Best free DWG viewers, compared honestly
The best free DWG viewer depends on whether you need to install anything, which operating system you are on, whether the file may be uploaded to someone's server, and whether you also want to edit. This page compares the free options on those points, including the browser viewer on this site, and answers the frequent question of whether Adobe, SolidWorks, Visio, Word, Canva or Inkscape can open a DWG.
Free DWG viewers compared
| Tool | Install | OS | Opens DWG 2018+ | Edits | Prints / PDF | Uploads your file |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| dwgviewer.app (this site) | No | Any browser | Yes, R14 to 2018+ | No | Yes / vector PDF, SVG, PNG | No |
| Autodesk DWG TrueView | Yes | Windows | Yes | No (version convert only) | Yes / yes, plot styles | No |
| Autodesk Viewer online | No | Any browser | Yes | No (markups) | Limited | Yes, Autodesk account |
| LibreCAD | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux | Partial, read-only | Yes (saves DXF) | Yes / yes | No |
| FreeCAD | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux | Via ODA File Converter | Yes | Yes / yes | No |
| QCAD Community | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux | DXF only (DWG in paid Pro) | Yes | Yes / yes | No |
| BricsCAD Shape | Yes | Windows, macOS | Yes | Yes, 3D modeling | Yes / yes | No |
| ShareCAD | No | Any browser | Yes | No | Limited / no | Yes |
| Bentley View | Yes | Windows | Yes, and DGN | No | Yes / yes | No |
| ODA Drawings Explorer | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | No | Yes / via print | No |
| eDrawings Viewer | Yes | Windows, macOS | Yes | No (markups) | Yes / Pro only | No |
None of the free desktop viewers runs in a browser, and none of the online viewers except this one keeps the file on your machine. The viewer here reads the DWG in the tab, converts it to DXF on the device with LibreDWG compiled to WebAssembly, and renders with WebGL; a typical 1–20 MB file opens in 1–10 seconds. It does not edit, does not open DWF, skips files over 60 MB and does not read R12 or older drawings; those jobs go to the tools in the table.
Which viewer for which job
- Look at a drawing, check layers, measure, save a PDF: this viewer, on any OS, no account. See free DWG viewer.
- Plot to scale with CTB plot styles, batch-convert versions: Autodesk DWG TrueView on Windows. Compared in detail in DWG TrueView alternatives.
- Edit the drawing for free: LibreCAD (2D, opens DWG read-only and saves DXF), FreeCAD (2D and 3D, needs the free ODA File Converter configured under Preferences > Import-Export > DWG), or BricsCAD Shape. More in edit DWG online.
- Open MicroStation DGN next to DWG: Bentley View.
- Mechanical drawings from SolidWorks users: eDrawings Viewer, which also opens SLDPRT and SLDASM.
- Share a link to a drawing with a client: Autodesk Viewer online, accepting that the file is stored in Autodesk's cloud.
Can Adobe, SolidWorks, Visio, Word, Canva or Inkscape open DWG?
| Program | Opens DWG? | Opens DXF? | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Acrobat / Reader | No | No | Convert DWG to PDF first; Acrobat then opens the PDF. |
| Adobe Illustrator | Yes (File > Open, AutoCAD Drawing) | Yes | Units and scale are set in the import dialog; layers are kept. |
| SolidWorks | Yes (DXF/DWG Import wizard, into a drawing or a sketch) | Yes | Free eDrawings Viewer for viewing only. |
| Microsoft Visio | Yes (Insert > CAD Drawing), older formats only | Yes | Save the DWG down to the 2013 format or earlier if Visio refuses it. |
| Microsoft Word / Excel | No | No | Export DWG to PNG or DWG to SVG and insert as a picture. |
| Canva | No | No | Export DWG to SVG and upload the SVG. |
| Inkscape | No | Yes (R12 and R14 DXF import; also exports DXF) | Convert DWG to DXF with DWG TrueView or ODA File Converter, then open in Inkscape. |
How to open a DWG file in LibreCAD and FreeCAD
LibreCAD: File > Open, set the file type filter to "Drawing Exchange DWG" and pick the file. DWG support is read-only and comes from the libdxfrw library, so very new drawings or ones with custom objects may fail to load or show missing elements; if that happens, convert the file to DXF first. After editing, LibreCAD saves as DXF only. There is no plugin that adds DWG writing.
FreeCAD: FreeCAD does not read DWG on its own. Install the free ODA File Converter, then in Edit > Preferences > Import-Export > DWG point FreeCAD to its executable. File > Import then converts the DWG to DXF in the background and loads it into the Draft workbench. Alternatively, convert to DXF yourself and import that.
DGN to DWG and other conversions a viewer cannot do
Viewers display; they do not change formats. For MicroStation files, AutoCAD's DGNIMPORT and Bentley's own export are the reliable routes, described in DGN to DWG. SolidWorks drawings export to DWG and DXF from File > Save As. Inventor drawings do the same through Save Copy As (see Inventor to DXF). None of the free viewers, including this one, writes a DWG; when a page promises "convert anything to DWG online", check what it actually produces.
Frequently asked questions
Can AutoCAD open DGN files?
Yes. Use IMPORT or DGNIMPORT to convert a MicroStation DGN into DWG entities, or DGNATTACH to reference it as an underlay. Details in DGN to DWG.
Can Adobe open DWG files?
Acrobat and Reader cannot; they open PDF only, so convert the DWG to PDF first. Adobe Illustrator does open DWG and DXF through File > Open.
How do I open a DWG file in Adobe Acrobat?
Export the drawing as a vector PDF (from this viewer, DWG TrueView or AutoCAD's DWG To PDF plotter) and open that PDF in Acrobat. Acrobat has no DWG import.
Can SolidWorks open DXF files?
Yes. File > Open with the DXF/DWG filter launches an import wizard that places the geometry in a new drawing, a part sketch, or converts it to a 2D sketch.
Can Adobe Illustrator open DXF files?
Yes. Illustrator opens both DXF and DWG, keeping layers; set the scale and units in the import dialog. This viewer can also export DXF or DWG to SVG for Illustrator.
Can Canva open a DXF file?
No. Canva accepts SVG, PNG and JPG. Convert DXF to SVG in this viewer and upload the SVG.
Which free DWG viewer does not upload my file?
All desktop viewers (DWG TrueView, LibreCAD, FreeCAD, Bentley View, eDrawings) and this browser viewer keep the file local. Autodesk Viewer online and ShareCAD store it on their servers.