I was a newbie...
I use it strictly for my own benefit. I have an offsite design engineer that does the bulk of the design work, then he sends it to me and …
Starting at $249 per year
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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…
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Texas Sales Manager
Airsystem Concepts, Inc. (Environmental Services, 1-10 employees)
Pricing
DraftSight Professional
$249
On Premise
per year
DraftSight Premium (3D)
$549
On Premise
per year
DraftSight Enterprise
Contact sales team
On Premise
Entry-level set up fee?
- No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttp://www.draftsight.com/BuyProfession…
Offerings
- Free Trial
- Free/Freemium Version
- Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Product Demos
DraftSight Demo Video
YouTube
DraftSight Demo (Engelsk)
YouTube
3DEXPERIENCE DraftSight Demo
YouTube
Product Details
- About
- Integrations
- Competitors
- Tech Details
- FAQs
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 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.
DraftSight Screenshots
DraftSight Video
DraftSight: A Better 2D Drafting and 3D Design Experience
DraftSight Integrations
- GEOVIA Surpac
- SOLIDWORKS PDM
- SOLIDWORKS Electrical
- 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
DraftSight Competitors
DraftSight Technical Details
| Deployment Types | On-premise |
|---|---|
| Operating Systems | Windows, Linux, Mac |
| Mobile Application | No |
| Supported Languages | English, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese-Brazilian, Turkish, Russian |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewers rate Availability highest, with a score of 8.7.
The most common users of DraftSight are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Community Insights
TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!
- Business Problems Solved
- Pros
- Cons
- Recommendations
DraftSight is a versatile and user-friendly 2D CAD tool that is highly valued by organizations across industries. Users find it to be a cost-effective solution for a wide range of design and drafting needs. It is particularly suitable for creating and exchanging files with other companies and professionals, making it an ideal choice for collaboration in the furniture industry. Design teams appreciate DraftSight's simplicity and power, as it allows them to collaborate on the creation of new products, improving speed and focus. The software has also been instrumental in various charity projects, such as designing and rebuilding a temple. Engineering departments rely on DraftSight for electrical and mechanical design, taking advantage of its performance and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, DraftSight is widely used as a replacement for AutoCAD in the transition to SolidWorks, enabling quick and easy modification of existing drawings. The software caters to a diverse range of applications, from generating geometry for CAM files to performing geometric layouts for inspection or small construction projects. It is also favored by users for build floor plan layouts, partnering with molding companies, verifying client or vendor drawings, and even creating aircraft floorplans. Users appreciate DraftSight's simplicity, power, and ability to open and edit designs of all kinds while serving as a cost-effective alternative to more expensive software options. Whether it is designing tooling or creating shop floor drawings, DraftSight proves to be reliable for daily tasks and future designs. Furthermore, drafting departments benefit from DraftSight's compatibility with common 2D file formats and its ability to handle technical aspects effectively when preparing 2D CAD drawings for customers provided by vendors. The software is also recommended for architectural projects with no issues, the design and development of engineering projects, the creation of system block diagrams and schematic development, manufacturing drawings, custom drawings conversion from Gerber data into DXF format, mechanical design layouts, die-making models, CNC programming models as well as creating and reviewing basic 2D drawings within the organization. DraftSight is highly valued for its simplicity, affordability, and compatibility with different file types, making it a perfect fit for microbusinesses and individual users. Users appreciate its efficiency in creating professional-grade detailed drawings while reducing installation problems. Moreover, DraftSight's API is utilized for extracting details from drawings and creating BOMs. Cabinet design and construction benefit from using DraftSight, leading to improved manufacturing accuracy and reduced installation issues. The software is relied upon as primary 2D CAD software for creating and
Cost-effectiveness: Many users have praised DraftSight for being an economical option compared to similar CAD software, making it a cost-effective choice for small businesses. Some reviewers have mentioned that the affordability of DraftSight played a significant role in their decision to choose it over other options.
Stability and performance: Users consistently mention that DraftSight is stable and reliable, with no crashes or technical issues. Several reviewers have specifically highlighted the software's stability, noting that they have not experienced any crashes while using it. This aspect has greatly contributed to the positive sentiment surrounding DraftSight.
