DraftSight

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
DraftSight
Score 8.8 out of 10
N/A
DraftSight is a 2D and 3D CAD solution for architects, engineers and construction service providers, as well as professional CAD users, designers, educators and hobbyists. DraftSight lets users create, edit, view, and markup any kind of 2D and 3D DWG file with greater ease, speed, and efficiency. Its familiar user interface helps to facilitate a quick transition from other CAD applications. DraftSight Offerings: DraftSight Professional: the advanced 2D CAD drafting…
$249
per year
Pricing
DraftSight
Editions & Modules
DraftSight Professional
$249
per year
DraftSight Premium (3D)
$549
per year
DraftSight Enterprise
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DraftSight Enterprise Plus
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Offerings
Pricing Offerings
DraftSight
Free Trial
Yes
Free/Freemium Version
No
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
No
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsDraftSight Professional, and Premium are available to purchase online directly. DraftSight Enterprise and Enterprise Plus are available to purchase through local resellers.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
DraftSight
Considered Both Products
DraftSight
Chose DraftSight
Far simpler to use, and includes many of the same tools as AutoCAD. In our business, the ability to quickly get up and running without a long learning curve is of paramount importance. We are a startup, and don't have a lot of resources, which requires each of us to fill many …
Chose DraftSight
DraftSight does not have some of the features that AutoCAD has, but for most users, they aren't needed. The price difference is a major benefit in favor of DraftSight.
Chose DraftSight
DraftSight offers simple cost-effective options. The ease of use and functionality outweighs all the other products.
It is easy to transfer from the other products as a user, while not offering parametric modelling, it does allow the designer to effectively solve problems that …
Chose DraftSight
In my opinion, very similar to each other but DraftSight Professional is priced at $299 per year while AutoCAD is priced at $2030 per year. The $1731 savings per year allows for hardware upgrades sooner.
Chose DraftSight
DraftSight is just as good, or better, than AutoCAD. Also at a price that is very competitive. Plus, DraftSight has new features every few releases.
Chose DraftSight
While SketchUp is free, DraftSights cost is minimal and its abilities are much greater. It is so much easier to layout and modifies a system design. Since DraftSight is compatible with all versions of CAD, it makes it easy to collaborate with customers on their specific …
Chose DraftSight
We have used AutoCAD in the past and it often had extended hang times when working on drawings.
DraftSight has cut that almost completely out, processing and rendering times are so fast.
The cost of DraftSight compared to AutoCAD was also a huge impact for us.
Chose DraftSight
Relatively identical interface to AutoCAD but at a much lower cost.
Chose DraftSight
I have used the following CAD programs: VisualCADD, AutoCAD, TurboCAD, SolidEdge 2D, and DesignCAD. I have tried a few others that I didn't like. For me, drawing from scratch, the most efficient program is VisualCADD. No other CAD program I've tried so far have matched it. …
Chose DraftSight
AutoCAD. DraftSight is a better CAD software that can handle our CAD needs at a very reasonable price. These CAD products are either very limited or crippled, or are very expensive.
Chose DraftSight
Good product affordable
Chose DraftSight
Comparisons done with AutoCAD, FreeCAD & LibreCAD. Until DraftSight sales & support address a query raised on more than occasion, I am not willing to recommend full replacement of AutoCAD with DraftSight Pro.
Chose DraftSight
Being a user for almost 10 years of DraftSight, the ease of use, the distribution of functions, etc. make switching to another program a bit painful and in need of a learning period.
Chose DraftSight
Lower price with similar performance and functions. It is extremely easy to use. I have no problem switching between Draftsight and AutoCAD. It saved me some time from learning a new software so that I can focus on the requests/tasks.
Chose DraftSight
DraftSight is more simple and very economical to use.
Chose DraftSight
We selected DraftSight because Autodesk wanted too much money for their LT software. Initially, I was impressed with the seamless integration, I could use the command line just like AutoCAD. As I became more familiar with DraftSight, and also had more exposure, I started to …
Chose DraftSight
DraftSight is very similar to order versions of AutoCAD, so the learning curve was minimal. Of course the language and commands are different; which takes some getting used to. I still have to think "Sheet Mode" and "Model Mode". I haven't really used the 3D capabilities, but …
Chose DraftSight
Draftsight has, for our organization, the capability we require that AutoCAD has but without the excessively over-inflated price. We have been using Draftsight for many years. If Draftsight stability and LISP integration were more stable, they could easily take over the DWG/DXF …
Chose DraftSight
Draftsight is so close to the benchmark of AutoCAD it's uncanny. At a glance, it is AutoCAD. Comparing it to TurboCAD, Draftsight for me is far more user friendly, I’m a keyboard shortcutter--Draftsight and AutoCAD keyboard commands are the same. I would rather draw my plans …
Features
DraftSight
Computer-Aided Design Software
Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of Product A and Product B
DraftSight
7.0
6 Ratings
5% below category average
3D Modeling7.32 Ratings
2D Drafting8.56 Ratings
Rendering and Visualization6.13 Ratings
Parametric Design7.31 Ratings
Collaboration and Sharing7.45 Ratings
Compatibility with other software and formats8.26 Ratings
