- Best Dwg Viewer For Mac
- Dwg Viewer For Mac Free
- Autodesk Dwg Viewer Download Free
- Dwg Viewer
- Free Online Autocad Viewer
You have received a file in DWG format, you would like to view it but on the PC you are currently using there is not a copy of AutoCAD installed?
Do not despair! There are several software that can solve your problem and many of them are completely free.
Yes, you read correctly! If you do not have AutoCAD installed on your computer and you do not plan to purchase a new copy of the software, you can open DWG files using free DWG programs that you can easily find online. There really is something for everyone and, more importantly, for all operating systems. Of course they do not include the editing and creation of the files included in AutoCAD, but for the visualization of the projects (in 2D or 3D) they are perfect.
DWGSee DWG Viewer is a light and fast viewer, designed to browse, view, edit, measure and print DWG/DXF/DWF files. Supported formats Support AutoCAD.dwg.dxf.dwf files, version R14 to the latest 2020, and also can open raster image formats—.bmp.jpg.png.gif.tif. TurboViewer is a free application and the main local DWG™ viewer that backings both 2D CAD, DWG record for the iOS stage. Presently accessible in 15 dialects! Appreciate smooth multi-touch route as you skillet, zoom, and 3D circle easily around your DWG and DXF™ documents. These files can be viewed on different storage systems. Solution: Use the AutoCAD web app to view or edit DWG drawing files online, or the web-based Autodesk Viewer to view DWG drawing files and other file types. Note: The editing capabilities of the AutoCAD web app are only available to customers who are subscribed to a desktop version of AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT.
What are you waiting for? Whether you have a Windows PC, a Mac or even a portable device equipped with Android or iOS, you will surely find the solution that best suits your needs.
Take five minutes of free time, try to find the software that is most appropriate for you and download it using the link in the article.
DWG TrueView (Windows)
DWG TrueView is the best free DWG program. It is produced by Autodesk, the manufacturer of the very popular AutoCAD and is therefore based on the same engine as the latter. It allows you to view DWG and DXF files for free by having the ability to print them and track changes to 2D and 3D files. It also allows you to convert DWG files to PDF in an extremely easy and fast way. The program is only available for Windows but it is very easy to use.
To learn more you can refer to the tutorial how to view DWG files previously published on this blog. Download from here.
Best Dwg Viewer For Mac
FreeCAD (Windows/Mac/Linux)
FreeCAD is a very useful free alternative to AutoCAD that allows you to open and edit files in .DWG format. It has a very well structured user interface that is familiar to those who have used programs like AutoCAD. Entering more specifically, it is a free and open source 3D parametric modeling software designed to draw objects of the real world of any size. It is compatible with Windows, MacOS and Linux and supports many different file formats: STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC, DAE and many others.
To activate DWG support, you need to install the Teigha File Converter external software and copy the Dxf Importer plugin to the Macro folder. Download from here.
OpenText Brava! DWG Viewer (Windows)
As its name quite easily suggests, OpenText Brava! DWG Viewer is a free program that allows you to view files in DWG, DXF and DWF format. It is very fast, easy to use and in addition to displaying them, it also allows you to measure and print AutoCAD files. Supports Xref, displaying layers and blocking file attributes. It also includes a Web browser. It is also very easy to use even for non-experts.
It is compatible with all major Windows versions, including 64-bit versions. Download from here.
SketchUp (Windows/Mac)
SketchUp is a well-known free software known previously as Google SketchUp that allows you to model houses and other elements in 3D. It is very easy to use, thanks to the tutorials and internal sample files that allow you to easily learn the main commands of the program, and supports all the major design file formats, including those of AutoCAD DWG. It is available for Windows and macOS. It is also available in a paid version with additional features (which can still be tried for free for 30 days).
To download SketchUp you must enter your email address and you must indicate the purposes for which you will use the software (eg educational or professional). Download from here.
DraftSight (Windows/Mac/Linux)
Dwg Viewer For Mac Free
DraftSight offers a free, highly efficient and easy-to-use tool for creating, editing and viewing DWG files on all major operating systems. It has a very simple user interface that is particularly user-friendly for those who have already used programs like AutoCAD in the past. The software is free but to use it you must register on its official website and receive a code to be entered during installation via email (otherwise it expires after 30 days).
It is compatible with all major versions of Windows, with macOS and with many Linux distros. Download from here.