Compatibility with AutoCAD: The ability of DraftSight to open both old and new DWG/DXF files has been highly appreciated by users. Many AutoCAD users feel that this feature makes the transition to DraftSight seamless and efficient. Additionally, several reviewers praise the inclusion of commonly used AutoCAD commands in DraftSight, which further enhances its compatibility with industry-standard drawing file types.
Confusing User Interface: A significant number of users have expressed frustration with DraftSight's user interface, finding it confusing and experiencing difficulties while completing tasks. They feel that the layout and organization of features could be improved to enhance usability.
Crude Text Search and Replace Function: Users have criticized the text search and replace function in DraftSight, describing it as crude and barely functional. Many users find it difficult to perform accurate searches or efficiently replace text within their documents.
Issues with Software Updates: Several users have voiced their dissatisfaction with DraftSight's update control. They claim that although updates address certain problems, new issues are introduced in later versions. This inconsistency affects user experience and undermines confidence in the software's stability.
Users have made several recommendations for DraftSight based on their experiences. The most common recommendations include shopping around for options in 2D CAD software. Users suggest exploring different options available in the market before deciding on DraftSight. This recommendation highlights the importance of evaluating different tools to find the best fit for specific needs or preferences.
Another recommendation is to utilize the free trial of DraftSight. Users recommend taking advantage of the free trial offered by DraftSight. This allows potential users to test the software's capabilities and determine if it meets their requirements before making a purchase.
Users also recommend using DraftSight for beginners, students, small businesses, and hobbyists. Several users have recommended DraftSight as an ideal choice for individuals or organizations with limited budgets or less complex drafting needs. This cost-effective solution is often suggested for beginners, students, small businesses, and hobbyists who want to perform 2D CAD tasks without investing heavily in high-end software.
These recommendations highlight the flexibility and affordability of DraftSight as an alternative to AutoCAD. Users also emphasize the importance of checking hardware requirements and testing all functionality before implementing the software. Additionally, tutorials are suggested as a time-saving resource when working with DraftSight, particularly for editing legacy DWG files. Overall, these recommendations present DraftSight as a lightweight and low-cost option comparable to other drafting software available in the market.
Attribute Ratings
Reviews
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August 17, 2021
Good option for drafting software
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Currently being used by our organisation. Mainly used for product detailing and designing of machineries for our precast industry. We have found this to be on par with AutoCAD and pretty similar in UI. Our team members use DraftSight for precast panel designing also and found to be very convenient.
- Layer selections
- Modifications of properties
- Sharing of the files
- integration of calculators with conversion facility
August 17, 2021
Definitely worth it
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
We use DraftSight to generate shop sketches and waterjet machine compatible layouts. We also use it to create quick sketches to conceptualize different design schemes.
- Quick to use
- Familiar interface
- Compatible with other CAD formats
- Crashes too often
- Sometimes can lockup my computer forcing us to restart
- Could use more intuitive commands
August 17, 2021
Beginner CAD user
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Very basic drawings for equipment layout, importing drawings and using DraftSight to see dimensions, creating drawings to send to vendors for quotes for machining parts.
- basic functions are fairly intuitive to learn
- help files are useful for a beginner like me
- YouTube videos are also helpful
- instant videos in the help files would be good for beginners
- how about providing some basic electrical symbols in standard version
August 17, 2021
Economical alternative to AutoCAD.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I use it to make 2D drawings of tools and fixtures, needed for manufacturing & also to make revisions to older drawing made in AutoCAD.
it's just easier and cheaper than buying a full blown CAD seat. Perfect for a small company like ours.
it's just easier and cheaper than buying a full blown CAD seat. Perfect for a small company like ours.
- Easy to use. If you have used AutoCAD in the past, it's a no brainer
- Print direct to PDF, attach PDF to an email for quotes, done.
- Great for making revisions to old .DWG files
- Wish there was a fast and simple way to change the dimension scaling.
August 17, 2021
Good product
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I used it to read and modify engineer and designer plans before export file in an another software. This software is very useful and complete. Simple and user friendly. I never found any issue with AutoCAD files even if the original file has been created with AutoCAD (most of the case).
