CAD programs for home use ?

[jamesd1972]

Hi everybody,
Can anybody advise a free / cheap 2D CAD program I can download to draw some basic house extension / garage plans to help builders quote etc.
Long time since I've used Autocad but walls and some doors shouldn't be too taxing and easier than getting the pencil out when I want some different versions.
Thanks in advance for any recommendations
James

[Darkspeed]

When I started drawing out some parts of my car I used LibreCad which I found good enough for what I wanted.

[sonus]

Fusion 360 is free for private use.

[gryphon]

Freecad - Totally free as the name implies. I've only used it a little bit it seemed pretty comprehensive

OnShape is a web based one, runs in the browser. There's a not very advertised free tier - free to use but your designs aren't private. I use it a lot, really nice bit of software and I don't care if people see rough sketches of my garden shed or the odd bracket.

If you want the basics SketchUp still exists and is perfectly useable.

[jim]

Draftsite has a free version

[Nathan]

AutoDesk Fusion 360 and OnShape is what I tend to use.

[jamesd1972]

Thanks everybody - looks like some good options to investigate over Christmas.
Just realised its over 25 years since I last did this but ho hum I'm sure some of it stuck !
If I get anything to work I'll post the outcome.
James

[slater]

Wouldnt look much passed fusion 360, a professional cad cam package for free essentially. That said its more for engineering than architect use. If all you want to do is draw floor plans theres probably specific programs for that.

[droopsnoot]

Dec 14, 2019 22:13:50 GMT gryphon said:

Freecad - Totally free as the name implies. I've only used it a little bit it seemed pretty comprehensive

I tried that when I was trying to do a drawing for a part I wanted to have made, I could never find a way of printing anything. I wanted to print (multi-sheet) at actual size so I could get an idea my holes and lines were in the right place. Is that just something that proper CAD users don't do?

[igor]

I'm an autocad draughtsman. There is always a way. Often there are several ways to achieve a given outcome.

[chris y]

Dec 15, 2019 18:49:24 GMT jim said:

Draftsite has a free version

We use it at work, but are loosing it soon as they are stopping the free version.

[jim]

Dec 17, 2019 22:05:43 GMT chris y said:

Dec 15, 2019 18:49:24 GMT jim said:

Draftsite has a free version

We use it at work, but are loosing it soon as they are stopping the free version.

Are they stopping it?

It was recommended to me a few years ago I've never used it as I'm a CAD driver at work I just do my stuff between jobs!