Will it open my drawings?
Yes. ZWCAD reads and saves DWG, DXF and DWT natively, so you exchange drawings with clients and partners who use AutoCAD without any conversion.
ZWCAD, the AutoCAD® alternative: Buy it once. It's yours for good.
ZWCAD opens your DWG files, has the commands you already know and can come with a perpetual licence, with no monthly fees. JWeb sells the licences, installs them, migrates what you have from AutoCAD and trains your team.
Official
reseller
reseller
- Installation and migration
- Training and support
What you need to know: What is ZWCAD?
A 2D and 3D CAD program, used by more than 1.4 million people, that works with the same files and commands as AutoCAD.
Will I have to relearn everything?
No. The interface, the commands and most shortcuts are the ones you already know. Most LISP files work without changes.
Why a perpetual licence?
Because you pay once and the program is yours. There is no subscription to renew, and upgrades to new versions are optional. If you prefer to pay yearly, there is a subscription too. ZWCAD is made by ZWSOFT.
ZWCAD vs AutoCAD: What ZWCAD does and AutoCAD® doesn't.
Up to 1 hoursaved per day, according to ZWSOFT
| Feature | ZWCAD | AutoCAD® |
|---|---|---|
| ZWCAD Toolbox | A ready-to-use, organised toolbox, with no hunting for plug-ins. | AutoCAD®: Not available |
| Selection tools | Find and replace in a panel, filters by property and chain selection in one click. | AutoCAD®: Not available |
| Dimension tools | Coordinate and object dimensions, dimension text outline and quick layout. | AutoCAD®: Not available |
| Area table | Calculates and updates areas in one click. | AutoCAD®: Not available |
| Smart Plot | Batch printing, with automatic frame recognition. | AutoCAD®: Has Publish, without frame recognition |
| Image vectorisation | Turns scanned or hand-made drawings into editable DWG (Professional). | AutoCAD®: Not available |
Comparison made by ZWSOFT, the maker of ZWCAD. AutoCAD® is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc.
Perpetual licence: How much you save compared with an AutoCAD subscription.
AutoCAD is only sold as a subscription: you pay every year. With a perpetual licence, ZWCAD is paid once. Compare the cumulative cost of one licence over five years.
By year 2, ZWCAD Standard has already cost less than AutoCAD LT.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
List prices per licence, October 2026: ZWCAD excluding VAT; AutoCAD LT according to Autodesk's store in Portugal. A cost comparison that does not imply equivalent features. With the optional maintenance plan every year (€200 + VAT), ZWCAD Standard costs €1,599 over 5 years. AutoCAD® is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc.
Prices and licences: Standard or Professional.
Both editions open the same files and can be perpetual or an annual subscription. The difference is in 3D and programming.
For 2D drawingZWCAD Standard
€799 + VAT
Perpetual licence. Or a subscription for €360 + VAT per year.
- Full 2D drawing
- Native DWG, DXF and DWT
- 3D viewing
- LISP routines
- Available in Portuguese
For 2D, 3D and programmingZWCAD Professional
€1,299 + VAT
Perpetual licence. Or a subscription for €585 + VAT per year.
- Everything in Standard
- 3D modelling
- VBA, ZRX and .NET APIs
- Point cloud and GIS
- Image vectorisation
- IFC and Revit file import
Single-user licence
For one computer at a time. You can move it to another computer at no cost.
Network licence
For several people in the office, managed from a server. Price on request.
Maintenance plan
Optional, for the perpetual licence: gives you access to new versions. €200 + VAT per year for Standard and €325 + VAT for Professional.
What JWeb does: From AutoCAD to ZWCAD, without stopping the office.
We don't just sell you the licence. We handle the switch, so your team keeps drawing the next day.
Licence
We help you choose the edition and licence type, and handle the purchase.
Installation and migration
We install it on your computers and migrate your blocks, templates, plot styles (CTB) and LISP routines.
Training
We show your team what changes from AutoCAD, so nobody wastes time looking for commands.
Support
We stay with you after installation, with an annual plan or billed by the hour.
Try ZWCAD free for 30 days.
The full version, no credit card. We install the trial and you try it with your own drawings.
Frequently asked questions: About ZWCAD.
How much does ZWCAD cost?
With a perpetual licence, ZWCAD Standard costs €799 + VAT and Professional €1,299 + VAT, as a one-off payment. There is also an annual subscription, for €360 and €585 + VAT. For several licences or a network licence, request a quote.
Does ZWCAD open AutoCAD files (DWG)?
Yes. It opens and saves DWG, DXF and DWT natively, up to the DWG 2018 format, the same one AutoCAD uses today. You exchange drawings with AutoCAD users without any conversion.
What is the difference between ZWCAD and AutoCAD?
The interface and commands are very similar, and most shortcuts are the same. The big difference is the licence: ZWCAD can be bought once, AutoCAD is paid every year. Some less-used functions are different, so we recommend a 30-day trial with your own drawings.
ZWCAD or BricsCAD: which should I choose?
Both work in DWG and offer a perpetual licence. ZWCAD has an interface closer to AutoCAD, with the toolbox, stackable panels and floating tabs, which makes the switch easier. The choice depends on the files and applications you use: try both with your drawings and we will help you decide.
Do I have to renew the licence?
With a perpetual licence, no: the version you buy is yours for good. If you want new versions, you can add the annual maintenance plan, which is optional. If you choose the subscription, you renew it every year.
Standard or Professional: which should I choose?
Standard is for people who draw in 2D and use LISP. Professional adds 3D modelling, the VBA, ZRX and .NET APIs, point cloud, GIS and image vectorisation. We help you choose based on your work.
Can I use the licence on two computers?
The single-user licence works on one computer at a time, and you can move it to another computer at no cost. For several simultaneous users, there is the network licence.
Will my AutoCAD LISP routines work?
Most work without changes. Some need adjustments: during migration we test your routines and fix the ones that need it.
Does ZWCAD run on Mac?
No. ZWCAD runs on Windows only, from Windows 7 SP1 to Windows 11. If you work on a Mac, talk to us before buying.
What are the minimum requirements?
2 GB of RAM, 2 GB of disk space and a graphics card compatible with OpenGL 4.2, on Windows.
Is there a free version?
There is no permanent free version, but you can try the full ZWCAD for 30 days, no credit card. We install the trial for you.
Is ZWCAD available in Portuguese?
Yes. The Standard and Professional editions are available in Portuguese.
How do I switch from AutoCAD to ZWCAD?
Your DWG files open directly. JWeb installs ZWCAD and migrates your blocks, templates, plot styles (CTB) and LISP routines, so the office keeps working the next day.
Is there training for people coming from AutoCAD?
Yes. JWeb trains your team, focusing on what changes from AutoCAD, so nobody wastes time looking for commands.
Who helps me after installation?
JWeb. We provide help and technical support after installation, with an annual plan or billed by the hour, whichever you prefer.
Still paying for CAD every year? Talk to us.
Tell us how many people draw in your office and what they use today. We reply with a quote for the licences, installation and training.