QCAD
ActiveOverview
QCAD is a free, open source 2D CAD application for creating technical drawings such as building plans, interiors, mechanical parts, and schematics.42 It targets hobbyists, occasional users, teachers, students, and non-professionals needing simple CAD tools, with an intuitive interface, modularity, and cross-platform support via the Qt framework.452 QCAD Professional adds advanced features, while QCAD/CAM extends it with manufacturing tools for CNC machines.1
Key Features
- 2D Drawing Tools - Construction and modification of points, lines, arcs, circles, ellipses, splines, polylines, texts, dimensions, hatches, fills, and raster images.4
- Part Library - Over 4800 CAD parts available.4
- Layer Management - Edit layer attributes and view lists as dockable widgets.3
- Object Snaps - Precise snapping for entity selection and placement.4
- Measurement Tools - Tools for measuring distances and angles.4
- Scripting Interface - ECMAScript (JavaScript) scripting and command line tools like dwg2pdf.4
- Printing - Print to scale on multiple pages.4
- Blocks - Grouping entities into reusable blocks.4
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| QCAD Community | Free | Open source 2D CAD with core drawing tools, part library, scripting.4 |
| QCAD Professional | Paid (one-time purchase) | All Community features plus advanced tools like API, customizable templates.310 |
| QCAD/CAM | Paid (one-time purchase) | QCAD Professional plus CAM module for G-code export, toolpath management, CNC support.1 |
Platforms & Requirements
QCAD runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux without emulation.42 It is based on the Qt framework for cross-platform compatibility and has no specific minimum requirements listed beyond standard desktop hardware.26 No notable platform-specific limitations are mentioned.4
Integrations & Ecosystem
- DXF/DWG import/export
- BMP, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, ICO, XPM import/export
- SVG, PDF export via command line tools
- G-code export (QCAD/CAM)
- TrueType fonts support
- Over 35 CAD fonts included
- Part library with 4800+ CAD parts
Alternatives
| App | Difference |
|---|---|
| LibreCAD | Free open-source 2D CAD focused on simplicity; lacks QCAD's scripting and professional add-ons.5 |
| AutoCAD LT | Commercial 2D CAD with broader industry adoption but higher cost and steeper learning curve.3 |
| DraftSight | Free 2D CAD from Dassault; supports DWG natively but not open-source like QCAD.3 |
| FreeCAD | Open-source parametric modeler with 2D drafting; more oriented toward 3D than pure 2D like QCAD.5 |
Reputation
QCAD is regarded as an accessible, intuitive 2D CAD tool ideal for beginners, hobbyists, and educators, with strengths in ease of use, open-source nature, and cross-platform support.45 Users appreciate features like 2D drawing (4.5/5), drafting (5.0/5), and its part library, though data import/export scores lower at 2.5/5.3 Criticisms include absence of 3D capabilities and some limitations in professional workflows compared to full suites.53 It maintains an active development status with version 3.32 as of recent updates and a global user base over 100,000.45
Sources (10)
- https://www.qcad.org/en/products/qcad-cam
- https://www.qcad.org/doc/qcad/latest/developer/
- https://www.getapp.com/construction-software/a/qcad/
- https://qcad.org/en/
- https://qcad.org/doc/qcad/2.2/reference/en/chapter03.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0acWavyNIQg
- https://qcad.org/en/tutorial-1-1-using-cad-tools
- https://qcad.org/doc/qcad/latest/reference/en/index.php?page=scripts%2FCam%2FCamToolpath%2FCamAddProfileToolpath%2Fdoc%2FCamAddProfileToolpath
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP3P1E0xBaI
- https://www.qcad.org/en/qcad-documentation/qcad-features