Best CAD Software for Carpenters Under $100

I am a solo founder who built a CAD tool. That means I have a conflict of interest in writing this comparison, and you should know it upfront.

What I can promise is this: I spent 18 months evaluating CAD software before building anything. I know these tools the way someone knows them when they are trying to avoid spending money on a solution that does not fit. This article reflects that, not a marketing funnel.

The five tools covered here all come in under $100 — some are free. The question is not which one costs the least. The question is which one fits how carpenters actually work: producing framing layouts, cabinet drawings, custom millwork details, cut sheets, and client-facing PDFs, on a machine in a site office or a kitchen table, 5 to 10 hours a week.

Who This Article Is For

You are a solo carpenter or a Tischler in the DACH region. You work on residential projects — timber framing, finish carpentry, built-in cabinetry, dormers, custom furniture, kitchen installations. You currently use something like SketchUp Pro ($349/year as of 2026) or AutoCAD LT ($455/year), and you are quietly asking yourself whether the subscription is worth it.

This comparison is not for architectural firms, BIM teams, or anyone designing multi-story commercial structures. If that is your context, you need different software — probably ArchiCAD, Revit, or Vectorworks. The tools below are not that.

The $100 ceiling is real. SketchUp Pro is $349/year. AutoCAD LT is $455/year. If you are using either tool 5 to 10 hours a week on residential carpentry projects, you are paying somewhere between $35 and $90 per hour of actual tool use per year in subscription costs alone, before accounting for the time you spend keeping up with interface changes. That math does not always hold up.

The Five Tools

1. FreeCAD — Free (LGPL2+)

What it is: FreeCAD reached version 1.0 in November 2024 after 22 years of development. It is a full-featured parametric 3D CAD modeler, open-source under LGPL2+, with a workbench-based architecture that covers mechanical CAD, architectural design (BIM workbench), sketching, sheet metal, FEM analysis, and more. The community is large and active. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

What it does well: The Part Design and Sketcher workbenches are genuinely good for parametric modeling. If you want to design a cabinet with fully constrained sketches and a proper feature tree — extrusions, pockets, fillets — FreeCAD handles it correctly. The BIM workbench, rebuilt significantly in 2023-2024, can produce proper floor plans and section views with annotations. DXF and IFC export are built in.

What it does poorly: The learning curve is steep in a specific way. It is not that FreeCAD is hard to use once you know it. It is that the path to knowing it is long. The workbench system means you switch tools constantly, and the mental model for parametric modeling (sketches fully constrained before extruding, avoiding topological naming issues) takes time to internalize. Realistically, budget 30 to 40 hours before you are producing clean, reliable drawings. That is not a knock — it is an honest assessment.

Setup time before first usable drawing: 30-40 hours. More if you are not already familiar with parametric CAD concepts.

Use case where FreeCAD wins: Custom millwork with repeat parametric families. If you produce 50 variations of the same cabinet design and want a parametric model where changing one dimension cascades through the entire assembly, FreeCAD is the right tool. It is the only free option here that handles this properly.

Relevant authority resource: The FreeCAD documentation project is at freecadweb.org/wiki. For German-speaking carpenters, the Zentralverband des Deutschen Baugewerbes (ZDB) publishes technical guidance on digital tools for handwerk at zdb.de — worth checking for any regional compliance context when producing drawings for permit submission.

2. SketchUp Free — Free (browser-only)

What it is: SketchUp Free is the browser-based version of SketchUp that Trimble offers at no cost. It runs entirely in a web browser, requires a Trimble account, stores files in the cloud, and has a meaningful feature gap compared to SketchUp Pro.

What it does well: SketchUp's push-pull modeling paradigm is genuinely intuitive for carpenters. You draw a rectangle and pull it into a 3D shape. The learning curve to get a basic 3D model is measured in hours, not weeks. For communicating a design idea to a client, SketchUp Free produces clean, good-looking 3D views quickly.

What it does poorly: SketchUp Free does not export DXF files. It does not export PDF files with proper dimensioning. It does not have LayOut (the 2D drafting companion to SketchUp Pro). The 3D Warehouse component library is available, but many community components are low-quality or oversized for web rendering. Most importantly: your files live in Trimble's cloud, not on your machine. If you work on a construction site with unreliable internet, this matters.

