Try our DWG-based CAD software for 30 days at no cost

Pro tip: When you start your free trial of ARES Kudo, you can enjoy all the features of our online CAD to create and modify DWG files in the cloud for 30 days.

+ When you start your free trial, you also get access to:

ARES Commander - The most popular alternative to AutoCAD for Windows, Mac, and Linux
ARES Touch - Our mobile CAD solution for Android and iOS.

Ready to get started? Visit this page to sign up and start your trial:

START A FREE 30-DAY TRIAL

👉🏻 All three products are included, so you can explore the complete ARES Trinity experience with a single Graebert Account (just use the login and password you create during signup). At the end of your trial, you can choose to continue with ARES Kudo alone or opt for the ARES Trinity license, which includes ARES Commander for desktop as well.

ARES Kudo Free version

If you don't need to create or modify drawings and just want to use ARES Kudo as a free online DWG viewer, you can continue using it after your trial expires. It will automatically switch to the free version.

Secure Collaboration Within Your Company Using the Free Version of ARES Kudo

Free users can use ARES Kudo to search and browse the cloud storage providers connected by your company to centralize DWG files. Their access is limited to the drawings for which they’ve been granted viewing or editing permissions within the cloud storage platform.

ARES Kudo supports all major cloud storage providers, including Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Microsoft SharePoint, Box, and Dropbox. Alternatively, it also integrates with Private Clouds using the WebDAV protocol, NextCloud, or AWS.

Benefits for the Company

A key advantage for the company is the ability to facilitate and secure remote access to DWG drawings. Viewing and editing permissions can be granted or revoked at any time directly from the cloud storage—either file by file or for an entire folder.

👉🏻 For example, you can grant your free users view-only access to a folder containing all DWG files related to current projects. These users can then access the files from anywhere using the ARES Kudo free version, authenticated through their Graebert Account.

Benefits for the Users

For free users, ARES Kudo offers a convenient and centralized solution to browse and search for drawings they’ve been given access to. Because it’s an online platform, they can do this from any device.

Instead of working with outdated PDFs (and waiting for others to generate a new PDF after every update), users can directly access the DWG drawings in real time—ensuring they’re always looking at the most current version. Unlike PDFs, ARES Kudo also supports online comments and markups, allowing users to interact directly with the team working on the drawings. The design team receives email notifications when feedback is shared, streamlining collaboration.

Differences with View-only links

View-only links in ARES are intended to share individual files with view-and-comment access. These links are shared as URLs, making them convenient for sharing one file but impractical for sharing access to a large number of drawings.

As a result, view-only links are ideal for temporary access to a few drawings—especially with external contacts such as customers. On the other hand, the free version of ARES Kudo is better suited for internal users who need ongoing access to a broader collection of DWG files.

ARES Kudo Professional version

To keep enjoying all the features of ARES Kudo after the free 30-day trial, you need to purchase one of our subscriptions. The ARES Kudo Professional subscriptions are aiming at the users that don't see the necessity to add our desktop version ARES Commander and prefer our online version ARES Kudo. The mobile version ARES Touch is included to offer also an optimal experience on your mobile devices.

ARES Kudo Professional is offered with different types of licenses:

Annual Plan: 1 year of ARES Kudo + ARES Touch for a same user. Recommanded if you are starting with ARES Kudo and are still hesitating which license is best for you.
3 Years Plan: 3 years of ARES Kudo + ARES Touch for a same user. Best option to save money because you get 3 years for the price of 2.
Flex Cloud: Floating license of ARES Kudo + ARES Touch to share among multiple users. Recommended for companies with more than 5 occasional users because there is a minimum of 3 seats.

To compare the prices and licensing options for ARES Kudo, please follow that link:

ARES KUDO PROFESSIONAL: PRICES & LICENSING

ARES Kudo for Onshape

IMPORTANT: Using ARES Kudo inside the Onshape environment doesn't require to create a Graebert Account. But using ARES Kudo from the Graebert servers (https://kudo.graebert.com), ARES Commander (for Windows, Mac, and Linux), or ARES Touch requires that you also create a Graebert Account using as login the same email that is used for Onshape.

