Comparison

Draftly CAD vs LineForge

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Draftly CAD

Features
Read full description

2D drafting with a real command line. Type L, TR, O, MI or F, enter exact distances, and snap to endpoints, centers, tangents and intersections. Layers that lock and freeze, aligned dimensions, and PDF plotted to scale with a title block. DXF import and export with Pro. Free to draw with no account. The same drawings open in the web app at draftlycad.com. Draftly is 2D CAD for iPad and iPhone, built by Tyler Thompson, a drafter. It isn't a sketching app with a ruler bolted on: nine running object snaps, polar tracking, dynamic input and real architectural units, then export to PDF or SVG, or DXF for whatever CAD tool the rest of the job uses. FEATURES • Line, rectangle, circle, polygon, arc, bezier, dimension, and text tools • Nine running object snap families: endpoint, midpoint, center, intersection, perpendicular, nearest, quadrant, tangent, node • Polar tracking with configurable angle increments (5°, 10°, 15°, 18°, 22.5°, 30°, 45°, 90°) • Dynamic input HUD that floats with the cursor at every zoom level • Architectural unit input — type 8'-3 1/2" or 2500mm directly • Status-bar units chip — switch format / scale / precision in one tap • Command line with typed command aliases and suggestions • Relative polar coordinate input — type @ with a distance and angle • Transparent zoom and pan that preserve mid-tool draft state • Ortho lock (horizontal/vertical constraint) • Configurable grid with real-world scale (imperial and metric) • Layers with visibility, lock and freeze controls • PDF plots at 1:1, 1:50 or 1:100 with border, title block and scale note • Full undo/redo (up to 100 steps) • Copy, paste, cut, and delete elements • Export to PDF and SVG; DXF import and export with Pro (DWG via the free ODA File Converter) • Save and load .drft project files (readable JSON) • Dark mode support • Customizable crosshair cursor (7 styles, 4 sizes, opacity control) WHAT IT DOESN'T DO No native DWG, no 3D, no BIM, and no blocks or hatch yet. It's a 2D drafting tool and it does that one job properly. PRO • Unlimited layers (free tier: 5 layers) • Watermark-free PDF and SVG export • DXF interop — export and import Questions or a drawing that won't import: hello@draftlycad.com Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://draftlycad.com/privacy/

About

LineForge

Features
Read full description

LineForge is a local-first vector drawing app for creators who need a clean way to sketch scalable artwork and export usable files without a cloud workspace or design-suite subscription. Use it for lightweight vector work: - Create and edit a local drawing from the gallery - Draw rectangles, ellipses, triangles, lines, and pen paths - Select, move, scale, rotate, duplicate, and delete objects - Edit basic path points and handles - Adjust fill, stroke, opacity, and arrangement - Combine closed shapes with boolean operations after unlocking - Export PNG previews, or unlock SVG, PDF, and high-resolution PNG LineForge is not a template marketplace, AI image converter, team collaboration tool, or full desktop design suite. It does not import SVG/PDF files, run cloud sync, offer stock assets, or require an account. The goal is a smaller, focused drawing workflow with reliable local documents and clean export. Your projects are stored locally on your device and exported through the iOS Share Sheet or Files workflow. The Lifetime Unlock adds multi-project saving, SVG export, PDF export, high-resolution PNG export, and complete boolean operations. No subscription, no ads.

Screenshots

Draftly CAD4 screens
LineForge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: Draftly CAD at 4 against LineForge's 1. Draftly CAD also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Draftly CAD sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.00 per month and LineForge sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Draftly CAD versus LineForge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDraftly CADLineForge
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTyler ThompsonZcode

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Draftly CAD

Subscriptions2
  • Draftly Pro (Monthly)$9.001 Month
  • Draftly Pro (Annual)$72.001 Year
One-time1
  • Draftly Pro (Lifetime)$179.00
1 purchases

LineForge

One-time1
  • Lifetime Unlock$9.99

Questions

Is Draftly CAD free?
Draftly CAD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LineForge free?
LineForge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Draftly CAD or LineForge have ads?
Neither Draftly CAD nor LineForge shows ads.

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