In a way, Onshape is one of the best free CAD software right now. Visit Website 7. Unlike other CAD software in this list, LibreCAD is a 2D modeling software for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It’s an open-source and free CAD software so you can use it for both personal and commercial use. FreeCAD features tools similar to Catia, SolidWorks or Solid Edge, and therefore also falls into the category of MCAD, PLM, CAx and CAE. It's free for both personal and commercial use Guest. Nov 2019. 4 agrees and 0 disagrees AS far as I have tried, FreeCAD is the only FOSS alternative to Solidworks/Catia/PTC that has a funtional workflow.
The top free CAD software is DraftSight. The free CAD solution allows you to effortlessly transition from 2D drafting to 3D modeling. A powerful 2DEXPERIENCE module lets you finish models quickly and efficiently.
A reliable CAD is crucial if you want to speed up the time to introduce a product right out of your design and modeling department. For one, it makes life easier for your project managers and marketing teams. If your product development team is out of ideas, having quick access to CAD libraries should help. You may have budget concerns, leaving you no choice but to consider free CAD software in the market. They may not have the awesome factor that the premium ones offer, but they’re the ones to help you get there too.
In this article, we present 10 of the best free CAD software for you to choose from. This should shorten the time you need to get your business running. That and without expending more time and effort than necessary. Determine which one looks right for your needs now and consider any upgrade path that you might need later on. At the very least, they should allow you to work and save in a variety of formats to make them usable to other teams.
What are the 10 Best Free CAD Software Solutions?
If you’re operating a small firm, working with a limited budget presents its own unique challenges. However, it should not stop you from falling behind the technology curve.
Two developments, for example, should play nicely in your hands: mobile CAD and the continued rise of vendors offering SaaS subscription-based CAD.
Mobile CAD
Mobile devices will not likely replace desktop systems in creating complex CADs soon. However, they are a great boon for on-site activities where teams could easily view, annotate and update ongoing projects.
Through a vast improvement in their workflow, mobile CAD can now share knowledge and shorten production cycles unlike before.
This new ability to synchronize devices and users in real time is a fundamental leap from previous work conditions, increasing productivity and efficiency everywhere.
SaaS CAD
The massive logistics challenges in migrating CAD to the cloud meant that CAD would be among the last to follow the SaaS business model. It is happening now, however, and this could only be great news for small firms that could not afford the steep licensing terms required.
Business Advantage reports, for example, that around 19% of CAD users will be using cloud-based CAD, with a predicted increase of 29% in the next 3 to 5 years.
While vendors work out how to ideally implement cloud CAD, what’s clear is that in the next five to ten years, engineers will be migrating the majority of their work online. This will bring with it powerful data management solutions, intense security.
One area of CAD that should see an immediate effect is parametric modeling. Engineers will fondly remember how in-context design, standard content, configurations and multi-part modeling used to be unreliable and ugly previously. In the era of cloud CAD, these tools will become more robust, helping users finish designs faster.
10 Best Free CAD Software Solutions
1. DraftSight
For up to December 31, 2019, feature-rich CAD solution DraftSight will let you design in 2D or 3D using the 2018 free version and the ones that came earlier. Beyond that, the vendor will only allow a thirty-day free trial version for the latest 2019 edition.
Draftsight allows for compatibility with any 2D or 3D DWG file. The user interface is easy to learn, helping you transition if you are using another CAD solution before.
In addition to already powerful features, DraftSight introduced new 3D capabilities in its latest update. This provides more choices and flexibility for users to design projects. DraftSight is also exploring the possibility of adding a cloud-based version of the software with additional features in the works.
Getting DraftSight makes sense, especially if you use other Dassault Systemes and SOLIDWORKS solutions.
Price Range: Standard Versions up to 2018 are free, but will cease running after December 31, 2019. Starting in 2019, DraftSight pricing for Standard, Professional, and Premium editions are $99, $199, and $499, respectively. There is an Enterprise edition but you need to request a quote for it.
Key Features of DraftSight
A feature-rich 2D/3D CAD platform for whatever purpose, whether you’re an engineer or a hobbyist.
Lets you create, edit, view, and review any DWG files without sacrificing speed, efficiency, and ease in adjustment.
