DraftSight

Score8.7 out of 10

1,342 Reviews and Ratings

What is DraftSight?

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 solution with time-saving functionalities and an API to help bring designs to life quickly and easily. Ideal for companies, individuals and designers.

DraftSight Premium (3D): a robust 2D drafting and 3D design experience with full 3D capabilities and constraints features to help meet any drafting, modeling, prototyping, manufacturing, laser cutting and 3D printing needs. Created for individuals, designers, companies, manufacturers and makers.

DraftSight Enterprise and Enterprise Plus: a comprehensive 2D drafting and 3D design solution created to meet various drafting, modeling, prototyping, manufacturing, laser cutting, and 3D printing requirements. Designed for large organizations with many users or multiple sites.

Categories & Use Cases

Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

Media

1 / 4

2D Drafting
Provides tools for creating and editing 2D drawings, including the ability to add dimensions, annotations, and symbols.
Category average: 8.2
Compatibility with other software and formats
Allows users to import and export designs in various file formats, ensuring compatibility with other software and stakeholder requirements.
Category average: 7.7
Assembly Design
Enables users to create and manage assemblies of multiple components, including the ability to define relationships and constraints between parts.
Category average: 7.5

Customization and Extensions
Provides options for customizing the software interface or to include add-ons which extend the functionality of the software.
Category average: 7.4
Rendering and Visualization
Allows users to create realistic images and visualizations of their designs, including the ability to apply materials, textures, and lighting effects.
Category average: 6.7
Simulation and Analysis
Provides tools for simulating physical properties and behaviors of designs, allowing users to test and optimize their designs before production.
Category average: 6.3

Uday Singh View profile

Consulting Chemical/Environmental Engineer in Professional Services at Independent Consulting (1-10 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use DraftSight extensively in designing the entire emission control system for customer manufacturing processes. The design includes a General Arrangement (GA) plan and elevation layouts, details of components, sectional views of process equipment, and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID). I export the detailed design drawings, typically as .dwg files, to customers and construction contractors for installation of equipment. It would be a challenge to work with both customer engineers and their construction crews without DraftSight, which greatly facilitates my work.

Pros

It allows me to quickly fit equipment into tight spaces because it is very flexible.
It is easy to learn and use, and its numerous features give me many options in the design phase.
It provides me with a single tool to design everything from layouts to instrumentation drawings.
It enables independent small users like me to wield the design capability of a large enterprise.

Cons

It would be more efficient to have direct access to Help Support, although the Help feature and Forum can often answer questions.
For instrumentation, an embedded symbol library would be valuable. I currently have to create my own library.
For layouts, an embedded equipment symbol library (for example, pumps, motors) would be helpful.

Most Important Features

The ability to quickly commit new features into an existing design
Ease of use once you understand the various tools
A great variety of design tools

Return on Investment

Now that I use DraftSight, I can parlay a small investment in the software to a consulting rate of $300 per hour, thereby paying for it in 30 minutes.
Using DraftSight, I can easily compete with larger enterprises and be more nimble.
The use of DraftSight has actually extended my skill set, allowing me to add new features to my designs.
My work is now presented in a more professional manner, and has gained me more respect.

Usability

Alternatives Considered

AutoCAD

Other Software Used

Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Wix, Box

Verified User

Project Manager (1-10 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use DraftSight for quick, familiar 2D drafting, utilizing familiar commands at an outstanding price.

As a previous AutoCAD user, I can highly recommend this product. I use it daily and will continue to do so.

Pros

Simple interface
AutoCAD similarities
Native DWG file type
Import/Export

Cons

Better technical support
No phone support
Offer a paid support option

Usability

Alternatives Considered

AutoCAD LT and Autodesk Fusion

Other Software Used

Autodesk Fusion

Mark Reynolds

Director at Boundary Concepts Limited (1-10 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

<div>BCL uses DraftSight for product design, large scale (500m²+) site layouts and assessments in both .dwg and .dxf formats.</div><div>Product development is in both 2D and 3D.</div><div>

</div><div>It is cost effective and versatile to use without the issues of some 3D work for the more traditional user. I have used both SolidWorks and Inventor and DraftSight offers far more options without needing a bank of computers to process things, just may laptop with a RTX 2070 card.

</div>

Pros

2D Design
3D Design
Large area 3D assessment

Cons

Faster rendering
Better options for custom toolbar control
Reduced log in, I don't always want to log into 'ContentCentral'

Return on Investment

Without DraftSight basic CAD would cost 3x current ROI
The package offers everything a business could need for 2D and 3D work

Usability

Alternatives Considered

AutoCAD, SOLIDWORKS and Autodesk Inventor

Other Software Used

Microsoft Powerpoint, Doodly

Arthur C Gagnon View profile

Design Engineer in Engineering at Wanho Manufacturing, LLC (11-50 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I'm the only user of DrafSight or any other design software in my company. It is used to edit old mechanical desktop files or customers' Autocad files. I would like to get it into use at a local community workshop, but for them, the price is too much for a non-profit to afford.

Pros

Edit Mechanical Desktop or Autocad files.
Great at editing drawings.
Works just like Autocad, so there's a learning curve.

Cons

It would be nice if DraftSight had the 3D functionality of Mechanical Desktop.

Most Important Features

Autocad compatibility.
Low cost vs Autocad.
Continuous improvements each year.

Return on Investment

+ Autocad compatibility.
- Subscription is separate from Solidworks subscription.
Need site license.

Alternatives Considered

AutoCAD

Other Software Used

SOLIDWORKS, Inkscape

Usability

John Bennett

Engineering Manager in Engineering at Weldon Solutions (11-50 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Schematics, basic machine tool layouts, and data translation.

Pros

PDF underlays are useful to help create CAD data when the is no DWG option.
Image tracing is also helpful for the same reason.
Block editing is pretty simple to use.

Cons

The software can be buggy from time to time. Would be good if DraftSight could clean up after itself, I traded "Good " folder remnants for "ac-system-logfile" text files that need to be deleted manually.
Have yet to get 3D ContentCentral to drag and drop models into drawings.
Custom paper sizes for plotting. We use a laser engraver that insists on using a square paper size to reorient the zero point.

Return on Investment

I started using DraftSight as an AutoCAD clone for data conversion and drawing schematics. I didn't think that the cost for DraftSight Professional was unreasonable since we also use LISP routines. Low-end users will be OK with DraftSight standard.

Other Software Used

PTC Creo, KeyShot, Solid Edge

Usability

SketchUp

TurboCAD

AutoCAD LT

DraftSight

What is DraftSight?

Categories & Use Cases

Media

Key Features

Top Performing Features

2D Drafting

Compatibility with other software and formats

Assembly Design

Areas for Improvement

Customization and Extensions

Rendering and Visualization

Simulation and Analysis

Reviews

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Pros

Cons

Most Important Features

Return on Investment

Usability

Alternatives Considered

Other Software Used

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Pros

Cons

Usability

Alternatives Considered

Other Software Used

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Pros

Cons

Return on Investment

Usability

Alternatives Considered

Other Software Used

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Pros

Cons

Most Important Features

Return on Investment

Alternatives Considered

Other Software Used

Usability

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Pros

Cons

Return on Investment

Other Software Used

Usability

Related Products