AutoCAD VS FREE nanoCAD - Is It Worth Paying For AutoCAD?

[@DarioRubilovic]

Precision issues in AutoCAD are caused by two factors, having perpendicular snap turned on all the time, and having polar snapping (F10) turned on all the time. They've been causing those tiny gaps for over a decade! But Autodesk isn't bothered by such bugs. Turn those two off and use them just when needed (with snap overrides), and you should get rid of those imprecisions. Increasing APERTURE also helps.

[@DrawingTechnical]

Thanks. It seems the same sort of issue is with NanoCAD, I've had a look around and have found the solution which is to simply turn off 'snap'. I'll be experimenting a bit more with nanoCAD to see how it works with precision.

[@yuoplan]

I have been using nanocad 5.1.25 for more than 7 years for my needs and hobbies. We already have version number 21 in our organization. In my opinion, the product has become even better than AutoCAD. Disable object properties (CTRL + 1) with enabled properties slows down the viewport a little.

[@DrawingTechnical]

Interesting. I haven't used it indepth, but I will probably get more into it once my Revit license runs out.

[@god2142]

First time looking for nanoCAD, really informative. Thank you.

[@DrawingTechnical]

I have a tutorial showing how to get a nanocad license as well if you're interested.

[@jpc0618]

your narration is phenomenal! thank you for this information!

[@DrawingTechnical]

Thank you I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@JoeCoolPilot]

NIce review. I appreciate you taking the time to give us your input and show us your experience. Thank you.

[@DrawingTechnical]

Thanks, and you're welcome. Thanks for taking the time to leave a nice comment.

[@liakat26]

@@DrawingTechnical Appreciate your explanation . Thanks

[@michaelsonsarmiento5943]

Long time Autocad user here, yes Revit is useless in extremely detailed drawings which is why it didn't appeal to me as an architect. Revit is good for cookie cutter architecture where the design is predictable. Tools never get outdated but design does so Autocad will be here to stay just like the pen and paper.

[@DrawingTechnical]

A senior technician who uses AutoCAD told me the same, he doesn't like to use Revit.

[@michaelsonsarmiento5943]

@@DrawingTechnical The best way to think about Revit is it is a database, not drafting and design software. Autocad is the opposite.

[@DrawingTechnical]

Right, that sounds accurate. Have you tried NanoCAD? What do you think of it?

[@paulgush]

Draftsight made by Dassault used to be available for free, but not anymore. Burned once, never again. Therefore, I'm using LibreCAD now. Not as polished as AutoCAD, but at least it won't get snatched away from me, like Draftsight was...

[@DrawingTechnical]

I had the same cases with Autodesk, Adobe, pretty much anything, I hate subscription models. Just recently I had AutoCAD on my tablet for a year I was able to use it, now they've forced a subscription service on it, so I've been barred from using the software that I paid for, and am sent emails saying I need to pay monthly now. Nope, I'll just turn to something else, NanoCad for now.

[@paulgush]

@@DrawingTechnical just be mentally prepared that NanoCAD might take away the free option too. I would willingly pay a few hundred bucks for ACAD R14, which is now properly ancient. But AutoDesk knows that the older versions are good enough for most users, so they forced the subscription model. Slowly but surely, open source will eat their lunch...

[@DrawingTechnical]

Yes I hate to admit it, but it is possible. Nanocad have a pro version which they charge a subscription for, I would think they make the basic nanocad version free so we can atleast be introduced to it. I might be wrong about the subscription, I think last time I checked, nanocad take 1 payment for a lifetime license. Subscription services are one of the reasons I am practicing and honing my drawing with pencil and paper, I don't need to pay any subscription....unless you call buying more leads a form of subscription haha

[@MaintDocs]

@@paulgush I managed to get a forever license of Corelcad on a humble bundle or bundle of holding or something like that - for $64! So far, it is the very closest thing I've found to 2d AC or Draftsight. I do notice small feature bits missing, things like tan-tan-radius. But realistically, I'm not going to pay an increasing $1,800/yr for that feature.

