Open Source ChemDraw Alternatives

The best open source alternative to ChemDraw is JChemPaint. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 10 alternatives to ChemDraw and seven of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to ChemDraw are XDrawChem, Molsketch, ChemCanvas and BKchem.

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ChemDraw alternatives are mainly Vector Graphic Apps Other popular filters include Free, Linux, Mac and Open Source. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to ChemDraw.
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Alternatives list

  1. JChemPaint icon

    JChemPaint

     3 likes

    JChemPaint (or JCP for short here) is the editor and viewer for 2D chemical structures developed using the Chemistry Development Kit (CDK).

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    JChemPaint screenshot 1
     
  2. XDrawChem icon

    XDrawChem

     1 like

    XDrawChem is a free software program for drawing chemical structural formulas, available for Unix and Mac OS. It is distributed under the GNU GPL. In Microsoft Windows this program is called WinDrawChem.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
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    1
    7
    Comments about XDrawChem as an Alternative to ChemDraw
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    More simply for use in class

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    XDrawChem icon
    XDrawChem icon

    • Most users think XDrawChem is a great ChemDraw alternative.

    • XDrawChem is Free and Open SourceChemDraw is Paid and Proprietary
  4. Molsketch icon

    Molsketch

     1 like

    A 2D molecular editing tool for GNU/Linux, Mac OS X and Windows. Its goal is to help you draw molecules quick and easily. Of course your creations can be exported afterwards in high quality in a number of vector and bitmap formats.

    11 Molsketch alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Molsketch screenshot 1
     
  5. ChemCanvas icon

    ChemCanvas

     1 like

    A very intuitive, new 2D chemical drawing tool (Qt-based).

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Windows
    • Python
    ChemCanvas screenshot 1
     
  6. BKchem icon

    BKchem

     9 likes

    BKChem is a free (as in free software :o) chemical drawing program. It was conceived and written by Beda Kosata and is currently maintained by Reinis Danne.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    BKchem screenshot 1
     
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    2
    10
    Comments about BKchem as an Alternative to ChemDraw
    John Fastman
    Negative
    3

    BKchem is an old attempt at replacing some of ChemDraw's functionality. It succeeded partially in providing some of ChemDraw's very core chemical structure drawing features. Unfortunately, BKchem has seen no new development since 2010, leaving it in limbo.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Very usefull software. You can paste images created with BKChem in a text processor or another open source graphical software like InkScape.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    BKchem icon
    BKchem icon

    • Most users think BKchem is a great ChemDraw alternative.

    • BKchem is Free and Open SourceChemDraw is Paid and Proprietary
  7. Gnome Chemistry Utils icon

    Gnome Chemistry Utils

     4 likes

    The Gnome Chemistry Utils include six chemistry related programs:

    • GChemPaint, a 2D chemical formula editor.
    • a chemical calculator (computes raw formule, molar weight, mass composition and isotopic pattern).
    • a molecule 3d viewer using OpenGL to display molecular models. .

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Gnome Chemistry Utils screenshot 1
     
  9. MollyCule icon

    MollyCule

     2 likes

    MollyCule is a completely free Open Source Chemistry visualisation program for MacOS, Linux and Windows. MollyCule is designed to be a nice, easy to use program to help ordinary people who want to explore Chemistry.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Example visualisation of ATP.
     
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