---
title: "Free CadMapper Alternative: Site to DXF, SVG and PDF"
description: "A fair comparison of CadMapper and Atlasly for getting a site into AutoCAD, Rhino, SketchUp or Revit. Both are free up to 1 km²; see what each exports."
canonical: https://atlasly.app/guides/cadmapper-alternative
target_query: "cadmapper alternative free"
reviewed: 2026-10-27
---

# A free CadMapper alternative for site plans

CadMapper is the tool most architecture students learn first for downloading a site as a CAD file, and it is good at it. Atlasly does a similar job for free up to 1 km² and adds a print-ready PDF, a layered SVG for Illustrator, contours with their levels and, for UK sites, planning constraint layers. This page sets out what each one does so you can pick the right one for your brief.

## How this comparison was made

Reviewed 27 October 2026. Atlasly publishes this page. CadMapper's details come from its own home page on that date; we did not run a timed or accuracy test of either service. Atlasly's details come from the current export tool. If a feature matters to your project, try both on the same site.

- Source: [CadMapper home page](https://cadmapper.com/)
- Source: [Atlasly data sources, coverage and limits](https://atlasly.app/blog/atlasly-site-analysis-methodology-and-limits)

## What CadMapper offers

- Free files up to 1 km² after you sign up, and free whole-city road files (2D DXF) without an account.
- Larger areas up to 100 km² "for a small fee"; the price is shown when you order, not on the home page.
- Files for AutoCAD, SketchUp 8+, Rhinoceros 5+ and Adobe Illustrator.
- Data from public sources such as OpenStreetMap, NASA and USGS; building heights and topography "in many locations".
- A discount when you register with an academic email address.

## What Atlasly offers

- With a free account you can download 2D files (DXF, SVG, PDF, GeoJSON and the CAD bundle) for areas up to 1 km²; free drawings carry a small "Made with Atlasly" credit. Larger areas and 3D files (OBJ, GLB, KMZ) are available with Professional at £19 a month or with one-off site credits. Enrolled students can request a reviewed student rate of £9 a month.
- DXF in metres with separate layers for buildings, road classes, paths and rail, water, green space, trees and contours. Contours keep their level as the polyline elevation, so AutoCAD shows it in Properties.
- For sites in Great Britain the DXF uses British National Grid coordinates by default; elsewhere it is in local metres measured from the centre of your export area.
- A CAD bundle (zip) with the DXF, a scaled SVG, an A3 print PDF with legend and scale bar, GeoJSON, a coordinate manifest and import notes.
- 3D files with Professional or one-off site credits: OBJ (zipped with materials) and GLB with building heights from the source data or stated defaults, and KMZ for Google Earth.
- For UK sites, optional planning layers in the same file: flood, conservation area, listed building, tree preservation, Article 4 and ground records where available.
- Beyond the file: a site map, elevation profiles, figure-ground and sun path diagrams, and AI site diagrams and renders in Atlasly Vision.

## CadMapper and Atlasly side by side

|  | CadMapper (vendor page, 27 Oct 2026) | Atlasly (current export tool) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free area | Up to 1 km² with an account | Up to 1 km² with a free account (2D files) |
| Larger areas | Up to 100 km², small fee per file | Professional at £19 a month, or one-off site credits |
| 2D formats | DXF; files for AutoCAD and Illustrator | DXF, SVG, PDF, GeoJSON, CAD bundle |
| 3D formats | SketchUp and Rhino files | OBJ, GLB, KMZ (Professional or one-off site credits) |
| Native DWG | Not stated on the home page | No. Open the DXF in AutoCAD and save as DWG |
| Native SketchUp (.skp) / Rhino (.3dm) | Yes, files for SketchUp and Rhino | No. Import DXF or OBJ instead |
| Contours | Topography in many locations | Contours with source levels in the DXF and OBJ |
| Planning layers | Not offered | UK constraint layers where available |
| Whole-city road files | Yes, free, no account | No |

## When CadMapper is the better choice

- You need a native SketchUp or Rhino file and do not want to import a DXF.
- You want a whole city's road network in one 2D file.
- You need an area between 1 and 100 km² once and prefer to pay per file rather than per month.

## When Atlasly is the better choice

- You want a print-ready PDF and a layered SVG for your board as well as the CAD file, from the same export.
- You want contours that keep their levels, or a coordinate manifest that records where the drawing sits.
- Your site is in the UK and you want flood, heritage and other constraint layers on the same drawing.
- You will go on to make site diagrams, sun path studies or renders of the same site.

## How to export your site with Atlasly

- Open Export Map in Atlas AI and search for your site address or place name.
- Draw the export area. Keep it to 1 km² or less on a free account.
- Choose the layers you need. Buildings, roads, water, green space and contours are on by default.
- Pick a data level: Standard suits most sites; Complete adds more building sources and takes longer.
- Choose DXF for CAD, or the CAD bundle for DXF, SVG, PDF and GeoJSON together, then download.
- Open the DXF in your CAD software and check the units (metres) and layers before you start drawing.

## Data and accuracy

Map data is mainly from OpenStreetMap and its contributors, with other open building sources added at the higher data levels. It is community data: check it against a survey or official mapping before you rely on dimensions. The same is true of CadMapper, which also uses OpenStreetMap. Missing buildings and simplified roads are the most common gaps in either tool, especially outside large cities.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Is Atlasly really free like CadMapper?**

Yes, for 2D files up to 1 km²: DXF, SVG, PDF, GeoJSON and the CAD bundle are free with an account. Free drawings carry a small "Made with Atlasly" credit. 3D files and larger areas are available with Professional or one-off site credits.

**Can Atlasly export DWG, SKP or 3DM files?**

No. Atlasly exports DXF, which AutoCAD, Rhino, SketchUp Pro and Revit all open or import. To get a DWG, open the DXF in AutoCAD and save it as DWG. For SketchUp or Rhino, import the DXF or, with Professional or one-off site credits, the OBJ.

**Does Atlasly include topography like CadMapper?**

Atlasly includes contour lines with their source levels on the contour layers of the DXF, and as 3D lines in the OBJ. The contour interval comes from the source data; you cannot set it yourself. It does not export a terrain surface mesh.

**Which countries does it work in?**

Map exports work wherever the open map data covers the site, worldwide. The amount of detail depends on how well the area is mapped. UK planning constraint layers are only available for UK sites.

## Export your site for free

Draw your area, choose layers and download a layered DXF, SVG or PDF. Free up to 1 km².

- [Open Export Map](https://atlasly.app/atlas-ai/export-map?utm_source=atlasly&utm_medium=guide&utm_campaign=cadmapper-alternative)

## Related

- [Map to DWG and DXF for AutoCAD](https://atlasly.app/guides/map-to-dwg)
- [Topography to AutoCAD and Revit](https://atlasly.app/guides/topography-to-autocad-revit)
- [Figure-ground map generator](https://atlasly.app/guides/figure-ground-map-generator)
- [Atlasly and AutoCAD](https://atlasly.app/integrations/autocad)

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Source: https://atlasly.app/guides/cadmapper-alternative