[@brianday6433]

I started using AutoCad v7 on a Dos 5.0 IBM computer. 1 color monitor. I just wanted to run cad at home for simple drawings when I found nanoCADv5. I feel your frustrations with this software. The commands are almost all the same as AutoCad, but I too am frustrated with how they operate. I have only spent half a day playing with it. I guess I will give it a few days before I give up on it.

[@DrawingTechnical]

Hello, I have actually bought 2 nanocad tutorial books which I'm following, I go through one of them once in a while when I have time, it's helped me to use it a bit better. I have a nanocad part 1 tutorial which is based on one of the books, you might find it interesting, I'll need to work on part 2 soon. If you have any questions let me know and I'll see if I can find answers for you

[@fakhrularriffin1775]

is nano cad suitable for land survey drawing, like my self using civil 3d but im searching other software that is free. Does it have surface and section creation.

[@DrawingTechnical]

I don't think surface creation, but for sections, you have to draw them out manually with line and hatch tools like Autocad. Surface creation sounds like a 3D software sort of thing, unless you mean hatching.

[@biartau]

*Can yqarch plugin / addon use in nanocad..?*

[@archcast5550]

autocad back then we have to use keyboard shortcuts for snapping. yeah what is there to complain for it is free! I do not use mouse scroll in zooming in and out in Autocad I use my keyboard. try z spacebar e zoom extents all

[@DrawingTechnical]

Thanks for the zoom tip

[@orielfinch5806]

hello, i'm wondering if nanocad commands are similar to autocad?

[@DrawingTechnical]

Hello, yes they are, I was surprised to see how similar it was, almost exact.

[@orielfinch5806]

@@DrawingTechnical that's awesome! i wanted to learn autocad but i don't have a gold to pay for it so i'm really glad i stumbled on your video. if i may ask is it fine if i watch autocad tutorials since they're pretty similar to each other?

[@DrawingTechnical]

Yes it's fine. When I get stuck on nanocad and have nowhere to turn, I watch Autocad videos and try to translate them into nanocad, it usually works. I'm working on learning nanocad and have learned some good tips and tricks, I am making and going to make more videos on nanocad and how to draw with it, you can stick around for those. If there's any questions you have or anything you want me to show you, feel free to ask.

[@orielfinch5806]

@@DrawingTechnical thank you, sir! i'll be sure to watch those. 😁

[@Fr4nkSanchez]

How it handle really heavy files using multiple xref files? I have not find any software that handle that like autocad but now as freelancer I want to find a software that works similar. I cannot afford very high prices of autocad as startup

[@johncoleman3998]

I just started using NanoCAD 5 also. I do not have the problem of lines not properly connecting. Though I have snap turned off most of the time. Why do you have every type of snap turned on? That would cause me problems. Want perpetual licenses again? Good luck with that. Oh, and get ready to pay Microsoft monthly or yearly fees soon as well for the use of Windows :/ When that happens, I'm switching back to Linux.

[@DrawingTechnical]

Ah, I've managed to get the hang of it a bit, I realised later that it was some sort grid snap that was turned on which was making things difficult. I am not paying microsoft any monthly fees, I'm still running windows 7 XD

[@trendstyledesign6446]

If you go back to Linux try Ares commander very stable and works on Linux, mac, windows.

[@archcast5550]

Hello fellow penguin. . .have you triad qcad?

[@claudiofornaroMusic]

Great video, helpful, thanks.

[@DrawingTechnical]

Glad it was helpful!

[@DL_LSR]

Why are you using nanoCAD ver. 5?

[@DrawingTechnical]

Why not? It's free and does what autocad does. Do you have a better suggestion?

[@DL_LSR]

@@DrawingTechnical Idk, they are always improving their software (now it's ver.22). And full version still cost 3 times less, than autocad, isn't it?

[@DrawingTechnical]

It costs 3 times less than autocad Lt and way way less than autocad. I will try the free version of nanocad for a while before thinking of buying for ver.22 👍

[@surveyminghing5994]

Tell me, 1. what format file export? 2. is the software 32bit/64bit compatability?

