Compare the Top CAD Viewers as of April 2025

What are CAD Viewers?

CAD viewers are software tools that enable users to open, view, and interact with CAD (Computer-Aided Design) files without requiring full CAD software for editing or creating designs. These viewers allow users to view 2D and 3D drawings, blueprints, and models in various CAD formats, such as DWG, DXF, or STEP, and often provide features like zooming, rotating, and panning. CAD viewers are commonly used in industries such as engineering, architecture, and manufacturing to review designs, collaborate on projects, and share files with stakeholders. Some CAD viewers also offer markup and annotation tools for commenting on designs. Compare and read user reviews of the best CAD Viewers currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly.

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    ActCAD Software

    ActCAD Software

    Jytra Technology Solutions

    ActCAD is a native dwg/dxf cad software suitable for professional 2D drafting and 3D modeling projects. ActCAD is trusted by over 30000 users in over 103 countries for more than 10 years. The interface, commands, icons, dialogs, shortcuts etc. are very much similar to other popular cad software tools available in market. Flexible license types available even for single license. There is no learning for existing cad users while saving 80% of the costs. ActCAD offers free email technical support without any limitations. ActCAD can be fully customized and programs can be developed using our free API toolkit. It supports popular programming languages like , lisp dcl, .net, C++ etc. Apart from all regular commands, ActCAD offers many productive tools like pdf to cad converter, Block libraries, Image to Cad converter, handling point sets between Cad and Excel and many more. ActCAD is suitable for any high end professional projects in the domains of Architecture, Civil, Mechanical,Automotive
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    Starting Price: $249.00/one-time/user
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  • 2
    PloCon

    PloCon

    Isoplotec Corporation

    PloCon is a program that continuously prints the drawing of HPGL / vector / image file to Windows printer. It does not display. (1) Paper and output scale - Specify paper and automatically scaled to fit paper size - Specify paper and output on designated scale - Automatic paper selection with specified scale Automatic selection of the optimum paper and orientation of the printer that matches the drawing size scaled in the drawing area (2)"Interactive print" / "Print from other applications" (3) Line color, width change, whole drawing black and white / color switching, pen ON / OFF (4) Vector font of character font / True type font switching (5) Multi-page support (6) Reading of many file formats as shown below. HP-GL, HP-GL/2, HP RTL, EMF, PDF, DXF, DWG, GERBER, NC-drill, IGES, SXF,EMF, TIFF, JPEG, Bitmap, PCX, FPX, GIF, PNG (7) Output mode Folder monitoring output Batch file output
    Starting Price: $70/license
  • 3
    PloComp

    PloComp

    Isoplotec Corporation

    PloComp displays HPGL/Vector/Image. It can display maximum of 20 file in piles or in arranges. Display mode is overwrite, merge, undisplay, mirror at a file. This is useful for checking the product drawings by overlapping multiple drawings, such as printed wiring boards, or for comparing old and new drawings by recognizing changed areas using different colors or cloud marks. Supports many file formats: Input: HP-GL, HP-GL/2, HP RTL, PDF, DXF, DWG, GERBER, NC-Drill, IGES, SXF, EMF, TIFF, JPEG, Bitmap, PCX, FPX, GIF, PNG Output: HP-GL, HP-GL/2, HP RTL, PDF, DXF, DWG, IGES, SXF, EMF, TIFF, JPEG, Bitmap, PCX, FPX, GIF, PNG, Printer, Plotter, WMF, PS, EPS, SVG, XPS, PCL, Copy to Clipboard (black and white, color) It has same powerful input and edit function as 2D-CAD, it can read view file and edit. All the function usage can be carried out free for 30 days from installation for trial.
    Starting Price: $90/license
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    PloCompAuto

    PloCompAuto

    Isoplotec Corporation

    PloCompAuto is a program that automatically converts files in the following formats at high speed. It is very efficient when you have a large number of drawing files and want to overlay multiple drawings onto one sheet, color-code the differences between two drawings, or find the changed areas. Input: HP-GL, HP-GL/2, HP RTL, PDF, DXF, DWG, GERBER, NC-drill, IGES, SXF, TIFF, JPEG, Bitmap, PCX, FPX, GIF, PNG, EMF Output: PDF, TIFF, DXF, DWG, JPEG, Bitmap, IGES, SXF, EMF, XPS, PCL, WMF, PS, EPS, SVG, GIF, PNG, PCX, FPX, CMT, HP-GL/printer The following output modes are available, and it also supports drawing comparison between folders. (1) Folder monitoring output mode Monitors a specified folder, and if there is no input file, waits until the file arrives, and when the input file arrives, it outputs it. After output, the input file is automatically deleted. (2) Batch file output mode All the function usage can be carried out free for 30 days from installation for trial.
    Starting Price: $950/license
  • 5
    PloView

