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New progeCAD 2027 is here — Industry-standard DWG support & improved BIM tools See what's new
Perpetual CAD license · No annual fees · Native DWG

Own your CAD software.
Pay once.

AutoCAD costs $2,095 every year, forever. progeCAD is $540 one-time — full AutoCAD compatibility, no subscription, no internet required to run.

Start free 30-day trial
Buy now — $540 one-time
No credit card for trial
No internet required to run
License never expires
Windows · Mac: iCADMac $925
Hands using a calculator next to an architectural blueprint on a desk

The subscription trap

How much are you really paying for AutoCAD?

Autodesk eliminated perpetual AutoCAD licenses in 2021. Every year you use AutoCAD, the bill arrives again — and it goes up. Here is what that compounds to:

Year 1
$2,095
AutoCAD subscription cost
$540
progeCAD one-time · own it forever
Save $1,875 in year 1
5 Years
$12,075
AutoCAD cumulative cost
$540
progeCAD — same purchase, still running
Save $11,535 over 5 years
10 Years
$20,950
AutoCAD cumulative cost
$540
progeCAD — paid once, owns nothing to renew
Save $23,610 over 10 years

AutoCAD pricing based on $2,095/year (current 2027 rate). progeCAD one-time purchase — no ongoing cost required.
AutoCAD prices typically increase ~10% annually; the figures above use current pricing.

The solution

progeCAD — $540. Yours forever.

Full AutoCAD-compatible CAD software with a perpetual license. One payment. No annual renewal, no license server that expires, no cloud dependency. The version you buy runs on your machine as long as you need it.

No internet required
After a one-time online activation, progeCAD runs entirely offline. Work on secure networks, remote job sites, or anywhere without a connection.
No license expiry
Your license does not expire on a schedule. There is no annual renewal date, no "stop paying and lose access" risk. You own the version you buy, indefinitely.
No annual renewal
Pay once at checkout. No invoice arrives next year. No automatic charge. No account to monitor. Your software is simply there when you need it.
No price increases
The price you pay at checkout is the only price you ever pay for that version. Autodesk raises AutoCAD rates roughly 10% per year. progeCAD cannot do that to you.
10-year cost comparison
$23,610
saved over 10 years vs AutoCAD
progeCAD $540 once vs AutoCAD ~$20,950 cumulative
$540
progeCAD · total cost
vs
$20,950
AutoCAD · 10 years
Try free 30 days
Buy now $540

Side-by-side comparison

progeCAD vs AutoCAD vs BricsCAD

All three tools can open and save DWG files. Only one lets you buy it once and own it outright — with no internet dependency.

Feature progeCAD Professional AutoCAD 2027 BricsCAD Pro
Price model Perpetual one-time Subscription only Subscription or perpetual
Year 1 cost (Windows) $540 $2,095 ~$775/yr sub
or ~$1,790 perpetual
Year 5 cumulative cost $540 — no additional cost ~$12,075 ~$3,875 (sub) or $1,790 (perp)
Year 10 cumulative cost $540 — no additional cost ~$20,950 ~$7,750 (sub) or $1,790 (perp)
Perpetual license available Yes — standard option No — discontinued 2021 Yes, but costs more than subscription
Runs offline Fully offline after activation Mostly — some features cloud-tied Yes
License expires if you stop paying No — yours permanently Yes — access lost immediately Subscription only: yes
Perpetual: no
DWG file compatibility DWG 2.5 through the latest version Native DWG format Full DWG
US-based sales & support Yes — Clackamas, OR US HQ (San Francisco) Belgium-based, limited US presence
Mac version available iCADMac $925 one-time Yes (subscription) Yes (subscription)

Pricing based on publicly available rates as of 2027. AutoCAD: $2,095/year. BricsCAD Pro: ~$775/year subscription or ~$1,790 perpetual. Prices subject to change.

Looking for a broader market comparison? See affordable CAD software — how progeCAD stacks up across all major products.

Why it matters

Perpetual doesn't just save money.
It gives you control.

Upgrade on your schedule

Stay on the version that works for your workflow. When a new version offers features you actually need, upgrade at a discounted price. No forced annual update cycles.

Budget certainty

Know exactly what your CAD software costs. No surprise renewal emails, no annual invoice, no vendor-side price hike that you find out about after you've already budgeted.

Work anywhere — including offline

Job sites without reliable internet. Secure government or defense networks. Air-gapped environments. progeCAD runs fully offline — no license check-in, no cloud dependency.

Move or reinstall freely

Got a new computer? Rebuilt your machine? No problem. Reinstall progeCAD and register again using your serial number. No transfer fees, no subscription status to maintain.

Common questions

Everything you need to know about perpetual CAD licensing

You receive a perpetual license — you own the version you purchased outright. After a one-time online activation, it runs on your computer with no internet connection required. There is no expiration date and no annual renewal. Your purchased version works as long as you need it. If you want access to future major releases, the optional iCARE maintenance plan is available, but it is never required to keep using what you bought.
No — perpetual means you own the version you buy, forever. It does not expire. When a major new version is released, you can upgrade at a discounted price whenever you choose to. If you want automatic access to each new version as it ships, the optional iCARE maintenance plan covers that. But it is entirely optional — your existing version never stops working.
All customers have access to the progeCAD USA support team. The iCARE plan (an optional annual add-on) upgrades you to priority support with ticket, email, and remote session options — including access to the progeSOFT developer support portal. Standard support is still available without iCARE; iCARE holders receive faster response times and direct developer access.
Yes. When a new major version releases, existing customers can upgrade at a discounted price — you are never required to repurchase at full price. Upgrades are optional and entirely on your schedule. There is no forced migration, no version you are automatically upgraded to without choosing.
Correct. After a one-time online activation at setup, progeCAD runs completely offline. It does not check in with a license server, does not require a cloud connection, and does not limit features based on connectivity. This makes it suitable for secure networks, air-gapped environments, remote sites, and any situation where internet access is limited or prohibited.
Autodesk discontinued the AutoCAD perpetual license in 2021. Since then, the only way to use AutoCAD is through an annual or monthly subscription starting at $2,095/year. There is no option to purchase AutoCAD outright. progeCAD offers full AutoCAD DWG compatibility with the same command structure at a one-time price — and you actually own it.
Yes. To move the license, uninstall progeCAD on the old machine (this generates an uninstall code), then install and register on the new machine using your serial number. If the old machine is no longer available, contact our support team and we will assist with the transfer. There are no transfer fees and no limit on how many times you can move the license.
Yes — progeCAD opens, edits, and saves native DWG files from every AutoCAD version (2.5 through the latest version) without conversion. It uses the same command names and aliases as AutoCAD, supports dynamic blocks, XREFs, sheet sets, AutoLISP, VBA, and the other AutoCAD APIs. If you know AutoCAD, you will be productive in progeCAD on day one.

Stop renting.
Start owning.

One payment. Native DWG compatibility. No annual fees, no license server expiry, no internet required. Join 350,000+ engineers who own their CAD software.

Full AutoCAD DWG compatibility
Runs offline — no cloud dependency
License never expires
Mac? See iCADMac $925
Start free trial
Buy now — $540

Instant download · Windows · Perpetual license — own the version you buy · No annual fees

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