[@DrawingTechnical]

1. Dwg 2. Think so

[@Vergilsane226]

Is NanoCAD still free? Auto Cad expensive and the NanoCAD website has a price.😵 Looking yo get an alternative CAD software, any suggestions?

[@DrawingTechnical]

NanoCAD 5.0 should still be free. If it's not available on the website anymore then that's a shame, I was writing a book about NanoCAD 5.0

[@Vergilsane226]

@@DrawingTechnical no worries, I got it to work! You’re the best! I graduated 2 years ago and been looking for a free option from Autocad and this is amazing! Thank you!

[@trendstyledesign6446]

Nanocad v5 is 32bit not 64bit and they do dumb it down a bit. For example batch print or publishing multiple sheets etc.... I have used it for commercial jobs. It's based of the intellicad programming. I have have now purchased intellicad perpetual it imports revit files etc....

[@DrawingTechnical]

I see. Intellicad looks quite interesting. Thanks for your input there. I have been aiming to use nanoCAD for a job some day, once my Revit license runs out.

[@trendstyledesign6446]

@@DrawingTechnical I have been an Architectural drafting & designer for over 20 years and have used many different 2d & 3d Cad programs including Revit, Archicad, intellicad, Turbocad, Chief Architect,Nanocad, Autocad, Autosketch {Drafix CAD}, Draftsight, and Ares Commander {Draftsight, corel cad uses its programming}. Ares commander is very stable alternative to Autocad its perpetual as well. Ares commander aslo works on mac, Windows and Linux. My favourite to design with is Chief Architect, I like Revit very much and was able to do working drawings with it as well. I could keep going on and on but you get the idea.

[@DrawingTechnical]

You've been through more CAD softwares than the number of the ages of my kids combined plus the years of experience I've had as an Architectural professional. Wow! I have a lot to look through.

[@trendstyledesign6446]

@@DrawingTechnical kzbin.info/door/N5O_iutpnsKmj7xaiItXNg I uploaded this vid a long time ago, I will upload more when I have time.

[@youcandoit9057]

@@trendstyledesign6446 Hello There, I Want an advice Plz, As begginner .. Which Good Free Program I Should To Start With, For Long Time? Thank You

[@antoniiocaluso1071]

forget the rest...get... ACTcad* ! This, from a CAD-guy since '82 :-) Soooo-much like ACAD, you'll wonder why folks even use the "CAD-monster" we ALL hate (considering its greedy pricing structure, ughhh) *its core-engine is from IntelliCAD, which is used in a number of other CAD-alternatives. Your welcome!

[@DrawingTechnical]

Great, thank you. I'll give ACTcad a go!

[@DrawingTechnical]

I'm getting more and more frustrated with Autodesk as time goes on, their greedy pricing structure as you said, then they made it unavailable to practice Autodesk products at home around 2018 or 20. Then they've done something else to annoy me recently, but I don't quite remember what that one was. Autodesk needs a more sincere and fair competitor.

[@antoniiocaluso1071]

​@@DrawingTechnical absolutely your right!! I "left" CAD years back, because with my work design/building ECOhomes, it was FAR-easier to (you'll LAFF) a light-table, parallel-rule, and hand-drawing. Yep!!! Like my "old-days" (sighhh). A pencil sketch scanned to an image file, then becomes easy to dimension and notate using any DTP software (Serif PagePlusX9, now abandon-ware). The light-table made generating Elevations/Sections easy. There's something to be said for using a pencil/paper for Creativity-sake, whereas CAD "insists" on fast, fast, fast, right? Ughh.... No updates required, no expensive hardware/software (#2 pencil & copy paper, !!))), no vision/ergonomic problems. Know the "core engine" of ACTcad (and several other ACAD-similar/alternative CADs world-wide) is from the IntelliCAD Consortium in Portland, OR, who sell their engine for other CAD-companies to use with their specialized modifications. ACTcad's Support Staff is, simply, the most delightful, immediate, and super-respectful of them all. Its amazing, but...Indian techies are the most-courteous of all! :-) Nope, not affiliated with them...just an ol' N. Italiano Designer of 69-years, who's first workstation was a used NASA-workstation with double-monitors, and a 3' stack of Manuals for using MicroStation ('82, after all))). None of us 5 architects wanted to even use it, so it just sat there! haaaa.... the good old days! Stay...YOUNG!

