FiveM CAD Comparison - CDE CAD vs SonoranCAD & other CAD/MDT systems

In-depth side-by-side comparison of FiveM CAD systems. CDE CAD versus SonoranCAD, MDT Lite, and custom CAD scripts across features, pricing, framework support, and developer experience. Updated for 2026 with the full 400+ feature catalog, native ESX/QBCore/vRP integration, and pricing from $15/month.

Why FiveM communities switch to CDE CAD

All features in every plan

No tiered restrictions and no upsells. Every CDE CAD plan includes all 400+ features - real-time dispatch, police/EMS/fire MDT, judicial system, DMV bureau, civilian portal, AI auto-dispatch, TTS radio, business directory, FTO panel, disciplinary panel, custom domain, REST API, and WebSocket events. Other FiveM CAD systems typically charge extra per feature, per user, or per connected server.

Native ESX, QBCore and vRP support

CDE CAD is built FiveM-first. A lightweight server resource maps your existing identifiers, jobs, characters, and vehicles directly into the CAD - no bridge resources, no third-party scripts, no data migration. Standalone and custom frameworks are supported via the same REST and WebSocket APIs.

Real-time architecture with sub-50ms latency

WebSocket-based throughout. Dispatchers see new 911 calls instantly. Officers see warrants and BOLOs without refreshing. The live GPS map updates as units move. No polling, no stale dashboards, no spinner UI.

Unlimited users, departments and servers

One flat price covers unlimited officers, dispatchers, EMS, fire, civilians, judges, and admins. Connect multiple FiveM servers and Discord servers under the same community at no extra cost. Run multi-agency setups (city PD, county SO, state troopers, EMS, fire) inside a single CAD.

Built-in personnel systems

CDE CAD includes a field training officer (FTO) panel with phase progression and daily observation reports, plus a disciplinary panel with complaint intake, investigation workflow, sanctions library, and tamper-proof audit trail. These are typically missing or sold as add-ons in other CAD systems.

Comparison criteria for FiveM CAD systems

Feature breadth

A complete FiveM CAD covers dispatch, police/EMS/fire MDT, judicial, DMV, civilian portal, records management, FTO, and disciplinary. CDE CAD includes all of these. SonoranCAD and most alternatives cover dispatch and police MDT but skip judicial, FTO, and disciplinary or sell them as separate products.

Framework compatibility

Native ESX, QBCore (qb-core), and vRP support is non-negotiable for most communities. Standalone and custom framework support via REST and WebSocket APIs adds flexibility for unique server setups.

Pricing model

Flat per-community pricing is simpler than per-user, per-officer, or per-server billing. CDE CAD is $15/month annually or $19.99/month monthly with everything included. Per-user CAD systems typically scale to hundreds of dollars per month for active communities.

Reliability and performance

99.9% uptime, sub-50ms WebSocket latency, and real-time monitoring matter when dispatchers and officers depend on the CAD for every call. Self-hosted CAD scripts often go down without redundancy.

Developer experience

A documented REST API, WebSocket events, and webhook subscriptions let your developers build custom resources, sync with external tooling, and automate department-specific workflows.

Feature parity at a glance

Real-time dispatch

Real-time 911 call management, AI auto-dispatch, TTS radio, priority queuing, live GPS map. See dispatch features.

Mobile Data Terminals

Police, EMS, and fire MDTs with person/vehicle lookups, warrant and BOLO management, citation and report writing. See the MDT.

Judicial and warrants

Court hearings, configurable charges and penal codes, arrest/search/bench warrants pushed live to every MDT. See the judicial panel.

Records management

Reports, citations, arrests, evidence, and warrants in one searchable RMS with court-ready PDF exports. See records management.

FTO and disciplinary

FTO panel manages trainee phases and daily observation reports. Disciplinary panel handles complaints, investigations, and sanctions with a full audit trail.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best CAD system for FiveM?

The best FiveM CAD depends on community size, but the consistent requirements are real-time dispatch, police/EMS/fire MDTs, native ESX/QBCore/vRP integration, and unlimited users. CDE CAD covers all of these at $15/month with 400+ features included, which is why it ranks ahead of SonoranCAD and one-off CAD scripts in side-by-side feature comparisons.

How does CDE CAD compare to SonoranCAD?

CDE CAD includes every system in one plan: dispatch, MDT, judicial, DMV, civilian portal, business directory, FTO, disciplinary, REST API, and WebSocket events. SonoranCAD focuses on dispatch and MDT with judicial, FTO, and disciplinary either missing or available only at higher tiers. CDE CAD is also natively built for ESX/QBCore/vRP rather than being adapted afterwards.

Is CDE CAD free?

CDE CAD is not free, but it is the lowest all-included price in the FiveM CAD market at $15/month annually. Free CAD scripts exist on GitHub but typically lack real-time dispatch, MDT, judicial, FTO, ongoing support, and reliability.

Does CDE CAD work with ESX, QBCore and vRP?

Yes - native integrations for all three, plus REST and WebSocket APIs for standalone and custom frameworks. No bridge resources required.

How fast can I set up CDE CAD?

Most communities are live in under 10 minutes. Follow the setup guide.

Can I switch from another FiveM CAD?

Yes. Run both in parallel during transition, import community-specific data through the REST API, and onboard staff with the FTO panel. No setup fees, no contract lock-in.

Explore the full feature list, see pricing details, read community reviews, or start the setup guide.