10 Best Free CAD Software

CAD programs help you design any model more efficiently. However, because of the high cost, not many 3D designers can easily access and use paid software.

If you have a limited budget, please refer to the top ten programs below. These will provide an impressive user experience that is no less than the paid options. Let’s check them out now!

Our Top Picks:

After a long time of searching and testing, I have found the top ten free CAD software that can meet the design needs from basic to advanced.

1. DreamPlan Home Design For Windows – Best for Overall

DreamPlan Home Design and Landscaping

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows.
  • Minimum system requirements: All.

Key Features

As the name suggests, DreamPlan Home Design for Windows is the software dedicated to designing 3D floor plans for architectural designs.

I love using this software to create floors and 3D multi-story apartments with high accuracy. In particular, it also supports interior and exterior settings to bring the most realistic drawings.

Another impressive advantage of it is its multi-view switching feature. Not all free options offer the same convenient user experience as above.

DreamPlan Home Design and Landscaping is powerful, free software that is very useful for setting up your dream apartment. Yet, I hope the publisher adds more landscape items in the following versions to have more vivid drawings.

Price: Free.

Website Link: https://www.nchsoftware.com/design/index.html

Pros

  • Free.
  • Strong performance.
  • Support interior and exterior setup.
  • Specializes in architectural 3D design
  • It supports switching between multiple views.

Cons

  • Need to add more landscape items.

2. MeshMagic 3D Free 3D Modeling – Best for 3D Output

MeshMagic 3D Free 3D Modeling

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows, macOS
  • Minimum system requirements: Celeron 2.1.

Key Features

Free CAD software is often not powerful enough for 3D rendering or other complex conversion tasks. But MeshMagic 3D Free 3D Modeling is an exception.

I use MeshMagic to draw a 2D design. Then use the same software to expand the design into a 3D mesh. MeshMagic also has other impressive tools like importing and modifying STL files, adding objects to drawings, and rotating meshes.

If your design needs are not too complicated, MeshMagic 3D Free 3D will be an option worth testing. However, this software will probably disappoint you if you require more extra features.

Price: Free.

Website Link: https://www.nchsoftware.com/meshmagic3d/index.html

Pros

  • Support STL import.
  • Add objects to the drawing.
  • Support 2D drawing.
  • Convert 2D to 3D.
  • Meet basic design needs.

Cons

  • Missing some extra features.

3. DreamPlan Home Design Software Free – Best for Mac

DreamPlan Home Design Software Free

Specifications

  • Platform: macOS.
  • Minimum system requirements: All.

Key Features

Like the Windows version, DreamPlan Home Design Software for Mac possesses many powerful features. This tool supports designing 3D plans for apartments with models of walls, floors, floors, and roofs.

The visuals it provides have been of great help to me every time I do a home improvement project. Especially with it, I tested the feasibility of my home and garden design ideas.

Not many free software can provide a relatively perfect user experience like DreamPlan Home Design.

Yet, this software still has some points for improvement. In particular, the most concerning issue is that the mouse pointer is a bit difficult to control.

Price: Free.

Website Link: https://apps.apple.com/th/app/dreamplan-home-design-software/id1455656994?mt=12

Pros

  • All free.
  • Visualization.
  • Support 3D diagram design.
  • Valid for home improvement projects.
  • Easily switch between 2D and 3D views.

Cons

  • Some error with the control pointer.

4. Freecad 3D – Best for 2D Sketching

Freecad 3D

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • Minimum system requirements: All.

Key Features

If you want to sketch in 2D and continue to develop your drawings most professionally, Freecad 3D will be the choice you should not miss.

It provides many tools for 2D sketching. At the same time, the software also possesses features to help extract images and create high-quality drawings.

I quite appreciate the design editing feature that the software provides. Creating a new design with only simple parameter changes is no longer too difficult.

Although providing many tools, unfortunately, FreeCAD arranges the tools not too scientifically. Thus, it is a bit unintuitive and a bit difficult for beginners.

Price: Free.

Website Link: https://www.freecadweb.org

Pros

  • Edit designs easily.
  • Provide many powerful tools.
  • Create high-quality drawings.
  • Support sketching 2D drawings.
  • Possess many image extraction features.

Cons

  • Slightly lacking in intuitiveness.

5. Tinkercad – Best for Beginners

Tinkercad

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows, macOS
  • Minimum system requirements: All.

Key Features

Completing 3D projects is quite a challenge for those new to CAD. To avoid being overwhelmed by a bunch of unwieldy tools, you can start with Tinkercad.

I realized my first ideas with Tinkercad. And with the help of these simple yet effective tools, I got my first designs in minutes.

Another advantage is the online tool, which works stably without requiring a download. So, it doesn’t take up any space in my memory and is always ready for 3D designs.

Tinkercad is quite simple and easy-to-use software. Because of its simplification, it does not support tools to meet professional design needs, such as 2D to 3D conversion.

Price: Free.

Website Link: https://www.tinkercad.com

Pros

  • Intuitive.
  • Effective.
  • No download is required.
  • Easy to use and straightforward.
  • Quickly produce high-quality drawings.

Cons

  • 2D to 3D conversion is not supported.

6. LibreCAD – Best for Open Source

LibreCAD

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • Minimum system requirements: All.

Key Features

I have always had a particular interest in open-source software. With these, I pay almost no fees and always get upgrades or support from the user community. LibreCAD is such open-source free CAD software.

LibreCAD supports many valuable tools for drafting 2D drawings. Its user community also regularly updates the documentation. Thanks to that, I can continuously improve my drawing design skills.

LibreCAD is a bit lackluster, like many free CAD software. Especially for beginners, getting used to LibreCAD’s unique features, which are regularly updated, can be a challenge.

