The main limitation of the open source nature of LibreCAD is that some of its versions can be unstable. It’s also quite easy to learn, and the interface is user-friendly, features that are unusual in open source software platforms. You can add basic lines and polygons, take measurements, and export your files into other formats. It can also display isometric views but lacks any sort of 3D navigation.Īside from the lack of 3D viewing, you can do just about anything with LibreCAD. However, its biggest limitation is that it can only display 2D views, which helps keep the size of the software quite small. Being an open source software, it’s completely free with all functions included. LibreCAD is an open source platform for viewing, editing, and converting DWG files. With the add-on feature, you can pretty much do everything you want with your DWG file short of editing it. Again, these are great tools for collaboration. Design Review allows you to make length, area, and angle measurements on the design, as well as add annotations and comments. This is very useful if you need to collaborate with other users who are using different versions of AutoCAD.ĭWG TrueView is made even better with Design Review, a free add-on also developed by AutoDesk. Since the software is built on the same architecture as AutoCAD, you are assured of drawing fidelity and integrity, even when you switch from one format to another. Aside from being able to view DWG drawings, DWG TrueView was for the conversion of DWG and DXF files into 3D DWF for quick markup and publishing. AutoDesk DWG TrueView (with Design Review)ĭWG TrueView is the official free DWG viewer software from AutoDesk which can be downloaded from their website.

Its interchange file format is DXF, which is an ASCII version of the contents of a DWG file. Each DWG files contains metadata that describes the contents of the file.

Since it contains vector image data, the drawings in each DWG file can be scaled while still preserving resolution. Best of all, they’re all free! What are DWG files?ĭWG (from drawing) is the native file format for 2D and 3D drawing created in AutoCAD, as well as in other CAD packages such as BricsCAD and IntelliCAD. If you’re one of these people, then read on as we look at the best alternative DWG viewers. For users, who just want to view DWG files, a free DWG viewer software could be really useful.

However, not all people have the budget to buy the AutoCAD software platform, which costs more than $1000. Until today, there are still so many AutoCAD users that the standard AutoCAD output file – the DWG – can be found everywhere. First launched by AutoDesk in the 1980s, AutoCAD was considered THE standard software platform for drafting for decades. In the field of drafting and 3D design, few names are as well-known as AutoCAD. 3D Insider is ad supported and earns money from clicks, commissions from sales, and other ways.

Autocad viewer free online