30-day BricsCAD trial needs no credit card.
- Education licence: a licence given free to students and schools; BricsCAD gives students a one-year BricsCAD Ultimate licence.
Free programs are a good start for learning 2D drafting or 3D modelling. But in architecture, engineering and manufacturing projects in Turkey, files mostly travel in the current DWG format; so the real question is not “is it free?” but “can I open the DWG my customer sends without problems and send it back in the same format?”
What are FreeCAD, LibreCAD and nanoCAD Free?
What is FreeCAD?
FreeCAD is an open-source (LGPL-licensed) parametric 3D modeller. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and asks for no sign-up or licence fee. It works with modules called workbenches: constrained 2D sketches (Sketcher), part design (Part Design), assemblies, technical drawings (TechDraw), BIM, finite element analysis (FEM) and CAM/CNC. According to Wikipedia the current stable release is FreeCAD 1.1, published in March 2026.
- Strength: parametric 3D models, open file formats (STEP, IGES, STL, IFC, DXF) and a large community.
- Limit: FreeCAD does not use DWG as its own format; according to Wikipedia it imports and exports a limited subset of DWG only through the separately installed ODA File Converter. Direct 2D drafting in the style of AutoCAD LT is not the program’s focus either.
What is LibreCAD?
LibreCAD is an open-source (GPLv2-licensed) 2D CAD program. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. According to Wikipedia it was forked from QCAD Community Edition around 2010; the current release series is 2.2.
- Strength: lightweight, easy to install, basic 2D drafting commands.
- Limit: its own format is DXF. According to the feature list on Wikipedia it can only open DWG files or import them as blocks, not save as DWG. There is no 3D modelling.
What is nanoCAD Free?
nanoCAD Free is the legacy version 5 of Nanosoft’s nanoCAD platform and uses DWG as its own format. According to the vendor’s page:
- It is free for non-commercial use only; it may not be used on projects intended for commercial distribution or internally to produce revenue or benefit.
- It supports DWG only up to version 2013; it does not support newer DWG versions.
- Free registration on the website and a free yearly renewal are required; each licence activates on a single computer and there is no network licence.
- The interface is English only; it displays 3D models but creating and editing them is restricted. The vendor states it cannot guarantee compatibility with Windows 10/11.
Sources: freecad.org, Wikipedia, “FreeCAD”, librecad.org, Wikipedia, “LibreCAD”, nanoCAD Free; accessed 3 November 2026.
Before using free CAD on a commercial project
1. Read the licence terms
Open-source FreeCAD and LibreCAD carry no licence fee. nanoCAD Free, however, is for non-commercial use only; using it on a project delivered to a customer or earning the company revenue breaks its licence terms.
2. Test the DWG exchange
Open the current DWG files your customers and suppliers send, edit them and save them back as DWG. LibreCAD does not save DWG, FreeCAD needs a converter, and nanoCAD Free does not support DWGs newer than 2013. BricsCAD opens and saves DWG as its own format.
3. Account for support and training
With open-source programs, problems are solved in forums and the community; on a project with a deadline you may not have time to wait for an answer. With BricsCAD, set-up, training in Turkish and technical support are provided by MechSoft.
4. What will you need tomorrow?
A team drafting in 2D today may move to 3D modelling, sheet metal or BIM tomorrow. None of the free programs offers that path on one DWG platform; you can start with BricsCAD Lite and upgrade to Pro, Mechanical or BIM with the same files.
What should you use when?
If you are a student
BricsCAD is free for students and schools: upload your student ID and you get a one-year BricsCAD Ultimate licence. You learn 2D drafting, 3D modelling, mechanical design and BIM in one program, in the DWG format you will meet at work.
For a personal project or hobby
For personal projects that earn no revenue you can start with FreeCAD, LibreCAD or nanoCAD Free. If the project is going to a customer or into production, try BricsCAD free for 30 days so you can exchange DWG files without problems.
Commercial work, mainly 2D drafting
BricsCAD Lite: perpetual-licence 2D drafting, DWG as its own format, Windows, macOS and Linux. There is no forced subscription, and it is upgraded on the same platform as needs grow.
Commercial work, 3D models and manufacturing
If you like FreeCAD’s parametric 3D approach, BricsCAD Pro (3D modelling) and BricsCAD Mechanical (parts, sheet metal, assemblies, manufacturing drawings) do the same job on a DWG platform; your files go to your customer as DWG with no conversion.
Your AutoCAD applications run on BricsCAD
The LISP routines, menus and applications you have built up for AutoCAD over the years are no obstacle to moving to BricsCAD. The points below come from Bricsys’s (Octave) Build on BricsCAD and CAD alternative pages (accessed 3 November 2026).
