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Diaz Editor vs AutoCAD LT
$2.400 over 5 jaar voor 2D — of €99 eenmalig voor 3D + 2D.

Eerlijke vergelijking voor bouw-, installatie- en werkvoorbereidings-professionals. AutoCAD LT is bewust 2D-only. Diaz Editor doet 3D én 2D in één tool, eenmalige betaling, lokaal.

Get founding spot — €99 → Read comparison ↓
Last updated: 15 May 2026 · By Juan Diaz, founder Diaz Atlas · 5 min read

TL;DR

AutoCAD LT is the 2D-only tier of AutoCAD ($480/year, subscription, stops working if you stop paying). Diaz Editor includes a 3D building editor AND a 2D CAD module for €99 founding or €997 once. For tradespeople doing buildings, installations, and PDF-ready deliverables, Diaz saves ~€2,300 over 5 years and adds 3D for free.

When AutoCAD LT is the right choice

  • You're tied to the AutoCAD ecosystem (existing project archive in .dwg, team workflow on Autodesk Construction Cloud).
  • Your clients or contractors require native .dwg delivery without DXF intermediate.
  • You purely do 2D drafting (no 3D modeling needed) and value AutoCAD's mature dimensioning + annotation tools.
  • A $480/year subscription fits your margin and you accept the recurring model.

When Diaz Editor fits better

  • You're self-employed or small-firm and don't want a $480/year subscription that expires.
  • You need 3D for client presentations OR 2D for the installer / contractor — Diaz does both, AutoCAD LT only 2D.
  • Your workflow ends in PDF + DXF, not strictly .dwg.
  • You want offline, no Autodesk account, no cloud sync, no Adobe-style entitlement check.
  • You work in carpentry, installations, work-preparation, or solar — trades that benefit from 3D building geometry.

Side-by-side: features that matter

FeatureDiaz EditorAutoCAD LT
3D building editor✓ hierarchical— (LT is 2D only)
2D CAD module✓ DXF in/out✓ DWG/DXF native
PDF report export✓ built-in✓ via Plot
Component library30+ trade items— (manual blocks)
Works offline✓✓ (after activation)
Cloud account required— (none)✓ (Autodesk ID)
Multi-language UIEN/NL/ES14+ languages
No subscription✓ one-time— ($480/yr)
Works after subscription ends✓ forever— (stops)
Telemetry— (none)opt-out via Autodesk

Source: AutoCAD LT public pricing page + Diaz Editor v0.3 changelog. Updated May 2026.

Pricing over 5 years — concrete numbers

AutoCAD LT

$480/yr
subscription · 1 seat · 2D only
5-year total: $2,400

Diaz Editor — Founding Beta

€99
one-time · 100 spots · 3 seats · 3D + 2D
5-year total: €99

Difference over 5 years: ~€2,300 stays in your pocket — plus you get 3D included. After the 100 founding spots, regular Pro price is €997 once, still 56% cheaper than AutoCAD LT over 5 years.

Honest verdict

For self-employed builders, carpenters, contractors, installers

Diaz Editor wins on price and scope. You get 3D + 2D for €99 once. AutoCAD LT gives you 2D for $2,400 over 5 years. For trades that benefit from building geometry (which is most of them), this is a clear choice.

For .dwg-dependent shops in established ecosystems

AutoCAD LT may still be needed for final .dwg delivery to clients or government bodies that mandate it. Common pattern: keep one AutoCAD LT seat for final export, design everything in Diaz Editor.

Frequently asked questions

Is AutoCAD LT only 2D?

Yes. AutoCAD LT is intentionally 2D-only — for 3D you need full AutoCAD ($1,955/yr) or Inventor LT. Diaz Editor includes a 3D building editor AND a 2D CAD module in the same one-time price, no upgrade needed.

Can Diaz Editor open .dwg files?

Diaz Editor reads and writes DXF, which is the open interchange format AutoCAD itself supports. Direct .dwg support is on the v0.5 roadmap. Export your AutoCAD work to DXF (built-in), open in Diaz Editor.

Is AutoCAD LT cheaper over 5 years?

No. $480/year × 5 = $2,400. Diaz Editor founding is €99 once; regular Pro is €997 once. AutoCAD LT also stops working when you stop paying — Diaz Editor never expires.

What about contractor .dwg compatibility?

For contractors who require native .dwg, keep one AutoCAD seat for final delivery and design everything in Diaz Editor. DXF round-trips cleanly between both.

Is Diaz Editor cloud-tethered?

No. Local desktop application. No Autodesk account, no internet required after activation. Your files stay on your machine.

Try Diaz Editor — €99 lifetime

100 founding spots. No subscription. 3 device seats. 3D + 2D in one tool.

Claim founding spot — €99

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Wat je krijgt voor €99

Eenmalig. Levenslang. 3 seats. Geen abonnement.

  • Diaz Editor Pro — levenslange licentie voor je hele werkdag €997
  • 3 seats — jij + je voorman + je werkvoorbereider +€600
  • Alle disciplines in één tool — bouw, timmer, elektra, sanitair, mechanisch, solar 4 tools uitgespaard
  • DXF + IFC import — werkt met elke architect, aannemer of installateur Inbegrepen
  • 1-klik PDF export — offerte, werktekening en stuklijst in één pakket Inbegrepen
  • DXF + CNC export voor de werkplaats — zaaglijsten, snijbladen, frees-paden Inbegrepen
  • Alle toekomstige updates — v0.4, v0.5, v0.6... Inbegrepen
  • Founding-member feedback-board — jouw stem op de roadmap Exclusief

Gemaakt voor zelfstandigen + kleine teams (1-10 personen). Niet voor architecten of utility-scale engineering — daar zijn AutoCAD en Aurora beter in.

Reguliere prijs (na founding):

€997 €99 vandaag

Word founding member — €99 →

100 plekken totaal. Stripe checkout. Direct download na betaling.

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