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It's a split decision.
Choose DraftSight for editing DWG, DXF and DGN files with desktop drafting and automation tools. Choose Polycam for capturing spaces, objects and sites, then sharing models, measurements or floor plans. They solve different problems, so the better pick depends on the work. Polycam has a free plan and paid Basic starts at $12.50 per month billed annually. DraftSight Professional is $24.92 per named user per month billed annually; its monthly price is not published.
01Side by side
| DraftSight | Polycam | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $24.92/user/month, billed annually | Free; Basic from $12.50/month annually |
| Free plan | No free plan; 30-day trial | Free plan with capture limits |
| Best for | 2D CAD drafting and DWG editing | 3D capture, measurements and floor plans |
| Core strength | Drafting, annotation and workflow automation | Phone, tablet and drone capture |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations/data | DWG, DXF and DGN support | 17+ exports, including DXF, ESX and PDF |
| Team/seat costs | Network starts at $399/year; quote for other plans | Business $33/user/month; Enterprise $100, three-user minimum |
| Support | Review score: 5/10 | Review score: 5.5/10 |
DraftSight Choose DraftSight if
- Choose DraftSight if you edit DWG, DXF or DGN files.
- Choose DraftSight if drafting tools and automation fit your workflow.
- Choose DraftSight if you need a named-user or network CAD license.
Polycam Choose Polycam if
- Choose Polycam if you need a free entry plan for 3D capture.
- Choose Polycam if you make measured floor plans from captures.
- Choose Polycam if you need shareable models and broad file exports.
02Pricing compared
Polycam is cheaper to start: its Free plan includes 3 AI-generated captures and 10 photogrammetry captures. Basic is $30 monthly or $12.50 per month billed annually. Business is listed at $33 per user per month billed annually; Enterprise is $100 per user per month billed annually and requires at least three users. DraftSight has no free plan. Professional is $299 per year ($24.92 per named user per month), and Premium is $599 per year ($49.92 per month). Monthly prices are not published. Enterprise Network starts at $399 per year, but requires a quote; prices for other organizational options are also not published. DraftSight lists a 30-day trial, while Polycam lists a 7-day trial. These prices buy different workflows: capture tools from Polycam, CAD drafting from DraftSight.
03Features and depth
DraftSight is the closer fit for editing and producing CAD drawings. It works natively with DWG and supports opening or editing DWG, DXF and DGN files. Its tools include layers, hatching, snapping, splines, annotation, dimensions, reusable blocks and task automation such as batch printing and sheet set management. It also offers 3D capabilities and API support.
Polycam starts with capture, not desktop drafting. It turns phone, tablet and drone captures into 3D models, measured floor plans and project deliverables. Its listed features include object and space capture, drone photo processing, shared captures with saved views and comments, and exports to 17+ formats, including DXF, ESX and PDF. Business adds 2D and 3D floor plans and a shared team library; Enterprise adds a content management API. Polycam can feed files into CAD workflows, but the published feature list does not position it as a DWG editing application. Choose based on whether you need to make drawings or capture existing places and objects.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The learning curve depends on the job. DraftSight is a desktop CAD application, so its workflow centers on drafting, editing, annotating and managing drawing files. That makes it the more direct choice if the work already involves DWG, DXF or DGN files and familiar CAD tasks. Its listed layers, blocks and automation tools add depth beyond basic viewing.
Polycam’s workflow centers on capturing spaces, objects or sites, then checking measurements, sharing results or exporting files. Its Free plan is aimed at beginners exploring 3D scanning, but it limits captures and media per capture. Business adds team features and floor plans. The products solve different problems, so neither is a drop-in substitute for the other; moving between them may mean capturing in Polycam and continuing CAD work in another tool.
Questions people ask
What software do CAD drafters use?
It depends on the work. DraftSight is 2D CAD software for creating and editing DWG files, with support for DWG, DXF and DGN. Polycam is for capturing spaces, objects and sites, then sharing models, measurements or floor plans. The published information does not establish which software CAD drafters use most.
Which is better, FreeCAD or LibreCAD?
We can’t rank FreeCAD against LibreCAD from the published information; neither product is covered here. This comparison is between DraftSight, a desktop CAD application for drafting and editing files, and Polycam, a capture tool for spaces, objects and sites.
How does DraftSight compare to AutoCAD?
The published information does not include AutoCAD pricing or features, so it does not support a direct comparison. It describes DraftSight as desktop CAD software for creating and editing DWG files, with DWG, DXF and DGN support, drafting tools, automation and 3D capabilities.
Can you get DraftSight for free?
DraftSight does not have a free plan. The published pricing information lists a 30-day trial, and DraftSight Premium specifically includes a 30-day free trial. Professional is listed at $299 per year, billed annually; its monthly price is not published.