Draftly vs AutoCAD
Draftly is a 2D CAD app that runs in your browser, with an AutoCAD-style command line, nine object-snap families, layers, and DXF import and export (Pro). AutoCAD is Autodesk's CAD software for 2D drafting and 3D modeling, and it is sold as a subscription. This page sets out where the two overlap and where AutoCAD is plainly ahead.
Price
2D drafting tools, US list pricing in USD excluding tax.
| Tool | Price | Own it? | Platforms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AutoCAD | $2,095 / yr | No | Win · Mac | Full DWG, 3D, BIM · autodesk.com, 19 Jul 2026 |
| AutoCAD LT | $540 / yr | No | Win · Mac | 2D only, DWG-native · autodesk.com, 19 Jul 2026 |
| AutoCAD Web + Mobile | $100 / yr | No | Browser · tablet | No desktop app · autodesk.com, 19 Jul 2026 |
| Draftly Pro | $72 / yr | No | Web (desktop + mobile browsers) | Command line + 9 object snaps |
| Draftly Lifetime | $179 once | Yes | Web (desktop + mobile browsers) | Withdrawn at general availability |
Competitor pricing was collected from each vendor's own public pricing page on 19 Jul 2026 and has not been independently re-verified since. Every figure 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 the vendor before relying on it. Draftly's own prices are the ones charged at checkout. These are the same figures as the comparison on the home page.
What carries over
The command line works the way an AutoCAD user expects. Type
L to draw, TR to trim, MI to
mirror and O to offset. LINE chains
segments, C closes and U undoes one.
F3 toggles OSNAP, same as AutoCAD.
Layers lock, freeze and turn off with real freeze-vs-off semantics. Endpoint, midpoint, center, intersection, perpendicular, nearest, quadrant, tangent and node snaps are all in the running set.
Files
AutoCAD uses DWG as its native file format. Draftly imports and
exports DXF, which is a Pro feature. There is no DWG reader or
writer, in either direction. To bring a DWG into Draftly, convert it
to DXF first with the free ODA File Converter. Draftly's own
.drft files are readable JSON.
Where AutoCAD is ahead
AutoCAD does a great deal that Draftly does not. If you need any of the items in the right-hand column below, AutoCAD is the better tool for that job 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] Aligned-linear dimensions
- [x] DXF import & export (Pro)
- [x] PDF & SVG export
What it doesn't do yet
- [ ] Paperspace / layouts
- [ ] Parametric constraints
- [ ] Blocks & attributes
- [ ] MTEXT & hatch
- [ ] DWG read/write (use conversion guidance)
- [ ] 3D, rendering, BIM
Which one to pick
Pick AutoCAD if you exchange DWG files every day, work in 3D, or rely on blocks, paperspace layouts or hatching. Pick Draftly if you draw 2D plans and details, want the command line you already know, and would rather pay $72 a year or $179 once. The free tier needs no account, so trying it costs nothing.
Draftly is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Autodesk, Inc. AutoCAD is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc.