The best 8 free programs for architects: drawing, structural calculation and design

Here is a list of the best 8 free programs about architecture.

Dedicated to professionals with extensive experience in the sector, as well as students, this programs collection offers solutions to day-to-day work of CAD designers, responsible for structural design, 3D building animation and engineers responsible for the calculation of electrical, hydraulic and electronic installations.

If this compilation of free programs is of your interest, you may also want to take a look at the following ones:

• 4 free essential apps for architects and creatives
• Best 12 free programs for civil engineers

Banana Soft has all kinds of software organized by professional areas and professions, including architecture.

AutoCAD 360: AutoCAD documents viewer and editor

AutoCAD 360 is a Free app that lets you view, create, edit and share CAD drawings using a web browser or mobile device..

BRL-CAD: Consolidated CAD and modeling program

BRL-CAD is a powerful cross-platform open source solid modeling system that includes interactive geometry editing, high-performance ray-tracing for rendering and geometric analysis, image and signal-processing tools, a system performance analysis benchmark suite, libraries for robust geometric representation.

ProfiCAD: Design of electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic diagrams

ProfiCAD is designed to draw electrical and electronic diagrams, schemes, control circuit diagrams and can also be used for hydraulic and pneumatic diagrams, and other technical diagrams.

LibreCAD: 2D Computer aided design

LibreCAD is a fully comprehensive 2D CAD application that you can download and install for free. There is a large base of satisfied LibreCAD users worldwide, and it is available in more than 20 languages and for all major operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

GeoFryPlots: Fry point-to-point strain analysis plots

GeoFryPlots performs strain analyses using the Fry point-to-point method. Data can be either read in from an ascii file (as pairs of x,y coordinates) or can be digitised directly into a data window using the mouse. Bitmap images to be digitised can be loaded into the data window from file. Fry plots are displayed in a separate FryPlot window within which a best-fit strain ellipse to the plot can be constructed using the mouse.