Assembly Design7.23 Ratings
Simulation and Analysis4.01 Ratings
Documentation and Annotation6.76 Ratings
Customization and Extensions6.95 Ratings
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DraftSight
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User Ratings
DraftSight
Likelihood to Recommend
9.1
(416 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.1
(23 ratings)
Usability
8.1
(23 ratings)
Availability
8.2
(7 ratings)
Performance
8.2
(6 ratings)
Support Rating
4.5
(15 ratings)
In-Person Training
9.1
(1 ratings)
Implementation Rating
8.9
(16 ratings)
Configurability
8.3
(6 ratings)
Contract Terms and Pricing Model
7.3
(1 ratings)
Ease of integration
8.2
(4 ratings)
Product Scalability
7.4
(7 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
9.0
(4 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
7.9
(5 ratings)
User Testimonials
DraftSight
Likelihood to Recommend
Dassault Systemes
2D design work
3D design work
Large area (500m²+) analysis and assessment
From product design, including production drawings to lay out of large (10m x 1m footprint) layouts DraftSight is a cost effective solution providing all appropriate interfaces for BIM.
The level of detail during rendering (while it can be slow) is good for visualization and for use in installation and training materials
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Pros
Dassault Systemes
  • You can easily bring in a dwg format drawing into the programme and it will display the information just as well as AutoCAD.
  • The programme supports shortcut features or one-click buttons for the most commonly used operations.
  • Script files can be used which is a bonus.
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Cons
Dassault Systemes
  • The text search and replace is very crude and barely works. Needs a major revamping.
  • The layout tabs are very clunky and hard to use. Needs to be fixed.
  • DraftSight will fix a problem in one version, mess it up in another version, then fix it again later on. And so forth, and so forth, and so forth. Very poor software update control.
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Likelihood to Renew
Dassault Systemes
It has given us, a small startup, the ability to compete effectively with far larger competitors by evening the playing field at a low cost.
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Usability
Dassault Systemes
Easy if you know how to use CAD software. But is not very difficult to learn using DraftSight if this is your first CAD software. As soon as you get in to it the work flow will save you a lot of time and its simple interface is very nice.
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Reliability and Availability
Dassault Systemes
Other than a bug created by a VAR tech support that didn't get resolved until I installed the next version, DraftSight has worked fine.
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Performance
Dassault Systemes
In general it's very quick to load drawings...now it depends a lot on the file we're opening or working on.
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Support Rating
Dassault Systemes
Technical support seems to be overseas with broken English and difficulty to read English. I asked for a trial license to try the fix but it was declined. Ask pratiksha.dahotre and gayatri.keskar for details. In summary, they released a broken version, I helped to fix by providing feedback and error logs. They claimed it is fixed but I can't test it.
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In-Person Training
Dassault Systemes
Based on some knowledge of AutoCad, using Draftsight took a short time before I felt comfortable using it.
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Implementation Rating
Dassault Systemes
Take time to get used to where commands are and how the interface can be customized to suit your needs and work style. The keyboard commands are very helpful and can make work more efficient if time is taken to learn them.
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Alternatives Considered
Dassault Systemes
While SketchUp is free, DraftSights cost is minimal and its abilities are much greater. It is so much easier to layout and modifies a system design. Since DraftSight is compatible with all versions of CAD, it makes it easy to collaborate with customers on their specific system design. We spend less time and see greater sales on our projects.
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Contract Terms and Pricing Model
Dassault Systemes
It's a typical contract for cad software. It was inexpensive at the time I started. But now the more useful features are on the more premium (priced) version.
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Scalability
Dassault Systemes
As a startup, we really appreciate scalable software or tools, and because we use it for diverse types of projects, flexibility is key.
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Professional Services
Dassault Systemes
Quite responsive when I have an issue, and with little to no delay in responding. They are professional and know the software so have been able to solve all of the issues that I have had with both using the software and also with making revisions as required. Non-technical issues like invoices have also been resolved quickly.
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Return on Investment
Dassault Systemes
  • Draftsight has been very cost effective, it was free a few years ago then £79 a year, which it still is if you have the standard version. Now the minium level is Profession edition at £159+ VAT per year. Which is still very good value for money, just more that what we currently pay with the standard licences we have.
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ScreenShots

DraftSight Screenshots

Screenshot of Plate InsertScreenshot of Image TraceScreenshot of 2D and 3D DWG filesScreenshot of HomeByMe Integration