DraftSight vs TinyCAD

DraftSight is a desktop 2D CAD application for creating, editing, viewing, and sharing DWG drawings; some versions add 3D design. It works natively with DWG and supports DWG, DXF, and DGN workflows. Drafting tools include layers, hatching, snapping, splines, dimensioning, batch printing, and sheet-set management. APIs, LISP automation, DLLs, and custom scripts support automation. PDF Import converts PDF drawings into editable DWG files in Premium and Enterprise Plus. DraftSight describes integrations with SOLIDWORKS Visualize, SOLIDWORKS Simulation, and 3DEXPERIENCE Marketplace Make. Professional and Premium support 64-bit Windows 11 and macOS 14, 15, and 26; listed minimums are 8 GB RAM and 5 GB disk space. Named-user, network, and perpetual licenses are available, with perpetual licenses sold through resellers. Professional costs $299 a year, Premium $599 a year, and Network starts at $399 a year. A 30-day trial is listed.

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.