PadCAD Lite Reviews

I think my 3 star rating is generous. I’ve been playing with the demo version for several days. So far, it’s okay. One of my concerns is the developer’s last update was 2 years ago. There should be more recent/frequent updates, if for nothing else, to add additional features. Is the developer still around, or has he taken the money and run?? Too bad. I like PadCADLite.
I plan and build-out interior retail and office space. I need a simple 2D CAD app to layout said spaces. My last program was a 2D Windows based that I picked up 20 years ago. I’ve since moved away from PC and into iPad. I’d like to know if PadCADLite supports the Apple pencil. Not sure, since the Apple pencil appeared after PadCADLite’s last update.

Don’t do it. It crashes every time I use it. Lost hours of work. It doesn’t matter if you save as you go. Poof! Gone. Tool bar disappears randomly. Freezes. You have to select tool every time you lift your finger/pencil off the pad. Saved work doesn’t alphabetize and it is near impossible to scroll through your files because when you lift your finger it brings you right back to the top. So good luck with that. Blue lines just randomly pop up across your work for some reason and you can’t erase it. You have to save, close PadCADLite , and reload just to make the lines go away. If I wanted to create an app to screw with people’s heads I couldn’t have done a better job. I put up with this nonsense because I didn’t have time to learn a new app while working. Enough.

PadCADLite is a decent cad for simple projects, but has many issues that tend to make it frustrating.

1. If you want to draw many lines, you need to click the line icon for each line. This is a frustrating waste of time. The same holds true for all drawing elements.
2. The last drawn item remains active, which makes it very easy to accidentally modify.
3. I haven’t been successful with ortho, or snap to line or point.. I’m not sure that they are available.
4. When drawing an object that needs precise dimensions, it would be nice to be able to actually type the dimensions. There is ability to modify to exact dimensions, but if you have drawn a square, the modify only works for one line at a time.
5. It’s way to easy to accidentally select an object, and modify it without knowing. It would be nice if you had to double click to modify.

Overall: PadCADLite is a good value. It’s pretty simple to learn, and, with a bit of effort, and occasional frustration: It gets the job done.

First of all I have a question ,how do you make your edges round and then a couple of suggestions .can you please make you be able to make smooth circle my other suggestion is can you please make a option to rotate the screen its pretty much impossible to make make a blue print when you can’t rotate the screen . Like if you put a door on the side and plus you can’t rotate anything which makes it impossible .

Years ago I learned drawing on PowerDraft for an environmental company I was working for and this program is close to it. It is a little frustrating having to click on icon to start a line each time rather than only clicking on a new type of operation. All in all though it’s great for program for simple drawings that you can use for building simple things around the house.

I’ve been using PadCAD for many years for basic floor plans. It is easy to use if you are not looking for exact drawings. The size of my tablet screen adds a little bit of difficulty but with practice it works. This week I attempted to purchase it again to put it on my laptop but was unable to complete.

If you’re the type that prefers to learn from trial & error vs following a step by step, but likes having the step by step guide handy, this one is for you.

Every other design app seems to either throw you to the wolves or start you at step ONE, PadCADLite allows you to experiment til you hit a dead end while RELEVANT help is at your beckon call

This is great but when you have a wall and you click on it it has a length on the top left but when you double click on it it shows a different measurement that is off a little. I found out the that one when you double click is correct.

Easy learning curve, flows well, my first project looked so good that I won the bid. I purchased the freeversion and then I upgraded to the paid version simply because it is an amazing program very easy to use and mySon who is a contractor found out about it and he’s using it now also

It has worked well. I can draw out a simple kitchen and bath room plans for customers while I am with them. They can see spacing and objects to scale. It has room for improvement but is overall a good app.

I also purchased the full version of this, and there’s really only a couple things that I don’t like. 1. Is when it prints out, your measurements aren’t with it other than manually putting them in there, unless I’ve missed something. 2. Is also the rotate feature... 1 click gets you 1 degree turn, so sit back and get to clicking, and lastly could really use a LOT more symbols.

If you are looking for a simple drawing app this is not the one for you unless you have “CAD” experience and you don’t mind doing & redoing each thing that you do. It is frustrating to work from an iPad and have to keep moving things back in forth because you click/touch on the wrong line. I think the concept is great but it is very CAD oriented and to recreate things becomes cumbersome.

I love PadCADLite. I’ve used cad programs and have to say I’m impressed. If you are ever had problems with it’s because:
1) You don’t know how to use it (yet). Practice practice practice
2) Your device has issues (who knows)
3) You don’t know how to use programs like this (maybe to sophisticated for you.
4) You don’t mind spending thousands yes thousands of $$$$ on high end complicated cad programs!
Ps. For 15 bucks it’s a bargain of a lifetime.

I've tried many cad apps. This one is the most intuitive. Very easy to learn. I'll spend 15 bucks for the full version now to support this person(s) effort!

With the exception of not being able to control snap to grid when resizing drawings which may be of my own accord at first use, PadCADLite does what it advertises and with the ability to export to email, I find it most useful.

Have been using off and on for five years. Overall easy to work with.

The free version works better than the paid. Pin point accuracy went out the window with my money. The lines don’t start or draw where the pencil touches. So sad, I had such high hopes for adding this attribute to enhancing business functionality.

$15 is the fee for saving a blue print in pdf form and I paid but no saved file showing in my iPad. Waste. Just screen shot it and transform it in pdf using Adobe scan app. FREE

PadCADLite is ok, but requires you to upgrade to the $15 app in order to save or export your files. Big bait and switch. But if you can swing it, not a terrible app...

Been using this program for the last two years, would like more options For example shelving like the stairs option. Besides that the system works great.

Looking for an app to do simple line drawings in the field. Very easy to use. Centering procedure could be a bit more refined.

WARNING: they no longer support the saving of files to the servers and this button will be deprecated in future versions of PadCAD. All drawing files will be deleted from the servers on January 1, 2014. Please remove any drawing you need from the servers before this date. I found out about this too late. Complete waste of time >:(

I learned PadCADLite in a few minutes. So easy and intuitive. Upgrading was a snap. Yes!

Checked the wbsite and the last activity I saw was in 2013 — it’s April, 2018 now.

Apparenly the developer has abandoned this project mid-stream. I’m guessing the many bugs overwhelmed them. Shame, because PadCAD shows some promise and tries to fill a niche that is glaringly empty.

I’m very careful to save my files but PadCADLite has totally messed up my files on numerous occasions - prepare to be frustrated at some point....it’s going to happen.