DraftSight vs AutoCAD: the same DWG files, a very different invoice
DraftSight vs AutoCAD comes down to licensing, cost and a few specific features. Both work natively in DWG and both run AutoLISP, so your drawings open unchanged and most routines carry across. DraftSight adds network and perpetual licences, which Autodesk no longer sells, and starts at R5,400 a year including VAT.
- Native DWG and DXF
- AutoLISP, .NET scripts support
- Network and perpetual licenses
DraftSight vs AutoCAD: the same DWG files, a very different invoice
DraftSight vs AutoCAD comes down to licensing, cost and a few specific features. Both work natively in DWG and both run AutoLISP, so your drawings open unchanged and most routines carry across. DraftSight adds network and perpetual licences, which Autodesk no longer sells, and starts at R5,400 a year including VAT.
- Native DWG and DXF
- AutoLISP, .NET scripts support
- Network and perpetual licenses
Why drafting teams switch from AutoCAD to DraftSight
A full AutoCAD subscription includes 3D modelling and seven industry toolsets. If your office draws in 2D, you are paying for tools your drafters never open. DraftSight gives you the same file format and 2D drafting tools, on licensing terms you choose.
Your DWG files open unchanged
DraftSight reads and writes DWG natively. Layers, blocks, attributes and Xrefs come across intact. You can also save down to older DWG versions, as far back as AutoCAD Release 12, for clients and subcontractors still running older software.
Familiar commands and interface
Type E and DraftSight runs its Delete command. Shortcut keys and drawing behaviour follow what AutoCAD users already know, and drafters can work in the ribbon or switch to classic-style menus and toolbars.
Three ways to license it
Take a yearly licence, share network seats between people who don’t draft at the same time, or buy Enterprise licences once and keep them. Autodesk sells AutoCAD as a subscription only, always assigned to a named user.
DraftSight vs AutoCAD: side-by-side comparison
The table sets DraftSight against both AutoCAD LT and full AutoCAD, so you can compare whichever one your team is actually weighing up.
| Feature | DraftSight | AutoCAD LT | AutoCAD |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-year price | From R5,400 incl. VAT | Lower than AutoCAD | ±R33,500 excl. tax |
| Free trial | 30 days (Premium) | 15 days | 15 days |
| Native DWG and DXF | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AutoLISP routines | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic Blocks | View all editions, edit in Premium | Yes | Yes |
| .NET and ObjectARX add-ins | Yes | No | Yes |
| 3D modelling | Premium | No | Yes |
| Shared network licences | Enterprise | Named user only | Named user only |
| Perpetual licence option | Enterprise | No | No |
| Activates on SOLIDWORKS network licensing | Enterprise | No | No |
| Technical support included | Enterprise and Enterprise Plus | 8×5, 24/7 costs extra | 8×5, 24/7 costs extra |
DraftSight prices are 12-month term licence prices from SolidCAD. AutoCAD pricing lists as US$2,095. Actual prices vary by region and may be affected by currency fluctuation. AutoCAD subscriptions include 8×5 technical support; 24/7 support requires a paid Autodesk Success Plan.
What carries across when you switch from AutoCAD to DraftSight
Native DWG and DXF
Open, edit and save DWG and DXF files with no conversion step, and bring in DGN and PDF underlays. CTB and STB plot styles work when you print, PC3 plotter files import, and RECOVER and AUDIT repair damaged drawings.
LISP, scripts and .NET
Bring your AutoLISP and Visual LISP routines, DCL dialogs and SCR scripts across. CAD managers can also build add-ins with .NET. AutoCAD LT runs LISP, but has no .NET support.
Dynamic Blocks and sheet sets
Your existing Dynamic Blocks open and insert in every edition. Editing them, along with the Sheet Set Manager and your existing DST files, comes with Premium and Enterprise Plus. Tell us what your drawings rely on and we’ll confirm the right edition.
Productivity tools in every edition
Batch Printing, Drawing Compare, Power Trim, Image Tracer, Macro Recording, automatic dimensioning and Pack and Go are included in DraftSight Professional, Enterprise, Premium and Enterprise Plus.
3D when you need it
DraftSight Premium adds 3D modelling and parametric constraints. For full 3D product design, DraftSight works alongside SOLIDWORKS.
AutoCAD commands in DraftSight: what changed, and what didn't
DraftSight renames some commands, then maps the AutoCAD alias to them, so you can keep typing what you already know. Type PURGE and DraftSight runs Clean. Type AUDIT and it runs Error Check. Type BATTMAN and the Block Attribute Manager opens. Custom aliases can be rebuilt too.
| In AutoCAD | In DraftSight |
|---|---|
| Layout | Sheet |
| Object | Entity |
| Osnap | Esnap |
| Purge | Clean |
| In AutoCAD | In DraftSight |
|---|---|
| Audit | Error Check |
| Publish | Batch Print |
| Dynamic Input | Quick Input |
| Mtext | Note |
DraftSight pricing, in rands
Buy a 12-month DraftSight licence online and start working straight away.
All prices include VAT, and DraftSight SA invoices locally, so there’s no dollar conversion on your side.
DraftSight Professional
R5 400
/ year incl. VAT
Professional 2D drafting and documentation for individual drafters and small teams.
