ACTCAD vs TinyCAD
ACTCAD
actcad.comTinyCAD
tinycad.netSide by side
| Figure | ACTCAD | TinyCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $249/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 1 |
| Spec score · 2D CAD Software | 8.5 (#3) | 7.4 (#31) |
| Support | Support is included with the license and is provided by CAD engineers by email, phone, or remote sessions. | The TinyCAD Web quick-start page links to a Discord support community. |
Plans
ACTCAD
- ACTCAD Standard$249 a month
- ACTCAD Premium$399 a month
- ACTCAD Map Drafter$399 a month
- ACTCAD Standard$249, paid once
- ACTCAD Map Drafter$399, paid once
- ACTCAD Premium$399, paid once
In their own words
TinyCAD
TinyCAD is an open-source program for drawing circuit schematics, available as desktop software and TinyCAD Web. The browser version needs no installation, and both versions use the same .dsn drawing and .tclib library formats. Drawings can span sheets and include labels, buses, shapes, annotations, and automatic junction placement; search, undo, and redo are also available. Both versions can import symbols from KiCad.
A Design Rules Check flags common wiring and pin-type errors, but it cannot confirm that a circuit works correctly. TinyCAD can create netlists for downstream tools, including PADS, Eagle SCR, Protel, and gEDA PCB formats. Both versions support SPICE output and SVG export; browser PDF export is available, while VHDL output is desktop-only. In local-file mode, TinyCAD Web keeps work in the browser and sends no work or other files to TinyCAD servers. Google Drive mode stores drawings in the user’s Drive and requires permission to access Google files. TinyCAD is free and supplied as-is; the project advises backing up work and checking designs carefully.