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Free FreeCAD Alternatives

The best free alternative to FreeCAD is SketchUp. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to FreeCAD and many of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to FreeCAD are LibreCAD, OpenSCAD, Autodesk Fusion 360 and SolveSpace.

FreeCAD alternatives are mainly CAD Software but may also be 3D Modelers or Interior Design Apps. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of FreeCAD.
This page was last updated May 18, 2022
FreeCAD
  328
  • Free • Open Source
  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • BSD
  • Online

FreeCAD is a general purpose parametric 3D CAD modeler. The development is completely Open Source (LGPL License).

Learn more about FreeCAD

  1. SketchUp (formerly Google Sketchup) is a 3D modeling computer program for a wide range of drawing applications such as architectural, interior design, civil and mechanical engineering, film, and video game design—and available in a freeware version, SketchUp Make, and a paid...

    Some users think SketchUp is a great alternative to FreeCAD, some don't.

  2. LibreCAD

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    • Free • Open Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com

    LibreCAD (originally QCad then CADuntu) is an open source 2D CAD application for Windows, Apple and Linux. It is based on Qt, which is a leading cross-platform application and UI development framework.

    LibreCAD vs FreeCAD opinions
    This alternative is disputed. LibreCAD is still a legitimate alternative to FreeCAD, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
     all • positive • negative      relevance • date
    chobo

    BEST DESIGN AND USABILITY

    Top positive comment  over 5 years ago
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    0

    FreeCAD = 3D LibreCAD = 2D

    Top negative comment  over 1 year ago
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    5

    librecad is 2D whereas freecad is 3D

    Negative comment • almost 2 years ago
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    1

    LibreCAD is 2D, FreeCAD is 3D

    Negative comment • about 2 years ago
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    0
    DarkRedman

    The major difference is that LibreCAD is 2D while FreeCAD is 3D

    Negative comment • about 3 years ago
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    9

    LibreCAD is 2D, FreeCAD is 3D parametric modeler

    Negative comment • over 3 years ago
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    12

    librecad is 2d and freecad is 3d

    Negative comment • about 4 years ago
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    9
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    7 of 8 comments

  4. OpenSCAD

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    • Free • Open Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD objects. It is free software and available for Linux/UNIX, MS Windows and MacOS.

    OpenSCAD vs FreeCAD opinions
    Almost everyone thinks OpenSCAD is a great alternative to FreeCAD.

    Assurance of code based parameters

    Positive comment • over 4 years ago
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    1

  5. Integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE featuring collaborative editing and cloud-based computation. Free license available for students and hobbyists.

    Autodesk Fusion 360 vs FreeCAD opinions
    This alternative is disputed. Autodesk Fusion 360 is still a legitimate alternative to FreeCAD, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    Does not work offline, no guarantee that tomorrow you will still be able to open your design.

    Negative comment • about 2 years ago
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    9
    M_O_Z_G

    Relatively cheap solution for CAD modeling which give a lot of options to construct. Good for education and small production, feels like https://alternativeto.net/software/autodesk-inventor/ "lite".

    Positive comment • almost 5 years ago
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    0

  6. SolveSpace

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    • Free • Open Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    SolveSpace is a parametric 3D CAD program with extrude, revolve, union and difference functions. Save/Export as DXF, PDF, SVG, STL, STEP. Mesh generation expected by most 3d printers. Constraint solver point tracing for motion analysis.

    Almost everyone thinks SolveSpace is a great alternative to FreeCAD.

  8. BRL-CAD

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    • Free • Open Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    BRL-CAD is a powerful cross-platform open source solid modeling system that includes interactive geometry editing, high-performance ray-tracing for rendering and geometric analysis, image and signal-processing tools, a system performance analysis benchmark suite, libraries for...

  9. Shapr3D is a revolutionary 3D modeling software created exclusively for your iPad Pro and your Apple Pencil.

    Most users think Shapr3D is a great alternative to FreeCAD.

  10. QCAD

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    • Free Personal • Proprietary
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    QCAD is an application for computer aided drafting in 2D. With QCAD you can create technical drawings such as plans for buildings, interiors, mechanical parts or schemas and diagrams.

    QCAD vs FreeCAD opinions
    pros, cons and recent comments

    Easy to use, well maintained and regularly updated - rock stable

    Positive comment • about 2 years ago
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    2

  11. Onshape is a professional CAD system – Parts, Assemblies, Drawings – with version control and collaboration built in. Each Onshape plan (Free, Education, Professional, and Enterprise) gives you all of the CAD and data management functionality with no time limit.

  12. CadQuery

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    • Free • Open Source
    • Self-Hosted

    CadQuery is an intuitive, easy-to-use python based language for building parametric 3D CAD models. CadQuery is for 3D CAD what jQuery is for javascript. Imagine selecting Faces of a 3d object the same way you select DOM objects with JQuery!

Showing 10 of 43 alternatives