AutoCAD
Free trial onlyIndustry-standard DWG CAD
Free tier & pricing
Self-serve 15-day free trial of the full product; it expires automatically and there is no permanent free tier (only student/edu licenses).
Last verified Jun 23, 2026. Report a change →
The short answer
AutoCAD is Autodesk's flagship 2D/3D CAD application widely used for architectural drafting and floor plans.
The facts
- Pricing
- Paid · Free trial only
- Free tier
- No
- Runs in browser
- No
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS
- 2D / 3D
- Good 3D
- Learning curve
- Moderate
- Export formats
- DWG, DXF, PDF
The catch
- Desktop install only — no browser version.
- The paid plan is annual billing only.
Best for
Professional drafting on DWG
AutoCAD: questions, answered
Is AutoCAD free?
Not really — AutoCAD offers a free trial rather than a lasting free tier. Self-serve 15-day free trial of the full product; it expires automatically and there is no permanent free tier (only student/edu licenses). After the trial it costs Paid.
What platforms does AutoCAD run on?
AutoCAD is available on Windows, macOS. It is a desktop install with no browser version.
What file formats can you export from AutoCAD?
AutoCAD exports to DWG, DXF, PDF. That includes CAD formats, so you can hand files to a contractor or open them in AutoCAD.
Does AutoCAD do 3D and photorealistic renders?
AutoCAD supports 3D with good 3d render quality. For fully photorealistic output you may want a heavier tool.
Is AutoCAD easy to learn?
Moderate to pick up. Professional drafting on DWG