7 Best Free CAD Software in 2024 Beginner-Friendly

Table Of Content

• Try 3D modelling using AutoCAD! Introduction to modelling steps and features
• Current stable version: 0.21.2
• AutoCAD — best CAD software for professionals
• Best Free 3D Modeling Software (For Beginners) 2024
• The Best Free CAD Software
• LibreCAD Download
• Best for Students and Teachers: AutoCAD Student Version

FreeCAD has been under development since 2002, and it offers a large list of features. Capabilities are still missing but it is powerful enough for hobbyist use, and small workshops. There is a fast-growing community of enthusiastic users who participate in the FreeCAD forum, and you can find many examples of quality projects developed with FreeCAD there.

Try 3D modelling using AutoCAD! Introduction to modelling steps and features

One of the noticeable additions of SketchUp includes its open-source library of model assemblies and 3D Warehouse, a large enough collection of 3D models uploaded by other users. FreeCAD, as the name suggests, is a free and open-source CAD software, and it’s a top choice among both beginners and professionals. If you are well-versed in CAD modeling basics, then this software would be the best pick for you. An educator or programmer can also get the best out of FreeCAD, given its multi-purpose behavior and intuitive interface.

Current stable version: 0.21.2

The software provides creative materials in its library, where users can create a high level of surface sophistication and quality virtual prototypes. CATIA allows designers to create 3D sketches and 3D printed models, as well as perform reverse engineering analysis, visualizations, and Class-A modeling. Solid Edge is a CAD/CAM software developed by Siemens PLM and known for its use of synchronous technology for 3D modeling.

AutoCAD — best CAD software for professionals

But CATIA V5 and CATIA V4 also support external file formats such as IGES, DXF, DWG, STEP, and STL. It offers dynamic modeling options and high versatility to create manufacturable designs, prototypes, and solids. The software’s simulation and CAM options make Fusion 360 unique in the computerized design market. The native file formats for SolidWorks are SLDPRT (SolidWorks Part), SLDDRW (SolidWorks Drawing File), and SLDASM (SolidWorks Assembly).

In short, while the Sketcher and PartDesign are made primarily to design single pieces, Draft and Arch are made to ease your work when working with several, simpler objects. You can switch workbenches at any time, and also customize your favorite workbench to add tools from other workbenches. See the Download page for information on current versions and updates, and the installation instructions for you operating system (Windows, Linux or macOS). FreeCAD is available from the package managers of many Linux distributions. As FreeCAD is open-source, you can also grab the source code and compile it yourself.

The Best Free CAD Software

Be sure to create models yourself from scratch, to keep the library 100% free of possibly copyrighted or non-free components. The software is also compatible with Autodesk Inventor and can create panel layouts, schematic diagrams, and document electrical control systems. This package is especially helpful for electrical engineers and experts in instrumentation and control systems. The FreeCAD manual is another, more linear way to present the information contained in this wiki.

Another open-source offering, LibreCAD is a high-quality, 2D-CAD modeling platform. LibreCAD grew out of QCAD, and, like FreeCAD, has a large, loyal following of designers and customers. It’s designed from the ground up for inexperienced users and young learners, with a simple, intuitive UI, tooltips, and only the most essential features.

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Computer-Aided Design (commonly referred to as CAD) has become an integral factor that moves the world forward. CAD lets you design everything from tiny pieces of electronic equipment to large buildings, dams, and more. Naturally, CAD programs have become expensive as most professionals use them to design things. And if you are a student or a freelancer, buying expensive CAD software becomes a distant dream. But there is nothing to worry about as we have curated a list of the top 12 free CAD software that are as good as the paid ones.

