Free professional-grade DWG viewer for viewing, measuring, printing, and converting AutoCAD drawings
Free professional-grade DWG viewer for viewing, measuring, printing, and converting AutoCAD drawings
Vote (127 votes)
Program license Free
Developer autodesk
Version 2026
Works under Windows
Vote
(127 votes)
Developer
autodesk
Works under
Windows
Program license
Free
Version
2026
Pros
- Views AutoCAD data files for free
- Opens many file types
- Measure and view drawings
- Easy to use/offers a guide
- Compatible with new and old files
- 64-bit and 32-bit versions offered
- Accepts experience enhancing add-ons
Cons
- Offers no editing services
- Takes a bit to load
Autodesk DWG TrueView is a multimedia software that allows users to view AutoCAD and other DWG types of files. This software is free, and because the software is just a viewer, it cannot be used to alter a drawing. However, even though you can’t alter a drawing, you can measure and print your drawings and then convert DWG files between AutoCAD formats. This tool is particularly useful for people like architects, engineers, and even construction professionals.
The Autodesk DWG TrueView application is a free and stand-alone DWG viewer. It’s built on the same platform as AutoCAD, which is an industry-standard paid option of CAD (computer-aided design) and drafting software. DWG TrueView allows you to view multiple of the latest file formats such as DWG, DWF, and DXF. This is the same as you would in AutoCAD, without the license fee.
This software is a Windows-only application and is not available on Mac or other operating systems. There have been various versions of the software since the first in 2007. The 2019, 2018, and 2017 versions are available in 64-bit and 32-bit. The 2010 version is only available in 64-bit. System requirements for the latest version of the application include Windows 10 Anniversary Update (1803 or higher), as well as Windows 8.1 update KB2919355, and finally Windows 7 SP1. Downloading the software is easy to do, as you download and run the .exe and then follow the on-screen instructions to extract the installation files. This only takes a few minutes. Once you’ve extracted the files, you’ll move on to installing the application, which includes accepting the license and services agreement. The installation takes about five minutes, and the instructions are only available in English, even though other language versions are indeed available. The program will not automatically open once you’ve finished the installation.
DWG is a file extension used for drawing programs, such as CAD software. This program is aimed primarily at professionals such as architects, engineers, and construction workers, who are likely to find the program useful. The program is easy to use and even allows you to customize your program interface. This program is comprehensive for its type but does not offer editing capabilities. The capabilities of DWG TrueView can be enhanced by adding another product called Design Review, and both are free. This software allows professionals to do plenty and is offered completely free, with easy installation and use. DGW TrueView should be considered by anyone looking for a comprehensive, easy-to-use viewer utility program.
Pros
- Views AutoCAD data files for free
- Opens many file types
- Measure and view drawings
- Easy to use/offers a guide
- Compatible with new and old files
- 64-bit and 32-bit versions offered
- Accepts experience enhancing add-ons
Cons
- Offers no editing services
- Takes a bit to load
Pros
- Free AutoCAD Data File Reader
- Highly Accessible UI
- Supports Old and New Formats
Cons
- No True Editing Tools
- Lacks Updates and Support
Autodesk DWG Trueview is a piece of software that allows you to view and share data files that were produced in AutoCAD, which is the industry standard digital design software suite for those in the fields of construction, architecture, and engineering.
Even though AutoCAD is hands-down the leader in the category of design software, only a select number of people ever need to be able to perform advanced edits. Those people are the intended customers for the AutoCAD software, which certainly isn't cheap since it's a world-class professional software suite. Unfortunately, those who only want to read the data files in their appropriate format would typically have to pay the full license fee for access to the same high-powered software just for the ability to view the data. This could be anyone who works in close proximity with the creative professionals who developed the designs. Thanks to the power of Autodesk DWG Trueview, those viewers now have a way to read AutoCAD design files without having to pay a cent.
AutoCAD is, as the name suggests, a piece of Computer Aided Design software, and it happens to be one of the most trusted and widely used tools in its category. Autodesk DWG Trueview is fully compatible with DWG, DWF, and DXF formats, and it acts as a completely separate piece of software that employs many of the same basic control and minor editing functions as AutoCAD itself.
With Autodesk DWG Trueview, you can open and view AutoCAD files with ease. You can also use the software to take measurements within the design for further reference or discussion, and there are a number of tools you can use to alter several aspects of the design, like shadow, frame, zoom, and more. If you have downloaded and installed Autodesk DWG Trueview and someone sends you an AutoCAD file to critique, you can use these tools to make minor changes, leave notes, and return the edited files to the producer.
In any business that requires legitimate design software, there's no reason to waste money on expensive licenses for every member of the company. Most businesses wouldn't be able to survive such a burden, so it's a good thing there's an option like Autodesk DWG Trueview for the vast majority who have no need for complex design tools and features.
This piece of software is the perfect solution for those professionals who need access to files created in AutoCAD without needing to change them in any significant way. A video editing company with only a few actual editors would be insane to buy professional video editing software like Adobe After Effects for every member of the company when many of them only need a simple media player to view and critique content, and the same could be said for any company in which only a few employees produce any content.
Pros
- Free AutoCAD Data File Reader
- Highly Accessible UI
- Supports Old and New Formats
Cons
- No True Editing Tools
- Lacks Updates and Support