SketchUp Pro — the paid version — removed its perpetual license in 2020 and moved to $349/year subscription. The free tier is not a path to Pro features without committing to that subscription.

Setup time before first usable drawing: 3-5 hours. SketchUp Free's entry barrier is genuinely low.

Use case where SketchUp Free wins: Client-facing 3D visualization of a room, a staircase, or a furniture piece, when all you need is a convincing image and nothing more. It is the fastest way to show a client what something will look like in 3D. Stop there. Do not expect to turn that model into a dimensioned cut sheet without Pro.

Note on data residency: For contractors in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland working with clients who have GDPR concerns about cloud-stored design data, local-only tools may be preferable. The Handwerkskammer provides sector-specific guidance on data handling for trade businesses.

3. BlocksCAD — Free to ~$50/year (educational, browser-based)

What it is: BlocksCAD is a browser-based tool developed by Einstein's Workshop that uses visual block-based programming — similar to Scratch — to generate OpenSCAD code, which is then rendered as a 3D model. It is designed explicitly for STEM education, teaching middle and high school students to think in geometric primitives (cubes, spheres, cylinders) and Boolean operations (union, difference, intersection).

What it does well: It is an excellent teaching tool. If you have a teenager who wants to understand how 3D objects are built from mathematical operations, BlocksCAD makes that accessible. The free tier supports basic models. A paid classroom tier runs around $50/year for educators.

What it does poorly: BlocksCAD is not designed for professional carpentry workflows. It has no concept of a framing layout, no dimension annotations, no DXF export in any useful form, no cut list generation, and no PDF output for clients or permit packages. The block-programming model, while clever pedagogically, is a poor fit for someone who needs to produce a kitchen cabinet drawing on a deadline.

I include it here because it appears in searches for "CAD under $100" and because the honest answer is: this tool is not for you. If you are a working carpenter and you found BlocksCAD in your research, it means the search results failed you. Do not spend time on it.

Setup time before first usable drawing: N/A for trade use. There is no path from BlocksCAD to a jobsite-ready drawing.

Use case where BlocksCAD wins: Teaching a student about 3D modeling concepts. That is it.

4. LibreCAD — Free (GPLv2)

What it is: LibreCAD is a free, open-source 2D CAD application, available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is a fork of QCad Community Edition, maintained since 2010. It reads and writes DXF files reliably. It is 2D only — there is no 3D modeling capability.

What it does well: For pure 2D drafting — floor plans, framing layouts, cut sheets, elevation drawings — LibreCAD is competent and reliable. DXF compatibility is good. The interface is straightforward if you have used AutoCAD at any point. It is genuinely useful for producing permit-package floor plans on a zero budget.

What it does poorly: No 3D. If a client wants to see what the built-in wardrobe will look like in the room, LibreCAD cannot help. The rendering is flat and technical. The component library is minimal. There is no PDF export with title blocks built in — you export to DXF and print from there, which means an extra step in every workflow.

LibreCAD also sees less active development than FreeCAD. The 2.2.x series has been stable for years, which is either reassuring (no interface churn) or concerning (fewer new features and less community momentum), depending on your perspective.

Setup time before first usable drawing: 5-8 hours if you know any CAD. Closer to 15 hours if you are starting from zero.

Use case where LibreCAD wins: Producing 2D permit drawings for a framing or renovation project when budget is zero. It handles dimensioned floor plans and framing layouts cleanly, exports to DXF for any downstream contractor, and costs nothing. For pure 2D work, it is a credible tool.

Building code context: In the US, residential construction drawings submitted for permits must comply with International Residential Code (IRC) requirements on drawing content. See the HouseLogic guide to building permits for a homeowner-facing overview of what drawings need to show. LibreCAD can produce compliant 2D drawings; it just requires manual setup of layers, title blocks, and annotation standards.

5. Diaz Editor — $99 / €99 Founding Beta (lifetime, one-time)

Full disclosure: I built this. Read accordingly.

What it is: Diaz Editor is a desktop CAD application for tradespeople — carpenters, builders, contractors, and installation professionals. It combines a 3D building editor with a 2D drafting module in a single application, with a component library that covers framing members, furniture, openings, and trade-specific objects. It runs locally on Windows (macOS and Linux are on the roadmap for Q3 2026). Files stay on your machine. No cloud account is required to use the app after license activation.

