Migrating from AutoCAD to ACTCAD

Your drawings, your commands, your automation — without the annual subscription. Here is exactly what moves across, what to check, and how we help you do it.

📁 Native DWG — no conversion ⌨️ Same commands 🎧 Free Support with migration

What Comes Across

ACTCAD is DWG-native and AutoCAD-compatible by design, so most of a working setup transfers untouched.

Drawings (DWG & DXF)

Opens and saves native DWG/DXF from R2.5 to the latest release. No import, no export, no proprietary format in between.

Blocks & symbol libraries

Your existing block libraries carry over, and ACTCAD adds 7,000+ ready symbols across civil, mechanical, electrical, architectural and P&ID work.

Templates & title blocks

DWT templates, title blocks, layer standards and text styles open directly — your drawing standards survive the switch.

Plot styles & layouts

CTB/STB plot styles, paper-space layouts and viewport settings come across, so printed output matches what your team already signs off.

Commands & shortcuts

AutoCAD-style command names, aliases and keyboard shortcuts. Choose the classic menu layout or the ribbon — both ship in the box.

LISP & custom automation

LISP, DCL, SDS, Object IRX and .NET are all supported, so most routines run unchanged. Heavily AutoCAD-specific add-ons are worth testing during the trial — we will check them with you.

How the Switch Works

Most firms are running production work on ACTCAD within a week — often within a day for a single seat.

Start the free trial. Install the full ACTCAD 2027 trial on one machine. It is the complete product for 15 days — nothing held back, no credit card.
Open your real drawings. Not sample files — your most demanding live projects, with the xrefs, dynamic blocks and annotation scales you actually use. This is the only test that matters.
Check your automation. Run your LISP routines, scripts and menus. Tell us what does not behave and our engineers will look at it with you during the trial.
Match your output. Load your CTB/STB plot styles and plot a sheet you know well. Compare it against the same sheet from AutoCAD.
Bring the team across. We run an onboarding session covering the differences, install and activate licenses, and stay available afterwards — all included.

We'll Do the Migration With You

Our engineers in India help move drawings, templates, blocks, plot styles and LISP routines, and train your team on the differences — free, for trial users as well as customers.

Download Free Trial Book a Demo →

Why Firms Make the Move

The drawings are the same. The economics are not.

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Own it, don't rent it

ACTCAD is a one-time purchase with lifetime validity. It keeps working whether or not you ever pay again — no renewal date, no loss of access to your own drawings.

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A fraction of the annual cost

A perpetual ACTCAD license costs less than a single year of an imported CAD subscription — and that gap compounds every year you keep working. See the full comparison →

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Support in your time zone

Engineers in India, on Indian business hours, who know the product. Not a ticket queue on another continent.

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GEM-compliant procurement

Government departments and PSUs can buy directly through the Government e-Marketplace as a one-time capital purchase rather than recurring operational spend.

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Licensing that fits how you work

Key-based, network floating, cloud or USB dongle — including offline-capable options for secure sites. Compare license types →

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No lock-in either way

Because everything stays in native DWG, you can keep collaborating with AutoCAD users — and migrate a few seats at a time instead of all at once.

Migration Questions

Will my existing AutoCAD DWG files open in ACTCAD?

Yes. ACTCAD is DWG/DXF native and reads files from R2.5 through the latest format. Layers, blocks, dimensions, hatches, text styles and plot styles come across intact — there is no import step and no conversion to a proprietary format.

Do I have to relearn the commands?

Very little. ACTCAD uses AutoCAD-style command names, aliases and keyboard shortcuts, and offers both a classic menu layout and a modern ribbon. Most experienced drafters are productive within a day.

Will my LISP routines and custom tools still work?

In most cases, yes. ACTCAD supports LISP, DCL, SDS, Object IRX and .NET, so existing automation usually runs with little or no change. Complex or heavily AutoCAD-specific add-ons should be tested during the trial — our team will help you check them.

Can I keep working alongside colleagues who still use AutoCAD?

Yes. Because ACTCAD saves native DWG, files move back and forth with AutoCAD users, consultants and clients with no extra step. Many firms migrate a few seats at a time rather than all at once.

What does the migration cost?

Nothing beyond the license itself. Migration assistance, installation help and team onboarding are included free with ACTCAD — see the support page for what is covered.

Try It on Your Own Drawings →