Price: Free.

Website Link: https://librecad.org

Pros

  • Free.
  • Sketch 2D drawings.
  • Open source software.
  • No royalties are required.
  • Update documents regularly.

Cons

  • Slightly lacking in intuitiveness.

7. OpenSCAD – Best for 3D Models

OpenSCAD

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows, Linux/UNIX, Mac OS X.
  • Minimum system requirements: All.

Key Features

OpenSCAD is entirely different from the suggestions I introduced above. It doesn’t focus too much on bringing art to 3D models. Instead, this version supports creating the most realistic, lifelike 3D models.

With this software, I have reasonable control over my 3D modeling process. Changing steps or adding parameters to create perfect drawings is not a big challenge for OpenSCAD.

It is the most impressive free 3D modeling software you can find. Yet, if you want to output with complex shapes or fully wrapped mesh, you will have to wait quite a while.

Price: Free.

Website Link: https://openscad.org

Pros

  • Intuitive.
  • Easy to use.
  • Create vivid 3D models.
  • Support changing outline steps.
  • Support control over the 3D modeling process

Cons

  • It takes a long time for complex drawings

8. ZBrushCoreMini – Best for Professionals

ZBrushCoreMini

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows, macOS
  • Minimum system requirements: 1 GB RAM.

Key Features

I only recommend using ZBrushCoreMini if you already know the basics of design and creativity. This professional software comes with a user interface that is a bit complicated compared to the usual free options.

But, once you get used to it, you will quickly have an impressive 3D Sculpting & 3D Modeling experience.

In addition to creating professional 3D models, it also supports several remarkable features. Some can be mentioned as feature expansion plugins, tools to meet sculpting needs, and GoZ buttons to switch mesh.

On the downside, its perspective view is rather clunky. Hopefully, the manufacturer will overcome the above disadvantages in the following versions to provide a more professional user experience.

Price: Free.

Website Link: https://www.maxon.net/en/zbrushcoremini

Pros

  • Create 3D models.
  • Plugins extend features.
  • Many advanced features.
  • Professional user interface.
  • Add many tools to support sculpting and design.

Cons

  • The perspective view is pretty glitchy.

9. Sketchup 3D modeling – Best for Collaboration

Sketchup 3D modeling

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows, macOS
  • Minimum system requirements: All.

Key Features

With Sketchup 3D modeling, it has never been easier to convert sketches to 3D models. The software’s toolkit helps me determine every detail, fine-tune and create large models with great accuracy.

Specifically, the software is also an ideal choice for teamwork. Using Sketchup 3D modeling, I easily assign tasks and 3D markup to help my colleagues complete the project quickly.

In addition, this software also supports many other exciting features. Yet, the most advanced tools are only available in the paid version.

With the free version, you will only be available with some more basic features.

Price: Free Trial

Website Link: https://www.sketchup.com/plans-and-pricing/sketchup-free

Pros

  • Powerful toolset.
  • Ideal for teamwork.
  • Support 3D marking.
  • Create stunning, precise 3D models.
  • Create large models from sketches.

Cons

  • It doesn’t offer many professional features

10. Fusion 360 – Best for Freelancers

Fusion 360

Specifications

  • Platform: Windows, macOS
  • Minimum system requirements: All.

Key Features

The fusion 360 personal version is completely free. It includes basic functionality to help me complete my non-commercial design projects.

The advantage I love the most is the integration of many functions, such as CAM, Simulation, and rendering. Compared to other simple free CAD software, what Fusion 360 brings is much more impressive.

I also appreciate its principle of providing cloud-based functionality. This feature supports my remote teamwork needs quite well.

Due to possessing several valuable tools, its user interface is much more cluttered than the competition. But obviously, it’s not a big downside for me.

Price: $0-$400/year.

Website Link: https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/personal

Pros

  • Professionally.
  • Free personal version.
  • Integrated multiple functions.
  • Provide cloud-based functionality
  • Meet the needs of teamwork, working remotely.

Cons

  • Complex user interface.

Buying Guides

How to choose a free CAD software

Here are some of my experiences after a long search for free CAD software. These shares promise to be of great help to your software selection process.

Specialize

Consider your expertise when choosing CAD software. If you’re a beginner, don’t pay too much attention to complicated and feature-rich options.

And conversely, the software that is more difficult to use will only be helpful if you already have specific knowledge of CAD.

Feature

The software’s features will depend on your work’s characteristics. For example, parametric modeling software will be the best choice if you often have to change the design. Meanwhile, soft support cloud storage is for you if you want good data management.

Value

CAD usually has a pretty high price tag. However, quite a few cheap options still meet design needs. Your task is to choose a product that has a good balance between price and quality.

FAQs

Here are some most frequently asked questions about free CAD software. If you have at least once wondered about these issues, here is the answer for you.

Is FreeCAD free?

FreeCAD is entirely free and is currently available on many different platforms.

Is there any good Free CAD software?

FreeCad is entirely free. This open-source software is the best choice for beginners who want to save their budget.

What is better than FreeCAD?

Some options for an experience as FreeCad are LibreCAD and OpenSCAD.

What is FreeCAD software most like AutoCAD?

Software you can refer to are LibreCAD, BRL-CAD, OpenSCAD, and LeoCAD.

Is AutoCAD 2021 free?

AutoCAD 2021 is entirely free. You just need to go to the correct address, create an account and easily download the software.

Conclusion

The DreamPlan Home Design Software Free can help me design the apartment, interior, and exterior. Meanwhile, with Sketchup 3D modeling, I worked as a team quite effectively, quickly completing complex projects.

With different working needs, you will have your options. Hopefully, by sharing this list, all your choices are suitable.

Thank you for following this post!