I recommend it
I recommend it
- Import/export
- Clean up plan
- Modification
- Price
August 11, 2021
Basic User Satisfaction
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I use DraftSight to produce 2D cutting files for plasma cutting. It provides a cost-effective solution to my needs.
- Quick cad rendition
- Produce many different file types
- Load and examine cad drawings from external sources
- Not sure that I've found any
August 06, 2021
Great Tool at a Great Price
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Used across our department. It enables us to create drawings from scratch, quickly and easily. It addresses the problem of cost per license.
- Creating .dwg files
- Creating .pdf files
- Enables sharing of files
- More instant help whilst using the program - pop ups.
- Selecting and deselecting is a pain to do.
August 05, 2021
Simple software ideal for 2D CAD
We currently use DraftSight our design and development departments for editing and creating all our 2D CAD drawings, including floorplans and component production drawings for CNC machining. It's simple to use and very adaptable, at a lower price point than some competing software programs.
- Simple to use
- Can open and convert various file types
- Relatively low cost
- Converting to PDF could be easier
- Simplifying default text sizes etc in dimensioning
August 05, 2021
Basic DraftSight use
We use DraftSight in sales and engineering to open sales layouts, small drafting and sketching as well as create layouts and scaled drawings. We also use to create dxf drawings for the shop and routings to create the parts.
- Plant layouts
- Shortcut keys
- Balloon tags could be easier to pick and place
- Renaming blocks of difficult as you need to find the original in the long list before you can rename
- Customizing meanies is cumbersome
August 05, 2021
DraftSight review, been using a few years now.
I and many of my team members use DraftSight on more than one occasion for every job that we go on, the programme helps us manipulate data that we have recorded easily ensuring we can supply the correct information to the client quickly and efficiently, on the job. Its flexible saving options ensure data can be viewed on more than one platform.
- 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.
- Some of the icons along the bottom including the grid and snap functions have shortcut buttons like F8, they don’t always work and sometimes do other functions on the laptop instead of the function it’s supposed to be in DraftSight.
August 05, 2021
KISS (keep it simple stupid)
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Create CAD drawings that transfer to CNC saw machine.
- For what we do it manages most things really well
- Our drawings are not very technical
- Fairly easy to navigate
- Easily transfer drawings to professional PDF template to share with clients
August 05, 2021
Not a Power User's Review
Mostly [use it] to view drawings and use it for minor changes and measurements. I liked the layout and ease of use when it was free and like it the same as a paid version. I only tweak existing drawings, do measurements, and review for others to do their thing on AutoCAD. I am not a power user and cannot use this to its fullest so the simplicity of things was what was good for me.
- Ease of use
- Doesn't require a lot of processing power for viewing and editing compared to other programs
- It fulfills my needs and I'm not a power user so I don't have much to add.
August 05, 2021
My DraftSight Review
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
[It] is used by individuals and mostly to review drawings we received from other companies. We don't have drawing experts during our projects. We received the documentation and DraftSight helped us to analyze and validate ongoing projects. Also for small draws when we need to quote something with our vendors, we do it internally and send for quote.
- Easy to use
- Doesn't require high performance machines
- Cost is good comparing with other tools
- Hard to say, for now it has delivered all we need
- Maybe a better management of licenses
August 05, 2021
Does everything I need it to do.
Our plant layout is in DraftSight. We use it quite often for laying out new production lines, reorganizing workflow, and finding better use for our space. It is also utilized for quick to scale drawings and prototyping. It's a great intro to CAD for those who haven't had SOLIDWORKS training or don't need a full-on 3D model.
- Scale building drawings
- Quick scale prototype drawings
- Easy to learn
- I liked it when it was free to use
August 05, 2021
Freedom of design
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
August 03, 2021
Easy to use, cost-effective option
One of our customers requires periodic updating of existing layers on their DWG plans. Having used an earlier free version of DraftSight previously, I chose the paid version as a highly cost-effective alternative to AutoCAD. I'm not a power-user so can't compare it to all of AutoCAD's functionality, but for the relatively simple tasks that I need it for, it's really great. I found the learning curve to be easy, and the program and its commands quite logical and straightforward. And there don't seem to be any compatibility issues when the customer opens up the files in their version of AutoCAD.
