Its features are similar to, though fewer in number to ZBrush, though, and there are limitations in exporting. Still, if you want to get stuck into 3D sculpting and digital clay, ZBrushCoreMini is an excellent CAD software option. Best free CAD software for: Intermediate 3D sculptors who don’t need the feature set of ZBrush or Mudbox. FreeCAD is a general purpose parametric 3D CAD modeler. The development is completely Open Source (LGPL License). FreeCAD is aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product design but also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture or other engineering specialties.
- Open Source Parametric Cad
- Best Free Parametric Cad Software Download
- Best Parametric Modeling Software
- 3d Parametric Software
What is the top free CAD software?
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.
Open Source Parametric Cad
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.
Before the advent of technology, architects and engineers would make use of papers and rulers in making their drawings. Drawings for road construction and houses had to be designed manually. This kind of drawing required a certain level of accuracy. Also, it was time-consuming and physically draining. With progress being made in the technological world over the years, drawing and designing can now be done with relative ease. Using the computer, you can draw whatever you want and also edit your drawings. But the computer on its own cannot draw or make designs for you. There are software's needed in the computer that allows you to draw and carry out your designs. An example of such software is the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software.
Contents
- Top Best CAD Software for All Levels
CAD software is an essential tool used by professional architects, graphic designers, engineers, animators, and anyone who intends to bring his or her designs to life. It offers designers a variety of options when it comes to creating industry templates of high standard. CAD software opens up designs to 2D and 3D views. Using CAD software, architects and engineers in the construction industry can now engage in 3D printing.
Benefits and Features of CAD Software
During the time of manual designs, engineers and architects takes ages to complete a single design. Making modifications to these designs was also time-consuming. But with the introduction of CAD software, designers are now able to create 2D and 3D drawings. This has helped in greater productivity and accuracy of drawings. So, one of the benefits of CAD software is that it enhances productivity and greater accuracy of drawings. Other benefits of CAD software are:
Also Read: Top Raspberry Pi Zero Projects to Build in 2020
- It is easy to use.
- CAD software gives you flexibility for additional information. What this means is that you can easily incorporate multiple layers of the design into one easy to use design.
- CAD software allows you to zoom in on designs, adjust the resolution of the drawings and even rotate the drawing for view from multiple angles.
- CAD software allows you to import and export designs through multiple file extensions.
The features of CAD software include:
- It supports 2D and 3D designs
- Access to all tools you need in an intuitive dashboard.
- CAD software allows you to incorporate various industry standards into your template. This helps prevent the need to start a drawing from scratch.
- CAD designs can easily be saved and modified.
- CAD software allows designers to group items that are similar together through a system of classifications and coding.
Now you have an understanding of what CAD software is, let's now consider the best CAD software for all levels.
Summary of Top Best CAD Software for All Levels
Best Free Parametric Cad Software Download
CAD Software | User Level Required | Price |
TinkerCAD | Beginner | Free |
FreeCAD | Beginner | Free |
BlocksCAD | Beginner | Free |
Creo | Intermediate | £2,190 after 30-day free trial |
AutoCAD | Intermediate |
|
Fusion 360 | Professional |
|
SolidWorks | Professional |
|
CATIA | Professional | Starting around $10,000 |
OpensCAD | Professional | Free |
Rhino | Professional | Commercial €995 |
Top Best CAD Software for All Levels
The following is a list of the top 10 CAD software from beginner to professional level.
TinkerCAD - CAD Software
TinkerCAD is a browser-based 3D design app. It is designed for beginners coming from Autodesk. It allows you to develop models from a collection of basic shapes, using a block-building concept. Tinkercard is more than just a simple 3D modeling tool. It possesses features which help to bring electronics and coding into the fold. Some of the features and benefits of Tinker Cad include:
- TinkerCad has a direct interaction with third-party printing services.
- It features a codeblock editor which makes it easy for users to create 3D objects by defining a set of instructions.
- Circuit editor which helps users to better understand electronic circuitry.
- TinkerCard can be used for laser cutting
Level: Beginner
Price: Free
FreeCAD - CAD Software
FreeCAD is a completely free parametric 3D modeler that is made primarily to allow users design real-life objects of any size. It uses parametric modeling to allow users modify their design with ease by going back into the model history and making changes to parameters. FreeCAD is open-source, scriptable, extensible, and highly-customizable. It is a full graphical user interface (GUI) application and comes with a 3D viewer that makes for fast rendering of 3D and very accessible scenes. Features and benefits of FreeCAD include:
Best Parametric Modeling Software
- It allows users design real-life objects of any size
- It allows users to easily modify their design
- It allows user modify their designs by going back into the model history and altering its parameters.
- It offers a Sketcher with a constraint-solver that allows users to sketch 2D shapes.
- It offers a robot simulation that helps to study robot movements
- It offers a Path module that is dedicated to mechanical machining like milling (CAM)
- FreeCAD can adjust, output, and display G-Code for 3D printing.
Level: Beginner Linux based video editing software.
Price: Free
BlocksCAD - CAD Software
BlocksCAD's 3D software was created specifically for educational purposes. It was developed as learning software for anyone who intends to later use OpenSCAD, which is more professional. The commands denoting transformations, objects, and more are represented by colorful blocks, stacked together like the well-known construction toys, LEGO bricks. Features and benefits of BlocksCAD include:
- It is compatible with OpenSCAD. This means that you can complete your model in OpenSCAD, after starting out with BlocksCAD.