    PloView

    Isoplotec Corporation

    PloView is a viewer for viewing HPGL, vector and image files. (1) Files: Input: HP-GL, HP-GL/2, HP RTL, PDF, DXF, DWG, GERBER, NC-Drill, IGES, SXF, EMF, TIFF, JPEG, Bitmap, PCX, FPX, GIF, PNG Output: HP-GL, HP-GL/2, HP RTL, PDF, DXF, DWG, IGES, SXF, EMF, TIFF, JPEG, Bitmap, PCX, FPX, GIF, PNG, WMF, PS, EPS, SVG, XPS, PCL, Clipboard, Printer, Plotter (2) Multi-page file - Open multiple files, display pages, combine into multi-page file - Split multi-page file into separate files for each page (3) Display - Fast display - Line color, width change, black and white/color switching, background color switching, pen ON/OFF - Overwrite/mixed color switching - Rotation, mirror, grid display - Vector font/TrueType font (4) Request - Coordinate, length, area, line width, angle measurement - Character search - Connected line search, total line length measurement (5) Drawing editing Powerful input and editing functions comparable to 2D CAD.
    Starting Price: $70/license
  • 6
    PloViewAuto

    PloViewAuto

    Isoplotec Corporation

    PloViewAuto is a program that automatically converts large amounts of files in the following formats at high speed. Input: HP-GL, HP-GL/2, HP RTL, PDF, DXF, DWG, GERBER, NC-drill, IGES, SXF, TIFF, JPEG, Bitmap, PCX, FPX, GIF, PNG, EMF Output: PDF, TIFF, DXF, DWG, JPEG, Bitmap, IGES, SXF, EMF, XPS, PCL, WMF, PS, EPS, SVG, GIF, PNG, PCX, FPX, CMT, HP-GL/printer PloViewAuto has two output modes: (1) Folder monitoring output mode Searches for an input file with the specified wildcard input file name, outputs if found, and automatically deletes the input file after output. If there is no input file, waits until the file arrives. (2) Batch file output mode Continuously outputs multiple input files listed in the specified output list file. All the function usage can be carried out free for 30 days from installation for trial.
    Starting Price: $950/license
  • 7
    PloViewMini

    PloViewMini

    Isoplotec Corporation

    PloViewMini is a freeware (license fee free) viewer for viewing HP-GL file drawings, and has the following features: (1) High-speed display of vector drawings and many display-related commands (2) Line color, width change, black and white/color switching of the entire drawing, background color switching, pen ON/OFF (3) Rotation, mirror, grid display (4) Character font (TrueType) font switching, character size change (5) Coordinate display (6) Multi-page support (7) Input file format is HP-GL (not compatible with HP-GL/2 or HP RTL) PloViewMini is a limited-function version of the paid version of PloView.
    Starting Price: 0.00 US$ / license
  • 8
    CAD-Viewer.org

    CAD-Viewer.org

    CAD-Viewer.org

    Free Online 3D CAD Viewer. Open STEP, IGES, OBJ, STL files and visualize them directly in the web browser. PC, Tablet or Mobile, all the devices are supported.
    Starting Price: $0
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    Shapr3D

    Shapr3D

    Shapr3D

    Shapr3D is an intuitive, cross-platform 3D modeling app for iPadOS and macOS that is compatible with all major desktop CAD software. You can import projects and export work directly to your rendering, manufacturing, drafting, or splicing tools. Shapr3D’s tech stack and software combine the industrial power of desktop CAD tools and intuitive user experience. Shapr3D users get battle-tested Siemens™ geometric Parasolid™ modeling kernel and D-Cubed™ sketch engine. CAD-compatibility with hi-res X_T, STEP, STL, OBJ, 2D DXF, 2D DWG, USDZ export support. SLDPRT, SLDASM, STL, STEP, IGES, X_T, 2D DWG, 2D DXF, JPG, PNG import support. Offline functionality and local storage with all officially supported Macs running on Big Sur (11.0) or later. A modeling experience designed for fluid mouse and keyboard input. Get tangible results with 2D Drawings: prepare your models’ technical drawings, and start prototyping right away.
    Starting Price: $25/month/user
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    VariCAD

    VariCAD

    VariCAD

    VariCAD is 3D / 2D CAD software primarily intended for mechanical engineering design. The comprehensive CAD software enables designers to quickly create, evaluate, and modify their models. The software is sold as one "fully loaded" package, with all features and functions, for one affordable price. VariCAD delivers an excellent performance-to-price ratio, making it one of the smartest choices on the market today. VariCAD is compact, fast, easy to use, and provides everything necessary for mechanical design. The system contains: 3D Modeling 2D Drawing and Editing Optional Support of Parameters Optional Support of Geometrical Constraints Shells Modeling, Pipelines, Wires Crash Tests (Interferences) 3D Assemblies and Groups Surface Development (Sheet Metal Unbending) Mechanical Part Libraries and Symbol Libraries Calculations of 3D Objects or 2D Sections BOM and Title Blocks
    Starting Price: $199/user
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