I Evaluated the 11 Greatest Free CAD Software program for Engineers

Whether or not you’re a hobbyist sketching out concepts, a pupil studying design, or an expert experimenting with new ideas, having the fitting instruments could make all of the distinction. But, I do know that not each designer has the price range for costly software program.

Fortuitously, I’ve found a number of free computer-aided design (CAD) software program that affords highly effective options, together with 2D drawing, 3D modeling, parametric design, meeting capabilities, and even open-source customization. These instruments allow you to discover your creativity, study new expertise, and iterate on designs effectively, all with out incurring any prices.

And CAD software program isn’t only for engineers or architects. I’ve seen college students use it for sophistication tasks, makers carry prototypes to life, and creators experiment with product ideas, all thanks to those accessible options.

On this information, I’ll stroll you thru the very best free CAD software program, sharing hands-on experiences, characteristic breakdowns, and clear professionals and cons. My objective is to offer you every little thing it’s good to select the fitting device and begin turning your concepts into actuality.

The worldwide demand for CAD software program retains rising as companies rely extra on computer-aided design to information selections. The marketplace for CAD software program is projected to achieve ~$16.3 billion by 2030.

Whether or not it’s designing merchandise, validating concepts, or constructing 2D and 3D fashions, these instruments have develop into important for groups throughout industries.

And from what I’ve seen, “finest” doesn’t at all times imply “paid.” Some free CAD platforms I’ve tried delivered spectacular performance — serving to me design sooner, visualize extra precisely, and iterate with out stretching my price range.

The product checklist beneath accommodates actual person opinions from the very best free CAD software program class web page. It’s essential to notice that within the context of this checklist, distributors providing a free trial are additionally thought of free. To be included on this class, an answer should:

• Have 2D technical drawing capabilities
• Have 3D modeling capabilities
• Be relevant throughout a number of industries

This information was pulled from G2 in 2025. Some opinions might have been edited for readability. 

Autodesk Fusion combines 3D modeling, sculpting, simulation, and even printed circuit board (PCB) design in a single cloud-based platform. Think about sketching an concept, sculpting it into an in depth mannequin, then testing its efficiency. Fusion has a strong assortment of collaboration instruments, permitting your design groups to work collectively seamlessly on tasks instantaneously. Based on G2 information, 69% of its customers are small companies, which demonstrates its accessibility, ease of use, and skill to empower smaller groups to execute complicated designs effectively with out heavy IT infrastructure.

Execs and cons of Autodesk Fusion 360: My take

What G2 customers like about Autodesk Fusion 360:

“The perfect a part of Fusion is the measurement toggle. It permits me to attain exact lengths and shapes for my tasks. I am additionally very impressed with the standard of DXF file imports throughout my workflow.”

– Autodesk Fusion Assessment, Md T.

What G2 customers dislike about Autodesk Fusion 360:

“Fusion crashes throughout a modeling operation or whereas producing a drawing from the design. Moreover, deleting design information/information can typically be troublesome as a result of they is perhaps linked to a selected design model, making it tedious to trace down and delete. Sadly, Fusion 360 can’t combine with Vault Professional. Consequently, I’ve to undertake a special PLM system.

Fusion is unsuitable for heavy mechanical designs or tasks involving multi-body sheet steel design.”

– Autodesk Fusion Assessment, Ofonime W.

AutoCAD is not nearly drafting; it is a complete design surroundings. It permits customization by customized menus, palettes, and automation, offering a user-friendly and environment friendly workflow. Collaboration is easy with cloud-based options, enabling seamless sharing and design iteration with colleagues. AutoCAD additionally accommodates an in depth library of industry-specific instruments and options, catering to the particular wants of architects and mechanical engineering professionals.

Execs and cons of AutoCAD: My take

What G2 customers like about AutoCAD:

“AutoCAD is tremendous productive for 2D drawings (drafting and annotation). It means that you can create very massive and complicated technical drawings, together with constructing plans, blueprints, and a number of drawings, with decreased danger of errors as a consequence of damaged relationships, a typical problem with parametric design software program. AutoCAD’s distinctive talents, like utilizing layers, blocks, Xrefs, and Osnaps, considerably enhance your total drafting expertise.”

– AutoCAD Assessment, Ofonime W.

What G2 customers dislike about AutoCAD:

“A number of the exporting and printing settings is usually a bit complicated, particularly when scaling fashions/plans to totally different paper sizes.”

– AutoCAD Assessment, Darryl Rey C.

AutoCAD LT is the leaner sibling of AutoCAD, specializing in exact 2D drafting. It’s designed for architects, engineers, and designers who prioritize detailed technical drawings. Whereas missing 3D modeling capabilities, AutoCAD LT consists of strong 2D drafting instruments, annotation options, and compatibility with AutoCAD information. It affords a extra reasonably priced different to the complete AutoCAD suite, making it a priceless possibility for these needing highly effective 2D drafting with out the complete 3D characteristic set.

