The Best Free SOLIDWORKS AlternativesTop CAD Software & 3D Modelers like SOLIDWORKS

The best free alternative to SOLIDWORKS is FreeCAD, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to SOLIDWORKS and many of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to SOLIDWORKS are Onshape, LibreCAD, Autodesk Fusion and OpenSCAD.

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SOLIDWORKS alternatives are mainly CAD Software, but if you're looking for 3D Modelers or 3D Printing Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Free, Mac, Linux, Computer-Aided Design, Mac + Free and Android. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to SOLIDWORKS.
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Alternatives list

  1. FreeCAD icon

    FreeCAD

     472 likes

    A powerful open-source parametric 3D modeler ideal for mechanical engineering, supporting Python scripting, running on Windows, Linux, and Mac, with modular architecture allowing extensive adaptability and use with scientific computing libraries.

    113 FreeCAD alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    FreeCAD screenshot 1
     
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    101
    Comments about FreeCAD as an Alternative to SOLIDWORKS
    Guest
    Positive
    8

    AS far as I have tried, FreeCAD is the only FOSS alternative to Solidworks/Catia/PTC that has a funtional workflow. It is the best of a poor bunch.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    5

    It's free for both personal and commercial use

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    jrmz
    Negative
    1

    Unfortunately not usable, after several years of using freecad, I quickly saw its limits. It is not a parametric software, indeed the topological naming problem makes this software fundamentally broken. The realthunder fork fixes some of these problems. fork or not, some advanced actions are still impossible and the different workbench are too isolated, some objects created with a workbench can't be modified by another one.

    Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

    FreeCAD icon
    FreeCAD icon

    • Most users think FreeCAD is a great SOLIDWORKS alternative.

    • FreeCAD is Free and Open SourceSOLIDWORKS is Paid and Proprietary
  2. Onshape icon

    Onshape

     31 likes

    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.

    42 Onshape alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Onshape screenshot 1
     
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    3
    40
    Comments about Onshape as an Alternative to SOLIDWORKS
    thantik
    Positive
    -1

    Fully cross platform parametric cad solution which runs in the browser. Includes any OS which can run a modern browser, including BSD, Linux, OS X, Android, and more. Not open source. Not free. But some of us need a professional-level solution regardless of those ideals.

    Guest
    Positive
    -2

    It's just like Solidworks, near same terminology, icons, placement, etc. Not to mention it's free (for the most basic version) and on the cloud.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    -7

    It's free (fully functional) , multiplatform (even on mobiles)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Onshape icon
    Onshape icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Onshape is a great SOLIDWORKS alternative.

    • Onshape is Free Personal and ProprietarySOLIDWORKS is Paid and Proprietary
    • Onshape is CustomizableSOLIDWORKS is not according to our users
  4. LibreCAD icon

    LibreCAD

     170 likes

    LibreCAD 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.

    109 LibreCAD alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub
    On Mac
     
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    1
    8
    Comments about LibreCAD as an Alternative to SOLIDWORKS
    Seth
    Negative
    0

    2D application, not 3D like Solidworks

    LibreCAD icon
    LibreCAD icon

    • Some users think LibreCAD is a great SOLIDWORKS alternative, some don't.

    • LibreCAD is Free and Open SourceSOLIDWORKS is Paid and Proprietary
    • LibreCAD is Customizable and LightweightSOLIDWORKS is not according to our users
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  6. Autodesk Fusion icon

    Autodesk Fusion

     44 likes

    Integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE suite offering cloud modeling, simulation, and manufacturing tools with collaborative editing, free-form and parametric design, licensing for students, hobbyists, and startups, plus support for 3D printing and CNC machining.

    44 Autodesk Fusion alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Freeform modeling & sculpting
     
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    1
    24
    Comments about Autodesk Fusion as an Alternative to SOLIDWORKS
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Easy, great support, many tutorials, mobile showroom app, ezports to every format possible, CAD and CAM (very powerfull)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Autodesk Fusion icon
    Autodesk Fusion icon

    • Most users think Autodesk Fusion is a great SOLIDWORKS alternative.

    • Autodesk Fusion is Free Personal and ProprietarySOLIDWORKS is Paid and Proprietary
  7. OpenSCAD icon

    OpenSCAD

     83 likes

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

    50 OpenSCAD alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    • BSD
    • Docker
    • Homebrew
    OpenSCAD screenshot 1
     
  8. Dune 3D icon

    Dune 3D

     16 likes

    Dune 3D operates as a parametric 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. It provides users with the capability to sketch and constrain both in 2D and 3D dimensions. Furthermore, it allows for the addition of chamfers and fillets to designs.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Dune 3D screenshot 1
     
  10. SolveSpace icon

    SolveSpace

     32 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    SolveSpace screenshot 1
     
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    1
    14
    Comments about SolveSpace as an Alternative to SOLIDWORKS
    sgtdre
    Positive
    2

    It shows that it can open .step files and I have a few GrabCad files that I want to check out and see it I can at least save to other file formats, ;ie .dwg

    SolveSpace icon
    SolveSpace icon

    • Most users think SolveSpace is a great SOLIDWORKS alternative.

    • SolveSpace is Free and Open SourceSOLIDWORKS is Paid and Proprietary
    • SolveSpace is LightweightSOLIDWORKS is not according to our users
  11. BRL-CAD icon

    BRL-CAD

     57 likes

    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...

    74 BRL-CAD alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    PA-63 Extractor
     
  12. CAD Sketcher icon

    CAD Sketcher

     8 likes

    CAD Sketcher is a free and open-source project looking to enhance precision workflows in Blender by bringing CAD like tools, features and usability to Blender.

    54 CAD Sketcher alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Blender
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    CAD Sketcher screenshot 1
     
  13. Shapr3D icon

    Shapr3D

     30 likes

    From design to manufacturing. Teams collaborate with more impact. Instinctive design meets multidevice capability and full interoperability for the ultimate 3D design workflow.

    44 Shapr3D alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPad
    Sketch to model. Mastered in hours.
     
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    1
    Comments about Shapr3D as an Alternative to SOLIDWORKS
    attila-kozma
    Positive
    0

    Super smooth, easy to understand, great program. Learning curve is awsome

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Shapr3D icon
    Shapr3D icon

    • Most users think Shapr3D is a great SOLIDWORKS alternative.

    • Shapr3D is Freemium and ProprietarySOLIDWORKS is Paid and Proprietary
    • Shapr3D is LightweightSOLIDWORKS is not according to our users
  14. CAD.FEM icon

    CAD.FEM

     4 likes

    CAD.FEM will assist you in designing and analyzing 3D models of structural elements or any other 3D models easily and accurately, and quickly.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    component analysis using CAD.FEM
     
12 of 41 SOLIDWORKS alternatives