Product comparison

The price difference between the common CAD programs is very large, and some programs are purchased while others are rented. The functions of the programs are similar but there are differences. Below we have gathered some information to help you choose between the most common CAD programs.

What features do you need in your CAD program?

Whether you are looking for a simple CAD program or a cheap CAD program, you need to consider whether it will be used in a Windows or Mac environment and what 2D/3D CAD functions you need. In the table we present the major general CAD programs for Windows: ProgeCAD, AutoCAD® and AutoCAD® LT.

NeedsprogeCADAutoCAD®AutoCAD® LT
Does it support 2D or 3D?2D and 3D2D and 3D2D
Do you want an English or Swedish CAD program?Swedish and EnglishEnglishSwedish and English
Do you need compatibility with old AutoCAD® versions?Can save and open to ALL AutoCAD® versionsCan open, but NOT save to all old versionsCan open, but NOT save to all old versions
Need to comply with a drawing standard, e.g. Construction Document 90?Buy into an industry application, e.g. CADdirektBuy into an industry application, e.g. CADdirektPurchase to an industry application, e.g. CADdirekt
Do you need to import PDF drawings?Yes, an application for that is includedNot includedNot included
Do you need to create 3D PDF drawings?Yes, an application for that is includedNot includedNot included
Do you need ready-made symbols?More than 22,000 symbols for different industries includedNot includedNot included
Do you need to import scanned drawings and vectorize them?Yes, an application for that is includedNot includedNot included
Do you want to buy or rent your CAD program?Purchase version available, you pay only onceRental version only, you pay every yearRental version only, you pay every year

Key features

progeCAD Professional is an affordable alternative to AutoCAD® and AutoCAD® LT. Compare the key features of progeCAD and AutoCAD® using this table. If you are still unsure, download a trial version and try it out or contact our support for more information.

  • progeCAD  AutoCAD®  AutoCAD® LT 
    Natural DWG  ✅ ✅ ✅
    DWG for AutoCAD version 2.5 to 2024  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Support for classic menus and Ribbon  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Function-based Ribbon  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Custom menu supportCUI menu support  ✅ ✅ ✅
    3D PDF export  ✅ ❌ ❌
    EasyArch 3D (Architect add-on)  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Import Revit  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Import IFC (BIM) ✅ ❌ ❌
    Visualization of objects for construction and society, geographical maps and mechanics  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Support for geomaps  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Import of maps  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Import ESRI-SHAPE (.shp) graphics and data  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Geolocation with interactive background map from Microsoft Bing  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Import Autodesk SDF files (spatial data)  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Import/​export STEP/IGES ✅ ✅ ❌
    Import SolidWorks  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Data link  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Import XLS  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Tool palettes  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Properties palette  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Superhatch  ✅ ✅ ❌
    Palette for fast traits  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Construction lines  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Add selected object  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Restore drawing  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Perspective correction for images  ✅ ❌ ❌
    On-site text editor  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Slope tool (topography) ✅ ❌ ❌
    Autosez tool (Automatically create surface profiles)  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Support for workspaces  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Standard layers for section markings and dimensioning  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Toning for external references, locked layers and reference editing  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Dynamic input  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Export to DWF  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Integrated cloud service  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Create/​edit tables  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Tables with styles  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Formulas in tables  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Numbered markings (balloons) ✅ ❌ ❌
    Associative matrix  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Support for user profiles  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Support for PC3  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Annotative objects  ✅ ✅ ✅
    QR code  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Area text (Insert the area text for limited areas)  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Publish (Mass print)  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Automatic publishing  ✅ ✅ ❌
    Sheet set  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Multiple paper spaces (layouts) ✅ ✅ ✅
    AutoCAD 3D surface commands  ✅ ✅ ❌
    ACIS view  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Full ACIS modeling and editing  ✅ ✅ ❌
    3DGO + 3DFLYG  ✅ ✅ ✅
    3D printing  ✅ ✅ ❌
    2D Representation  ✅ ✅ ❌
    Lift and Spiral commands  ✅ ✅ ❌
    Handlers for External References  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Xref Notification  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Support for text via external editor  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Edit section markup  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Open/​Import Microstation files (.dgn, .dgnlib, .rdl, .cel) ✅ ✅ ✅
    View raster images (image management)  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Polygonal clipping of images  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Rendering  ✅ ✅ ❌
    Image menu  ✅ ✅ ✅
    CTB color-based table files / STB color-based table files  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Import point clouds  ✅ ✅ ❌
    Export to Google Earth®  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Command line  ✅ ✅ ✅
    AutoCAD® menu and script files  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Explorer for managing layers, blocks and line types, etc.  ✅ ✅ ✅
    TIN surface from points  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Snapping to imaginary and extension of intersection  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Polar tracing  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Toggle selection  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Express tools  ✅ ✅ ❌
    Block Editor (BEDIT) ✅ ✅ ✅
    Reference editing ( Edit locally individual objects in a block)  ✅ ✅ ✅
    2D/3D Wood details, steel and standard profiles  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Stock Manager (Save and restore stock configurations)  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Item tracking  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Digital signature to DWG  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Visual menu customization  ✅ ✅ ✅
    ActiveX, including on-site editing  ✅ ✅ ❌
    Solutions Development System (IRX — similar to ARX — SDS/ADS C++)  ✅ ✅ ❌
    AutoLISP (including DCL)  ✅ ✅ ❌
    Script recording  ✅ ✅ ❌
    .COM support  ✅ ✅ ❌
    .NET support  ✅ ✅ ❌
    Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) ✅ ✅ ❌
    Loading of external VBA files  ✅ ✅ ❌
    PDF to DWG (convert PDF files to DWG files)  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Convert DWF/​DWFx to DWG,DXF,DAE,3DS,DGN ✅ ✅ ✅
    Print to JPG  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Print to PDF and PDF/A ✅ ✅ ✅
    Export STL and Collada (DAE) ✅ ✅ ❌
    PDF, DWF, DGN documents  ✅ ✅ ✅
    BetterWMF integration  ✅ ✅ ❌
    Raster-to-vector module  ✅ ❌ ❌
    iCADLib block manager  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Block Library (Construction, Architecture ANSI-ISO and DIN-ISO Mechanics ANSI and IEC Electronics, Steel profiles, Furniture, Kitchen)  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Parametric 2D libraries  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Integration for Traceparts, Cadenas and BIM&CO ✅ ❌ ❌
    True Type Font (TTF) ✅ ✅ ✅
    Arc-aligned text  ✅ ✅ ❌
    Quick measurement  ✅ ✅ ✅
    AIDIMSTYLE  ✅ ✅ ✅
    eTransfer  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Send to Skype  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Home page  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Drawing field  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Search and replace  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Natural support for ECW,Jpeg 2000, MrSID  ✅ ❌ ❌
    Support for True color and Standard color books  ✅ ✅ ✅
    Masking  ✅ ✅ ✅