The application is built on a fork of Pascal Editor, an MIT-licensed CAD engine with 14 years of development history and over 50,000 downloads. Pascal Mauguié maintained the original from 2010 to 2024. I took over maintenance in 2024 and rebuilt the product around trade workflows. The MIT license on the underlying engine means you are not locked in — if I stop developing this, the core CAD engine cannot be revoked, and your installed version keeps working.

What it does well: The design goal was an 80% solution for trade workflows at a fraction of the subscription cost. You can go from a blank file to a dimensioned 3D framing layout with a client-ready PDF export in a working session, without a course or a YouTube deep-dive. The component library covers the objects carpenters place most: studs, joists, rafters, door and window openings, standard cabinet units, and arbitrary 3D objects from DXF. DXF export to CNC routers and sheet optimisers is built in. The permit-pack PDF export combines drawings and specifications into a single file sized for submission — no extra step.

What it does poorly: It does not compete with SketchUp's ecosystem of plugins. It does not have FreeCAD's parametric depth — there is no feature tree with history, no fully constrained sketch solver. It is not a BIM tool. Complex organic shapes (curved staircases, non-rectangular dormers) require workarounds. German-language interface is on the roadmap for Q3 2026, not yet live, which matters for DACH tradespeople working in their native language.

I will not claim it is better than the tools above for every workflow. It is not. The honest positioning is: if you need a tool that handles the common 80% of carpenter CAD tasks — framing layouts, joinery details, cabinet elevations, client-presentation 3D views, DXF for CNC, and PDF for permits — and you want to pay once and move on, Diaz Editor fits that use case.

Pricing: The Founding Beta is $99 / €99 one-time. This is a real price with a real cap — 100 spots, enforced in the database. It is not a countdown timer on a landing page. When those 100 spots are gone, the standard Solo tier starts at €500. After the founding period, the $99 tier closes regardless of date.

See the Diaz Editor founding-beta page for the current spot count.

Setup time before first usable drawing: 2-4 hours. The first-project tutorial covers the core workflow.

Use case where Diaz Editor wins: A solo carpenter who needs 3D and 2D in one tool, wants DXF for a CNC router or sheet optimizer, needs PDF output that goes directly to a client or permit desk, and does not want to pay a subscription or spend a week learning the tool.

Bus-factor note: Solo-developer tools carry a real risk — what happens if the developer disappears? The answer here is concrete: the Pascal Editor base is MIT-licensed and lives on public GitHub. Your installed app keeps working regardless of what happens to this business. This is in writing in the EULA at diazatlas.com/terms.

Workflow-by-Workflow Breakdown

Cabinet-Making (Kitchen Installations, Built-Ins)

For cabinet-making work that requires precise interior dimensions, cut lists, and DXF output for a CNC router:

• FreeCAD wins on parametric depth. A fully constrained FreeCAD assembly with a parametric cabinet model is the right long-term setup for a Tischler who makes 50 variations of a base cabinet. The setup cost is high; the ongoing productivity is high.
• Diaz Editor wins on speed. If you are producing one-off kitchen installations and need a 3D model for the client plus DXF for the CNC cutter plus a PDF for the building record, the workflow is faster.
• LibreCAD handles 2D cabinet elevations and cut sheets but gives the client no 3D view.
• SketchUp Free gives the client a good 3D view but cannot produce a dimensioned DXF or cut sheet without the Pro subscription.

Timber Framing and Structural Layouts

For producing framing layouts — wall panels, roof structure, floor systems — that need to be communicated to a crew and submitted with a permit package:

• LibreCAD is the zero-cost option for 2D framing plans. It handles this cleanly.
• Diaz Editor adds 3D framing visualization and a combined PDF export.
• FreeCAD with the Arch workbench can produce proper structural drawings, but the effort is substantial.
• SketchUp Free lacks the export fidelity for permit submission.

For DACH carpenters, see the DACH pillar article on CAD software for Handwerker for regional building code context.

Finish Carpentry and Trim Details

For producing installation details — crown molding profiles, staircase balustrade sections, window reveal details:

• FreeCAD is the strongest here for complex profiles. The Sketcher can produce accurate cross-sections.
• LibreCAD handles 2D detail drawings well.
• Diaz Editor covers standard profiles; complex custom molding profiles require importing as DXF geometry.

