Anyone who has worked with CAD will know just how integral the software is to various industries—ranging from architecture, to engineering and even gaming. CAD gives us the ability to create designs for a range of purposes, from electrical drawings to house plans. This high demand, however, has meant that professional CAD software has become very expensive—particularly for those who just enjoy CAD as a hobby, and therefore don’t want to commit to an expensive package (for instance, this is how much AutoCAD costs).
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With that in mind, Scan2CAD has created a list of the top 14 CAD freeware packages, so you can enjoy CAD without having to spend a single penny. We’ve included operating systems, supported file types and even a list of extra packages that didn’t quite make the list. Read on…
Undeniably, AutoCAD is the primary CAD software just like how Photoshop is to photo editing. AutoCAD is used across a range of industries, including architects, project managers and engineers, among other professions. The DWG file format has been widely adopted, and now is compatible with many other.
We’ve separated this list into two sections:
We begin our list with some of the most popular and free options for 2D drafting. If you’re new to CAD, you probably want to start here. 1. DraftSight
DraftSight is a professional 2D design and drafting program that lets you create, edit and view any kind of 2D drawing. It’s a rather simple and minimal program, so it’s easy to make the transition from another type of CAD application to DraftSight. The only requirement to use the program is to activate it via an email address. This CAD freeware program does have an AutoCAD feel to it—in fact, it even uses AutoCAD’s native file format DWG. It comes with a range of drafting tools to help you create professional plans, with a number of vector entities available including lines and polylines, dimensions, layering capabilities and text.
Operating System: Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, Fedora
File Formats: DWG, DXF, JPEG, PDF, PNG, SLD, STL, SVG, TIF
Interested?Download now!
Update: As pointed out in our comments. Dolphin emulator wii download. DraftSight will not be offered for free in future releases.2. QCAD
QCAD is a free, open-source application for CAD in 2D. It can be used to create technical drawings such as buildings, mechanical parts or diagrams. The software was designed with modularity, extensibility and portability in mind, and it comes with an intuitive user interface. QCAD is simple to use, so you don’t necessarily need any CAD experience to start with QCAD immediately—which is a great advantage. It also comes with a variety of useful features including layers, blocks, 35 CAD fonts and a library with over 4800 CAD parts.
Operating System: Windows, Mac, Linux
File Formats: BMP, DGN, DWG, DWF, DXF, ICO, JPEG, PDF, PNG, PPM, SVG, TIFF, XBM, XPM
Interested?Download now3. LibreCAD
Image Source: Wikimedia
LibreCAD is a free open-source 2D CAD modeling platform. It comes with a GPLv2 public license, so you can use it, customize it, hack it and copy it with free user and developer support. It’s a community-driven project, so it’s constantly being improved with new ideas. The program comes with high-quality features like snap-to-grid capabilities, which means that you can create straight lines and align objects as you go. It also comes with layers, text and measurements.
Operating System: Windows, Mac, Linux
File Formats: DXF, DWG, JPG, PDF, PNG, SVG
Interested?Download now!4. Draft IT
Draft IT is a 2D system, which is primarily most useful for people who are just starting out with CAD. It has no 3D and/or modeling capabilities, so you shouldn’t be expecting anything too complex. It’s essentially a system that is useful for creating plans and diagrams. That being said, some of its features are disabled in the free version, e.g. layering and polylines. To be able to do more, you would have to upgrade to the Plus or Pro version. So, if you’re looking to do serious, detailed work you might want to consider other software.
Operating System: Windows
File Formats: DWG, DXF
Interested?Download now!
The world of free CAD software is no-longer limited to 2D drafting applications. As we’ll discover below, there is a wealth of exciting 3D Modelling options available and many of these new solutions are focussing on making a previously complex solution much simpler and easier to use.5. SketchUp Make
Image Source: SketchUp Community
SketchUp Make is a 3D modeling program that covers a range of applications such as architecture, interior design, civil engineering and even video game design. It comes with an open-source library of models and a 3D warehouse which is the world’s biggest library of free 3D models. The software is incredibly easy to use, and the SketchUp website provides extra help with tutorials and videos. You can even customize your SketchUp with extensions, or by upgrading to SketchUp Pro. If you’re interested in creating more advanced projects, you will have to upgrade to the Pro version, which gives you access to features like simulated film cameras and solid modeling tools.
Operating System: Windows, Mac
File Formats: 3DS, OBJ, DAE, DWG, DXF, FBX, KMZ, WRL, XSI
Interested?Download now!6. OnShape
Image Source: OnShape
OnShape is a force to recon with when it comes to making 3D modelling more accessible to the masses. If you’re not new to CAD, you’ve probably heard of the leading 3D modelling CAD software, SolidWorks , OnShape was started by SolidWorks CEOs Jon Hirschtick and John McEleney, plus their founding team and they continue to carry the torch of SolidWorks’ innovation and quality.
OnShape is unique to many other options in that it runs in your web browser. But don’t be fooled into thinking a browser-based solution is limited. The software boasts a list of enterprise-level manufacturing companies as users so if their features are enough for these companies it will likely be enough for most entry-level users.
Although OnShape offers a premium solution, they also offer a free plan with limited features, but be warned; everything you store in OnShape under the free plan is automatically open source.
Operating System: Windows, Mac, Linux (Runs in most web browsers excluding IE and Edge)
File Formats: STP, IGS, 3DM, STL, OBJ & more.
