GstarCAD vs LibreCAD
GstarCAD
gstarcad.netLibreCAD
librecad.orgSide by side
| Figure | GstarCAD | LibreCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $19.92/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 9 | 1 |
| Spec score · 2D CAD Software | 8.5 (#4) | 7.9 (#16) |
| Spec score · Engineering CAD Software | 8.5 (#5) | 7.9 (#16) |
| Spec score · Architectural Design Software | 8.3 (#9) | 7.7 (#19) |
| Spec score · CAD software | 8.4 (#12) | 7.8 (#22) |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Parametric modeling | Yes | No |
| Support | The company describes a professional technical support team and lists support at [email protected]. | The project says support and documentation are free and provided by its community of users, contributors and developers. |
Plans
GstarCAD
- Standard$749 a month
- Professional$949 a month
- Premium$1,120 a month
- GstarCAD 2027 Standard$239 a year
- GstarCAD 2027 Professional$319 a year
- GstarCAD 2027 Premium$359 a year
- GstarCAD 2027 Standard$599, paid once
- GstarCAD 2027 Professional$759, paid once
- GstarCAD 2027 Premium$896, paid once
In their own words
GstarCAD
GstarCAD is 2D and 3D CAD software for working with technical drawings. It supports native DWG and DXF files, and the maker describes it as compatible with AutoCAD data formats. Its toolset includes more than 100 tools, such as Area Table, Auto Layer, Viewport to Layout, and AutoXlsTable. The maker says multi-core processing is designed to handle complex drawings with faster processing and less lag. GstarCAD 2027 adds Dynamic Block Parametric Constraints, Automatic Input Method Switching, and floating drawing windows. The developer environment supports LISP, C/C++, VB/VBA, and.NET, along with COM and GRX APIs; the maker says LISP and VBA applications can run without modification. A perpetual license provides lifetime usage rights, and yearly subscription and upgrade licensing are also offered. Plans listed for GstarCAD 2027 start at $239 a year, with prices excluding VAT and service fees. A free 30-day trial is available, but there is no free plan.
LibreCAD
LibreCAD is a free, open-source 2D CAD application released under the GNU General Public License version 2. Its drawing tools include lines, circles, arcs, polylines and splines, along with entity modification, hatching, blocks, annotations and dimensions. DXF is its main format, with import and export; it can also export PDF and images and import DWG on a limited basis. The FAQ describes DWG support as basic and import-only, and suggests converting DWG to DXF if import fails. LibreCAD does not support every Autodesk DXF feature, and lists support for versions R12, R14, 2000, 2004 and 2007. The interface is available in over 30 languages, and the application runs on Linux, macOS and Windows. Community-developed plugins can help with some tasks. The project describes itself as non-profit and community-driven, with free support and documentation from its community. The software is free, with no trial, subscription, license cost or annual fee. It is distributed without warranty, including implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.