Sketchpad: Free online drawing application for all ages. Create digital artwork to share online and export to popular image formats JPEG, PNG, SVG, and PDF. Easier than Visio ®. SmartDraw is the only alternative to Visio ® that runs on a Mac, online, and on Windows (and behind the firewall). With the best Visio ® import and export capability in the industry, SmartDraw is the easy, powerful and affordable Visio ® alternative. The Open Source CAD System For Everyone. QCAD is a free, open source application for computer aided drafting (CAD) in two dimensions (2D). With QCAD you can create technical drawings such as plans for buildings, interiors, mechanical parts or schematics and diagrams.
The Open Source CAD System For Everyone
QCAD is a free, open source application for computer aided drafting (CAD) in two dimensions (2D). With QCAD you can create technical drawings such as plans for buildings, interiors, mechanical parts or schematics and diagrams. QCAD works on Windows, macOS and Linux. The source code of QCAD is released under the GPL version 3 (GPLv3), a popular Open Source license.
The current version of QCAD is 3.26.
QCAD was designed with modularity, extensibility and portability in mind. But what people notice most often about QCAD is its intuitive user interface. QCAD is an easy to use but powerful 2D CAD system for everyone. You don't need any CAD experience to get started with QCAD immediately. You can download QCAD today for free!
Main Features
- Layers
- Blocks (grouping)
- 35 CAD fonts included
- Support for TrueType fonts
- Various Metrical and Imperial units
- DXF and DWG input and output
- Printing to scale
- Printing on multiple pages
- Over 40 construction tools
- Over 20 modification tools
- Construction and modification of points, lines, arcs, circles, ellipses, splines, polylines, texts, dimensions, hatches, fills, raster images
- Various powerful entity selection tools
- Object snaps
- Measuring tools
- Part library with over 4800 CAD parts
- Very complete and extremely powerful ECMAScript (JavaScript) scripting interface
- Command line tools (dwg2pdf, dwg2svg, dwg2bmp, etc.)
- QCAD/CAM:
Click here for a complete list of features.
If you are seeking out skills in AutoCAD, then this is the place to be! Below, you will find my favorite picks of the best online AutoCAD courses that are great for complete beginners and the more experienced!
Also, with gaining experience of AutoCAD, users will be learning one of the most in-demand and popular Computer-Aided Design software platforms on the market.
So whether you are seeking out a career in the industry or are doing a DIY project, any of the below AutoCAD courses are a great addition to your tool kit. Let's begin!
Top 10 Best Online AutoCAD Courses, Training & Classes 2021
1. AutoCAD: The Full Complete Guide You Need (Skillshare)
Up first on my list is an outstanding AutoCAD class which is aimed at beginners looking to learn the foundations (pun intended 😉) of this software.
While this is a beginner course, more experienced users can also use this training as a refresher. Classes are delivered by Gaia Dixon, a certified Skillshare teacher with many classes available on the Skills Factory Project.
Subjects discussed in the classes are 2D design, adding text, an introduction to 3D design, surfaces, mesh objects, annotations layout groups, layers, 3D materials, and rendering.
Run time for the video classes are an hour and eighteen minutes total, split into six different bite-size sections. Users can view the classes at their own pace or on the Skillshare smartphone app.
As for the price, AutoCAD enthusiasts can take this course and 1,000's of others for free when activating the Skillshare free trial! All round, a solid free course for learning the fundamentals of AutoCAD.
- Beginner level
- Includes a house design project
- Finished projects on display to over 750,000 users
- Discusses 2D and 3D formats
- Short course, view at your own pace
- Qualified instructor
2. Learning AutoCAD For Beginners (Lynda/ LinkedIn Learning)
Up next on my list is another standout course that is targeted towards AutoCAD beginners. This course is also hosted on Lynda (now LinkedIn Learning) which also has many complementary CAD courses.
Taught by Autodesk Certified Instructor Shaun Bryant, this course is beginner level and will get you started in using AutoCAD in no time at all! After completion, users should hopefully have a good grasp of the software and be able to start drafting with ease.
Course length is 1 hour 44 minutes, which users view self-paced. In the modules, students start out with simple drawings of geometry and go on to annotations, title blocks, layouts, and plotting. Exercise files are included as well.
