It leans heavily into the open-source tradition with users encouraged to tweak and tame the program to suit their needs. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. No trial period, limited license, or capped commercial use here – LibreCAD is free to download and use as you see fit. LibreCAD is one of the few no-strings-attached free 2D CAD software around.

Supported File Formats: DXF, DWG, JWW, LFF, CXF, SVG, BMP, CUR, GIF, ICO, JPEG, PNG, TIF, XPM, and more.

Operating System Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Price: Free with no commercial restrictions.

Similarly, a 2D drawing for floor planning or facades makes more sense than a full 3D model, removing the laborious task of creating complex, dimensionally accurate models for each singular element.

Unlike 3D CAD software, which allows users to create a 3D model, 2D CAD restricts dimensional manipulations to the X and Y axes.ģD CAD programs often include a 2D sketching mode for projects that benefit more from a top view, whether to save time, for collaborative reasons, or due to the nature of the application.įor example, 3D modeling for laser cutting would be a waste of time and resources as cutters and engravers only process 2D images and vectors. Top Picks Best Free 2D CAD Software – Full Round-UpĢD CAD software is a computer-aided design program that allows designers, artists, architects, and engineers to create two-dimensional drawings, drafts, and plans thanks to a suite of shapes, layers, commands, and tools tuned to simplify the process.

2d drawing software