Can I Learn AutoCAD For Free?

Yes, it is possible to learn the fundamentals of 2D drawing with AutoCAD for free. Many people start by using free online resources to learn basic drawing commands and gain familiarity with AutoCAD’s complicated software interface. Because learners can struggle to become proficient in AutoCAD on their own using only free resources, taking a class is a great option to learn both basic and advanced AutoCAD skills. Read on to learn more about some of the useful free resources for learning AutoCAD and what you should consider as you decide which mode of AutoCAD instruction will work best for your needs. 

What Free Resources Are Available for Learning AutoCAD?

When first starting with AutoCAD, some people suggest downloading the software and learning how to use it through trial and error. Most of the basic drawing and modification commands should be easy to learn this way, though it is best for someone who has a background in drafting or even using other CAD software. Depending on how and why you need to use AutoCAD, you might be able to play around with and figure out the interface yourself but many users will need more guidance and most suggest that AutoCAD can be frustrating, complex, and counterintuitive, at times. To cut through some of the struggles of learning AutoCAD on one’s own, there are many websites, blogs, tutorials, courses, eBooks, and other free resources that are available online. 

Those looking for more guidance with learning AutoCAD on their own can find free resources through different websites and services. A good place to start is to check out Autodesk’s offerings. Autodesk is the creator of AutoCAD and they offer free courses, tutorials, and guides for both beginning and more advanced AutoCAD skills. Additionally, there are websites like myCADsite or CADtutor that offer free tutorials, guides, and even forums to help beginners learn AutoCAD. Local libraries also frequently offer free access to AutoCAD courses through LinkedIn Learning (or Lynda.com) with the use of one’s library card number. It is worth checking with your local library to see whether you can access this service, which is also available for a subscription fee, with your free library card. 

Many people learning AutoCAD for the first time also find valuable video tutorials on YouTube. This is a free and accessible way to learn some of the basics of AutoCAD, gain familiarity with the interface, and start learning about industry-specific or more advanced features of AutoCAD. Video tutorials offer the benefit of watching someone perform a command and then being able to follow along on one’s own software. YouTube can also be a useful way to search for more industry-specific resources as one can find tutorials geared towards those using AutoCAD for interior design, for instance, versus those who need to learn AutoCAD for their mechanical engineering job. 

How to Make Use of Free AutoCAD Resources

While some free resources claim to provide comprehensive knowledge of AutoCAD, most should be treated as learning aids with particular purposes. For AutoCAD beginners, it is great to start with free tutorials on YouTube, Autodesk’s website, or other courses that will provide an overview of the interface and some initial ways to practice using the software. Many find the AutoCAD interface itself to be a challenge to master due to the amount of tools and features it offers. Having some sort of initial guide or video tutorial that explains the interface will be particularly useful for beginners. Most comprehensive free resources should be able to provide learners with this initial, generalized familiarity with AutoCAD’s functions and get learners started using commands to draw and edit. 

Another use of free resources is to help AutoCAD beginners learn toolsets specific to their own industries. AutoCAD includes industry-specific toolsets for architecture and mechanical, electrical, and MEP engineering and is used by these industries and others for specific purposes. Even early into one’s AutoCAD training, it will be useful to determine exactly how your industry uses AutoCAD. While AutoCAD learners will all want to learn the basics of 2D drawing (and 3D modeling, if that is something needed), learners should also make sure they know the functions and tools specific to the industry for which they will use the software. This is something that free resources can help with and they will also provide learners with industry-specific example projects to work on. 

Many people also use free resources for continued practice with AutoCAD. One of the keys to mastering AutoCAD is making sure to practice one’s newly acquired AutoCAD skills frequently. Beginners can get started practicing right after learning some of the AutoCAD basics by completing simple geometric shapes to start and then moving on to more complex projects for which one can find free tutorials online. This too can be geared toward one’s industry or intended industry, as some will want to practice drawing a floor plan and others can work on an electrical circuit diagram or a city park landscape design. Each of these projects will allow someone to gain further practice using AutoCAD and different types of projects will allow learners to practice different aspects of using AutoCAD like needing to use precise measurements or detail the dimensions of an object accurately.

Limitations of Free Resources

Free resources are a great place to start with learning AutoCAD, but they work best for self-motivated learners who pick skills up quickly. The main limitation of only using free resources is the lack of guidance that learners will receive. While some find it easy to start learning AutoCAD on their own, AutoCAD is seen as having a steep learning curve. Many people who first encounter AutoCAD find the interface complex and the command structure to be hard to grasp. Additionally, most will need some sort of guidance to learn advanced features of layering, blocking, and styling in AutoCAD as well as how to use 3D modeling features (if needed). 