Afterward, users can join other students and teachers in an AutoCAD study group. Also being hosted on Lynda, students get a certificate of completion once done which you can add to a resume or print it out for potential employers!
Lynda/ LinkedIn Learning also has a 1-month FREE trial with no strings attached! It's a win-win.
- Beginner level
- Self-paced 1 hour 44 minutes
- Exercise files included
- Taught by an AutoDesk Certified Instructor
- Join an AutoCAD study group
- The course concentrates on 2D
3. The Complete AutoCAD 2018-20 Course (Udemy)
Comprehensive is definitely a word for describing this course. Over 17 ½ hours of on-demand video for your self paced learning. For beginner to more advanced users, the only prerequisite is to be familiar with your computer.
Created by Jaiprakash Pandey, an AutoDesk Certified Instructor. Course Q&A section is answered by the instructor with over 21,000 students enrolled.
There are 184 lessons/ lectures in total, and each one ends with questions or practice ideas to ensure you get the most out of the course. Included is an AutoCAD questions eBook and a list of the 150 AutoCAD commands.
As this AutoCad covers so many aspects of the software, it is ideal for those looking to pursue a career in civil engineering, industrial design, architecture, drafting, and building design! Freeware to open rar files.
Once complete, students will receive a free certificate that can be printed or downloaded for a resume!
- Beginner to intermediate level
- Instructor feedback on Q&A forum
- 17 ½ hours of on-demand self-paced video
- eBook and command list included
- Includes practice drawings
- Certificate of completion
4. AutoCAD 2019 Course – Project 2D and 3D (Udemy)
For absolute beginners as well as more experienced users, this Udemy course will take you through 2D as well as 3D CAD drawings.
The instructor is Awais Jamil, a computer software developer and trainer. Course time is 13 hours, self-paced, split into 94 sections. 1500 students currently enrolled.
During the course, you will work on your own 2D house project and a 3D house project. Openemu for android. There is also a whole lot of helpful instruction and information pertaining to 3D renderings. Other modules include the modify and draw panels, plotting and publishing, and challenges specific to 3D drawing.
A certificate of completion and extra projects to work on are offered at the end. Easily one of the best online AutoCAD courses!
- Beginner and intermediate level
- 13 hours of instructions
- Lots of downloadable resources included
- Two different projects to practice and learn
- Certificate of completion
- Extra projects available
5. AutoCAD: Tips & Tricks (Lynda/ LinkedIn Learning)
An ongoing series, this Lynda course is hosted by AutoDesk certified instructor Shaun Bryant. Each week, Shaun adds a new tip or trick that will aid you in using AutoCAD to the full.
So far, it has over 14 hours of tips and instruction. Some of the topics are about specific commands in AutoCAD, how to work with different scales, batch plotting, layers, 3D graphics, saving tool palettes, adjusting centerlines, polar arrays, express tools, and many more.
Meant for any level, beginners can gain a lot of deep insight, while advanced users can hone their skills and keep up with new releases and updates of features from AutoDesk.
- All skill levels
- Over 14 hours
- Updates weekly
- Full of major and minor tips
- Culled together by a certified instructor
- Ongoing series
6. The Hitchhiker's Guide to AutoCAD Basics (AutoDesk)
Direct from AutoDesk, this is part of the AutoCAD user's guide.
Completely self-paced, you decide how much to study, where to go next, and what to do afterward. Everyone who just got their own copy of AutoCAD should take the map guided course. Casual and advanced users alike will benefit from coming back from time to time.
Subjects are reviewing the basic controls, creating basic geometry, using layers, modifying with precision, and others.
Registered users are encouraged to join the AutoDesk discussion groups for further collaboration.
- All user levels
- From AutoDesk, maker of AutoCAD
- Basic to advanced guidance
- Links to deeper instruction
- Discussion groups
- Entertaining interaction style
7. 60 AutoCAD Tips in 60 Minutes (AutoDesk)
AutoDesk, the makers of AutoCAD, have a fantastic amount of helpful information for how to use AutoCAD on their own website. AutoDesk University is an example of that, with many topics available for users of the program.
This course is a little over an hour-long with 23 different downloadable handouts to help you during and after the course. Online piano keyboard with songs.