Custom Millwork for Commercial Clients

For commercial-grade custom millwork — bar fronts, reception desks, bespoke joinery for hospitality:

• FreeCAD is the right long-term tool. The parametric modeling capability scales to complex assemblies.
• If the client needs BIM-compatible IFC files, FreeCAD exports IFC. None of the other tools here do this.
• Diaz Editor is not the right choice for complex commercial millwork with BIM coordination requirements.

Honest summary: No single tool wins every workflow. FreeCAD has the most capability. It also has the steepest learning curve and no commercial support. SketchUp's best features are behind a $349/year subscription. LibreCAD is 2D-only. Diaz Editor trades depth for speed and simplicity. BlocksCAD is not for trade work.

The 5-Year Cost Comparison

For a solo carpenter using CAD 5-10 hours per week:

The Founding Beta price of $99 closes when 100 spots are sold. After that, the standard price is €500 one-time. Both are still cheaper than two years of SketchUp Pro.

Decision Matrix

Use this to find the right tool for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FreeCAD good enough to replace SketchUp for a solo carpenter?

For most carpenters, FreeCAD can replace SketchUp Pro functionally — it has 3D modeling, 2D drafting output, DXF export, and a BIM workbench for floor plans. The honest trade-off is time: FreeCAD requires 30 to 40 hours of learning before you are productive. SketchUp's push-pull model is faster to learn. If you have the time to invest in learning FreeCAD, the $349/year subscription cost goes away permanently. If your workflow is time-critical and you need to produce drawings this week, the learning investment is a real cost.

Can I use SketchUp Free to produce permit drawings?

SketchUp Free (browser-based, free tier) does not export DXF or produce dimensioned PDF drawings. For permit submissions that require dimensioned floor plans or framing layouts, you need either SketchUp Pro (which includes LayOut for 2D documentation) or a different tool. LibreCAD, FreeCAD, and Diaz Editor all produce dimensioned DXF and PDF output.

What does "lifetime license" actually mean for Diaz Editor?

A lifetime license means one payment and no further charges. All future updates are included for the life of the product. The license is perpetual — it does not expire, and no subscription is required to keep using the software. This is enforced in the EULA at diazatlas.com/terms. The underlying Pascal Editor engine is MIT-licensed, which means even if Diaz Atlas as a company closes, your installed application keeps working and the codebase cannot be taken private.

Does Diaz Editor run on macOS or Linux?

As of May 2026, Diaz Editor runs on Windows. macOS and Linux builds are on the public roadmap for Q3 2026. If you are on macOS today, FreeCAD and LibreCAD both run natively. SketchUp Free runs in any browser. You can follow the public roadmap at diazatlas.com/roadmap for updates on macOS availability.

Is BlocksCAD suitable for professional carpentry work?

No. BlocksCAD is designed for STEM education — teaching students how 3D geometry works through visual block programming. It does not produce dimensioned drawings, DXF exports in trade-usable formats, PDF permit packages, or cut sheets. If you found it in a search for carpenter CAD tools, it is a mismatch. For professional carpentry workflows, consider LibreCAD (free, 2D), FreeCAD (free, 3D+2D, steep learning curve), or Diaz Editor ($99 founding beta, 3D+2D, lower setup time).

A Note on How I Built This

I started Diaz Editor because I was personally caught in the subscription trap. I fork the Pascal Editor codebase (MIT-licensed, 14 years of development, 50,000+ downloads). Pascal Mauguié built something genuinely solid. I owe him credit every time someone uses this tool. His name is in the ABOUT page and in the NOTICE file of every release.

I am a solo developer. I reply to every support email at juan@diazatlas.com. The public roadmap at diazatlas.com/roadmap has voting open for founding members. If something does not work, I want to know.

The Founding Beta price of $99 is where I set the floor. The goal is not to be the cheapest option — FreeCAD is free and it is excellent. The goal is to be the fastest path to a clean carpenter's drawing for someone who does not want to spend a month on a learning curve.

If that is not you, FreeCAD is the right choice. It is a serious tool and the community around it is genuinely helpful.

Juan Diaz — solo founder, Diaz Atlas — May 2026

Questions about this comparison: juan@diazatlas.com