Draft Paper

Draft Paper

By Giles Goddard

Draft Paper is a mobile drafting tool for floor plans and technical layouts on iOS, offering vector exports for CAD compatibility.

The App DNA

What makes this app unique?

The app removes the friction of desktop-bound CAD software for quick, on-site sketching and initial design conceptualization.

For Architects, designers, and hobbyists requiring a mobile-first tool for quick floor plans and technical layouts.

What does it look like?

Key features

Multi-layer Drawingstandard

Supports up to 10 independent layers for floor plans and layouts, encouraging long-term project management.

DXF/PDF Exportedge

Exports to vector PDF or DXF for external CAD compatibility, enabling professional workflows.

Apple Pencil Supportstandard

Includes double-tap gesture support for drawing tools, improving input precision for iPad users.

How much does it cost?

freeFree access to all drawing and export features

Draft Paper operates as a free tool with no visible subscription or IAP gates, focusing on user acquisition.

Velocity

Dormant developmentperformanceShow more...

Draft Paper has been inactive for 711 days, indicating a complete cessation of development. The latest release, which focused on minor bug fixes for PDF and JPG exports, is the only version available in the analyzed window. There is no evidence of ongoing maintenance, feature development, or live operations.

See all version history

Who built it?

Giles Goddard

1 app tracked · Productivity

Explore the full publisher profile

User Sentiment

What do users think recently?

Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate simple and intuitive drawing tools allow users to quickly sketch floor plans and layout ideas and affordable pricing model makes professional-style technical drawing accessible for hobbyists and personal projects.

How are ratings & reviews evolving?

App Store
4.41 · 16k

What users say, by theme

What Users Love
  • Simple and intuitive drawing tools allow users to quickly sketch floor plans and layout ideas
  • Affordable pricing model makes professional-style technical drawing accessible for hobbyists and personal projects
  • Versatile application for diverse technical tasks including circuit diagrams and equipment floor layouts
What Frustrates Users
  • Frequent application crashes during active drafting sessions lead to significant loss of user progress
+ 2 more themes
What Users Want 3 requests inside

49 of 49 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Mixed overall

Read the full review analysis

Unlock 2 more frustration themes and 3 user requests, each backed by review evidence.

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Competition

Competitive landscape for Draft Paper

How's the Productivity market?

Draft Paper occupies a niche in the Productivity category, maintaining a 4.41★ rating across 15,690 total ratings. The lack of updates for 712 days signals a maintenance-only posture that limits its ability to compete with active CAD-lite rivals.

Read the market outlook

The rivals identified

Unlock the deeper market read.

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The Analyst's Read

Key takeaways for Draft Paper

Where is it heading?

The mobile drafting market is consolidating around tools that offer seamless cloud-sync and frequent stencil library updates. Draft Paper's maintenance-only posture leaves it exposed to churn, as the lack of basic features like imperial units and stability fixes prevents it from retaining users beyond initial project needs.

  • The 23-month development gap leaves Draft Paper vulnerable to modern rivals, as users increasingly demand cloud-sync and active feature support.
  • Frequent crashes during drafting sessions erode the daily active habit, which compounds the rating drag already visible in recent user feedback.

The SWOT

Core Strengths
  • Vector-based DXF/PDF export enables professional CAD compatibility
Critical Frictions 2 weaknesses inside
Growth Levers
  • Imperial measurement toggle would capture US hobbyist segment
Market Threats 1 threat identified

Next best moves

1 Invest · 1 Pivot

Audit crash logs to stabilize drafting sessions because crashes are the top-cited complaint → reduce churn

+ 1 more prioritized move

The counter-intuitive read

The 23-month development silence is a competitive advantage for Draft Paper…

Read the full take

Since the last report: Draft Paper remains in a 23-month maintenance cycle with no functional changes, though the analytical framing has shifted to position the app's stagnation as a deliberate choice for users avoiding modern software bloat.

Bottom line

Draft Paper’s vector-export capability retains a loyal base of technical users, but the persistent crash rate and lack of imperial support signal a high churn risk. Prioritizing stability and measurement localization would stabilize the user base against more active competitors.

Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.

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FAQ

Is Draft Paper suitable for professional architectural work?
Draft Paper is designed for quick sketches and layouts. While it supports professional DXF and PDF exports for CAD compatibility, the lack of recent updates and stability issues may limit its reliability for complex, long-term professional projects.
Does Draft Paper support feet and inches?
Currently, Draft Paper only supports metric units. Users have requested an imperial measurement toggle, but the app has not received a feature update to include this functionality.
Is Draft Paper free to use?
Yes, Draft Paper is a free tool with no visible subscription or in-app purchase gates for its drawing and export features.
What are some alternatives to Draft Paper?
Users seeking more active development or specific features like cloud-sync and imperial measurements should look for CAD-lite apps that receive regular updates and maintain active libraries of architectural objects.

Sources

  1. [1] App Store, source

Report last updated

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with automated quality gates, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Draft Paper, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

What's new

Draft Paper remains in a 23-month maintenance cycle with no functional changes, though the analytical framing has shifted to position the app's stagnation as a deliberate choice for users avoiding modern software bloat.

shifted

Contrarian Narrative Pivot

shifted

SWOT Analysis Focus

added

FAQ Alternative Guidance

Cite this report

Marlvel.ai. “Draft Paper Intelligence Report.” Updated Aug 19, 2026. https://marlvel.ai/apps/draft-paper

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