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LibreCAD — CAD & Technical Drawing

LibreCAD team

LibreCAD is a free, open-source 2D CAD application for Windows, macOS and Linux under the GPLv2 license. The official site, manual and wiki describe drawing lines, circles, arcs, splines, text and dimensions with snapping, layers, blocks and templates, then printing to scale or exporting to PDF, SVG and image files, with DXF as the main file format.

Why it fits

CAD & Technical Drawing

Desktop

Go to librecad.org
Good to know (2)

Requires desktop installation.

Verify file formats, size limits and language support in the official plan.

Good to know
Good to knowDesktop
Free outputYes
No account neededYes
No watermark—
Works offline—
Batch processing—
Content language—

— Unverified conditions. Official documentation reviewed. The app itself has not been hands-on tested. Matches only documented content-language support, not interface language.

Sources and review date (5)
  • librecad.org/
  • librecad.readthedocs.io/en/latest/about/index.html
  • dokuwiki.librecad.org/
  • github.com/LibreCAD/LibreCAD
  • github.com/LibreCAD/LibreCAD/releases/tag/v2.2.1.6
Founder feedback and correction

Founder feedback and correction

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Who is it for?

  • You need flat 2D drawings such as plans, part outlines or sketches and want a free tool. The site presents LibreCAD as a 2D CAD application, and the manual lists lines, polylines, splines, circles, ellipses, text, dimensions, blocks and hatches.
  • You exchange drawings as DXF files. The wiki calls DXF, an open format, LibreCAD's main format with import and export, and the manual says it writes DXF, SVG and PDF.
  • You print drawings to scale. The manual covers paper sizes, print preview, fit to page and tiled printing across several pages.
  • You want an interface in your own language. The site says LibreCAD is available in over 30 languages, and the manual lists Turkish among them, supported to varying degrees.
  • You want a tool without a trial period, subscription or license cost. The site says there are none, and the wiki says no account is needed to download or use the software.

Getting started

  • Download from the GitHub links on the site: an EXE installer for Windows, DMG packages for macOS or AppImage packages for Linux. Distribution package managers may carry older versions. The latest stable release on GitHub is v2.2.1.6 (17 October), with Windows 32-bit and 64-bit, macOS Intel and Apple Silicon, and Linux x86-64 and ARM64 downloads.
  • Set up the drawing first. In Options > Current Drawing Preferences choose the paper size and orientation on the Paper tab, the unit on the Units tab and the General Scale on the Dimensions tab. The manual advises drawing at full scale (1:1) and adjusting size only for output.
  • Add a layer in the Layer List dock (the manual says layer 0 is special and should not be used for general drawing), then draw with the line, circle and arc tools from the menu or toolbars, or type commands such as li and coordinates like 10,10 or @0,100. Snapping helps you place points exactly.
  • Add dimensions, text, hatches and blocks, and save the drawing as DXF. To reuse a setup, save a drawing with your paper size, unit and layers as a DXF template and start new drawings with File > New from Template.
  • Open Print Preview, check the paper layout, use Fit to Page or set a scale, and print; for a large drawing on small paper, use tiled printing. Use File > Export to produce PDF, SVG or image files.

Decision points

  • LibreCAD is a 2D application. If you need parametric 3D solids, compare FreeCAD, which describes itself as a parametric 3D modeler.
  • Use DXF as the working format and test a sample file in the program that receives it, because DWG support is described differently across the official pages (see the limits).
  • The manual targets pre-release builds and says it may not match the latest build, and the README says the master branch is pre-release code. Use the stable release for real work and treat the manual as a general guide.
  • On Linux the site points to AppImage packages and notes that distribution packages may be older. On macOS expect a first-launch approval step because the app is only ad-hoc signed.
  • Read the manual's drawing setup guide before a long project; it covers units, page size, scale, layers and templates, and the wiki adds tutorials and how-tos.

Limits

  • DWG is described inconsistently. The wiki lists partial DWG support, importing only; the manual says LibreCAD reads DWG and DXF; the GitHub description says it can read DXF/DWG and write DXF/DWG/PDF/SVG, while the README says DWG input and output in the command-line converters need a build with DWGSUPPORT enabled. Use DXF when you can and test DWG files first.
  • LibreCAD is described as 2D only; the pages do not describe 3D modeling.
  • The user manual is marked as work in progress and written for pre-release builds, so menus and features may differ from the stable release you install.
  • On macOS the README says the app is ad-hoc signed and not notarized, so the first launch is blocked until you approve it in System Settings, and the site says help is needed for macOS deployment. The README calls the build universal, while the v2.2.1.6 release lists separate Intel and Apple Silicon DMGs.
  • The pages read here give no system requirements, and Turkish is listed among languages supported to varying degrees, so translation coverage can be partial.

Frequently asked questions

Is LibreCAD free?

Yes. The site says LibreCAD is completely free, with no trials, subscriptions, license costs or annual fees, and it is open source under the GPLv2 license. The wiki says you do not need an account to download or use the software.

Can LibreCAD open and save DWG files?

The official pages disagree. The wiki lists partial DWG support, importing only; the manual says LibreCAD reads DWG and DXF and writes DXF; the GitHub description says it can read and write DXF/DWG, and the README says DWG converters need a build with DWGSUPPORT. DXF is the main format, so test your DWG files before relying on them.

How do I draw a line with exact coordinates in LibreCAD?

The manual shows typing a command in the command line, for example li for the line tool, then entering points as absolute coordinates such as 10,10, relative coordinates such as @0,100, or polar coordinates such as @100<90. You can also turn on Snap on Grid, pick the 2 points line tool and click, then press Esc or right-click twice to leave the command.

Does LibreCAD run on Mac, and how do I open it the first time?

Yes, the site offers DMG packages for macOS, and the v2.2.1.6 release lists Intel and Apple Silicon DMGs. The README says the app is ad-hoc signed, so macOS blocks the first launch; drag it to Applications, open it once, then use Open Anyway in System Settings > Privacy & Security. On macOS 14 and earlier, the README says right-click > Open on the app is enough.

What is the difference between LibreCAD and FreeCAD?

LibreCAD describes itself as a 2D CAD application (GPLv2) and FreeCAD as a parametric 3D modeler (LGPL-2.1). Both are free and open source and run on Windows, macOS and Linux. For flat 2D drawings LibreCAD's description fits; for 3D solids FreeCAD's does.

Can I print to scale or export a PDF from LibreCAD?

Yes. The manual describes print preview, paper sizes, fit to page, a selectable scale and tiled printing across several pages, and File > Export for PDF, SVG and image files. It recommends printing from the Print Preview window.

Official sources (12)
librecad.org/librecad.readthedocs.io/en/latest/librecad.readthedocs.io/en/latest/about/index.htmllibrecad.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ref/menu.htmllibrecad.readthedocs.io/en/latest/guides/dwg-setup.htmllibrecad.readthedocs.io/en/latest/guides/dwg-edit.htmllibrecad.readthedocs.io/en/latest/guides/completion.htmllibrecad.readthedocs.io/en/latest/appx/languages.htmldokuwiki.librecad.org/github.com/LibreCAD/LibreCADgithub.com/LibreCAD/LibreCAD/blob/master/README.mdgithub.com/LibreCAD/LibreCAD/releases/tag/v2.2.1.6

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