BricsCAD

What Is BricsCAD?

When Autodesk killed perpetual licensing for AutoCAD in 2021 and moved everyone to mandatory subscriptions at around EUR 2,200 per seat per year, it created the largest migration wave in CAD software history. Firms that had owned their AutoCAD licences for a decade suddenly faced an indefinite annual bill, with no exit. The market opened — and Bricsys, a Belgian company founded in Ghent in 2002, was positioned to take the opportunity.

BricsCAD had existed for years as a credible but niche AutoCAD alternative. Post-2021, it became a primary destination for firms reconsidering their CAD stack. The product reads and writes native DWG files at the same format version as AutoCAD, supports the same LISP-based automation scripts in most cases, and offers perpetual licensing at prices between 60% and 70% lower than equivalent AutoCAD tiers.

The company was acquired by Hexagon AB, the Swedish precision technology group, in 2018. Development and operations remain in Ghent, Belgium, and the product is shipped in editions: Lite for 2D drafting, Pro for full 3D, BIM for building design, Mechanical for part and assembly design, and Ultimate bundling all four. Bricsys has continued to invest heavily in the product, adding direct modeling tools, point cloud processing, and AI-assisted design features that go beyond simple AutoCAD parity.

Key Features

Native DWG Compatibility

BricsCAD's core value proposition is file fidelity. The software reads and writes DWG and DXF at the same version levels as AutoCAD — including dimension styles, layer states, block attributes, xrefs, and custom properties. Firms that collaborate with clients or subcontractors on AutoCAD find that files round-trip without visible degradation in the vast majority of workflows. This is a non-trivial technical achievement that distinguishes BricsCAD from other AutoCAD alternatives that handle DWG through less complete translation layers.

3D Solid and Direct Modeling

BricsCAD Pro delivers full 3D solid modeling through both history-based parametric workflows and direct (push-pull) modeling. The DCAM 3D kernel underpins constraint-based design, while direct modeling lets users manipulate geometry intuitively without rebuilding feature trees. This dual approach suits mixed-mode workflows where engineers need both structured parametric design and quick geometry edits.

BIM Edition

BricsCAD BIM extends the 3D environment with purpose-built building design tools. It generates floor plans, elevations, and section cuts automatically from 3D models, imports and exports IFC files for interoperability with Revit and ArchiCAD, and supports BIM data workflows aligned with ISO 19650. For architecture firms seeking an alternative to Autodesk Revit at lower cost, BricsCAD BIM is one of the few credible competitors in the market.

BricsCAD AI

The newest dimension of BricsCAD is its AI tooling. BricsCAD AI applies machine learning to part recognition — identifying structural patterns in imported geometry and suggesting parametric constraints or standard part substitutions. It is not as deep as Autodesk's AI integrations across the Design Suite, but it is actively being developed and adds genuine value for firms standardising their library of parts.

Cross-Platform and API Support

BricsCAD runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux — the only major DWG-compatible CAD platform to support all three operating systems. The API surface covers LISP, COM/ActiveX, .NET, and C++, making it possible to migrate existing AutoCAD automation scripts and custom tools without starting from scratch.

Pricing

BricsCAD's pricing advantage over AutoCAD is substantial. BricsCAD Pro on annual subscription costs approximately EUR 780 per seat per year, versus AutoCAD's EUR 2,200 — a saving of roughly EUR 1,400 per seat per year. For a ten-seat firm, that is EUR 14,000 annually.

The perpetual licensing option extends the advantage further. A BricsCAD Pro perpetual licence costs approximately EUR 1,600 upfront with one year of maintenance included. From year two, maintenance renewal (covering updates and support) is optional. Firms that do not need the latest features every year can let maintenance lapse and continue using the software indefinitely. No equivalent exists with AutoCAD.

BricsCAD Lite (2D only) runs at around EUR 314 per year on subscription, making it one of the most competitively priced DWG-compatible drafting tools available. BricsCAD BIM sits between Pro and Ultimate, and the Ultimate edition covering all disciplines is best quoted directly from Bricsys for volume pricing.

EU Compliance & Privacy

Bricsys NV is a Belgian company headquartered in Ghent, fully subject to EU law and GDPR. Software development takes place in Belgium. Licensing and cloud services — such as BricsCAD Cloud for file storage and collaboration — are hosted in European infrastructure.

The parent company, Hexagon AB, is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and is a Swedish company, which introduces a layer of corporate oversight outside Belgium. However, Bricsys operates as an independent subsidiary, and the data handling relevant to BricsCAD users (licence validation, cloud storage) is EU-based. For on-premise deployments, BricsCAD is fully functional offline once licences are validated.

EU firms required to document their software supply chain for GDPR purposes will find Bricsys's Belgian registration straightforward to document. The company provides a data processing agreement on request for cloud-using customers.

Who It's Best For

AutoCAD users facing forced subscription renewals who have not found a compelling reason to stay. If your workflows are primarily 2D drafting or standard 3D solid modeling, BricsCAD Pro covers the vast majority of AutoCAD functionality at a fraction of the annual cost.

Architecture firms evaluating Revit alternatives should look closely at BricsCAD BIM. The learning curve differs from Revit, but the IFC support and automated documentation tools are capable enough for many project types.

Mechanical engineering teams working on part design and assembly documentation. BricsCAD Mechanical and Ultimate handle the sheet metal, BOM, and tolerance annotation workflows that characterise manufacturing documentation.

Firms with existing LISP scripts and automation. BricsCAD's LISP compatibility means many existing routines run without modification, reducing migration friction considerably compared to switching to a different CAD paradigm.

The Verdict

BricsCAD is the most complete AutoCAD-compatible alternative on the market, and the pricing gap versus Autodesk has never been wider. Perpetual licensing, native DWG fidelity, and cross-platform support cover the practical objections most firms raise when evaluating a CAD switch. The Hexagon AB ownership structure and a smaller plugin ecosystem than AutoCAD are genuine trade-offs to weigh. For the majority of 2D and 3D drafting workflows, BricsCAD Pro or BIM delivers the substance without the subscription lock-in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BricsCAD truly compatible with AutoCAD DWG files?

Yes. BricsCAD reads and writes DWG at the same format version as AutoCAD, including all common entities, dimension styles, layer properties, xrefs, and block attributes. Complex files with extensive external references or custom ARX application data may have edge cases, but for standard architectural and engineering drawings, compatibility is excellent.

Does BricsCAD still offer perpetual licensing in 2026?

Yes. BricsCAD remains one of the few professional CAD platforms still offering perpetual (buy-once) licences alongside subscription options. Perpetual licences include one year of maintenance; renewal from year two is optional. The software continues to function without maintenance renewal.

Is BricsCAD GDPR compliant?

Yes. Bricsys NV is a Belgian company operating under EU jurisdiction. Licensing and cloud data is hosted in European infrastructure. For fully offline workflows, BricsCAD requires no external connectivity after initial licence activation.

Can AutoCAD LISP scripts run in BricsCAD?

Most standard LISP routines run in BricsCAD without modification. BricsCAD implements the same core LISP environment as AutoCAD. Complex routines relying on undocumented AutoCAD internals or ARX-specific extensions may require adaptation.

What is the difference between BricsCAD Pro and BricsCAD Ultimate?

BricsCAD Pro covers 2D drafting, 3D solid modeling, point clouds, and API access. BricsCAD Ultimate bundles the Pro, BIM, and Mechanical editions into a single installer, making it the most cost-effective option for multi-discipline firms or individuals who work across architecture and mechanical design.