Concept Drafts › Compare › Concept Drafts vs big CAD software
Concept Drafts vs big CAD software
Big design software is built for engineers who already know what they're drawing. A concept draft is for the step before.
What each one is
Concept Drafts
An AI planner that turns one sentence into a printable concept draft: specs, drawings, parts with prices, build phases, rules and who to involve, kept as versions in your account.
Big CAD software
Big design software is built for engineers who already know what they're drawing.
Side by side
| Feature | Concept Drafts | Big CAD software |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Anyone with an idea | Trained designers and engineers |
| Time to a first plan | About a minute from one sentence | Days to weeks, after learning the software |
| Price | From $9.92 a month, first month $1 | Often hundreds to thousands a year per seat |
| Specs, parts and budget | Included in every draft | Usually separate tools or spreadsheets |
| Rules and professionals | Listed in every draft | Not included |
| Precise build drawings | No: planning only | Yes, that's what it's for |
The short answer
Use a concept draft to decide what to make and what it will cost. Use CAD software (or a professional who does) for the precise drawings you build from.
See a real draft
24-foot off-grid tiny house
A home for two on a trailer, with solar power and water storage.
24 ft · 2 people · Off-grid
16-foot taco trailer
A full kitchen for taco service: prep, cooking, washing and the window.
16 ft · Full kitchen · Health code
2-car solar carport
10 kW of panels over two cars plus an EV charger, about $32,000.
10 kW · 2 cars · EV chargerOther comparisons
Start with an idea. Finish with a plan.
Describe it in one sentence. Specs, drawings, parts with prices and the rules to check, in about a minute.
For planning only: have a qualified professional check any design before you build or use it.