DraftSight Enterprise
R7 100
/ year incl. VAT
Network licensing and technical support for offices with several CAD users. Also available as a perpetual licence.
DraftSight Premium
R10 695
/ year incl. VAT
Everything in Professional, plus 3D modelling and parametric constraints.
Ten seats, one year
AutoCAD figure based on Autodesk’s published annual list price of US$2,095 per user, converted at the current rate (US$1 ≈ R16.00).
10 × DraftSight Professional
R54,000 incl. VAT
10 × AutoCAD at list price
± R335,000 before tax
DraftSight licensing: term, network and perpetual
Autodesk sells AutoCAD monthly, yearly or on a three-year term, plus Flex tokens for occasional use. Every option is a subscription tied to a named user. DraftSight adds two that Autodesk no longer offers.
12-month term licences
DraftSight Professional and Premium activate on one computer at a time. To move to a new PC, deactivate the licence on the old machine first. Dassault Systèmes limits how often a licence can be transferred.
Network licences
DraftSight Enterprise and Enterprise Plus share seats across your network through the same licence manager SOLIDWORKS uses. The Deployment Wizard installs or updates DraftSight for multiple users from a single email link. Autodesk stopped selling new multi-user subscriptions in August 2020.
Perpetual licenses
Buy DraftSight Enterprise or Enterprise Plus once and add a maintenance plan if you want ongoing upgrades. Autodesk no longer sells perpetual AutoCAD licences.
Occasional users
Autodesk sells Flex tokens for people who draft a few days a month: US$99 buys 33 tokens, and AutoCAD spends 7 a day. A DraftSight Enterprise network seat answers the same problem differently. You buy fewer seats than you have people, and a seat frees up the moment someone closes the software.
Switch from AutoCAD to DraftSight in four steps
-
Step 1
Try it on real work
Download the free 30-day DraftSight Premium trial and open live project files, including drawings with nested Xrefs, large block libraries and Dynamic Blocks.
-
Step 2
Test what matters
Check layers, block behaviour, text styles, sheet sets and PDF output. Then run the LISP routines your team uses every week.
-
Step 3
Train your drafters
Book the DraftSight Essentials course at our training facilities in Centurion, Cape Town or Durban. Your team learns to create, modify, annotate and print 2D drawings in DraftSight.
-
Step 4
Roll out with local support
Our Application Engineers help with licensing, deployment and day-to-day questions once your team is up and running.
Is DraftSight the right fit for your team?
DraftSight suits offices where most of the work is 2D: floor plans, site layouts, electrical schematics and fabrication drawings. If you already run SOLIDWORKS, the case gets even simpler, because both products come from the same developer and Enterprise licences can use your existing SOLIDWORKS network licensing.
Relying on AutoCAD’s specialised toolsets, such as Plant 3D or AutoCAD Architecture objects? Talk to us before you switch, and we’ll give you a straight answer on whether DraftSight will handle your drawings.
DraftSight is a strong fit if:
- Your drafters work mainly in 2D DWG files
- Several people need CAD, but rarely at the same time
- You'd rather own your licences than keep renting them
- You want training and support from a local team
DraftSight vs AutoCAD: frequently asked questions
Is DraftSight a good alternative to AutoCAD?
Yes, especially for teams that work mainly in 2D. DraftSight works natively with DWG and DXF, supports AutoLISP, and recognises familiar AutoCAD commands. It also offers network and perpetual licences, which AutoCAD doesn't.
Will my AutoCAD drawings open in DraftSight?
Yes. DraftSight keeps layers, blocks, attributes and external references intact, and supports CTB and STB plot styles. It can also save down to older DWG versions, as far back as AutoCAD Release 12. Two things to test during your trial: Dynamic Blocks with complex behaviour, which may not translate exactly, and drawings built on AutoCAD Architecture objects, which DraftSight does not support.
Can I use my AutoCAD LISP routines in DraftSight?
Most of them, yes. DraftSight supports AutoLISP, Visual LISP, DCL dialog files, .NET and SCR scripts. Routines that call AutoCAD-only functions need editing. DraftSight also does not import AutoCAD PGP files, so any custom command aliases have to be recreated.
How much does DraftSight cost compared to AutoCAD?
DraftSight Professional costs R5,400 a year including VAT, Enterprise costs R7,100 and Premium costs R10,695. Autodesk's list price for a one-year AutoCAD subscription works out to about R33,500 per user before tax, based on the current conversion rate.
Can I buy DraftSight once instead of paying every year?
Yes. DraftSight Enterprise and Enterprise Plus are available as perpetual licences with an optional maintenance plan. Autodesk sells AutoCAD as a subscription only.
How long does it take AutoCAD users to learn DraftSight?
Experienced AutoCAD users can start drafting immediately, because DraftSight maps AutoCAD command aliases to its own commands and uses the same shortcut keys. Our DraftSight Essentials course covers the renamed commands and the tools that have no AutoCAD equivalent.
Does DraftSight work with SOLIDWORKS?
Yes. Dassault Systèmes develops both products and designs them to work together, although they're purchased separately. DraftSight Enterprise can activate through the same network licence manager as SOLIDWORKS.