[@DrawingTechnical]

That is really great, I'm glad that one of my videos caught the attention of someone as experienced and with a colourful career as you. In my first year of university, we were taught to draw, but were quickly put on to modern day CAD softwares like Revit/Autocad/Navisworks and whatever else. I'm quite established in the CAD world for what I do, however, I was very highly drawn (no pun intended) towards the tradtional 'art of draughtsmanship' with pencil, paper and drawing board. I've bought loads of old books from the 1950's which teach you how to draw like a draughtsman of the day, old engineering books too. I am having a blast learning drawing techniques, and I am trying to develop the draughtsmanship skill in myself so that I can do exactly what you did. I am looking to upgrade my current drawing board to something mid-range like Staedtler/Rotring, and when I can, I will one day purchase an actual drafting machine, those a very expensive! I've collected plenty of tools to practice this. One day I want to stick a big middle finger up to CAD (mainly Autodesk, I've already stuck 2 fingers up at them with what I'm doing), and pull out the drawing board to serve up a an artistic technical drawing to a client. So thanks for taking the time to comment, it will be helpful for me when i come to dimension the drawings, although I'm just learning to dimension them myself with the pencil, it's not easy. I'll check out your reccomendation for ACTcad for sure.

[@antoniiocaluso1071]

@@DrawingTechnical thank you, and GREAT LUCK in your career!! the BIGGEST delights of the "old way" was that one's body was free to MOVE. Unlike the rigidity of sitting endlessly while staring at a monitor(s), using a drawing board* allowed some degree of stretching. And...time to think about what was being created. *very-often, a recycled flush-face door would make a very-fine drawing board, along with a parallel rule. Only mechanical designers would use a drafting machine, for an architect thinks BIG :-) I would find a 1/4" plate glass (ask a glass shop for a scrap) to inset into the door's flush face. Then backlight with anything, really. Its important to place an obscuring sheet of vellum under a CLEAR board cover (glass alone is too-hard to draw properly on) and...away you go! If you hinged the door off a wall, it could flush-up to the wall, and be out of the way. Or, as many did, place the door on two filing cabinets at whatever height you prefer (we mostly sat on tall stools, or stood). Well...drafting sure is "dandy", and that's who we make our money, sure. BUT...its the creativity produced on those sheets that is most-important!!! Sometimes, when seeing a structural collapse, I think...bet it was from some kid designer who ONLY knew which ACAD Tool's shortcut to use...over and over and over again, WITHOUT thinking of what is being created! Remember, its Life & Death (and vast monies) your "playing" with. My site: HomePlansDrawn dot com. Ohhh...one tip for pencil drawing....SPIN YOUR PENCIL as you draw against a rule or triangle. It'll reduce uneven tip wear, and guarantee good linework. Another...only use the SMOOTH side of Vellum :-)

[@smuludgn]

In order to make it smooth they need to integrate the software to gpu. That needs a lot of effort I guess.

[@DrawingTechnical]

They probably have done that with nanocad pro or one of the modern nanocad softwares. This one is offered for free, for how long I'm not sure.

[@rogalewskip]

i nanocad free for commercial use?

[@DrawingTechnical]

Yes I believe it is.

[@yuoplan]

and you can get a license. Hang on the wall

[@DrawingTechnical]

I hope they don't do an 'Autodesk' and make it unavailable so people would be forced to look at monthly subscriptions.

[@viscourtroy]

If you are used to be the users of AutoCAD, Not easy to change to be other users.

