AutoCAD
Alternatives Comparison
AUTODESK® AutoCAD® is such a great software that there are so many AutoCAD alternatives. The following brand names can be mentioned: Bricsys® BricsCAD®, Gstarsoft GStarCAD, progesoft® progeCAD®, CMS IntelliCAD, CIC® enjiCAD®, nanoCAD, ZWSOFT® ZWCAD®... (Be aware that, these are not free applications)
Among them, Bricsys® BricsCAD® and ZWSOFT®ZWCAD® are good candidates for their competitive price, AutoCAD most-similar and stability.
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However, there are some more aspects to consider before choosing an alternative, as described in the following series...
1. CAD interface
BricsCAD interface has some unique features which requires some efforts to learn. For example, the options dialog box is replaced by a Settings panel, which is quite difficult for users who tranfers from AutoCAD
ZWCAD interface copies nearly 100% of AutoCAD interface
2. Lisp/Macro support
BricsCAD supports Lisp code (.lsp) and VBA (.dvb) directly from AutoCAD
ZWCAD only supports Lisp code (.lsp) directly from AutoCAD.
For professional users, original CAD is not enough. Lisp/Macro are must-have part of a good CAD software. Here comes the problems, since very limited Lisp/Macro types can be reused directly.
For BricsCAD, users can re-use Lisp source code (.LSP) and VBA source code (VBA) without editing.
For ZWCAD, only Lisp source code (.LSP) can be reused without editing. Note that: not every commands in AutoCAD Lisp can run properly in BricsCAD/ZWCAD, especially those with VLA-, VLAx- functions, which may not be fully supported in CAD alternatives.
(ZWSOFT announced that they have a tool for converting AutoCAD VLX/FAS to ZW format, but I haven't had a chance to touch that. Here is the announcement: https://dl.zwsoft.com/support/ZWCAD/2023/ZWCAD_Lisp_FAQ_enu_2023.pdf) (*)
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The other types of custom applications (AutoCAD compiled ARX, DLL, VLX, FAS ...) need to edit source code and rebuild. This task is not very easy. Users must have SOURCE CODE, and pay for a developer to do the conversion.
Be aware that, some special feature of AutoCAD, such as Dynamic block, is not fully supported by alternative CAD. So, the conversion may be not 100% successful.
(*) More information
In this document, ZWCAD mention about a converter for AutoCAD .vlx, .fas file. However, I haven't had a chance to touch that.
3. Forums
AutoCAD has a 23-year super forum and AUTODESK has 101 more forums for other categories.
BricsCAD has an acitve Forum while ZWCAD NOT
Community support is another important aspect that should be taken into account.
- AUTODESK® AutoCAD®, no doubt, has a very active super forum. With 20+ years cumulative knowledge, this forum can solve almost every problem you met.
- Bricsys® BricsCAD® forum is quite small compared with AutoCAD forum. Despite of that, your question will surely be answered by BricsCAD staff.
- ZWSOFT® ZWCAD® has NO forum.
4. Dynamic block
Most CAD alternatives are not permitted to create/define new Dynamic block or redefine existing Dynamic block. (GStarCAD is an exception)
BricsCAD is developing its own Parametric Block to replace Dynamic Block.
Dynamic block is a very powerful feature of CAD. AutoCAD has a separate sub forum for this feature, the number of posts in Dynamic block sub forum accounts for ~10% of total AutoCAD forum posts.
Most of other CAD alternatives are only able to READ existing Dynamic block. To create or edit a Dynamic block, users must use AutoCAD.
Posts of Mr.Dunfee in Bricsys forum tell that "Autodesk has apparently been able to patent their creation and editing of Dynamic blocks so to prevent others from creating something that works to create dynamic blocks" https://forum.bricsys.com/discussion/31599/autodesk-dynamic-block-patents
Another post from CIC IntelliCAD forum confirms that: "the methodology for dynamic blocks creation; is patented by Autodesk, i.e., Patent US7860691B2 granted on Dec. 28, 2010." https://forums.intellicadms.com/viewtopic.php?t=1897
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However, everything has exceptions:
+ GStarCAD still offers Dynamic block creation/edit feature. A dynamic block edited by GStarCAD is still recognized as dynamic in AutoCAD (except the Block properties table parameter is lost);
+ BricsCAD offers their own Parametric Block feature, which can be converted from AutoCAD dynamic block; this feature has been provided as a beta test since BricsCAD 2023;
+ DraftSight and CorelCAD (same ARES core) also offer their own dynamic block, which converted from AutoCAD dynamic block. The converted block of DraftSight and CorelCAD will be recognized as static (normal) Block in AutoCAD.
5. The App Store
After 13+ years, the number of Apps that are live on AUTODESK App Store reach ~4000 Apps and keep stability around that number.
Bricsys owns the second largest CAD App store with ~400 Apps for Bricsys platform
Though CAD Alternatives seem catching up with AutoCAD in terms of software features, AutoCAD® remains the absolute champion in the field of providing custom software/ add-ins/ plug-ins.
AUTODESK® App Store, formerly AUTODESK Exchange App, started to open since Mid 2011. After 13+ years, the number of Apps that are live on AUTODESK App Store reach ~4000 Apps and keep stability around that number.
The number looks so small compared with ~3 millions Apps on Apple Store or Google Play store, because AUTODESK owns a mega CAD collection, not a complete ecosystem.
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Bricsys BricsCAD owns the second largest CAD App store with ~400 Apps for Bricsys platform. The store is becoming some kind of material warehouse, since Bricsys decided to stop the sales of third-party Applications via the Bricsys eStore from 2024.
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ZWSOFT does not have a true App store, the company only has a "third-party applications" page
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CADSOMA, the latest player in the CAD store game, owns the third largest CAD App store with 249 Apps. To clarify, CADSOMA is an App exchange website. It does not own any CAD platform, but accepts Apps from any platforms to trade through it.
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For most CAD users, the most valuable part of each App store is its ... FREE Apps. Just try browsing through a store Free App category, sort by most download criterion, then you will find some amazing Apps, which may provide essential features that original CAD misses.
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Here is the links to some CAD stores:
https://boa.bricsys.com/applications/
https://www.zwsoft.com/product/application
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For more information about Autodesk App Store, please have a look at series: