Annotate and Measure
Add markups and use measurement tools directly on technical drawings, including digital takeoff workflows.
DWG viewer comparison
ViewCompanion Premium vs DWG TrueView
Both applications can open DWG drawings on Windows—but they are designed for different jobs. Compare viewing, conversion, annotation, measurement, batch processing and PDF tools before choosing.
Free DWG utilityDWG TrueView
Perpetual licenseViewCompanion Premium
Markup and measureAvailable in ViewCompanion
PDF and batch toolsBroader document workflows
Two Useful Tools with Different Priorities
Autodesk DWG TrueView is a sensible choice when your main requirement is to inspect, plot or convert DWG files between drawing versions. ViewCompanion Premium is intended for users who need to do more with drawings and documents: annotate, measure, compare, print, batch convert and continue working with the resulting PDF files.
Neither product is a full replacement for AutoCAD when you need to create or substantially edit CAD geometry.
What Each Product Is Designed to Do
ViewCompanion Premium
Best suited to users who receive many kinds of engineering documents and need review, conversion and PDF-processing tools in one Windows application.
- Open, annotate, measure and compare DWG drawings
- Convert and batch convert DWG files to PDF
- Print or batch print multiple drawings
- Work with PDF, DWF, PLT, CGM, TIFF and other formats
- Use OCR, PDF/A, watermark, merge and split tools
DWG TrueView
Best suited to users who want a free Autodesk tool for opening, inspecting, plotting and converting DWG files without purchasing AutoCAD.
- Open and inspect DWG and DXF files
- Plot drawings and create printed or PDF output
- Convert DWG files between supported versions
- Use familiar Autodesk viewing technology
ViewCompanion Premium and DWG TrueView at a Glance
The products overlap in basic DWG viewing and output, but they serve different priorities. This comparison is intended to help you choose the better fit—not to suggest that one product is universally better.
| Capability or priority | ViewCompanion Premium | DWG TrueView |
|---|---|---|
| License | Paid perpetual license | Free download |
| Primary purpose | Review and process technical documents | View, plot and convert DWG files |
| Open DWG and DXF | Yes | Yes |
| DWG version conversion | Export and conversion workflows | Yes, including DWG Convert |
| Annotate drawings | Yes | No |
| Measurement and takeoff | Yes | Basic inspection rather than a takeoff workflow |
| Compare revisions | Yes | No |
| Batch print and conversion | Yes | Plotting and DWG conversion tools |
| PDF processing | OCR, PDF/A, merge, split, watermark and more | PDF output through plotting |
| Other technical formats | PDF, DWF, PLT/HPGL, CGM, TIFF, CALS and more | Primarily DWG, DXF and DWF workflows |
| Cloud upload required | No | No |
| CAD editing | No | No |
Autodesk may change DWG TrueView features over time. Verify current details on Autodesk's official website before making a purchasing decision.
When ViewCompanion Premium Goes Beyond a Basic DWG Viewer
Compare Revisions
Compare two drawing or document versions to make visual changes easier to identify.
Batch Process Files
Print or convert multiple drawings in one operation instead of handling every file separately.
Continue with PDF Tools
Merge, split, rotate, watermark, optimize, encrypt, OCR or create PDF/A after conversion.
One application from drawing to PDF: Open the DWG drawing, select the required layout, review or annotate it, convert one drawing or a complete batch, and continue processing the resulting PDF files.
Which Product Is the Better Fit?
Choose ViewCompanion Premium if...
- You want to annotate, measure or compare drawings.
- You convert or print many files at once.
- You work with DWG, PDF, DWF, DXF, PLT, CGM and image formats.
- You need advanced PDF and scanned-document tools.
- You prefer a compact, perpetual-license Windows application.
Choose DWG TrueView if...
- You only need to view or plot DWG files occasionally.
- You specifically need Autodesk's DWG version-conversion utility.
- A free tool is more important than annotation, comparison or PDF processing.
- You mainly work within Autodesk file workflows.
Try ViewCompanion Premium with Your Own DWG Files
Use the free evaluation version to verify layouts, fonts, external references, measurements and conversion output with the drawings you actually receive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ViewCompanion Premium a replacement for AutoCAD?
No. ViewCompanion Premium is intended for viewing, printing, conversion, annotation, measurement and document processing. It is not a full CAD authoring system.
Is DWG TrueView really free?
Yes. Autodesk offers DWG TrueView as a free Windows application for viewing, plotting and converting DWG files.
Can ViewCompanion Premium convert DWG files to PDF?
Yes. It can convert individual DWG drawings or batch convert multiple files to PDF and other supported output formats.
Can I annotate and measure a DWG without AutoCAD?
Yes. ViewCompanion Premium can open DWG drawings directly and provides annotation and measurement tools without requiring AutoCAD.
Do either product upload drawings to the cloud?
Both products can be used as Windows desktop applications with local files. ViewCompanion Premium processes supported files locally and does not require a cloud workflow.
Which should I choose?
Choose DWG TrueView for a free Autodesk-oriented DWG viewing and version-conversion utility. Consider ViewCompanion Premium when you also need markup, measurement, comparison, batch processing, advanced PDF tools or support for several technical document formats.
Trademark notice: Autodesk, AutoCAD, DWG and DWG TrueView are trademarks or registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. ViewCompanion Premium and Software Companions are not affiliated with or endorsed by Autodesk, Inc.
Comparison information is based on publicly available product information and is provided for general guidance. Product features may change. Last reviewed: August 2026.