Execs and cons of AutoCAD LT: My sincere take

What G2 customers like about AutoCAD LT:

“AutoCAD LT has a really user-friendly interface. The general velocity of the product can be impressively clean and quick. Finally, this interprets to enhanced productiveness.”

– AutoCAD LT Assessment, Nilesh C.

What G2 customers dislike about AutoCAD LT:

“Whereas AutoCAD LT affords a variety of 2D drafting and design instruments, its capabilities for 3D modeling are restricted. Enhancing the platform’s 3D modeling capabilities might make it extra interesting to extra customers.”

– AutoCAD LT Assessment, Jeremy N.

DraftSight is an economical different to skilled CAD software program, with spectacular 2D drafting and DWG enhancing capabilities. Its acquainted interface makes the transition seamless for customers already comfy with AutoCAD.

DraftSight means that you can create, edit, and share 2D technical drawings, blueprints, and schematics with ease. It additionally affords fundamental 3D capabilities for including depth to your designs, making it a flexible device for varied drafting wants. In truth, in accordance with G2 Information, 64% reviewers reward its capacity so as to add notes and tags to their designs

Execs and cons of DraftSight: My sincere take

What G2 customers like about DraftSight:

“DraftSight has all of the performance of very costly aggressive software program at a fraction of the associated fee. I exploit it each at residence and work. It accomplishes every little thing I want with out the effort of the dearer variations. Because it makes use of the identical instructions and processes as AutoCAD, I did not need to study a brand new approach of doing issues.”

– DraftSight Assessment, Denny W.

What G2 customers dislike about DraftSight:

“Layer administration might use a redesign. It’s too cumbersome to maneuver, freeze, or delete layers presently.”

– DraftSight Assessment, Joseph J.

Engineers can depend on Inventor for an entire 3D design expertise. This CAD software program permits the creation of detailed mechanical elements, assemblies, and simulations inside a single platform. Inventor options embody worthwhile choices resembling parametric modeling for versatile design adjustments, highly effective simulation instruments to check efficiency, and native DWG compatibility for seamless collaboration. It’s ideally suited for product design, machine constructing, and any challenge requiring exact mechanical modeling.

Execs and cons of Inventor: My perspective

What G2 customers like about Inventor:

“Inventor is my go-to device for machine design. It affords many options that streamline my workflow, together with design accelerators, body mills and evaluation, iLogic options, and design automation. Moreover, Inventor integrates completely with Vault for information administration.”

– Inventor Assessment, Ofonime W.

What G2 customers dislike about Inventor:

“ Inventor requires excessive system necessities for optimum efficiency. Moreover, it has restricted compatibility with non-Autodesk file codecs.”

– Inventor Assessment, Pavan T.

MicroStation goes past simply 2D and 3D drafting. It is a complete CAD answer for infrastructure design and planning. You’ll be able to create exact geospatial-enabled drawings for roads, bridges, and different tasks, in addition to collaborate seamlessly with challenge groups utilizing a typical platform. MicroStation boasts superior options for analyzing designs, producing reasonable visualizations, and managing challenge info.

Execs and cons of MicroStation: My perspective

What G2 customers like about MicroStation:

“I really like that MicroStation is straightforward to make use of; as a newbie and a frequent person, I discover it helpful and straightforward to implement. It’s appropriate with most file codecs, which helps to combine with different design instruments. It’s a extremely productive device, so I imagine it affords good worth for cash. It’s a dependable and versatile design software program that may deal with varied duties.”

– MicroStation Assessment, Ankit Okay.

What G2 customers dislike about MicroStation:

“Customizing some instruments will be fairly difficult, and the instructions will be complicated or obscure. Moreover, I imagine MicroStation will be costly for a person person.”

– MicroStation Assessment (Translated), Alexis T. 

Onshape is a cloud-based platform that permits you to design something from anyplace, accessible on any machine. Collaborate in real-time along with your group, eliminating model management complications. Onshape accommodates options like real-time enhancing, built-in model management, and sturdy information administration inside a safe cloud surroundings. It’s ideally suited for design groups searching for a collaborative and accessible 3D modeling expertise.

Execs and cons of Onshape: My view

What G2 customers like about Onshape:

“The intuitive performance is supported by a complete library of programs, permitting me to show myself CAD from scratch and design complicated prototype elements prepared for 3D printing and injection molding. Onshape is appropriate for consultants with out the boundaries for non-experts to develop their expertise and produce improbable outcomes.”

– Onshape Assessment, Alan H.

What G2 customers dislike about Onshape:

“The primary draw back is Onshape’s velocity. Since it’s within the cloud, its efficiency is just not as snappy as that of a neighborhood CAD system, resembling SolidWorks. That is primarily seen in assemblies. The second draw back is a part of its characteristic: paperwork. Paperwork can get slowed down rapidly with half studios, assemblies, and derived elements.”

– Onshape Assessment, Sebastian S.

