TrustRadius Insights for DraftSight are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, third party data sources.
Pros
Cost-effectiveness: Many users have praised DraftSight for being an economical option compared to similar CAD software, making it a cost-effective choice for small businesses. Some reviewers have mentioned that the affordability of DraftSight played a significant role in their decision to choose it over other options.
Stability and performance: Users consistently mention that DraftSight is stable and reliable, with no crashes or technical issues. Several reviewers have specifically highlighted the software's stability, noting that they have not experienced any crashes while using it. This aspect has greatly contributed to the positive sentiment surrounding DraftSight.
Compatibility with AutoCAD: The ability of DraftSight to open both old and new DWG/DXF files has been highly appreciated by users. Many AutoCAD users feel that this feature makes the transition to DraftSight seamless and efficient. Additionally, several reviewers praise the inclusion of commonly used AutoCAD commands in DraftSight, which further enhances its compatibility with industry-standard drawing file types.
We utilize this in our digital crowd suite. It is one of over 50 applicant offers. This helps digital engineering teams with all 2D drafting need. Also, reproducing, reverse engineering historical technical data package artifacts.
Pros
Architectural and site layouts
2D dimensional mechanical, electrical
Faster to DXF, DWG manual conversion
Reverse engineering or reproduction of historical technical drawings
AutoCAD replacement
Layering 2D/3D drawings
Cons
Rastar to dxf automated conversion.
Bill of material creation.
Better unit conversion scale should have an inch to millimeter, feet to metric, mile to kilometer, inch to centimeter converters and all need to go both ways.
Better file management capabilities.
Locking file, making read-only.
Audit logging.
Digital signing.
Intelligent property, Copyright and patenting statements/protection for illustration.
Org file storage.
Microfiche export.
Likelihood to Recommend
It is suited for all 2D design, GIS, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, schematic work. Electrical layouts, hydraulic layouts.
Creating and converting 2D into symbols for Solidworks Electrical and cad files for precreation of 3D Models. I use it extensively for creating cad files for cad Cam also. I Use it for cad /cam training and part creation for Mentoring Students for the First.org Robotics team.
Pros
Simple to use
Easy basic tools
Converting Fonts to Vectors
Good integration into SolidWorks
Cons
Being free makes it easy to obtain and install, when it becomes a paid for product, it will be difficult to obtain
CNC Gcode generation does not work well
More file formats for import and export
Likelihood to Recommend
It is great for 2D generation of Symbols, part fabrication for 2D CNC machines such as plasma, waterjet, and laser cutters. It works great for floor plans and diagrams. I could be better for making signs and labels if it dealt with graphic images and filling objects and text. It lacks 3D tools that are easy to use.
DraftSight is being used as a supplement to SolidWorks, as well as a tool for highly technical patent illustrations. Currently, we have about 3 consistent users.
Pros
Less expensive than AutoCAD.
Macro development in the pro license.
2D artwork manipulation.
Cons
The 2019 version seems to hangup/crash more often than 2018.
The new image tracer would be particularly helpful for us, but it is not quite to the level where it is useful for our application.
It is particularly annoying when tracing over images that EntitySnaps goes only to the edges. In 2017 and before, where you clicked in the image is where the key point was placed, even with EntitySnaps activated.
Likelihood to Recommend
It is well suited where separating the 2D drawings from the 3D CAD is necessary. The non-parametric entities work towards our advantage.
VU
Verified User
Engineer in Engineering (Research company, 51-200 employees)
This review site asks me to list my work information, but I did not use DraftSight for work. I used it personally to design the new home my wife and I were building. I had never used CAD software before, but the user interface (as far as I can tell) is designed to be identical (or close to it) to AutoCAD, so there were tons of resources on the web to help me learn. DraftSight is only for 2D work, but it is exactly the right tool for what we needed, and at an affordable price (unlike AutoCAD). It allowed me to share .dwg and .pdf with my general contractor and the lumberyard. It allowed us to build a house without needing to hire an architect. It's good software...I highly recommend it.
DraftSight is currently used by many individuals in our company, both in the Engineering department and adjacent departments. It handles all the tasks we need it to do with regards to .dwg and .dxf files, from individual component drawings to plant layouts. DraftSight is a fully functional 2D drawing tool.
Pros
Accessing .dwg/.dxf files.
Editing .dwg/.dxf files.
Saving .dwg/.dxf files.
Simplicity.
Cons
The free version is going away in 2019.
Some commands are difficult to find.
Likelihood to Recommend
Well suited to the occasional .dwg/.dxf user. Probably doesn't make sense for a casual view-only user.
VU
Verified User
Engineer in Engineering (Mechanical or Industrial Engineering company, 51-200 employees)
I had been working with the Auto CAD for 18 years since I started working on antenna mechanical designs. But when I got to the U.S. 4 years ago, I could not use Auto CAD because my U.S. company did not have a license. However, I found DraftSight for free, even for commercial things. I can actually say that DraftSight saved me from using my company’s software system. Now I am using Creo 3 for 3D design and converting it to the DXF file so I can make it more detailed with DraftSight for Engineering.
I thought the Pro version was inconvenient and not much different from the basic Draftsight. It took even more time to design with. But then I got a new laptop with upgraded RAM and CPU and there was no more lagging or slowness when using DraftSight.
Pros
Our factory side and customers are happy with the detailed drawings created by Draftsight.
I bought the DraftSight professional version 5 month ago, which put me to work quickly. The company doesn't even know that I paid for DraftSight professional myself, but I am happy with its better performance.
I think the functionality is good enough for my work.
Cons
If DrafSsight could provide the PDF conversion function itself, that would be super great.
Likelihood to Recommend
Any design engineer will be able to easily use DraftSight for any design review or prototype build for your project. It is a very useful tool.
VU
Verified User
Engineer in Engineering (Mechanical or Industrial Engineering company, 501-1000 employees)
Free and worth the price. I've used DraftSight for side work on and off, and on occasions where AutoCAD was needed and not available. It's close enough and does basic editing of 2D dwg files in model space or paper space. It'll take some time to poke around and find what you're looking for. It's good that many AutoCAD commands are aliased at the command line so you don't have to find the button or remember what the DraftSight name for the command is, you can just type 'stretch' and you'll get what you need.
Pros
When you don't have autocad and you need it, DraftSight is free and you can download it.
One time a guy at work asked me for a basic .dwg editor and I was like, no problem guy, download DraftSight and you're good!
One time we brought a temp on at work and didn't have another copy of AutoCAD, so we set him up with DraftSight and it worked out.
Cons
Adding text to dimensions could be better.
Stability could be better.
Likelihood to Recommend
If you don't have $40 to spend for a 1-month license of AutoCAD LT or can't get the expense authorized, Draftsight will do fine. If you don't meet the system requirements for AutoCAD LT, it's great. If you do have $40/month or $390/year for AutoCAD LT and meet system requirements for it, AutoCAD LT is the much better choice.
I am an educator at a college in Southern Nevada. I teach AutoCAD and SOLIDWORKS. I like to introduce Draftsight to the students entering the job market. I also recommend Draftsight when visiting companies that are using an older version of AutoCAD.
Pros
DWG editor.
GUI is very similar.
Same commands.
3D capabilities.
Paramedics editing.
Cons
Dynamic Blocks.
External References.
More Architecture tools in the toolbox.
Likelihood to Recommend
Affordability: the cost of Draftsight is more affordable than using AutoCAD or any other DWG editor. Compatibility: Draftsight is compatible with most CAD formats.
