Autodesk now offers official cloud-based solutions. AutoCAD Web allows you to open, edit, and design CAD drawings directly inside a standard web browser on any computer without installing software, fulfilling the core promise of the original "portable" concept safely and legally. 2. Open-Source and Free DWG Alternatives

Most corporate or university computers block users from installing new software. Because a portable app doesn’t write to the Registry or Program Files , it often runs without admin passwords—bypassing strict IT lock-downs.

A "portable" application is a modified version of a software program designed to run without a traditional installation process.