[@DrawingTechnical]

Nanocad is just a Russian copy of Autocad,

[@daveduncan9005]

I feel that many comments from the demonstrator are the result of poor command selection or due incomplete knowledge of the commands themselves. Example: Drawing a rectangle that will not have line connection or continuity issues is accomplished by using the REC [Rectangle] command or the PLINE [Polyline] command. These are basic commands in both AutoCAD and nanoCAD. I do not understand why this is not mentioned in the demonstration.

[@DrawingTechnical]

You're right. At the time of this video, I was new to AutoCAD/nanocad. I mainly work with Revit but had to do a job in CAD at the office, so I downloaded nanocad (the closest alternative to AutoCAD I could find) to practice with at home and simply shared my experience with the softwares.

[@daveduncan9005]

@@DrawingTechnical Fair, and understandable if use is not done on a regular basis. Personally, I am finding nanoCad performance almost equal to AutoCAD. Since this app is from Russia I'm thinking the company either reverse engineered ACAD or simply stole the code. Regardless, it is very good equivalent for 2D drafting.

[@MaintDocs]

Actually, even in autocad proper, the rectangle tool is a bit odd. I usually used separate lines. The flaky bit is you quickly typ & click 3 lines, then sometimes it fails to snap the 4th line properly. (I was never using grid snap. it's an issue of it 1st sensing where you want to go, then deciding your tiny motion mean you intended not that/extension off it instead)

[@RaadIrfaan]

you are expert on neither it seems thats ok .....................autocad has snap options u cant miss the point... it will snap the cursor.... by looking at the menus on nanocad it has the menus too just adjust the snap settings ur problems will be solved. for the toolbar nuisance we have commands like L for lines REC fo rectangle C for circles etc.

[@DrawingTechnical]

At the time I was new to AutoCAD and had to learn it for my office job, I'm much more adept with it now using it together with Revit on the other screen. Perhaps it's time for an updated video.

[@RaadIrfaan]

@@DrawingTechnical please do make a new one if possible....videos on cad softwares are hard to find and i appreciate your work for that. Thanks for the reply. i apologize if i sounded rude in my first comment.

[@DrawingTechnical]

No problem

[@aditya_it_is]

NANOCAD STOPPED BEING FREE :/ CAN YOU UPLOAD OLDER SETUP & SHARE LINK?

[@DrawingTechnical]

No way, that can't be, I just downloaded NanoCAD on my laptop the day before yesterday. I'll see about making a video showing the process of installing it.

[@DrawingTechnical]

It's still available. Go on the nanocad website and then products/nanocad-free

[@DrawingTechnical]

Here, I've uploaded a video showing you how to get nanocad free: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5XdZpqmf62re7s

[@hiidenwarrior2698]

now its 399 a year

[@archcast5550]

Blender Bim and Archipack save your goldbar

[@DrawingTechnical]

Sadly I left my gold bar in my other Revit.

[@DrawingTechnical]

How to install NanoCAD and get free license and register, full walkthrough process shown here on this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5XdZpqmf62re7s Nanocad tutorial part 1, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYeYiIh7g62JrdU

[@heropenang1161]

is nanocad still free?

[@DrawingTechnical]

Yes it is, you can see the installation video I've uploaded where I show the whole process of getting it and registering a proper license, all for free

[@mattsan70]

QCAD is 100 times better than this nano rubbish

[@DrawingTechnical]

Hah. Someone told me to check it before, guess I’ll have to now

[@MaintDocs]

Really? I'm looking at what to try next. *Because I found qcad unbearably painful to use vs any paid cad.* AC, Draftsight, Corelcad - all of those are nearly identical and easy to use. In Qcad, simple basic drawing required so many extra steps. I couldn't just click line, start point, direction with mouse, type and length and (enter or spacebar or whatever key), then next segment. This is basic cad stuff. But even that foundational layer is barely usable. Every bit requires several steps and lacks boosts to make it efficient to use. Then the tools were super limited. It really didn't feel like it was made by engineers. It felt more like a (cludgy) sketch program than an engineering 2d cad.