Greater freedom to go from drafting 2D to 3D designs, as well as to seamlessly transition between Dassault’s design platforms.
2. Onshape
Fully free for students and non-professional or non-commercial users, CAD software Onshape helps you design all aspects of design activity through real-time observation. The platform helps you improve product design process through robust CAD assembly and configurations. It lets you complete your work quickly and effectively without being overwhelmed by an unfamiliar GUI.
Clear design elements prevent you from losing track of activities. For example, simply monitor your work by scrolling through an activity feed. You have full access to raw analytics for further study. If you have different types of users, you simply need to configure your users easily as full, light, or guest accounts. It lets you monitor your team easily through audit logs, so you know who did what and where they accomplished it.
They say modern problems require modern solutions, and Onshape is as modern as you can get with CAD.
Price Range: Free for students, non-professional and non-commercial users. The professional version costs $2,100 per year, while the Enterprise and Standard versions are priced $1,500 and $20,000, respectively. A free trial is available.
Key Features of Onshape
Visibility enables you to monitor tasks in real-time, a first in the industry.
Enables universal access for every stakeholder.
Customized roles and permission schemes let you quickly assign and reassign tasks.
Enterprise edition with a single log-in process.
Modern CAD and data management eliminate crashes and IT intervention.
3. Fusion 360
Free for startups with less than US 100k per year in total revenue and non-commercial hobbyists, Autodesk’s Fusion 360 is designed to help you design your products and bring them to market faster than you’ve ever imagined. Design, conceptualize and test your products using only a single platform from start to finish. Among other Fusion 360 benefits is the test tool, which ensures your designs are complete and will work.
Cloud storage helps you get the best of team collaboration. Earn more control of your data through managed user permissions and make sure only your team knows what’s happening to the design, and not everyone else. Create and test prototypes through the program, and explore possible outcomes about the product even before it hits the assembly line. Make sure that weight, performance, and part issues are resolved before a physical copy of the product is made.
If you’re interested to know more about the product development process of Fusion 360, sign up here for a free copy of their software.
Price Range: Aside from the free use for startups, hobbyists and non-commercial users, there are three different terms of subscription. A monthly plan costs $60, an annual plan costs $495, and a three-year plan costs $1,335. There are free 1-year and 3-year subscriptions for non-commercial and educational use.
Key Features of Fusion 360
Simplify workflow with all the tools you need available in one place.
Quick generation helps you find the flaws and errors in your design.
Lets you create 2D drawings directly from your 3D creations through accurate documentation.
Collaborate easily with all members of the team through a single, shared project dashboard.
True CAD + CAM integration lets you avoid rework, defects, and missed deadlines.
4. Tinkercad
As one of the best free CAD software around, Tinkercad is also perfect for beginners. There are Tinkercad features for any level of designer. New designers, for example, can start by creating bricks similar to Lego. Minecraft gamers, on the other hand, can test their creativity through a Minecraft-like modeler. More serious designers can create more sophisticated designs without stifling their creativity.
You may design circuits and 3D designs with ease. If you’re into codes, you may design objects using codes you know by heart. Once you’re done, you may proceed to print in 3D using Tinkercad’s partner services. Once done, they will ship your creations to your doorstep, laser-cut and ready to be presented.
Price Range: Free
Key Features of Tinkercad
Create, design, and make anything you think of.
Come up with your simulation, then assemble it to see what it looks like in the final render.
Design an object using code.
5. FreeCAD
As its name suggests, FreeCAD is free to download. Not only that: it also gives you absolute freedom to design and create. The open-source 3D modeler lets you design real-life objects of any size. You may sketch in 2D then transform that into 3D images. With it, you can see how dimensions affect the design. Use any number of components to complete your design and simulate how parts move and come together as in real life.
Other FreeCAD details show a fully multi-platform software that supports Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. It is highly customizable owing to its open source nature. For file support, it reads and writes many open file formats so you can share works across your team. FreeCAD simply works, whether you’re a mechanical engineer or just a hobbyist creator.
Despite its free nature, it comes ready with a wide selection of tools that helps you create and test just about anything. A robot simulation module and a Path workbench are available with the free trial.