Autodesk Dwg Viewer Download Free
eDrawings Viewer (Windows/Mac)
eDrawings Viewer is a free software for Windows and macOS that allows you to view files in DWG and DXF format extremely quickly. It is very intuitive and includes all the features you might want from an “essential” application of its kind: project opening, zoom, rotation, animation, navigation, etc.
It does not allow modification or create new projects, but for this there are other more advanced solutions. Download from here.
AutoCAD 360 (Android / iOS)
As mentioned in the opening of the post, there are also programs for free DWG compatible with smartphones and tablets. One of these is AutoCAD 360 which is available for both Android and iPhone and iPad.
The application is free, but some features like creating new projects and support for large files are only available in the paid Pro version. To download AutoCAD 360 just open Google Play or App Store and search for the application.
In the field of drafting and 3D design, few names are as well-known as AutoCAD. First launched by AutoDesk in the 1980s, AutoCAD was considered THE standard software platform for drafting for decades. Until today, there are still so many AutoCAD users that the standard AutoCAD output file – the DWG – can be found everywhere.
However, not all people have the budget to buy the AutoCAD software platform, which costs more than $1000. For users, who just want to view DWG files, a free DWG viewer software could be really useful. If you’re one of these people, then read on as we look at the best alternative DWG viewers. Best of all, they’re all free!
What are DWG files?
DWG (from drawing) is the native file format for 2D and 3D drawing created in AutoCAD, as well as in other CAD packages such as BricsCAD and IntelliCAD. It is a proprietary binary file format. Since it contains vector image data, the drawings in each DWG file can be scaled while still preserving resolution. Each DWG files contains metadata that describes the contents of the file. Its interchange file format is DXF, which is an ASCII version of the contents of a DWG file.
The top 8 best free DWG viewers
1. AutoDesk DWG TrueView (with Design Review)
Dwg Viewer
DWG TrueView is the official free DWG viewer software from AutoDesk which can be downloaded from their website. Aside from being able to view DWG drawings, DWG TrueView was for the conversion of DWG and DXF files into 3D DWF for quick markup and publishing.
Since the software is built on the same architecture as AutoCAD, you are assured of drawing fidelity and integrity, even when you switch from one format to another. This is very useful if you need to collaborate with other users who are using different versions of AutoCAD.
DWG TrueView is made even better with Design Review, a free add-on also developed by AutoDesk. Design Review allows you to make length, area, and angle measurements on the design, as well as add annotations and comments. Again, these are great tools for collaboration. With the add-on feature, you can pretty much do everything you want with your DWG file short of editing it.
2. LibreCAD
LibreCAD is an open source platform for viewing, editing, and converting DWG files. Being an open source software, it’s completely free with all functions included. However, its biggest limitation is that it can only display 2D views, which helps keep the size of the software quite small. It can also display isometric views but lacks any sort of 3D navigation.
Aside from the lack of 3D viewing, you can do just about anything with LibreCAD. You can add basic lines and polygons, take measurements, and export your files into other formats. It’s also quite easy to learn, and the interface is user-friendly, features that are unusual in open source software platforms.
The main limitation of the open source nature of LibreCAD is that some of its versions can be unstable. Before updating to another version, you need to read up on update notes and feedback from other users to make sure that you are updating to a functional build. As a free software platform, LibreCAD certainly gets the job done – just don’t expect anything fancy.
3. FreeCAD
FreeCAD is certainly one of the most feature-rich free DWG viewers out there. Calling it a DWG viewer might even be a disservice to FreeCAD, as it can be considered a full 3D parametric modeling software. Best of all, FreeCAD is open source, so everything is completely free.
With FreeCAD, you don’t have to begin with an existing DWG file and simply make edits. You can use FreeCAD to come up with your very own 2D sketches and model them in 3D space. From these models, you can take measurements, adjust dimensions, and extract various design details. The program has a steeper learning curve compared to LibreCAD, but it’s not so overwhelming to be inaccessible. Still, we wouldn’t classify FreeCAD as beginner friendly.
Being another open source software, FreeCAD can be prone to bugs, especially when new builds are released. Although it’s one of the most feature-rich free CAD software platforms, it still doesn’t compare to the full range of functions of AutoCAD, but perhaps that’s an unfair comparison.
4. ShareCAD
Instead of a software that needs to be installed, ShareCAD provides an online browser-based platform for viewing of CAD drawings. It supports the proprietary DWG, DWF, and DXF file formats plus a host of other formats for 3D drawings, raster, and vector images, and even archives. The service does not require any downloads or registration, but the file you need to view will have to be uploaded to their server. The file size is also limited to only 50 MB.
