ChemDraw Alternatives for Linux

ChemDraw is not available for Linux but there are some alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is Chemaxon Marvin, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 10 alternatives to ChemDraw and eight of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to ChemDraw are ChemDoodle, BKchem, XDrawChem and Gnome Chemistry Utils.

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Chemaxon Marvin
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Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
Linux
15 alternatives to Chemaxon Marvin
Marvin suite is a chemically intelligent desktop toolkit built to help you draw, edit, publish, render, import and export your chemical structures and as well as allowing you to convert between various chemical and graphical file formats.
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Chemaxon Marvin Features
Drag and Drop
Chemaxon Marvin vs ChemDraw opinions
Almost everyone thinks Chemaxon Marvin is a great alternative to ChemDraw.
Guest
Simple structures are needed.
Positive comment•
0
ChemDoodle
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
iPad
8 alternatives to ChemDoodle
If you are looking for a chemical sketcher or an alternative to your current chemical drawing application, there is no better choice than ChemDoodle. ChemDoodle works on all operating systems (both 32 and 64 bit), has one of the largest feature sets in the industry, has the most...

ChemDoodle has no features, suggest some!

ChemDoodle vs ChemDraw opinions
Most users think ChemDoodle is a great alternative to ChemDraw.
JohnFastman
Closest thing to ChemDraw functionality and, unlike ChemDraw, it works natively on Linux. Sadly, the author has chosen a frustrating atom-first drawing mechanic which is hugely counterintuitive. But if you can learn to accept it, ChemDoodle is a respectable ChemDraw alternative (unless you need to draw pi complexes).
Positive comment•
2

Guest
Functionally equivalent and very similar in features. Very similar layout makes it very easy for chemists to switch
Positive comment•
0
BKchem
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Digital Painting Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
12 alternatives to BKchem
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.
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BKchem Features
2D and 3D physics
Discontinued
The last release was in 2010.

BKchem vs ChemDraw opinions
Some users think BKchem is a great alternative to ChemDraw, some don't.
Guest
Very usefull software. You can paste images created with BKChem in a text processor or another open source graphical software like InkScape.
Positive comment•
0

JohnFastman
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.
Negative comment•
3
XDrawChem
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
10 alternatives to XDrawChem
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.

XDrawChem has no features, suggest some!
Discontinued
Last release (1.10.2-1) was in January 2017.
Add a screenshot

XDrawChem vs ChemDraw opinions
Most users think XDrawChem is a great alternative to ChemDraw.
Guest
More simply for use in class
Positive comment•
0
Gnome Chemistry Utils
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux
17 alternatives to Gnome Chemistry Utils
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. .
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Gnome Chemistry Utils Features
Periodic table
JChemPaint
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
7 alternatives to JChemPaint
JChemPaint is an editor and viewer for chemical structures in 2D. It is free and open source software, written in Java and so it runs on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Unix systems. There is a standalone application (editor), and two varieties of applet (editor and viewer) that...
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JChemPaint Features
Impact mapping
MollyCule
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
5 alternatives to MollyCule
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.

MollyCule has no features, suggest some!
Discontinued
Last update appears to be August 2011.
Molsketch
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No
Free • Open Source
Vector Graphic App
Windows
Mac
Linux
BSD
8 alternatives to Molsketch
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.
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Molsketch Features
1. Ad-freeMolsketch doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Molsketch without registration.
3. Dark ModeMolsketch supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
4. LightweightMolsketch consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
5. Works OfflineMolsketch can be used without the need to connect to the internet.