Draftly vs AutoCAD LT
AutoCAD LT is Autodesk's 2D-only version of AutoCAD, installed on Windows or Mac and sold as a subscription. Draftly is a 2D CAD app that runs in your browser, on iPad and on Mac and Linux, with an AutoCAD-style command line, nine object-snap families, layers, and DXF import and export (Pro). This page compares the two on price, platforms, commands and files, and lists what LT does that Draftly does not.
Price
2D drafting tools, US list pricing in USD excluding tax.
| Tool | Price | Own it? | Platforms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AutoCAD LT | $540 / yr | No | Win · Mac | 2D only, DWG-native · autodesk.com, 25 Oct 2026 |
| Draftly Pro | $72 / yr | No | Web · iPhone & iPad · Mac · Linux | Command line + 9 object snaps |
| Draftly Lifetime | $179 once | Yes | Web · iPhone & iPad · Mac · Linux | Withdrawn at general availability |
The AutoCAD LT price was collected from Autodesk's own public pricing page on 25 Oct 2026 and has not been independently re-verified since. It is a US list price in USD, excluding tax; pricing in your region, through a reseller, or under a volume agreement will differ. Confirm current pricing with Autodesk before relying on it. Draftly's own prices are the ones charged at checkout on draftlycad.com. The full table, with the other vendors, is on the home page.
Platforms
AutoCAD LT is installed on a Windows or Mac desktop. Draftly runs in any current desktop or mobile browser with nothing to install, and Draftly CAD for iPhone and iPad is on the App Store. Native macOS and Linux builds are free downloads from the platforms page. A native Windows build of Draftly and the Google Play build are in development and are not offered here yet.
Commands
Draftly's command line takes the names and aliases an LT user
already types: L, PL, TR,
EX, O, F, MI,
AR, S and the rest. Its catalogue has 54
commands: 38 work in full, 11 work with a stated limit, and 5 are
not built yet. Typing one that is not built tells you so instead of
pretending to run it. AutoCAD LT has far more commands than this;
the lists below are what Draftly has, not a claim of parity.
In full: LINE, PLINE, RECTANGLE, POLYGON, TEXT, SELECT, MOVE, COPY, MIRROR, ROTATE, SCALE, ERASE, FILLET, CHAMFER, ARRAY, STRETCH, TRIM, EXTEND, EXPLODE, OFFSET, LAYER, PAN, ZOOM, ZOOM EXTENTS, GRID, ORTHO, OSNAP, DSETTINGS, POLAR, DYN, NEW, OPEN, SAVE, SAVEAS, UNDO, REDO, CUTCLIP and SELECTALL.
| Works with a limit | What it does not do yet |
|---|---|
| CIRCLE | Centre and radius only; no two-point, three-point or tangent-tangent-radius |
| ARC | Three-point only |
| SPLINE | Gives a cubic Bezier curve, not a general spline |
| DIMENSION | Linear and aligned only; no angular, radial, diameter, ordinate or baseline |
| PLOT | One modelspace sheet to PDF; no layouts, viewports or plot style tables |
| PEDIT | Close, Open, Reverse and Join only |
| MATCHPROP | Layer, colour and linetype only |
| DIST | Points are typed, not picked on screen |
| ID | Point is typed or read from the crosshair, not clicked |
| LINETYPE | The four built-in linetypes; no .lin files or LTSCALE |
| UNITS | Length format, plot scale and precision; no angle settings |
Not built yet: HATCH, BLOCK, INSERT, REGION and STYLE.
Files
AutoCAD LT uses DWG as its native file format. Draftly imports and
exports DXF, which is a Pro feature; it reads ASCII DXF, not binary.
There is no DWG reader or writer, in either direction. To bring a
DWG into Draftly, save it as DXF from LT, or convert it with the
free ODA File Converter. Draftly's own .drft files
are readable JSON, and PDF and SVG export are on every tier
(watermarked on Free).
What AutoCAD LT does that Draftly does not
If your work depends on any of these, LT is the better tool for it today.
What Draftly does today
- [x] AutoCAD-style command line, aliases & history
- [x] 9 object-snap families (on by default, F3 toggles)
- [x] Layers: lock, freeze/off, color
- [x] Runs in a browser, and on iPad with Apple Pencil
- [x] DXF import & export (Pro)
- [x] PDF & SVG export
What LT has and Draftly doesn't
- [ ] DWG as the native format
- [ ] Paperspace layouts & viewports
- [ ] Blocks, INSERT & attributes
- [ ] Hatch, regions & text styles
- [ ] Angular, radial & baseline dimensions
- [ ] A native Windows install
Which one to pick
Pick AutoCAD LT if you trade DWG files every day, plot from layouts, or rely on blocks and hatching. Pick Draftly if you draw 2D plans and details, want the LT command names you already know in a browser or on an iPad, and would rather pay $72 a year or $179 once. The free tier has 5 layers and watermarked export, so you can try the command line before paying anything. In the web app, a signed-in account can press Start free trial for 14 days of Pro, no card required.
Draftly is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Autodesk, Inc. AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.