Shapr3D goes past its fame for cell 3D sketching. Its intuitive CAD instruments empower design and manufacturing groups to deal with complicated tasks rapidly and effectively. Not like conventional CAD, Shapr3D boasts a non-hierarchical construction, making it straightforward for everybody to contribute, no matter expertise. Plus, its multi-device performance permits seamless collaboration and design iteration.

Execs and cons of Shapr3D: My view

What G2 customers like about Shapr3D:

“I actually like this system’s reference to my iPad. I exploit Shapr3D day by day, and it’s totally straightforward to implement and combine it into my work course of. It’s totally straightforward to create my concepts from easy sketches. Creating the designs with my hand and my Apple Pencil is straightforward. There isn’t any higher interplay than this with regards to capturing concepts. The client help is wonderful. There’s a large group.”

– Shapr3D Assessment, Juan Felipe C.

What G2 customers dislike about Shapr3D:

“I discover the structure options very spectacular however a bit inflexible. Extra freedom, particularly for view growth, could be useful. Drawing and hatching are fundamental functionalities that should not be lacking for architectural and inside design. Lastly, improved dealing with of bitmaps in visualization is essential. Even fundamental duties like texture rotation needs to be doable.”

– Shapr3D Assessment, Juan Camilo G.

SketchUp is a user-friendly 3D modeling software program that empowers you to create something possible.

Not like some complicated 3D CAD packages, SketchUp employs a “push and pull” methodology, enabling direct alterations to orientations inside a stable mannequin, making it straightforward to create 3D shapes from scratch. In truth, in accordance with G2 Information, 75% of its customers are small companies, highlighting its accessibility, approachable studying curve, and suitability for rising groups.

With its huge library of pre-made 3D fashions, you possibly can drag and drop furnishings, buildings, and extra into your designs. SketchUp is ideal for each newcomers and professionals, providing a steadiness of energy and ease of use.

Execs and cons of SketchUp: My take

What G2 customers like about SketchUp:

“I had been utilizing CAD software program for a few years earlier than I attempted SketchUp. I’ve since utterly stopped utilizing these different packages. SketchUp is the very best, most intuitive piece of software program I’ve ever used. SketchUp appears to have been constructed from the bottom up on a totally new basis. At first use, I used to be somewhat confused, however 5 minutes later, I used to be amazed. Two weeks after I began utilizing SketchUp, I had accomplished a full home rendering and kitchen rework. I couldn’t advocate this product extra. It is thrilling to work with a bit of software program that has a lot to supply.”

– SketchUp Assessment, Jonathan A.

What G2 customers dislike about SketchUp:

“SketchUp has efficiency points. Massive and complicated fashions may cause SketchUp to decelerate or crash, particularly on much less highly effective computer systems. Mastering superior extensions, instruments, and plugins can take time.”

– SketchUp Assessment, Anshika S.

Stable Edge is a robust CAD platform that mixes the velocity and ease of direct modeling with the management and adaptability of parametric design. This synchronous expertise means that you can modify your mannequin and see the updates ripple all through the design.

It contains options like simulation instruments, generative design, and reverse engineering, making it a flexible possibility for product growth throughout varied industries. And the very best half? Based on G2 Information, Stable Edge ranks because the second best to make use of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software program. 

Execs and cons of Stable Edge: My take

What G2 customers like about Stable Edge:

“The perfect characteristic of Stable Edge is the uniformity of the menu system and the way in which that the instructions work with the choice of the graphic objects. This theme is carried all through the assorted modules of the product.”

– Stable Edge Assessment, Kurt V.

What G2 customers dislike about Stable Edge:

“The sample command is barely complicated to make use of, and you need to see the tutorial for the curved sample earlier than you utilize it. Moreover, sharing information with customers of earlier software program variations is just not doable. Moreover, workflows will be troublesome for brand new customers.”

– Stable Edge Assessment, Ollie M.

ZWCAD is a flexible, agile, and highly effective 2D CAD answer for architects, engineers, and designers within the AEC and manufacturing industries. Its lightning-fast efficiency, revolutionary capabilities, and complete assortment of instruments assist practitioners effortlessly carry their artistic visions to life.

Execs and cons of ZWCAD: My sincere take

What G2 customers like about ZWCAD:

“This software program is extremely user-friendly. I can full my tasks sooner than with CAD software program, resembling AutoCAD. The device is extremely environment friendly, and I can work with it with out experiencing any loading points. Even when opening massive information, it operates easily. The structure tab performs flawlessly, even on low-configuration computer systems. Integration with different instruments is seamless. I’ve efficiently applied this software program in my structural drafting work and use it for each challenge. Moreover, I’ve obtained glorious buyer help each time wanted .”

– ZWCAD Assessment, Shakil A.

What G2 customers dislike about ZWCAD:

“Though it’s sooner, ZWCAD usually crashes in some sudden conditions. Regardless that ZWCAD has a backup operate within the earlier session, a clearer route and information needs to be given to retrieve the backup file.”

– ZWCAD Assessment, Lee Z.

Discover the fitting constructing design and constructing info modeling (BIM) software program to help along with your CAD software program.

Edited by Monishka Agrawal