Price Range: Free to download; always actively updated.
Key Features of FreeCAD
With its open CASCADE Technology-based geometry kernel, allows for complex 3D shapes and operations.
Sharpes can be based on different properties or even depend on other objects.
Modular architecture allows for plugin extensions that add functions to the core program.
Standard formats such as STEP, OBJ, DXF, SVG, or OFF and the like are supported, in addition to the native FCStd file format of FreeCAD.
Different programmable modules that allow for a greater degree of studying functions and uses within the graphical environment.
Integrated spreadsheet and expression parser uses drive formula base to help organize model data into a single, central location.
6. LibreCAD
LibreCAD provides CAM capabilities into the community version of QCAD. It is an improved QCAD version with Qt4 enhancements, allowing for better rendering and modernized support. Aside from being completely free, it comes with a dedicated development team and an actively helpful community. There’s a partnership with BRL-CAD and JetBrains, which has lent their CLion licenses.
The latest version of its engine has the LcPainter layout. This improves its existing OpenGLpainter, which can render draw() codes. It is also armed with the current transition matrix—CTM. A fast caching mechanism helps you save data. There’s gradient rendering to create a linear gradient and calculate the color (R, G, B, A) for each vertex using vector mathematics.
As its name says, LibreCAD is completely free and easy to download.
Price Range: Free, open-source
Key Features of LibreCAD
Completely free to download; no trials and subscriptions to worry about.
Developed by a dedicated team with support from a vibrant community, ensuring the source copy gets improved with each addition.
Available with over 30 languages and with cross-platform support for three major OSes—macOS, Windows, Linux.
7. OpenSCAD
OpenSCAD is another excellent choice for free software. Perfect for highly technical users, it’s remarkable for creating 3D representations of machine parts. As a 3D-compiler, it reads a script file that describes the object and renders the 3D model from it. It gives the designer full control over all aspects of the modeling process. Configurable parameters make it easy to change designs.
Two modeling techniques are available to creators: the constructive solid geometry and the extrusion of 2D outlines. DXF files, readable by Autocad, is the data format used for 2D files. The platform can also read from DXF files and create 3D models that can be saved in STL and OFF file formats.
OpneSCAD is downloadable in a variety of different OS.
Price Range: Free; accepts donations through Paypal.
Key Features of OpenSCAD
Can create constructive solid geometry (CSG) and 2D outlines.
Lets you read design parameters from DXF files aside from 2D paths.
Import/export 3D models from STL and OFF file formats.
8. QCAD
Another open source application, QCAD lets you create technical drawings, building plans and mechanical parts in 2D. Different schematics and diagrams are available, and the source code is also available under the GPL v3. You can add to it as it suits you, or remove any features you feel you don’t need. Its true beauty, however, is in the design.
The application offers a portable solution with an intuitive interface. These features come into play once you realize how powerful this CAD software is. QCAD is one of those platforms which you can use as soon as you pick it up. The software is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms.
Price Range: Free to download.
Key Features of QCAD
Layering, as well as blocks that can be grouped.
Prints to scale and on multiple pages as well.
A multitude of tools for construction and modification.
Over 4,800 CAD parts available in its parts library.
Operates using the ECMAScript (JavaScript) interface.
9. 3D Slash
With its similarity to the block-building game Minecraft, 3D Slash directly appeals to gamers. It is also free and is browser-based. The light, fun interface makes it is easy for beginners to learn 3D modeling. Intermediate workers, on the other hand, just need to start creating. The platform is optimized for use on any media, whether on mobile or desktop. A notable 3D Slash benefit is letting creators display their designs on social media. If that is not an option, they may instead opt to go for 3D printer.
You may slice or slash a cube as easy as if playing a game. A new feature lets you engrave pictures or text on a model. There’s a wide color palette so you can color your cube in any dye of your choice. You get two version options: for use in classrooms or in the workplace. All formats are synchronized for support.
With it’s easy to pick up nature, beginners or returning designers won’t have any problem designing in the platform.
The free app gives users online storage for the web version. You can only work with 8 colors, though, limiting what you can do. The premium is only 2 dollars, so that leaves you with a good subscription option.
