When choosing CAD software, selecting the right edition is just as important as choosing the right tool. ZWCAD offers three main editions—Standard, Professional, and MFG—each designed to meet the needs of different users and industries.
ZWCAD perpetual licenses are not available in the USA and Canada. Please check ZWCAD Flex subscription plans.
However, the differences between these editions are not always immediately clear, especially for new users or teams planning a purchase. Understanding what each version includes, who it is best suited for, and how their features differ can help you make a more informed and cost-effective decision.
This article provides a clear comparison of ZWCAD Standard, Professional, and MFG to help you choose the edition that best fits your workflow and business requirements.
Target Users:
Built for stable daily drafting and smooth upgrade, suitable for architecture, civil and general design.
Key Capabilities:
Target Users:
Engineers and advanced designers who need more tools for complex projects and customization
Additional Capabilities Compared to Standard:
Target Users:
Specifically designed for mechanical and manufacturing industries and production workflows.
Special Capabilities:
| Features | Standard | Professional | MFG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | |||
| DWG, DWF, DWFx, DWT, DWS, DXF Import and Export | √ | √ | √ |
| PDF, DGN Import and Export | √ | √ | √ |
| IFC Import, Edit & Export | χ | √ | √ |
| STEP Import | χ | √ | √ |
| AutoCAD® Mechanical Compatibility | χ | χ | √ |
| Interface and Interaction | |||
| Classic and Ribbon Interfaces | √ | √ | √ |
| Customize User Interface (CUI) | √ | √ | √ |
| Floating Document Tab | √ | √ | √ |
| Tool Palettes, Properties Palette, Design Center | √ | √ | √ |
| Drafting | |||
| 2D Drawing Tools (Line, Circle, Rectangle, etc.) | √ | √ | √ |
| 2D Editing Tools (Move, Copy, Trim, etc.) | √ | √ | √ |
| 2D Annotation Tools (Dimension, Text, Leader, Table, etc.) | √ | √ | √ |
| Reference Tools (Block, Underlay, Image Attach, etc.) | √ | √ | √ |
| Printing and Plotting (Plot, Publish, Export, eTransmit, etc.) | √ | √ | √ |
| Advanced Features | |||
| Parametric Design * | √ | √ | √ |
| Smart Match/Similar Search | χ | √ | √ |
| Smart Mouse/Voice/Select/Plot | √ | √ | √ |
| ZWCAD Toolbox | √ | √ | √ |
| Flexiblock | √ | √ | √ |
| Drawing View | χ | √ | √ |
| Raster to Vector Conversion | χ | √ | √ |
| Point Cloud | χ | √ | √ |
| GIS | χ | √ | √ |
| Area Table | √ | √ | √ |
| File Compare | √ | √ | √ |
| Sheet Set Manager | √ | √ | √ |
| 3D Modeling | |||
| Solid, Mesh and Surface Modeling | χ | √ | √ |
| Photorealistic Rendering | χ | √ | √ |
| 3D Gizmo | χ | √ | √ |
| Visual Style | √ | √ | √ |
| ViewCube | χ | √ | √ |
| 3D Orbit | √ | √ | √ |
| Programming | |||
| LISP Routines | √ | √ | √ |
| Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) | χ | √ | √ |
| Runtime Extension (ZRX/ARX) | χ | √ | √ |
| .NET | χ | √ | √ |
| Mechanical Features | |||
| Standard Frame | χ | χ | √ |
| Automatic BOM Generation | χ | χ | √ |
| Associative Balloon and BOM | χ | χ | √ |
| Mechanical Drawing Tools | χ | χ | √ |
| Construction Tools | χ | χ | √ |
| Power Dimension | χ | χ | √ |
| Symbol Dimension | χ | χ | √ |
| Technical Requirement Library | χ | χ | √ |
| 2D View Creation | χ | χ | √ |
| 2D Hide | χ | χ | √ |
| Shaft and Gear Generator | χ | χ | √ |
| Pulley and Sprocket Generator | χ | χ | √ |
| Moment of Inertia Calculation | χ | χ | √ |
| Deflection Calculation | χ | χ | √ |
| Part Library | χ | χ | √ |
| Product Inplace Manager | χ | χ | √ |
| AutoCAD® Mechanical Compatibility | χ | χ | √ |
For more detailed feature information or trial versions, visit the ZWSOFT official website.