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 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.
ChemDraw iconChemDraw
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ChemDraw is a communication suite for managing, reporting and presenting Chemistry research. Produce precise chemical structures with our premier chemical drawing solution.

More about ChemDraw
More about ChemDraw
ChemDraw alternatives page was last updated May 29, 2025
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  1. JChemPaint icon

    JChemPaint

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

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    JChemPaint screenshot 1

    JChemPaint Features

    1.  Impact mapping

    JChemPaint VS ChemDraw

     

    • JChemPaint is the most popular Open Source alternative to ChemDraw.

    • JChemPaint is Free and Open SourceChemDraw is Paid and Proprietary
  2. XDrawChem icon

    XDrawChem

     1 like
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    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.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Discontinued

    Last release (1.10.2-1) was in January 2017.

    XDrawChem VS ChemDraw

     
    Comments about XDrawChem as an Alternative to ChemDraw
    Guest
    Positive Oct 2, 2016
    0

    More simply for use in class

    ChemDraw 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
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    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.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Molsketch screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Educational

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No registration required
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Works Offline

    Molsketch VS ChemDraw

     
  5. ChemCanvas icon

    ChemCanvas

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

    8 ChemCanvas alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • IN flagIndia

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Windows
    • Python
    ChemCanvas screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  No registration required
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Python-based
    6.  Export to SVG
    7.  Support for SVG

    ChemCanvas VS ChemDraw

     
  6. BKchem icon

    BKchem

     9 likes
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    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.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CZ flagCzechia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    BKchem screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The last release was in 2010.

    BKchem Features

    1.  2D and 3D physics

    BKchem VS ChemDraw

     
    Comments about BKchem as an Alternative to ChemDraw
    John Fastman
    Negative Dec 27, 2016
    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 May 9, 2016
    0

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

    ChemDraw 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
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    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. .

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Gnome Chemistry Utils screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Educational

    Features

    1.  Periodic table

    Gnome Chemistry Utils VS ChemDraw

     
  9. MollyCule icon

    MollyCule

     2 likes
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    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.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Example visualisation of ATP.
    Discontinued

    Last update appears to be August 2011.

    MollyCule VS ChemDraw

     
7 of 7 ChemDraw alternatives