Price Range: low-cost plans, from Free to Premium ($2 per month), School ($8 per month), and Professional ($20 per month) versions.
Key Features of 3D Slash
Unique interface makes creating models lightweight.
Easy to start, easy to create through fast technology.
Features are designed for both basic work and for professionals.
Online and offline working platforms synchronized.
Advanced features work precisely with the platform.
10. nanoCAD
With a free version and other professional versions, nanoCAD caters to industry standards. A wide variety of APIs is backed by a powerful table editor. It is well-supported by a dedicated community of people who are directly connected to the CAD software industry with years of expertise. nanoCAD features an interface that’s easy to master because of its familiarity. Better still, its drafting and design tools are also easy to use.
It has various productivity features and is always updated through updates and prioritized online support. nanoCAD brings most of what makes CAD software a must-have; the capability to edit, validate, share, and manage CAD models, but mostly none of what makes CAD software hard to master from the start.
Price Range: Free version; all other professional versions come with a free trial. The other six versions include the Plus version at $180, the Pro version at $290, the Construction at $260, the Construction Site edition at $260, the Mechanica version at $300, the Construction Site edition at $600 and the 3DScan that is only quote-based.
Key Features of nanoCAD
Easy-to-use platform with a great user experience, powered by high performance.
Excel-style table editor with a set of different capabilities.
ActiveX automation and support for LISP available.
C++/C# APIs supported on top of its core functions.
Plot settings allow multiple plot area setups and multi-page plotting.
Consider Other Tools that Go Right with CAD Apps
That’s it, our top ten best free CAD software. One of these platforms should be the software just right for your needs. It could be in terms of fast workflows, more advanced modeling and the like.
CAD applications are just one of a number of applications that design professionals have at their disposal. For those in the construction industry, they may consider construction management software to give them a good handle of every aspect of their projects, from design, estimates, workflows to reporting and analysis among many others.
BIM software is another class of applications closely related to CAD. If you’re in the building industry, you might really need this one more than a CAD platform.
If you’re an architectural firm, these top architecture software solutions may be a better fit. They have elements of CAD, BIM and project management tools designed for structural outlining and visual presentation.
Collaboration tools, on the other hand, are also great partners to your CAD app of choice. It should help you handle even remote team members while ensuring that apps and files required for the projects are always on hand.
Here at Scan2CAD, we like to keep our readers informed on all the biggest CAD software available. If you’re one of our regular readers or just a general CAD user, you should be more than familiar with the flagship software from Dassault Systèmes—SolidWorks. We’ve discussed in the past the advantages to using such a product. Unfortunately, not all CAD users can afford to invest in SolidWorks. So, what can we do? Simply invest instead in affordable SolidWorks alternatives.
Our guide will show you our top 5 affordable SolidWorks alternatives including prices, feature comparisons and much more.
It’s easy to see why SolidWorks is so popular across industries, hobbyists and students. With 2D, 3D and parametric capabilities, SolidWorks has a lot to offer. If you’re looking to buy if for yourself however, you might end up setting yourself back. There are three different versions of SolidWorks currently available (excluding industry-specific packages):
Standard: $3,995
Professional: $5,490
Premium: $7,995
You can expect additional costs on top of these prices if you want a one-year subscription service. If you’re a CAD professional or part of a larger business, this price will be more than paid back by the high-quality output. For those of you who see themselves as a pure hobbyist or living on a tight budget, you might want to look beyond SolidWorks.
If you’re a student, you can get SolidWorks for free—see our students’ guide to CAD to find out what else you can get for free. If you’d prefer not to have to spend any money, we’ve got the perfect answer—14 top free CAD packages to download. Bear in mind that they won’t have a fraction of the capabilities offered by software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD, but that’s usually a given with free software. If you’re looking for software that offers some, if not all, of SolidWorks’ functionalities and features, then keep on reading.
Operating System: Windows
Price: $1,890/year or $5,670/three years
Interested? Try out the free trial!
If you like to frequent our blog, you should be more than familiar with CAD giant Autodesk. Although we tend to focus predominantly on AutoCAD, we’re going to look here at another popular Autodesk product—Inventor. Offering solutions for 3D mechanical design, simulation and communication, Inventor is a direct competitor of SolidWorks. Additionally, it comes with powerful parametric and freeform modeling tools.