It is presented by one of the writers and testers for the online magazine Cadalyst, Lynn Allen, who also consults for AutoDesk. The magazine is another excellent source for information, tips, and reviews of design software in general.
One of the primary goals of this course of tips is how to make AutoCAD work quicker and with fewer steps, thus maximizing efficiency. So, perhaps after studying some basic things about the program, come here to find out how to ease up your workflow.
Basic Drawing Software Free
The instructor works on the idea that you are already somewhat familiar with AutoCAD, which is how you would benefit from these tips. So, it's geared towards intermediate to advanced users more so than for beginners. Once you upskill, you can also start seeking out location independation jobs and become a digital nomad!
Free Online Cad Drawing Program
Hands down one of the best online AutoCAD courses!
- From AutoDesk
- Very qualified instructor
- For intermediate to advanced users
- Only one hour of actual on-demand video
- Lots of extra resources to use and keep
- Maximizes efficiency
8. AutoCAD 2020 Essential Training (Lynda/ LinkedIn Learning)
From Lynda, this course is about 3 ½ hours of on-demand, self-paced video instruction. It is taught by AutoDesk Certified Instructor Shaun Bryant.
Once you are comfortable with the basic use of AutoCAD, a course like this one will help you get to the next level. So, we will call this a course for intermediate users.
Some more technical aspects of the program are discussed, such as importing external references, using dimensioning techniques, modifying objects, and managing units. In other words, what an employer would expect a new hire to be able to accomplish.
Online Cad Drawing Program
It includes exercise files and other helpful resources to use during and after the course. Over 50,000 people have benefited from this supplemental instruction.
- For intermediate skill level
- Excellent supplemental information
- Lots of extras to keep for later
- Highly qualified instructor
- 3 ½ hours on-demand self-paced video instruction
- Discussion groups available
9. AutoCAD Online Training (CAD Training Online)
An interesting option is provided by CTO, live instructors. If you are wanting to take the AutoDesk certification exam for AutoCAD, this is a good choice of study.
CAD Training Online (CTO) has extremely qualified instructors. Certified by AutoDesk and with years of industry experience, they will assist you to get over the hurdle of becoming certified in AutoCAD.
The live approach is refreshing to see, though many will still opt for on-demand self-paced studies. Live instruction allows you to interact in real-time as you are learning with other students and with the instructors.
24 hours of instruction. Live class has full-day or half-day schedules.
Since becoming an AutoDesk Certified Instructor is the goal of taking the exam, this course is obviously meant for advanced users. You should be very familiar with AutoCAD before attempting the exam.
A certificate of completion is provided, as well as many additional continuing resources.
Covering subjects such as drawing ellipses and arcs, changing dimensional qualities, polar tracking at angles, and many other advanced skills are discussed, shown, and exercised in class. Helpful for advanced workers as well as aspiring trainers. Easily one of the top online AutoCAD courses and training!
- Advanced skill level
- Live or on-demand instruction
- Covers advanced tools
- Great prep course for AutoDesk Certified Instructor exam
- Extremely well-qualified instructors
- Certificate of completion
10. AutoCAD Online Course (UHD.edu)
From the University of Houston, Downtown comes this 3 part course bundle. AutoCAD 2D Drafting and Annotation, AutoCAD Advanced, and AutoCAD 3D. The University of Houston, Downtown is a major college for business, medicine, and engineering, among other studies.
You'll need a working knowledge of drafting and design principals to get the most out of this instruction. For intermediate to advanced students and users.
The first course, AutoCAD 2D Drafting and Annotation covers subjects like sketching, layers, geometric dimensioning, and using viewports in model space and paper space.
In AutoCAD Advanced, you'll learn about linking and extracting data, line types, underlays, and customizing the program for your specific needs.
AutoCAD 3D will teach all about 3D rendering. Topics include creating solid models, mesh and surface modeling, and adding animated views.
You can choose either a guided course or self-study. You have one full year to complete either at your own pace. The guided version provides a certificate of completion. To learn more about CAD, you can see my best Revit online courses.
- Intermediate level
- From a major university
- Self-paced or guided
- Up to one year to complete
- Requires a good working knowledge of design and drafting
- Completion certificate
