Download QCAD
QCAD serves as a drafting environment for creating precise 2D technical drawings without the overhead of larger CAD suites. The application handles plans for buildings, mechanical components, and electrical schematics through a focused set of tools. Users work with standard CAD entities such as lines, arcs, circles, and polylines. The interface places drawing and editing commands in panels around a central workspace. File compatibility with DXF and DWG formats supports collaboration with other CAD systems.
The software operates on Linux, Windows, and macOS platforms using a single codebase. A free Community edition provides core drafting functionality, while a Professional edition adds scripting and advanced features. The included part library contains thousands of ready-made symbols that reduce drawing time. Printing options include exact scale output and multi-page tiling for large formats. Object snap modes and measurement tools deliver the precision required for technical documentation.
QCAD supports the complete workflow from initial sketch to printed drawing. Layers and blocks organize complex drawings into manageable sections. Dimensioning tools annotate geometry with accurate measurements. Hatches and fills indicate materials and cross-sections. The raster image support allows tracing of scanned plans or insertion of reference material. Customization through scripts extends the application beyond its built-in command set.
Use Cases for QCAD
| Organize elements into show, hide, or locked layers | Reuse grouped symbols with scale and rotation |
| Use 35 geometric fonts for consistent output | Apply system TrueType fonts for logos or text |
| Work with metric or imperial drawing units | Exchange files via DXF and DWG formats |
| Print paper output at exact drawing scales | Split large drawings across multiple pages |
| Create shapes with over forty construction tools | Modify entities with over twenty edit commands |
| Edit properties for any entity type individually | Select objects by color, layer, or type |
| Lock cursor to precise geometric points | Measure distances, angles, and areas quickly |
| Insert from library of 4800 CAD parts | Automate tasks with ECMAScript scripting interface |
| Fill closed areas with patterns or solid colors | Annotate with associative linear or angular dimensions |
| Insert and trace over scanned raster images | Change layer properties anytime during drafting |