- Quite easy to get the hang of with a bit of trial and error
- Very easy to create new layouts
- Copy and paste functionality, including pasting text from MS Word works very well
- Easy printing options and rendering to PDF is straightforward
- A button to easily switch between sheetmode and modelmode (unless I'm not seeing it!)
August 03, 2021
DraftSight Review
DraftSight is being used by the whole engineering department. We primarily use it to create wiring diagrams for lighting fixtures. This is a standard document required in assembling each fixture.
- Creation of .dwg file
- 2D modeling
- Wiring schematics
- Increase speed in saving files
- Increase speed in opening and closing files
August 01, 2021
Simple Drafting for Simple Needs
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
I convert Gerber data we receive from customers, circuit designs, into a DXF file so I can measure and manipulate designs in a more user friendly format.
- Commands are easy to follow
- Very similar to AutoCAD
- Cost effective for the level of work I need to do, personally and professionally
July 22, 2021
Simplicity and usefulness at the best price
At the moment in my company we are three users who use the program. We make use of it to make plans of implementation of new equipment.
- Fast.
- Simplicity.
- Does not require much memory.
- Quick commands.
- Some 3D.
July 22, 2021
It's done what has been asked of it.
Used only by me, and it's used to help test the DXF information that is put out by our digital templating system. We use this to make sure its accurate in DraftSight, like it is for AutoCAD, so any user who uses a CAD software can be sure the DXF our software outputs will be functional.
- Not as overwhelming as AutoCAD when first learning, ease of use for basic function.
- Better price.
- Settings can be tough to navigate.
July 20, 2021
DraftSight Review
We need an AutoCAD-based product for dealing with our customer's plans and an element of design. We can quickly change architects' plans in-house and get our client's approval before having to involve an external designer. Also, the program can be used for setting out on site.
- Setting out.
- Amending plans.
- Simple design.
- Transferability to other platforms.
July 19, 2021
DraftSight, making your floor plans right!
It is being used solely by myself to view and edit 1990-2000s .dwg files.
- Editing old 2D CAD drawings.
- Making floor plan layouts.
- Opening files that our 3D modelling software cannot.
- Lock in line lengths, but allow it to move
- Easily keep things 90° or locked in a horizontal or vertical position
- When changing dimensions of square, allow to change height and width vs having to select each point and change it in 3 spots.
July 19, 2021
Mac user
We use DraftSight on both a Windows PC and on a Mac. Both versions are great, easy to use and very functional, however, the Mac version has a number of glitches and has a habit of crashing whilst loading a 2nd CAD drawing. Other than this issue the software is great and I understand the Mac version is only recently out of BETA, hence why the problem I'm sure will be resolved at some stage.
- Very easy to navigate around and search.
- Has a large amount of functionality to create numerous designs.
- The compatibility to other software is excellent.
- Mac version crashes frequently when opening a 2nd drawing.
DraftSight software is used as an economical replacement for AutoCAD 2D drafting software. All of the necessary functionality is available to modify manufacturing plant layouts and utilities additions/modifications inside our plant. Using SOLIDWORKS on a daily basis, staying with Dassault software seemed like an easy choice. I have recommended to other members of the team for use as well.
- Solid 2D drafting tools.
- Save to industry standard file formats for sharing.
- Stable function with very few glitches and crashes, unlike other cheaper CAD software.
- The latest release R2018 file format can't be read by some others software. Older R2013 seems to work fine.
July 19, 2021
Capable, cost-effective CAD platform
We use DraftSight by all designers in our engineering department. It provides a consistent and cost-effective CAD platform for creating electrical SLD's, dimensioned equipment layouts, and other miscellaneous design documents. We typically convert completed documents into PDF format of various sizes, and also use .dwg files as templates for starting points on other projects.
- User friendly platform.
- Consistent performance.
- Accessibility and compatibility.
- Tutorials and user support.
- Click and drag function.
- More flexible object insertion tools.