- The finished design can be saved in an STL or OpenSCAD format
- It is an educative 3D modeling software and has a YouTube channel that contains different tutorials for anyone who wants to learn 3D modeling.
Level: Beginner
Price: Free
Creo - CAD Software
Creo's 3D CAD software is among the market leaders in product designed. It was developed more than 30 years ago by Parametric Technology Corporation. Creo software integrates much functionality such as thermal, motion, structural, parametric, and freestyle surface generation. It also includes direct modeling. Features and benefits of Creo include:
- Creo is a complete tool and is ideal for additive manufacturing. It allows you to perform your dimensioning calculations while modeling your final idea.
- Real-time simulation
- Multibody design
- Generative design
Level: Intermediate
Price: Creo Design Packages start at £2,190. But you can also enjoy a 30-day free trial version.
AutoCAD - CAD Software
Autodesk AutoCAD software is one of the foremost CAD software in the market. Released in 1982, it is well-established across various industries. However, the popularity of AutoCAD in the 3D printing community has decreased in the past few years. The reason for this decline is mainly because AutoCAD is not so easy to use when it comes to 3D modeling. It is better suited for 2D drafting. Features and benefits of AutoCAD include:
- 3D models can easily be converted to STL files for 3D printing.
- AutoCAD can be used to create 2D drawings and 3D models.
- AutoCAD allows you to find weak areas in designs.
- It offers impressive photorealistic rendering capabilities.
Level: Intermediate
Price: AutoCAD has a free and fully functional version available for students and faculties to download. But for commercial use, it costs $210/month or $1,521/year
Fusion 360 - CAD Software
Fusion 360is a cloud-based professional 3D CAD software by Autodesk. It is unique in the sense that it utilizes the power of the cloud to bring together design teams to join forces on complex projects. Fusion 360 has numerous design options. These options include solid, freeform, and mesh modeling. Features and benefits of Fusion 360 are:
- Generative design
- It is relatively easy to use, compared with other professional solid-body 3D modeling software.
- Fusion 360 stores the entire model history, including all the changes.
- Fusion 360 developers regularly update its features, making it better as new installments come along.
- It runs on multiple platforms, allowing users access their information wherever they want.
- Fusion 360 supports the import/export of common CAD file types.
Level: Professional
Price: Fusion 360 is free for students, educators, and academic institutions. But for commercial use, it costs $60/month or $495/year.
Solidworks - CAD Software
Solidworks is a parametric featured-based modeling software. It was published by Dassault Systèmes and is often used by professional 3D designers. It tends to be used mostly for industrial objects. Solidworks is quite practical and detailed. It includes a wide range of features which include design validation tools and reverse engineering. Other features and benefits of Solidworks include:
Also Read: List of Untapped Niche Markets to Potentially Get Explosive Traffic
- It uses a system of non-uniform rational basis spline (NURBS).
- It uses dimensional sketching instead of polygonal modeling. This makes resizing far less of a hassle.
- It allows users work with PDFs and various raster image files. This gives users more flexibility when working on designs.
Level: Professional
Price: Standard license costs $3,995, professional license costs $5,490 and premium license costs $7,955.
CATIA - CAD Software
CATIA CAD solution is powered by Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE platform. It is more than just a CAD software. It is a multi-platform software suite for CAD, CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering), CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing), and more. CATIA software is useful for industrial and creative designers, system architects, and mechanical engineers. Features and benefits of CATIA software include:
- CATIA provides a 3D design environment that makes it easy for online people and stakeholders to collaborate on product modeling and to share product designs.
- CATIA gives users creative freedom with its design options.
- It allows users edit specific sections of their creations.
Level: Professional
Price: Starting price around $10,000
OpenSCAD - CAD Software
3d Parametric Software
OpenSCAD is an open-source CAD software that is aimed at making solid 3D models. For experienced users who need a platform for elaborated projects, OpenSCAD is a good option. It is also an intuitive software for coders/programmers as it centered on the extrusion of 2D outlines and constructive solid geometry (CSG). Other features and benefits of OpenSCAD include:
- OpenSCAD is a 3D compiler that is based on a textual description language. It exhibits no characteristics of an interactive modeler.
- It is a free CAD software for die-hard modeling enthusiasts.
Level: Professional
Price: Free
Rhino - CAD Software
Rhino is a 3D modeler used to create, analyze, edit, animate, document, render, and translate NURBS. It allows users manipulate points, meshes, solids, curves, and more in all sorts of ways using a precise mathematical model known as NURB. Features and benefits of Rhino include:
- It offers a wide range of design features.
- It offers great versatility in creating complex 3D models.
- Rhino is compatible with all other design, drafting, CAM, engineering, rendering, analysis, animation, and illustration software.
Level: Professional
Price: Rhino offers different bundles. The commercial bundle for Rhino 6 is priced at 995€ for Windows and Mac.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, the best CAD software for different levels. Most of the software above can be gotten for free. Those that are not free offer free trial periods. So, you can explore the different CAD software and find one that suits you best.