ConvertCAD
Free · Windows & Linux · 100 % offline

PDF drawings back into real CAD.

ConvertCAD rebuilds the lines, dimensions, hatches, blocks, layers and text of a 2D PDF plan as editable DXF and DWG, on your own computer.

Start converting

Free and open source · Windows 10/11 and Linux

Source PDF: formwork plan with grid lines, dimensions and a title block The same plan converted to DXF, shown on a CAD model space background PDF DXF
Features

The intent of the drawing, not just its strokes.

CAD entities

Real CAD, not exploded lines

True dimensions, blocks for repeated symbols, hatches, dashed linetypes and editable text, sorted into layers created from the colours and line weights of the PDF.

Converted plan with dimensions and grid bubbles, next to its list of layers
Scanned drawings

Scans become drawings

Lines, circles and arcs of a scan are traced into vectors. Its text is read by the built-in PaddleOCR model, about 50 languages (English, French and other Latin-script languages, Chinese, Japanese). More OCR models, such as Arabic, Cyrillic or Greek, can be downloaded from the app when needed.

A scanned plan on the left, and on the right the same part traced into CAD lines with its text read by OCR
Scale and review

Measure before you trust

The scale is read from the title block or set on two points. Measure distances with object snaps, lay the PDF over the resulting DXF to compare them, and read the conversion report for more details.

A 12 m distance measured on the PDF, with an intersection snap marker
Output

DXF or DWG, your way

Convert the whole PDF, one sheet of it or only the area you select. Save as DXF or DWG, in one file for all sheets or one per sheet.

Output settings: file format, DXF version and multi-page output
Interface

Your language, your theme

English, French, Spanish, German or Arabic, in a dark or a light theme. Switch from the toolbar.

ConvertCAD in French with the light theme
Automation

A whole folder at once

Convert every PDF of a folder from the window, or script it from the command line: ConvertCAD-cli plan.pdf -o plan.dwg

The Convert a folder window listing the PDF files to convert

Your drawings stay on your computer

Every conversion runs locally: no account, no upload, no tracking. Client and NDA drawings never leave your machine. You remain responsible for converting only documents their owner allows.

Open source, nothing hidden

The full code is public under the GNU AGPL. The portable version runs without installation or administrator rights.

Download

Everything included. Nothing else to install.

The DWG converter and the text recognition come with the program.

Windows

Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit
  • PortableA zip to unpack anywhere. Just unzip and run the app.
    Download
  • InstallerAn .exe that installs ConvertCAD in your programs.
    Download

If Windows shows "Windows protected your PC", click More info, then Run anyway. Code signing is in progress and will remove this warning.

Linux

64-bit, Ubuntu 22.04 or newer
  • AppImageOne file that runs on most distributions.
    Download
  • Debian and Ubuntu packageInstalls with your package manager.
    Download
  • Portable archiveA tar.gz to unpack anywhere.
    Download

Make the AppImage executable first: chmod +x ConvertCAD-*.AppImage