The Drawings module in Onshape is powered by ARES Kudo technology, but it aims at creating and annotating 2D views extracted from the 3D models created in Onshape. Unlike DWG drawings these 2D drawings remain linked to the 3D geometry of your Onshape project.

ARES Kudo cannot be used to edit these 2D views in Onshape Drawings, it is instead aiming at viewing or editing the DWG files created with AutoCAD, ARES or other DWG-based CAD software and stored in the Onshape documents. As an Onshape user, you can use ARES Kudo in different ways:

Free ARES Kudo DWG Viewer inside Onshape

When you login to cad.onshape.com with your Onshape account, and click on any DWG file uploaded to Onshape, the drawing will open inside Onshape with free viewing features powered by ARES Kudo. This free online DWG viewer is directly integrated in the Onshape environment and doesn't require to create any Graebert account and is provided at no additional cost.
Create and modify DWG files inside Onshape

The free ARES Kudo DWG Viewer integrated inside Onshape can also convert into a full online DWG editor if you buy a subscription for ARES Kudo. To unlock the editing features you need to consider one of the two following options:

a) Buy ARES Kudo from the Onshape AppStore

In the Onshape App Store you can buy a one year subscription for ARES Kudo and it will be charged on your Onshape invoice. This subscription doesn't include the mobile version ARES Touch.
👉🏻 Buy ARES Kudo from Onshape App Store

b) Buy ARES Kudo Professional from the Graebert e-store

On the Graebert estore you will find more licensing options to buy ARES Kudo Professional, including not only ARES Kudo but also the mobile version ARES Touch.
👉🏻 Buy ARES Kudo from the Graebert online store
Create and modify DWG files with ARES Kudo in sync with Onshape storage

No matter if you buy an ARES Kudo subscription from the Onshape App Store or from the Graebert e-store, you can also use ARES Kudo from the Graebert servers and connect your Onshape account to access your DWG files stored in Onshape:
1) Make sure to create a Graebert Account using as login the same email you use for Onshape
2) Log in to ARES Kudo on https://kudo.graebert.com
3) Connect your Onshape account as a storage:
4) Browse your files and open any DWG file to view and modify it with ARES Kudo
👉🏻 The drawings you will view and modify in ARES Kudo will remain stored in your Onshape account and will therefore stay always up-to-date and shared with your colleagues using Onshape.
Full replacement for AutoCAD with our Desktop version ARES Commander

If you are a user transitioning from AutoCAD, our desktop version can offer an easier switch. Although it is fully installed on your Windows, Mac or Linux PC, ARES Commander create and modify DWG files in sync with Onshape storage with a DWG-based CAD software for Windows, Mac or Linux.

Note however, that the ARES Commander users need to have a valid Onshape account (login and password with a paid subscription) to connect ARES Commander with Onshape.

To but ARES Commander and use it to edit DWG files stored in Onshape you need to consider one of the two following options:

a) Buy an ARES Trinity license from the Onshape AppStore

In the Onshape App Store you can buy a one year subscription for the ARES Trinity including ARES Commander, ARES Kudo and ARES Touch. It will be charged on your Onshape invoice.
👉🏻 Buy ARES Trinity from the Onshape App Store

b) Buy an ARES Trinity license from the Graebert e-store

On the Graebert estore you will find more licensing options to buy ARES Commander with the Trinity collaboration features required to connect with cloud storages such as Onshape:
👉🏻 Buy ARES Commander with Trinity from the Graebert online store

👉🏻 Pro tip: In a same company you can centralize your drawings in a cloud storage and consider different types of users:

Advanced users: If your users are migrating from AutoCAD and are using CAD several hours a day, we recommend our desktop version ARES Commander with the Trinity Collaboration features. ARES Commander is offering an easy switch with a familiar user interface and a full replacement for AutoCAD. The Trinity Collaboration features integrated inside ARES Commander will additionally empower these users with modern cloud-based collaboration tools to work with other ARES users.
Occasional users: For the users frequently on the go or working less than one hour per day, we recommend an ARES Kudo Professional subscription
Free users: For the users needing only view-only and commenting on the company drawings we recommend using the free version of ARES Kudo. Free users have a login and password to secure their access to the drawings to which they were granted permissions.
Guest users: For customers or other collaborators, you can grant temporary viewing and commenting access, using the free View-only links.

