QCAD
Free, with limits2D CAD with free community edition
Free tier & pricing
The open-source Community Edition is free forever for 2D drafting; the Professional add-on runs only 15 minutes at a time in trial mode until purchased.
Last verified Jun 23, 2026. Report a change →
The short answer
QCAD is a 2D CAD application for technical drawings and floor plans, available as a free open-source Community Edition or a paid Professional version.
The facts
- Pricing
- Paid · Free, with limits
- Free tier
- Yes
- Runs in browser
- No
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- 2D / 3D
- No 3D
- Learning curve
- Moderate
- Export formats
- DXF, DWG, PDF
The catch
- Desktop install only — no browser version.
Best for
Free 2D drafting with optional pro upgrade
QCAD: questions, answered
Is QCAD free?
QCAD has a free tier, but with limits. The open-source Community Edition is free forever for 2D drafting; the Professional add-on runs only 15 minutes at a time in trial mode until purchased. Paid plans start at Paid.
What platforms does QCAD run on?
QCAD is available on Windows, macOS, Linux. It is a desktop install with no browser version.
What file formats can you export from QCAD?
QCAD exports to DXF, DWG, PDF. That includes CAD formats, so you can hand files to a contractor or open them in AutoCAD.
Is QCAD easy to learn?
Moderate to pick up. Free 2D drafting with optional pro upgrade