BricsCAD
Octave (formerly Bricsys)
EUR 330–1,176 / year (approx. $385–$1,375)
ProgeSOFT
progeCAD
$540 USD one-time · 2D + 3D · native DWG
Verdict
The anti-subscription choice. progeCAD sells one thing and sells it clearly: an AutoCAD-shaped 2D/3D drafter you buy once. The DWG range is the widest of anything here — 2.5 through 2027 — which matters more than it sounds when a client sends you a drawing from 1998. Less polished than BricsCAD, meaningfully cheaper, and the license does not expire.
What it costs
$540 one-time for a perpetual Single+ license covering one PC. A Flex license (installed on several PCs, one activation at a time) is $540 plus a $125 add-on, and a Network floating license is the same $540 plus $125. Maintenance is the optional iCARE plan at $320/year for updates and priority support — optional in the real sense: the vendor states your license never expires either way. Current release is progeCAD 2027, which reads and writes AutoCAD DWG from release 2.5 through 2027.
Vendor pricing page: https://progecad.us/progecad-professional
For scale: AutoCAD is subscription only, with no perpetual option at any price since 2016. Autodesk publishes its current rates at autodesk.com.
What it gets right
- DWG 2.5 → 2027, the widest legacy range of any product on this page
- Perpetual by design, not perpetual-if-you-ask
- Familiar AutoCAD command line and ribbon — retraining cost is close to zero
What to watch out for
- progecad.com now 301-redirects to progesoft.com — old bookmarks and guides will rot
- Windows only in practice; no first-party macOS or Linux build
- 3D is competent but is not why you buy this
Pricing and specifications: https://www.progesoft.com/