CAD: a free AutoCAD alternative in your browser
AutoCAD costs US$2,095 a year. CAD is a free 2D CAD and drafting app for 2D drafting and DWG drawings. It runs in a browser tab on your own device, with nothing to install.
AutoCAD and CAD, side by side
Autodesk’s price is from its US page on 14 November 2026.
| AutoCAD | CAD in Madosuite | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | US$2,095 a year (US$260 month to month) | Free |
| Free option | A 15-day trial | Everything, always |
| Where it runs | Installed app | A browser tab, on your own device |
| Account | An Autodesk account | Not needed |
| Your files | On your computer, or in the vendor’s cloud | In the browser on your device; not uploaded to us |
| Maturity | Mature, sold for years | Early development |
What you can do in CAD today
For 2D drafting and DWG drawings. From CAD’s own documentation, version 0.15.1.
Works now
- Command line with aliases, AutoComplete and scripts
- LINE, PLINE, ARC, SPLINE, MTEXT and the rest of the draw set
- TRIM, EXTEND, FILLET, OFFSET, ARRAY and the modify set
- Object snaps, polar tracking, ortho and grid snap
- Layers palette and Layer Properties Manager
- Every DIM command, DIMSTYLE, MLEADER and TABLE
- Hatches, blocks with attributes, nested blocks
- Paper-space layouts, viewports and PDF plotting
Before you switch
CAD is in early development: it drafts in 2D, does not read SHX fonts, and drops objects it does not model yet when it saves.
Not in CAD yet
- 3D modelling (the features listed are 2D drafting)
- SHX fonts
- Keeping entities it does not model yet when you save
Switching from AutoCAD
Open Madosuite
In your browser. The CAD app starts on your own device; nothing is installed.
Bring your files
Upload your .dwg and .dxf files in Files. They stay in the browser on this device.
Keep the format
CAD saves DWG (R2000), DXF (R2000), PDF, so a file can go back to someone who still uses AutoCAD.
AutoCAD alternative questions
Is there a free alternative to AutoCAD?
CAD in Madosuite is free and runs in a browser tab. It is early development, so check the list of what is missing.
Can I open .dwg files without AutoCAD?
Yes. CAD in Madosuite opens .dwg and saves it back. CAD opens DWG from R13 to 2018 and saves R2000. Objects it does not model yet are not kept when you save.
Can I open .dxf files without AutoCAD?
Yes. CAD in Madosuite opens .dxf and saves it back. CAD opens DXF from R12 to 2018, ASCII and binary, and saves R2000.
What can’t CAD do yet?
CAD is in early development: it drafts in 2D, does not read SHX fonts, and drops objects it does not model yet when it saves.
How much does AutoCAD cost?
US$2,095 a year (US$260 month to month), from Autodesk’s US page on 14 November 2026. Free option: A 15-day trial. Prices change; check Autodesk’s page.
Where are my files kept?
In the browser on your device, inside Madosuite’s own Linux machine, in its home folder. Your files are not uploaded to us. Clearing the site’s data in your browser deletes them, so download what you want to keep.
Do I need an account?
No. Sign in with a 0cloud account only if you want one; without it, your work stays in this browser on this device.