When learning with only free or low-cost resources, learners can become overwhelmed by the amount of resources and what skills they need to learn next. There are so many free and low-cost resources available that it can be hard to figure out which ones to choose and which resources will offer the best and most up-to-date information about using AutoCAD. Additionally, AutoCAD learners moving from tutorial to tutorial might end up missing some important information or not learning the correct tools to use within their industry. Without structure, learners are left to figure out AutoCAD themselves which will work for some learners but leave others feeling frustrated. There are options if someone finds themselves in this position, including reaching out to other AutoCAD users through online forums, looking up troubleshooting information, or enrolling in a class to learn AutoCAD from an instructor. 

What to Do After Utilizing Free AutoCAD Resources

Free resources can offer a solid foundation in AutoCAD basics, while advanced skills are best learned through further training. Live, instructor-led training is the best way for learners to receive guided instruction and hands-on training in using AutoCAD. With a live instructor, students have the opportunity to ask questions, get further examples when learning specific skills, and receive individualized feedback on their drawings. This is especially useful with AutoCAD because learners will need help mastering the intricacies of technical drawing to meet their industry’s standards. 

There are paid instructor-led classes for beginning, intermediate, and advanced AutoCAD skills as well as for those who want to learn AutoCAD comprehensively or who are learning AutoCAD to become an Autodesk Certified Professional. With training, students can learn advanced skills such as creating dynamic blocks, using parametric constraints, employing collaborating features, or customizing AutoCAD’s interface. While live training is great for those needing to learn advanced AutoCAD, instructor-led classes can also be a useful way to learn basic AutoCAD skills and many paid classes for beginners will walk students through the process of getting started with AutoCAD and learning the different toolsets and features offered in this software. 

An AutoCAD bootcamp is a great option for those looking to receive comprehensive, career-oriented training quickly. Bootcamps are accelerated classes geared towards teaching one skill or one topic in a short amount of time. As long as one has a few days to devote to learning AutoCAD, a bootcamp is a great way for a beginner to learn the basics of 2D drawing with AutoCAD and get started learning some of the advanced features of AutoCAD. Bootcamps should set learners up to continue practicing on their own outside of the course so that they can further develop their skills.

For those looking for live instruction, Noble Desktop offers a variety of AutoCAD classes, including a five-day intensive AutoCAD Bootcamp with in-person, live online, and part-time options and an AutoCAD Certification Class that includes private tutoring designed specifically for those studying to become an AutoCAD Certified Professional. Noble also offers a beginner class, AutoCAD Level I, an intermediate class, AutoCAD Level II, and an advanced class, AutoCAD Level III, and one can take all three classes in their AutoCAD Masterclass. For more options, use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool to find in-person and live online AutoCAD classes in your local area.

Self-guided AutoCAD programs

Students who are looking to make a career out of using AutoCAD might also be interested in their options for career focused, self guided classes. These courses allow students to learn at their own pace (with guidance and assistance from a professional mentor) and they provide students with career-focused training and job placement support. While many students find it desirable to learn from a live instructor, these self-paced classes are the perfect fit for self-motivated students looking to make a career out of their AutoCAD training.

AutoCAD Certificate Program

The Visual Design and Construction Institute (VDCI) offers an immersive AutoCAD certificate program that aims to help students become career ready within only a few weeks of training. This program provides students with hands-on, job-focused training in the use of AutoCAD and the course is designed with new students in mind, meaning that you’ll move from your first construction draft to a capstone project to add to your professional portfolio over the course of the certificate program. This program also offers students the opportunity to take up to 80 hours of electives to help them specialize in subjects including Revit, Sketchup and Civil 3D Pro. With this option for specialization and the focus on career development training, this certificate program is an ideal entry point for aspiring designers, architects and engineers looking to learn how to use AutoCAD in a professional capacity.

AutoCAD Fundamentals

Students looking for an accelerated introduction to AutoCAD and computer-aided design generally may be interested in taking this introductory course offered by VDCI. Students will learn the basics of using AutoCAD and practical skills that they can bring back to their current jobs or use as the baseline for future CAD training (including some of the other advanced classes offered through VDCI). In this class, students will get live, hands-on instruction in the use of AutoCAD, including exercises in which they create drafting symbols, kitchens and bath fixtures, a floor plan, and deliverable file sheets. While you’ll need more training if you want to make a career out of your AutoCAD skills, this course is an excellent introduction to the kinds of projects that AutoCAD professionals will need to utilize.

AutoCAD Professional

If you have already taken the AutoCAD fundamentals program or you have experience with AutoCAD from another source, you may be interested in moving towards professional level training in this advanced AutoCAD program. In this program, students will learn how to create 2D designs for construction documents that meet all of the necessary and legal standards that they are expected to follow. This course offers practical skills training and is designed to ensure that experienced AutoCAD users are able to get the accelerated training that they need in order to start using the application in more complex professional capacities. This course is built to help students learn at their own pace and class scheduling is incredibly flexible for professionals looking to develop new skills while still working.