The features of ShareCAD are quite limited but are enough for a quick inspection of 3D drawings. You can view individual layers, zoom in on features, or change the background color for easier viewing. You can also print out the drawings. If you’d like to share your drawings with other contacts, ShareCAD can generate a link that you can share.
5. Autodesk A360
A360, an official AutoDesk release, is quite different from the other entries in the list. Instead of desktop software, A360 is a mobile app compatible with both Android and iOS. It can view both DWF and DWG files, as well as 50 other CAD file formats. With the ability to make annotations, take measurements, and navigate components, A360 is surprisingly powerful for a mobile app.
The intention of A360 is to allow engineers and project managers to view CAD files anywhere in the world using just their mobile devices. This is a great tool for collaboration and can be very useful during project execution. Of course, the quality of the experience when viewing project files will vary based on the specs of the mobile device being used. If your smartphone or tablet has a low-specs GPU, then merely opening a DWG file can be very slow.
The A360 mobile platform does not allow for editing of files. Although this seems hardly surprising, there are already mobile platforms being developed that have functions that the A360 does not offer. Autodesk seems like they have a bit of catching up to do, but the A360 is a perfectly serviceable mobile app for now.
6. OnShape
OnShape is an entirely cloud-based 3D CAD software that has been designed especially for collaborative work. Since everything is cloud-based, there is nothing to install and you can access the platform from any workstation – even on your phone or tablet. It has a friendly learning curve, and anyone who has had any experience with standard CAD software can get the hang of it quickly.
OnShape is capable of just about anything you could want from CAD software. You can create and edit models, take measurements, extract design details, and export to a variety of file formats. Where OnShape truly shines is in its collaborative platform. OnShape allows multiple users to simultaneously a single master file. Everyone shares the same workspace and works with the same dataset, eliminating the need to keep track of different versions of the same file.
The drawback is that OnShape isn’t actually free – they now charge for an annual subscription, and the price depends on the package you want. However, they still offer a free trial. This is something you can take advantage of, although you can probably only use it for a limited time.
7. Autodesk Fusion360
Another free DWG viewer from Autodesk, Fusio360 is an all-in-one platform designed for industrial designers, mechanical engineers, students, and educators. It’s a very simple software with basic functions, making it an excellent option for coming up with quick 3D models, simulations, and analysis. Everything is cloud-based, so the platform is quick even without advanced hardware.
Fusion360 is ideal for simple design jobs with assembly and parametric design features. If you’re going for complex models, then you’ll probably have to look elsewhere. However, there’s no reason that Fusion360 can develop more complex functions in future versions.
Models made in Fusion360 can be exported as STL files, which is one of the default file formats used by 3D printers. This makes Fusion360 one an especially suitable design software for rapid prototyping. Moreover, the software is quite easy to learn even for relative beginners.
Free Online Autocad Viewer
The downside of Fusion360 is that it’s only free for a 30-day trial. After the trial period, you’ll have to fork out around $60 per month for a subscription. We still recommend trying it out – you might like it so much that you end up paying full price.
8. IrfanView
IrfanView is described as a free, fast, and compact “graphic viewer.” It can open just about any graphic or design file format. Although it’s more well-known as an all-around image viewer, it’s also capable of opening CAD files in DWG or DWF formats. You’ll need to install the BabaCAD4Image plug-in, but don’t worry – the plug-in is also free.
Granted, there’s not much else you can do with IrfanView aside from rotating your models, adjust its brightness, modify its color, and a bunch of other cosmetic changes. After all, it’s not a dedicated CAD software. IrfanView is still a nice software that you can keep installed in your system. It hardly takes any disk space and could be useful when you encounter a tricky image file format.
Final thoughts
3D and 2D models made from AutoCAD have remained the standard file formats in the fields of drafting, engineering, and industrial design for the past few decades. Frankly, we can’t imagine a future where DWG files aren’t the standard way that people share and collaborate on 3D designs. This can be challenging for professionals and small firms that can’t afford a full AutoCAD platform.
The free DWG viewers we have listed here offer a partial solution to this problem. None of them come quite close to the functionality of the original AutoCAD, but they are, at least, good enough to view DWG files. Some of them offer limited measurement and editing features. Most importantly, they are free. If you work in any field that requires sharing and viewing of DWG files, it would be a good idea to have one or two of these installed in your workstation.