LISP and DCL
Most existing AutoLISP programs run in BricsCAD without modification; DCL dialog boxes can also be used unchanged in most cases.
Menus, scripts and templates
BricsCAD is compatible with AutoCAD’s command, script, macro and menu structure; your menus, command scripts, templates, CTB/STB plot styles and layer states keep working in BricsCAD.
C++ applications (ObjectARX → BRX)
BRX is code-compatible with AutoCAD’s ObjectARX. C++ applications whose source code you hold are moved to BricsCAD by building them with BRX; if a software vendor holds the source, ask them for the BricsCAD version.
COM, VBA and .NET
BricsCAD’s COM interfaces are similar to AutoCAD’s COM model and let the same client code run on both platforms. Most VBA macros created in AutoCAD run with minimal modification. For .NET applications BricsCAD has a .NET API.
Plan the move with MechSoft
Before the move we list the routines and applications you use together and try each one with your own drawings in the 30-day BricsCAD trial, so it is clear from the start which run as they are and which need building with BRX.
Questions to ask when choosing CAD software in Turkey
Whichever program you evaluate, the answers to these questions decide how easy the switch is and the total cost.
- Does it open and save DWG files natively, without conversion? Do your archived drawings and blocks look the same?
- Are the commands, shortcuts and menus close to what the team is used to? Do your LISP routines and templates run?
- Can you stay on the same platform as you move from 2D to 3D, mechanical design or BIM?
- Is the licence perpetual or a subscription? Is a network licence available? How are updates and support provided?
- Which operating systems does it run on: Windows, macOS, Linux (including Pardus)?
- Where are your drawings stored? With desktop CAD, files stay on your own computers and servers; if a cloud sharing service will be used, ask in which country the data is stored and whether KVKK, Turkey’s data protection law, would require a transfer abroad.
- Is there an authorised partner in Turkey providing installation, training and support in Turkish?
- What is the three-year total cost including licences, maintenance, training and adaptations?
Answering these questions with BricsCAD
MechSoft is an Octave BricsCAD Premium Partner. We can evaluate BricsCAD against these criteria together, on your own drawings.
Native DWG
BricsCAD uses DWG as its own file format, so you work with your archive, templates and partners’ files without conversion.
A familiar way of working
A familiar command structure, menus and LISP support make switching easier and keep the team’s habits.
One platform from 2D to BIM
The Lite (2D), Pro (2D and 3D), Mechanical, BIM and Ultimate editions share one platform; you move up an edition as needs grow.
Windows, macOS and Linux
BricsCAD runs on Windows, macOS and supported Linux distributions.
Your files stay with you
BricsCAD is desktop CAD software; your drawings are kept on your own computers and servers.
Support in Turkish, in Turkey
Installation, training, migration and support are provided in Turkish by the MechSoft team; you can start with a 30-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions about free CAD software
Is there free CAD software?
Yes. The best known are the open-source FreeCAD (3D) and LibreCAD (2D) and nanoCAD Free, which is free for non-commercial use only. BricsCAD is free for students; commercial users can try BricsCAD free for 30 days.
What is FreeCAD used for?
FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeller. It includes modules for part and assembly design, technical drawings, BIM and finite element analysis. It does not use DWG as its own format.
What is LibreCAD?
LibreCAD is an open-source 2D CAD program for Windows, macOS and Linux. Its own format is DXF; it can open DWG files but cannot save as DWG.
Can nanoCAD Free be used for commercial work?
No. According to the vendor, nanoCAD Free is for non-commercial use only and supports DWG up to version 2013. For commercial work you can consider BricsCAD Lite with its perpetual licence.
Does FreeCAD open DWG files?
Not directly. FreeCAD imports and exports a limited subset of DWG through the separately installed ODA File Converter; it reads and writes DXF itself. If you work with DWG all the time, choose a program that uses DWG as its own format.
Is BricsCAD free?
BricsCAD is free for students and schools (a one-year BricsCAD Ultimate licence). Commercial users can try all features free for 30 days with no credit card; after that it is bought with a perpetual licence or a subscription.
Is it hard to move from a free program to BricsCAD?
No. BricsCAD opens DXF and DWG files, works with an AutoCAD-like command structure and runs most LISP routines without modification. MechSoft helps with set-up and training in Turkish during the move.
Continue with CAD selection
Let’s assess your CAD needs together
Let’s talk through the drawings you produce, your DWG archive and how your team works, and show BricsCAD on your own files.