Head-to-head comparison
For SolidWorks users, Inventor might be an interesting software package to get to grips with. Istat menus 6 00 (905) download free. Why? While SolidWorks is limited primarily to engineering, Inventor targets both engineering and architecture. As such, you might find yourself being able to do a bit more than you could previously with SolidWorks—especially if your interests lie in architecture. If you’ve worked with Autodesk software before, you’ll find Inventor’s interface to be relatively straightforward.
As with AutoCAD and SolidWorks, Inventor comes with a handy command line and keyboard shortcuts which speed up your entire design process. Moving beyond parametric and assembly modeling capabilities, Inventor also comes with a shape generator, enabling users to create high-performing design options in mere minutes. Users can also enjoy Inventor’s superior rendering capabilities—seeing their completed designs in a real-world capacity.
Seeing as we’ve described Inventor as a lighter product, you won’t be surprised to hear that SolidWorks has more advanced features—fastener mating, for example, is much easier to do in SolidWorks. Inventor has a smaller online presence—in tutorials and resources—which can hinder your overall learning curve.
Verdict
SolidWorks is by far the superior package—with advanced tools like motion, stress and thermal analysis—causing Inventor to fall behind slightly. That being said, Inventor has a lot to offer people looking for affordable SolidWorks alternatives. If you don’t need the heavy, advanced capabilities of SolidWorks, Inventor might be your new go-to package.
Operating System: Windows, Mac
Price: $995 (Windows), $695 (Mac)
Interested? Try out the free trial!
A 3D graphics and CAD software, Rhino offers SolidWorks users a different spin on modeling. Based on the NURBS model, Rhino is a free form surface modeler. Unlike SolidWorks, Rhino spans across a wide variety of (mostly creative) industries including industrial design, architecture and product design.
Head-to-head comparison
One of the first things you should bear in mind with Rhino is that it isn’t the same as mechanical engineering software. That is, it’s built primarily for creative design—spanning across a wide variety of industries. So, what makes it so popular? It’s intuitive, light and a stable software package compared to other commercial 3D modelers.
With Rhino you get full creative licence to build whatever you want without conforming to the rigid constraints of other software. Like SolidWorks and many other CAD programs, Rhino comes with a series of command features—enabling users to do more with just a few keyboard shortcuts. Not only does Rhino provide a wide variety of customization tools, it also enables add-on plugins. Grasshopper, for example, is a visual programming language used primarily to create generative algorithms and flow-chart style commands. In short, the sky’s the limit when it comes to design in Rhino.
Unfortunately, Rhino’s flexibility can work against itself. While you can create whatever comes to mind, it’s all too easy to create a part that’s not manufacturable and might not import well into other CAD packages. Issues like intersecting lines can also occur rather frequently. It’s for this reason that Rhino might not be a preferred modeler if you’re looking for precision.
Verdict
Rhino 3D is a package that truly enables users to create all types of designs imaginable. If you’re looking for ultimate precision, however, you might want to look elsewhere. While it’s perfect for escaping the ordinary constraints of other software, Rhino isn’t really suitable for production—you can’t get solid objects, so it’s mostly useful for mocking up ideas.
Operating System: Windows
Price: $99 to $299/month
Interested? Try out the free trial!
Solid Edge is a 3D CAD software developed by Siemens PLM Software. While you might not be familiar with it, that doesn’t mean you should disregard it. Not only is it a solid modeler, it also comes with synchronous technology—a feature that polarizes many users. Popular amongst mechanical engineers, Solid Edge also has links to PLM technologies.
Head-to-head comparison
To start off, Solid Edge is a lot more basic than SolidWorks. While this can be off-putting for some users, others might find it to be a welcome change. After all, what’s the point in investing in software like SolidWorks if you’re not using all of its advanced features? Coming with an easy interface and full parametric modeling, Solid Edge provides an easy learning curve for beginners and CAD experts alike.
