2026-08-08T00:00:00.000Z

DWG is the default file format for AutoCAD drawings, and if someone sends you a .dwg file, the “official” way to open it is to pay for AutoCAD — which starts at over $1,800 a year. There are free viewers, but most are limited, require an account, or upload your file to a third-party server.

Here’s the good news: you can open, view, and edit DWG files entirely in your browser, for free, with nothing to install and no account required.

What is a DWG file?

DWG (“drawing”) is a proprietary binary format developed by Autodesk in 1982. It stores 2D and 3D design data: geometry, layers, text, dimensions, blocks, and metadata. Despite being proprietary, it’s become the de-facto standard in architecture, engineering, and manufacturing — which is why you keep getting sent .dwg files.

Why most “free DWG viewers” are a pain

They’re view-only. You can look at the drawing but not change it.
They require an account. Sign up, verify email, agree to terms — just to look at a file.
They upload your file to a server. For sensitive engineering drawings, that’s a real privacy problem.
They cap file sizes unless you pay.

The no-friction alternative: browser CAD with WebAssembly

Cadelo runs a full CAD engine — the same Rust engine used in desktop OpenCADStudio — compiled to WebAssembly. It runs on your device, which means:

Your DWG file never leaves your computer
No account, no email, no signup
Full editing: move, delete, add geometry, change layers, add dimensions
Works on anything: Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebooks, tablets

How to open a DWG file online for free

Go to Cadelo
Wait a moment while the app loads (it’s a full CAD engine — the first load is the slowest)
Click File → Open and pick your .dwg file (or drag and drop it onto the window)
Start editing. Pan with the mouse wheel, zoom, select entities, change layers

DWG versions supported

Cadelo reads and writes DWG files from R13 (1994) through R2018 — that covers virtually every DWG file you’ll encounter in the wild. If you receive a newer file, ask the sender to “Save As” an older DWG or DXF version, or convert it online.

DXF: the open alternative

If you’re the one sending files, consider exporting to DXF — the open, documented ASCII/binary sibling of DWG. Every CAD program reads DXF, and it’s the format most makers, CNC shops, and laser-cutters expect. Cadelo writes both.

Privacy matters

Because everything runs in your browser, a floor plan or machine part you’re working on stays private. There’s no “your file is being processed on our servers” — because there are no servers processing your file.

Ready to try it? Open the app — it’s free, and your files stay yours.