Compare ARES Kudo Professional vs ARES Kudo Free:

ARES Kudo Free version	ARES Kudo Professional
Start with the free 30-day trial. Then, if you don't buy a subscription, ARES Kudo will revert to the free mode.	Same free 30-day trial. Then buy a subscription to keep enjoying all the features.
Free Online DWG Viewer + Commenting & Markups ✅ Connect with your Cloud storage providers: Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Dropbox, Box... ✅ Free Online DWG viewing ✅ Commenting & Markups to collaborate with other ARES users ✅ Measuring tools: distances, area... ✅ Print DWG to PDF ❌ No CAD editing features to create & modify DWG drawings ❌ No dimensioning tools ❌ Cannot insert & use ARES custom blocks & AutoCAD dynamic blocks ❌ No Trinity Block Library to share online block libraries ❌ No View-only links	The Best Online CAD Software for DWG Viewing & Editing ✅ Connect with your Cloud storage providers: Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Dropbox, Box... ✅ Free Online DWG viewing ✅ Commenting & Markups to collaborate with other ARES users ✅ Measuring tools: distances, area... ✅ Print DWG to PDF ✅ 300+ 2D CAD features to create & modify DWG drawings ✅ Dimensioning tools ✅ Insert & use ARES custom blocks & AutoCAD dynamic blocks ✅ Trinity Block Library to share online block libraries ✅ Create & Share View-only links
Smartphones & Tablets ❌ ARES Touch (Mobile CAD on Android & iOS) not included. ➖ You can still use the ARES Kudo Free version to view the drawings online on your mobile device, but it is not optimal.	Smartphones & Tablets ✅ ARES Touch is included to view, edit & comment on DWG files with your Android & iOS smartphones and tablets. 👉🏻 Key advantages of ARES Touch: can work offline, and UI is optimized for small devices and touch input.
AI & Automation features ❌ A3 - ARES AI Assist - Not included Some Drawings Automation features in kudo.graebert.com/automation, but with restrictions: ✅ Convert DWG to PDF or DGN ✅ Convert PDF or DGN to DWG ✅ Compare two DWG drawings ✅ BIM to DWG automation: Import Revit or IFC file and generate automatically 2D DWG floorplans, sections and elevations ✅ BIM to PDF automation: Import Revit or IFC file and generate a PDF with floorplans, sections and elevations ✅ BIM Data Extraction: Import Revit or IFC file and export data to a CSV file (for Excel or Google spreadsheet) Key restrictions in the Free version of ARES Kudo for the Automation features: ➖ Lower capacity and lower priority ➖ No batch-processing, ie, only one file at a time ➖ No scheduling, nor recurring jobs 👉🏻 In the free version you can only manually process files one by one.	AI & Automation features ✅ A3 - ARES AI Assist: Artificial Intelligence trained to assist ARES users in many languages - Learn more All the Drawings Automation features in kudo.graebert.com/automation: ✅ Convert DWG to PDF or DGN ✅ Convert PDF or DGN to DWG ✅ Compare two DWG drawings ✅ BIM to DWG automation: Import Revit or IFC file and generate automatically 2D DWG floorplans, sections and elevations ✅ BIM to PDF automation: Import Revit or IFC file and generate a PDF with floorplans, sections and elevations ✅ BIM Data Extraction: Import Revit or IFC file and export data to a CSV file (for Excel or Google spreadsheet. Use the full power of the ARES Online Drawings Automation with the possibility to: ➕ Batch process multiple files at the same time ➕ Schedule jobs at a later time and date (for example afterworks) ➕ Recurring jobs to repeat a same job on a regular basis (for example every night)

To learn more about the unique features of ARES Kudo and understand better the differences between these two versions, make sure to visit our playlist on Youtube:

ARES KUDO VIDEOS IN YOUTUBE