Technically, yes, but it’s only available to students and educators on a 12-month renewable non-commercial license. The complexity and depth of AutoCAD require a learning curve, but a trove of tutorials provides all the guidance you’ll need regardless of your initial skill level, although beginners may find it overwhelming. Fusion 360 is a professional CAD program developed by Autodesk that combines CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB design into one unified suite. The only hoop-jumping you’ll need to contend with is creating a free account, useful for saving your designs on the free provided cloud storage space. SmartDraw also has apps to integrate with Atlassian's Confluence and Jira. You can also search for symbols and easily drag and drop symbols to your drawing area and connect them.

The software is highly compatible with the DXF format and can work with STL files for 3D printing purposes. The contents of this manual are published under the Creative Commons 4.0 license, and can be freely used, downloaded, copied, and modified. The source files for this manual are hosted on this wiki, and on the original github account used to write the first version of this book. FreeCAD is also fundamentally a social project, as it is developed and maintained by a community of developers and users united by their passion for FreeCAD. The Draft Workbench and Arch Workbench behave a bit differently than the other workbenches above, although they follow the same rules, which are common to all of FreeCAD.

These can then be imported into a slicer to prepare the model for 3D printing and create a G-code file with all the instructions the printer needs to complete the print. Best of all, it’s an open-source program with no premium tiers – all features are available. Among them are selection and modeling tools, support for assigning and editing materials/textures/colors, and a host of plugins that suit a range of applications, including 3D printing. Autodesk Civil 3D is CAD software that combines 3D design tools and documentation to generate complex infrastructure models.

AutoCAD, like other software developed by Autodesk, offers a 30-day free trial and a free student version to incentivize CAD users and promote education. Although the student version only lasts one year, it’s a renewable license available for students and professors. The standard version offers many different payment options, with the annual subscription currently at $1,955 with upgrades and maintenance included. Its competitive pricing and versatility make AutoCAD one of the top CAD/CAM programs on the market. AutoCAD is a CAD software developed for designers to create 2D and 3D models using graphic controllers and commands. FreeCAD is an open-source 3D parametric modeling software that allows users to recreate objects and modify their features and properties in the design process.

Revit is a building information modeling (BIM) software that allows engineers and architects to model, visualize, and document projects for the construction industry. It unifies projects including documentation, plans revisions, scheduling, and creating budgets and lists of materials while providing high-quality 3D models. Architects and contractors can manage projects with stereo panoramas, photorealistic views of models, and optimized renderings in a collaborative environment. The standard version offers several payment options, with the annual subscription currently at $2,805 with upgrades and maintenance included. CATIA is a CAD/CAM/CAE software that features powerful parametric modeling and photorealistic rendering tools. Although it’s similar to other 3D modeling programs, CATIA offers more advanced functionality for surfaces and modules, particularly for designers in the automotive and aerospace industries.

Because of this reliance on abstract concepts to create modules, rather than simply using a mouse to create a design, this isn’t for tiny tots, but definitely a perfect resource for slightly older to teenage children. Great for those who aren’t bothered with mastering modeling but want the benefits of printing. Slash shakes things up by instead using a Minecraft-esque building block-styled modeling. Designs are composed exclusively of cubes, making it difficult to make complex designs. Its easy-to-use interface makes it great for beginners and experienced makers. Purchase Autodesk products your way via our eStore, sales team and authorized partners.

If you are okay with using a textual description language to create 3D CAD Objects, you may find OpenSCAD to be an effective free CAD program. There are several scenarios where you might need such an interface, especially when you are in a professional field. You will have to be as specific as you can when you model things, and you can find how useful OpenSCAD is in such cases.

It’s not for beginners or the impatient, however; Blender is complex and with such a wide range of options, it takes a while to master. But if you’re willing to invest the time and want a free CAD modeling software that does it all, Blender could be the one for you. AutoCAD Mobile is a mobile drawing, and drafting application that allows users to view, edit and share AutoCAD drawings via mobile devices. Onshape is modern-age CAD software that is known for its excellent design repository and assemblies. Unlike other software programs that are standalone desktop applications, Onshape is a cloud-based design platform. You can create complex solid and surface models just from a browser and without any fear of losing your design progress.