Drag the slider to see how your savings grow over time.
5
progeCAD cost
one-time, forever
AutoCAD cost
$12,075
over 5 years
You save
$11,535
over 5 years
Based on AutoCAD at $2,095/year. progeCAD is a one-time purchase — own the version you buy.
Full comparison
AutoCAD vs progeCAD — everything side by side.
How progeCAD stacks up as an AutoCAD alternative across every dimension that matters — features, pricing, DWG compatibility, and real-world workflows.
Feature
progeCAD
one-time
AutoCAD
$2,095/year
Pricing & licensing
Purchase model
How you pay
One-time payment
Annual subscription
Starting price
Lowest entry cost
$2,095/yr
10-year cost
Total spend over a decade
~$20,950
You own the software
Perpetual access after purchase
Locked-in price
Cost never rises after purchase
Network / floating licenses
Shared concurrent seats
Free 30-day trial
Full features, no credit card
File compatibility
Native DWG read & write
No conversion needed
DWG versions supported
Backward compatibility range
v2.5 through the latest version
Current version only
DXF support
PDF import to DWG
With layers & geometry intact
AutoCAD SHX fonts
CTB / STB plot styles
Commands & interface
AutoCAD command aliases
Same commands, same shortcuts
1,000+ commands
Native
AutoCAD-style interface & menus
Dynamic blocks
Sheet Set Manager
External references (XREFs)
Express Tools / bonus toolset
Free, included
Subscription only
Blocks & symbol library
22,000+ included
Limited
Modeling & 3D
2D drafting
3D ACIS solid modeling
Realistic rendering
Built-in, free
Add-on required
Programming & automation
AutoLISP
VBA (Visual Basic for Applications)
SDS / IRX (ADS / ARX equivalent)
Existing AutoCAD scripts work
MNU, SCR, LSP files
Platform & deployment
Windows
macOS native
iCADMac
Works fully offline
No internet connection required
Cloud lock-in
Data or features tied to cloud
None
Some features
From engineers who switched
Real people. Real savings.
progeCAD beats AutoCAD in my book. Performs all the tasks I need at a much more attractive price. Customer support is much better as well, a big plus!
DW
Donald Washburn
The Audio Bug, Inc.
I am very happy with progeCAD! After using AutoCAD for a long time I decided to try progeCAD in 2008. I have been happy with progeCAD ever since.
HP
Howard Pennington
ArrowCAD Design Services LLC
I want to tell you that ProgeCAD is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING — very very similar to AutoCAD, except in the wallet.
DR
Donna Rose
progeCAD customer
Considering BricsCAD or ZWCAD?
BricsCAD is Belgium-based with limited US presence. ZWCAD is a China-based product with no direct US sales channel — US buyers typically must order internationally with no local support. progeCAD is sold and supported directly in the United States, with a US-based team, US pricing in USD, and US phone & email support.
Common questions
progeCAD vs AutoCAD — FAQ.
Answers to the questions we hear most from people switching from AutoCAD.
progeCAD is a full AutoCAD alternative that opens, edits, and saves all DWG file formats. It uses the same commands, the same interface, and the same file structure — over 1,000 AutoCAD command aliases, plus AutoLISP, VBA, the SDS/IRX API, dynamic blocks, XREFs, Sheet Set Manager, and CTB/STB plot styles. The difference is cost — progeCAD is a one-time $540 perpetual license; AutoCAD charges $2,095 per year with no option to own. For most 2D drafting and standard 3D workflows, progeCAD is functionally identical to AutoCAD.
Yes. progeCAD opens and saves DWG natively with no conversion or import step, and it supports a wide version range — DWG v2.5 through the current format. Layers, blocks, linetypes, dimensions, XREFs, and AutoCAD SHX fonts are preserved. CTB and STB plot styles come across as well, so your drawings plot the way they always have.
In most cases they transfer without modification. progeCAD supports AutoLISP, VBA, and SDS/IRX (the equivalent of ADS/ARX), and it reads existing MNU, SCR, and LSP files directly. Standard LISP automation, batch scripts, and productivity routines written to AutoCAD conventions generally run as-is. Routines that call AutoCAD-specific .NET or ObjectARX extensions would need adapting — if you depend on a particular add-in, contact us and we will tell you honestly whether it will work.
Two things are worth knowing before you switch. First, Autodesk sells industry-specific toolsets such as Architecture, Civil 3D, Mechanical, and Plant 3D, and progeCAD's base package does not replicate those specialized libraries — on our side that capability comes from separate add-ons, progeEARTH for civil and survey work and progeBILLD for MEP. Second, progeCAD Professional is Windows-only, so Mac users need iCADMac instead. If full parametric BIM authoring is central to your workflow, progeCAD is not the closest fit either, and we would rather tell you that up front.
progeCAD Professional is a Windows application. For macOS we sell iCADMac, a separate AutoCAD-compatible CAD application built natively for the Mac, including Apple Silicon. It opens, edits, and saves DWG files natively and is also a one-time perpetual license, at $925.
Yes, and there are three ways to do it. A Single+ license installs on every PC you use — office, home, client site — and activates on one at a time with a quick online transfer. A Flex license adds more flexibility for moving between machines. An NLM network license is a floating license: install progeCAD on as many machines as you need, and the number of licenses you hold sets how many people can work at once. Licenses are transferable, so replacing a computer does not mean buying again.
No. progeCAD runs fully offline once activated, and no drawings or features are tied to a cloud service — your files stay on your own machine or network in standard DWG format. Because the license is perpetual, the software also keeps working indefinitely without further payment. There is no subscription to lapse and no scenario where you lose access to your own drawings.
