CAD Pockets

CAD Pockets is a mobile CAD app for people who need to inspect drawings and make basic changes away from a desktop. It is most compelling for phone- and tablet-based review, with team collaboration as an option for groups that need shared drawing discussions and task assignment.

Overview

Support for DWG, DWF, DXF and PDF, plus 2D and 3D viewing modes, makes CAD Pockets useful for opening a range of drawing files on a smart device. Its app combines viewing with drawing, editing and markup tools, so it can serve more than a read-only role. The important trade-off is that creating and editing DWG files are app-only; the web version supports collaboration, including annotations and communication, rather than DWG editing.

Connections to 12 popular online cloud storage services can help users work with files they already keep elsewhere. The free plan also includes 100MB of cloud space, a useful starting allowance but a constraint for anyone expecting to store a sizeable drawing library there.

Key features

Viewing and editing on a smart device

Users can inspect drawings in 2D or 3D wireframe views and in 3D solid mode. Drawing tools include lines, polylines, circles, rectangles, arcs, text and blocks; copy, move, rotate and mirror tools support changes to drawings. That is a substantive toolkit for mobile work, but the app-only editing boundary rules it out for users who need to create or modify DWG files in a browser.

Markup and review

Dimensions, measurements, revision clouds, free sketching and text annotations give reviewers ways to communicate proposed changes and clarify drawing details. These tools make the app more useful for review than a viewer that only displays files. For teams, the Collaboration edition adds drawing discussions, task assignment, grouped member management and drawing history, which provide a more structured way to coordinate review work.

Cloud, security and customization

Third-party cloud storage is included in the Free and Premium plans, while the home page describes connections to 12 popular services. The site says CAD Pockets uses HTTPS encryption and complies with GDPR. Corporate customers can add or remove functions, integrate the product with their own company system, or have it built on a private cloud. Those options may suit organizations with specific deployment or workflow needs; they are not necessary reasons for an individual user to choose the app.

Pricing

CAD Pockets uses a freemium model. The Free plan costs nothing and includes fundamental CAD features, third-party cloud storage, 100MB of cloud space and QQ Group support. It is a sensible way to get started with mobile drawing work, but the small cloud allowance is the clearest reason to consider a paid edition.

Premium has custom pricing and includes fundamental and advanced CAD features, third-party cloud storage, 2GB of cloud space and QQ Group support. It is the more relevant upgrade for an individual who wants advanced CAD features and more storage without the team-management tools of Collaboration. The 2GB allowance is an improvement over Free, though still finite.

Collaboration also has custom pricing. It supports 5, 10, 15 or more members and includes 1T of scalable cloud space, discussions, task assignment, grouped member management, drawing history, customized service, 5*8h online service and a VIP service channel. This is the plan for teams that need shared review workflows and dedicated service; it is more than an individual viewer needs.

A free trial is offered: each eligible team may apply for a three-month trial, and a trial team defaults to 99 members. The stated trial terms are team-based, so they are less directly useful to someone evaluating the product alone.

Platforms

CAD Pockets is available on Android, iOS and the web. The distinction matters: DWG creation and editing belong to the apps, while the web version supports collaboration features such as annotations and communication. Anyone choosing it for browser-based editing should look elsewhere.

The download page lists version 4.6.0, updated on Oct 21, 2021. Readers who depend on a particular release date should check whether that version meets their needs.

Who it's for

CAD Pockets is best suited to mobile users who need to open common CAD and document formats, inspect 2D or 3D drawings, mark them up and make app-based edits. Its Collaboration edition also suits teams that want discussions, task assignment and drawing history alongside shared cloud space. It is a weaker fit for users who require DWG editing in a browser or individuals who need more than the Free plan's 100MB without paying custom pricing.

Pros and cons

• Pro: It combines DWG, DWF, DXF and PDF viewing with 2D and 3D modes, giving mobile users broad drawing access.
• Pro: Drawing, editing and markup tools support more than passive viewing, including measurements and revision clouds for review.
• Pro: Collaboration adds discussions, task assignment, member management and drawing history for team-based review.
• Con: DWG creation and editing are app-only, so the web version cannot replace a browser-based CAD editor.
• Con: Free includes just 100MB of cloud space; Premium's 2GB is still limited for larger drawing collections.
• Con: Premium and Collaboration have custom pricing, making the cost of upgrading harder to compare upfront.

Alternatives

CAD Viewer Software is a useful starting point for comparing options across the category.

• CAD Reader is worth considering if you need Android, iOS, macOS and Windows coverage; it also has a free plan and free trial.
• Autodesk Viewer is the alternative to consider for a free web viewer. It requires an Autodesk Account, uploaded designs expire after 30 days by default, and anyone with a shared link can access the design.
• eDrawings Viewer suits readers looking for a free viewer across Android, iOS, macOS and Windows. Advanced collaboration requires eDrawings Professional, and mobile app pricing varies by region.
• DWG FastView may suit someone who wants a stated monthly Premium price and 5G cloud storage: its Premium plan is $3.99 a month, billed Save 45%, and includes premium annotations, dimensions and measurements and removal of mobile ads.
• 3D-Tool is a Windows-only alternative.
• DWGSee is another alternative to compare.
• Glovius is another alternative to compare.
• Autodesk DWG TrueView is a free Windows desktop option for viewing 2D and 3D DWG files and converting them for compatibility with earlier AutoCAD versions.

Verdict

Choose CAD Pockets if mobile drawing access, app-based edits and practical markup matter more than browser-based DWG editing. The Collaboration edition gives teams a clear set of review and coordination tools, while the Free plan provides a no-cost way to start with a modest cloud allowance. Look elsewhere if you need to create or edit DWG files on the web, or need clearer upgrade pricing before committing.