You might find the user interface to be a little bit cluttered the first time you’re introduced to it. Once you take a closer look, however, you’ll find that the UI tends to group all necessary commands together, making it easier to find everything you need. With four types of modeling capabilities—ordered, direct, synchronous and assembly—you’ve got a lot to play around with. Solid Edge also integrates Sharepoint and Teamcenter to provide Product Lifecycle Management, not to mention full support for Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
One of Solid Edge’s most polarizing features is its synchronous technology. While it can combine the speed of direct modeling with the flexibility of parametric design, it can also be difficult to grasp. If you take the time, however, it could very well improve your overall performance and productivity.
Verdict
If you don’t need all of SolidWorks’ capabilities—or you’re tired of it burning a hole in your pocket—you might want to consider making the move to Solid Edge. Bear in mind, however, that you’ll have to put in some serious effort to get to grips with its synchronous technology.
Operating System: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android OS
Price: Free, Professional $125/month
Interested? Try out the free trial!
If you’re a regular Scan2CAD user, you might be familiar with Onshape—a CAD system delivered over the Internet as an SAAS model. As we’ve discussed in our guide to cloud-based CAD, Onshape enables users to create, edit and share models through just a web browser or the iOS and Android apps. There’s a free version—ideal if you want to test the waters—and a professional version.
Head-to-head comparison
Where should we start with Onshape? As a cloud-based 3D CAD modeler, Onshape enables users to reap a wide variety of benefits. With it, you no longer have to worry about buying workstations, long installations or updating licences. If you’re constantly sharing files, you might be pleased to hear that you can even send designs to people who don’t have an Onshape licence, to view in their own browser.
In the era of the cloud, Onshape is certainly at the forefront of the CAD industry. Offering robust parametric 3D modeling, multi-part modeling and in-context editing, Onshape is intuitive and the perfect collaborative tool. It doesn’t matter if you’re collaborating with people across the world, Onshape enables you to collaborate in real-time, erasing the issue of duplicate designs. It even has an app store where you can purchase add-ons for simulation, rendering, CAM and much more.
There isn’t currently an offline version of Onshape, which can be a pain if you’ve not got access to the internet. That being said, WiFi is pretty widespread nowadays, so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Some users have noted that there can be long loading times, however this is an issue that most CAD programs are susceptible to.
Verdict
SolidWorks is a powerful package; however, it can’t do anything to combat against bad team workflows. Onshape, by comparison, is able to create a seamless workflow between teams and clients. While it might take you a while to get used to it, you might want to consider moving out of the Dark Ages and embracing cloud-based CAD.
Operating System: Windows, Mac
Price: $40/month, $300/year, $600/2 years
Interested? Try out the free trial!
Citing itself as the first 3D CAD, CAM and CAE tool of its kind, Fusion 360 is certainly a powerful tool to consider. While not one of Autodesk’s most well-known products, Fusion 360 is another cloud-based tool that you should test out as a viable, affordable SolidWorks alternative.
Head-to-head comparison
Solidworks 2d Free
An all-in-one design and mechanical engineering package, Fusion 360’s interface might be a little bit overwhelming for new users at first. Once you get the hang of it, however, you’ll find it to be an intriguing alternative to SolidWorks. With everything available in a single package, you can easily go from design to prototype in a matter of hours or days—as opposed to months.
Solidworks free. download full Version
You’ll find some of Fusion 360’s tools to be familiar, especially if you’re a SolidWorks user. Bear in mind that it is a lighter package however, so aspects like assembly functions are relatively limited compared to SolidWorks. Like Onshape, Fusion 360 offers parametric modeling, rapid prototyping and speedy rendering. Some users have also been pleased to note that it comes with a history tree and a fluid workflow—courtesy of the cloud.
As with most software however, the larger your model, the more cumbersome the process. If you’re working with large-scale models, you might struggle with using Fusion 360. Additionally, it lacks more powerful design generators, mechanical simulations and documentation tools.
Verdict
Best Free Cad Software Similar To Solidworks Download
Fusion 360 offers the same kinds of benefits as Onshape. With it being cloud-based, you’re not constrained to a single, desktop package. You might, however, end up sacrificing the more powerful functionalities you’re used to with SolidWorks. The main difference between Fusion 360 and Onshape lies in the price and interface—Fusion 360 is cheaper and offers a more familiar ground for previous Autodesk users.
Solidworks 2d Cad Free
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