progeCAD
ProgeSOFT
$540 USD one-time
Octave (formerly Bricsys)
BricsCAD
EUR 330–1,176 / year (approx. $385–$1,375) · 2D + 3D · native DWG
Verdict
The closest thing to a true AutoCAD replacement rather than an imitation. It is the only alternative here that credibly covers 2D drafting, 3D modeling, BIM and mechanical in one license family, and the only one whose LISP and .dwg fidelity survive contact with real consultant drawings. If you are replacing AutoCAD in a business and the drawings have to come back unbroken, start here and stop here.
What it costs
Octave publishes BricsCAD in euros only — there is no dollar price and no currency selector on the store, so the dollar figures here are approximate conversions, not the price you pay. Per seat, per year: Lite EUR 330 (approx. $385, and sold in a five-seat minimum pack), Pro EUR 710 (approx. $830), Mechanical EUR 998 (approx. $1,170), BIM EUR 1,060 (approx. $1,240), Ultimate EUR 1,176 (approx. $1,375). Those are annual subscriptions; one year of maintenance is included with every new license and maintenance runs throughout a subscription. Single and network licenses both offered. Taxes are added at checkout. A lifetime perpetual option exists on the store, but no perpetual price is published — that one is quote only.
Vendor pricing page: https://bricscad.octave.com/store/bricscad
For scale: AutoCAD is subscription only, with no perpetual option at any price since 2016. Autodesk publishes its current rates at autodesk.com.
This vendor prices in euros. Dollar figures marked “approx.” are converted from the vendor’s own euro price at the ECB reference rate of 1 EUR = 1.17 USD. They are an indication only — the price you pay is the vendor’s euro figure, and conversions move with the exchange rate.
What it gets right
- Genuine .dwg as the native format — no import/export round trip, no drift
- LISP, VBA, .NET and BRX addons: most AutoCAD customization ports with modest edits
- One product family scales 2D → 3D → BIM/Mechanical without changing tools
- Perpetual licensing still on the table, which is the whole point for many buyers
What to watch out for
- Bricsys is now part of Octave Intelligence plc and the site has moved to bricscad.octave.com — bricsys.com 301-redirects. Expect churn in docs and links.
- Lite has a 5-seat minimum on the published store price, so the "€330" entry point is not really €330 for a single user
- Perpetual pricing is quote-only now — get it in writing before you commit
Pricing and specifications: https://bricscad.octave.com/store/bricscad