ACTCAD Standard
Perpetual licence
The complete 2D drafting toolset on native DWG, with the 7,000-symbol block library, LISP support and free support from CAD engineers. Yours permanently for a single payment.
See ACTCAD Standard
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ACTCAD vs AutoCAD®
For most 2D drawing offices the real choice is ACTCAD Standard against AutoCAD® LT. Same file format, same daily commands — one is bought once, the other is rented for as long as you need it.
$1,059
saved per seat over three years
The 2D work is the same. The bill is not.
AutoCAD® LT costs $502 a seat a year — $1,506 over three years, after which you own nothing. ACTCAD Standard is $249 once, or $447 including both optional upgrades, and the licence stays yours. If you also need 3D solid modelling, ACTCAD Premium is $399 — still less than one year of LT.
What it costs
Three years, side by side.
| ACTCAD Standard | AutoCAD® LT | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $249 | $502 |
| Year 2 | $99 optional upgrade | $502 |
| Year 3 | $99 optional upgrade | $502 |
| Three-year total | $447 | $1,506 |
| Licence model | Perpetual — yours permanently | Subscription — renews |
Figures as published by ACTCAD, checked 21 August 2026. Competitor pricing is Autodesk’s list price and varies by region, plan and reseller — check their site for your own figure. ACTCAD prices are shown for reference; the store is always current.
Every licence type
The gap is the same whichever licence you pick.
| Licence type | Standard | Premium | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key-based perpetual | $249 | $399 | $150 |
| Network floating | $299 | $449 | $150 |
| Live cloud perpetual | $324 | $474 | $150 |
| USB dongle perpetual | $349 | $499 | $150 |
Feature by feature
Full feature list
What actually differs.
| Capability | ACTCAD Standard | AutoCAD® LT |
|---|---|---|
| Licence model | Perpetual — bought once | Annual subscription |
| Three-year cost per seat | $447 | $1,506 |
| Keeps working if you stop paying | — | |
| Native DWG and DXF read and write | ||
| Full 2D drafting toolset | ||
| 3D solid modelling | In ACTCAD Premium, $399 | — |
| Photo-realistic rendering | In ACTCAD Premium | — |
| LISP and script support | Limited | |
| Block library included | 7,000+ symbols | Per Autodesk plan |
| PDF to DWG conversion | Per Autodesk plan | |
| Support included in the price | Varies by plan | |
| Self-service licence transfer | Unlimited | Per Autodesk terms |
Where a competitor’s current terms are not something we can state with certainty, the table says so rather than guessing. Check Autodesk’s own documentation for their plans.
AutoCAD® LT
Annual subscription
Autodesk’s 2D-only edition, sold by annual subscription. It does 2D drafting well, but there is no solid modelling in it and the cost returns every year.
Settle it on your own drawings.
15 days, every feature unlocked, no credit card. The trial is the full product — what you test is what you buy.
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