Best ChemDraw Alternatives in 2026 (Free and Paid)

ChemDraw from Revvity Signals is the standard for chemical structures, reaction schemes, name-to-structure conversion, and NMR prediction. It is sold as a subscription, and prices are not shown on the public pages we checked, so see the official ChemDraw page for options.

If you need something free, something for a Mac, or a tool for the figure side of a chemistry paper, there are good alternatives. They do different jobs, though: a structure editor draws molecules, while a figure tool builds the TOC graphic or graphical abstract around them. Our ChemDraw alternative guide explains that split and the recommended workflow in more detail.

Licensing and pricing below were checked on each tool's official site on September 15, 2026.

Quick comparison

1. Ketcher

Best for: free 2D structure and reaction drawing without installing anything.

Pricing: free. Ketcher, from EPAM, is open source under the Apache License 2.0.

Pros:

• Runs in a web browser, so it works the same on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Draws small molecules, biomolecules, and chemical reactions, and exports several formats.
• The permissive license allows commercial use, modification, and redistribution.

Cons:

• A structure editor only, so layout of a full graphical abstract happens elsewhere.

2. MarvinSketch

Best for: labs that already use Chemaxon tools, now part of Certara.

Pricing: not listed publicly. Marvin Cloud offers a 14-day free trial and academic plans; contact the vendor for licensing. See the official site.

Pros:

• A fully featured chemical drawing tool that runs locally on your computer.
• Part of a broader cheminformatics product family.

Cons:

• Pricing and license terms require contacting sales.

3. ChemDoodle 2D

Best for: a paid desktop chemical drawing app with transparent pricing.

Pricing: $29 per month, $199 per year, or a $999 lifetime license, each for a single named user on up to two computers. Institutions can request a site license quote.

Pros:

• Native builds for Windows, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), and Linux, which makes it a practical ChemDraw alternative for Mac users.
• Subscriptions and the lifetime license include updates.
• A 14-day free trial.

Cons:

• The trial has restricted features and watermarked output.
• Not free for ongoing use.

4. Avogadro

Best for: building and viewing 3D molecular models for computational chemistry, teaching, and materials science.

Pricing: free and open source under the BSD 3-clause license.

Pros:

• Available for Windows, Linux, and macOS, including Apple Silicon.
• A modern 3D renderer for clear molecular images.

Cons:

• Focused on 3D models, so it does not replace a 2D structure and reaction editor for schemes.

5. ACD/ChemSketch

Best for: people who already have it installed.

Pricing: ACD/Labs, now part of Revvity Signals, lists ChemSketch Freeware as discontinued. Current users may continue to use existing installations under their license terms.

Pros:

• Existing installations keep working under their license.

Cons:

• No longer available to new users, so it is not a practical choice for a new setup.

6. SciFigure AI (for chemistry figures, not structures)

Best for: the figure around the chemistry: TOC graphics, graphical abstracts, mechanism overview illustrations, materials and catalysis schematics, and data charts.

Pricing: credit-based. AI illustration requires a paid purchase: any credit pack, starting at $1 for 10 credits valid 7 days, or a subscription from $15/month. New accounts get 10 free credits valid 7 days, and signed-in users get 5 bonus credits per day, but free credits only work for data charts (5 credits per chart).

Pros:

• Drafts a TOC graphic, graphical abstract, or chemistry diagram from a text description.
• Chart generators such as the dose-response curve generator compute a 4PL fit with IC50 or EC50 from your data.
• No watermark on outputs, and Editable Export gives SVG or PPTX with editable text, arrow, label, and callout layers over the figure image.

Cons:

• Does not edit chemical structures: no SMILES input, reaction arrow tools, or stereochemistry tools.
• Structures drawn by the AI are illustrations, not validated chemistry, so replace them with structures from a real editor.
• AI illustration is not available on free credits.

Recommended workflow

1. Draw and check every structure in a structure editor such as Ketcher, ChemDoodle, or ChemDraw.
2. Export the structures as images.
3. Draft the overall TOC graphic or graphical abstract in a figure tool.
4. Place your validated structures into the final layout, then check labels, arrows, and journal size requirements.

Bottom line

For structures, Ketcher is the best free starting point, ChemDoodle 2D is a straightforward paid option that works on a Mac, and Avogadro covers 3D. MarvinSketch suits groups already in the Chemaxon ecosystem. ChemSketch Freeware is no longer available to new users. SciFigure AI does not replace any structure editor, but it can speed up the chemistry figures built around them.

To see how these tools compare with ChemDraw feature by feature, read our ChemDraw alternative comparison.

Sources

• Revvity Signals ChemDraw
• Ketcher (EPAM)
• Marvin (Certara)
• ChemDoodle and iChemLabs store
• Avogadro
• ACD/ChemSketch Freeware
• SciFigure AI pricing