Free DWG Viewer

DWG ("drawing") is a file format used for storing two and three dimensional design data and metadata. It is the native format for several CAD packages including AutoCAD, IntelliCAD (and its variants) and Caddie. In addition, DWG is supported non-natively by many other CAD applications. The .bak (drawing backup), .dws (drawing standards), .dwt (drawing template) and .sv$ (temporary automatic save) files are also DWG files.

The DWG format is probably the most widely used format for CAD drawings. Since DWG is a proprietary file format, in 1998, several software developers and vendors came together and formed an association called OpenDWG Alliance. The intention was to make DWG an open standard but it hasn’t succeeded so far. At the same time, Autodesk have not been able to obtain a trademark for DWG. The struggle between Autodesk and OpenDWG Alliance proves the popularity and usefulness of DWG as an image file format.

DWG files can be viewed on Windows using Autodesk's free DWG TrueView program or with other third-party applications. Here we recommend some of the best Free DWG Viewers.

Free DWG Viewer

Free DWG Viewer is a simple desktop application that allows you to view and measure AutoCAD DWG, DWF, and DXF drawings in a simple interface. Free DWG Viewer will also open Informative Graphics' own "content sealed" (CSF) file format, which is generated by the company's Net-It publishing products and featuring Visual Rights security options for file content.

Free DWG Viewer installs as a desktop application but can also be used as a ActiveX control in a Web page. Free DWG Viewer Download

MyCAD Viewer

With MyCAD Viewer free CAD viewer, you can visualize SolidWorks 3D models, SolidWorks drawings and DXF or DWG documents. In addition, the MyCAD viewer allows you to save your open document in eDrawing format. It's not necessary to install SolidWorks or eDrawing on the computer to use this free viewer.

Features of eDrawings Viewer: Display the drawing or the 3D model; Manipulate (Zoom, Pan, Rotate, Show/Hide, Animate); Print; Modify, suppress or add document or configurations properties; List all references and search for "where used" documents... MyCAD Viewer Download

DoubleCAD XT

DoubleCAD XT is more than a free .DWG viewer, DoubleCAD XT is a full-powered CAD application that lets you open a variety of file formats and, most importantly, edit those files. It employs a large selection of line, arc, curve, and spline tools, so that no matter the situation you have got the right tool for the job. Powerful tools such as custom brush styles, transparencies, and smart dimensions also greatly enhance detailing. No need to buy a separate hatch pattern creator, DoubleCAD XT even comes with its own.

DoubleCAD XT has the features you've been waiting for, things like transparent fills, draw order by layer, explodable viewports, bezier curves, flatten 3D to 2D views, hatch pattern editor, advanced polyline editing, automatically scale units between drawings, parametric variable palette, embed/bind image files in a drawing, input multiple unit types on-the-fly, and more. DoubleCAD XT Download

eDrawings Viewer

Use eDrawings Viewer software to view, print, and review all types of eDrawings files. In addition, eDrawings Viewer allows convenient viewing of supported AutoCAD DWG and DXF files and native SolidWorks parts, assemblies, and drawings. The eDrawings Viewer is intended primarily for people who do not use CAD software and thus do not need to publish eDrawings files themselves. Innovative built-in interpretation tools include 3D Pointer, Virtual Folding, Point-and-click Animation, and Hyperlinking.

Features of eDrawings Viewer: Built-in Viewer to view and print native SolidWorks, supported AutoCAD DWG and DXF files, Drawing Layout, 3D Pointer, Point-and-click Animation, View Design Analyses, View MoldflowXpress Output, Save in STL and other file formats... eDrawings Viewer Download

Internal CADviewer

Internal CADviewer is FREE DWG viewer that can be launched directly from your AutoCAD. With this AutoCAD add-on you can browse, view or open drawings stored on your computer or CD-ROM (e.g. DWG catalouges).

You can view or open next, previous, first or last drawing in the current folder (folder of the current drawing). You can also view a sequence of drawings in slide show with defined time delay.

Thumbnail mode gives you the ability to view multiple drawings simultaneously in reduced size. Drawings can be open directly from their thumbnails. There is also thumbnails slide show available. Open button enables you to select another folder with DWG files or you can open another drawing. Selected folder can be added to the favorite folders. Internal CADviewer Download

VariCAD Viewer

VariCAD Viewer is a scaled-down version of VariCAD used for viewing VariCAD files. With the VariCAD Viewer, anyone can open, view and print your drawings without having to pay for additional VariCAD licenses. VariCAD Viewer can also open STEP (3D), DWG (2D), DXF (2D) and IGES (2D) files.

VariCAD is 3D/2D CAD system primarily intended for mechanical engineering design. In addition to powerful tools for 3D modeling and 2D drafting and dimensioning, the CAD system provides libraries of standard mechanical parts (ANSI, DIN), calculations of standard mechanical components, and tools for working with bills of materials (BOM) and blocks. VariCAD Viewer Download

LX-Viewer for Linux

LX-Viewer is a program that will allow you to open, view, print and convert DWG or DXF files, typically used in AutoCAD related technical drafting. The most important feature is that LX-Viewer allows you to manipulate your DWG data on the Linux platform.

You may zoom and pan the drawing as you would in AutoCAD. Files can be saved to DWG or DXF formats from AutoCAD version 2.5 to 2002, also as BMP, SVG and PNG formats. Files can be printed or plotted to a Postscript printer or to file. Multiple files can be batch converted or batch plotted. Layer states can be changed (on/off, freeze/thaw, etc) with a full layer dialog. The paperspace/model space toggle is fully implemented, as is the ability to select among various paperspace layouts for AutoCAD drawings. LX-Viewer Download