Interested?Visit OnShape7. FreeCAD
Image Source: DIWO
FreeCAD is a 100% open sourced 3D parametric modeler. It’s predominantly aimed at mechanical engineering and product design users because its features are adapted to mechanical engineering. However, it can be used by anyone interested in creating 3D models—in fact, you don’t even need to have had any CAD experience to use the program comfortably. As with other 3D modelers, it does come with 2D components, but direct 2D drawing is not its focus. It has a variety of features ranging from 3D solids, to support for meshes, to a robot simulation module that allows you to study robot movements. If you’re comfortable with SolidWorks, you’ll find FreeCAD easy to use.
Operating System: Windows, Mac, Ubuntu
File Formats: DAE, DXF, Fcstd, IFC, IGES, OBJ, OFF, NASTRAN, STEP, STL, SVG, VRML
Interested?Download now!8. Sweet Home 3D
Sweet Home 3D is a free interior design application that gives users the chance to draw floor plans, arrange furniture and look at the final results in 3D. Users can change color schemes, use models from the catalog and even create a movie of the 3D model to be exported to SVG. In addition, any changes made to the 2D plan are simultaneously reflected in a 3D view. These models can then be looked at from an aerial view point, and from a virtual visitor view point.
Autocad 2004 tutorials for beginners. If you are referring to the Autodesk Learning Assistance tutorials, the is no Autodesk Learning Assistance upgrade for 2004.
Operating System: Windows, Mac, Linux
File Types: JPEG, OBJ, PDF, PNG, SVG
Interested?Download now!9. TinkerCAD
Image Source: 3D Drucken
TinkerCAD is a 3D design and 3D printing application. It’s used to create everything from toys, to prototypes, to home decor and even jewelry. It’s a web-based application, so no downloads are necessary. It’s predominantly used for simple projects—it comes with 3 basic tools to create basic shapes. Its biggest advantage is that it can create 3D models for immediate 3D printing—with its CSG (Constructive Solid Geometry) feature, you can get a 3D model in 10 minutes! Users can design models from scratch, or use ready-made models. The application is limited, however, as it cannot be used for complex projects.
Operating System: Browser-based
File Formats: OBJ, STL
Interested? Check it out here! 10. 3D Crafter
Image Source: decapod99
3D Crafter is an intuitive, real-time 3D modeling and animation freeware program. It incorporates a drag-and-drop approach to 3D modeling. It can create complex models from simple 3D primitives or by using its shape building tools. The program can also be used to create animated scenes, which can be viewed in real time and recorded to a video (AVI) file. While it has many capabilities, you might need to upgrade to 3DCrafter Plus or Pro for more advanced features.
Operating System: Windows
File Formats: 3DMF, AC, ASC, COB, DXF, GEO, LP, LWO, NFF, OBJ, MA, RAW, RBS, RWX, STL, VRMLL, XGL, ZGL
Interested?Download now!11. Sculptris
Sculptris is a 3D modeling freeware program created by industry expert Pixologic. It’s not a general-purpose drafting program; instead, it was designed for 3D sculpting. It was created with the intention to be accessible for every type of artist—from beginner to expert. The program comes with a professional user interface, alongside two main navigation methods: right-click navigation and free moving navigation. Not only that, but it comes with a number of sculpting tools such as symmetry mode and dynamic tessellation. There’s also a variety of sculpting brushes that draw, grab, smooth and flatten. Needless to say, there’s a lot to take advantage of!
Operating System: Windows, Mac
File Formats: OBJ
Interested?Download now!12. OpenSCAD
Image Source: Peak 53902d Autocad Free
OpenSCAD is a 3D modeling CAD freeware platform. Unlike most 3D modeling software, it doesn’t focus on the ‘artistic’ aspects of 3D modeling. Instead, it’s more suitable for creating 3D models of machine parts, and working as a 3D compiler that describes the object and renders a 3D model from a script file. It gives the designer full control over the modeling process to make designs that are designed by configurable parameters. However, while the software is very intuitive, it’s still too limited for complex projects—so you might have to go elsewhere if you want more advanced features.
Operating System: Windows, Mac, Linux, Ubuntu, Fedora
File Formats: AMF, CSG, DXF, OFF, PNG, SCAD, STL, SVG
Interested?Download now!13. Blender
Blender is a free and open-source 3D modeling program. It’s more of an artistic 3D modeling program than a general-use drafting program. It comes with a wide set of capabilities ranging from photo-realistic rendering, to fast modeling, to realistic materials. Blender even allows designers to make use of an extensive animation toolset to turn still characters into animations. And if that wasn’t enough, the program also comes with simulation capabilities and video editing. While it is a steep learning curve with Blender, it is worth it.
Operating System: Windows, Mac, Linux
File Formats: 3DS, BVH, DAE, DFX, FBX, LWO, OBJ, PLY, STL, SVG, VRML/97, x, X3D
Interested?Download now!14. LeoCAD
Image Source: LeoCAD
LeoCAD is a CAD freeware program used for creating virtual LEGO models. While you might think that the software is geared towards children, you would be very wrong. This piece of software allows users to create anything from the simplest to the most complex of projects—the above screenshot is a model of the Tower Bridge with over 4,000 pieces! It comes with an intuitive interface, designed to make the process of creation easy and time-efficient. Plus, it comes with over 6,000 different pieces to create 3D models from—so there are no limits to what you can create! Obviously, the LEGO angle is very niche, but it’s perfect for those wanting to create something a little bit different.
Operating System: Windows, Mac, Linux
File Formats: LDR, DAT
Interested?Download now!Honorable Mentions
There’s a huge variety of CAD freeware available, so there are many that didn’t make our final list—but that certainly doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t check them out! Take a look at our list below for even more free software applications to take advantage of:Autocad 2d Download
As an added bonus, the following 3 picks are only free for students—but they include some of the most well-known programs on the market:Autocad 2d To 3d
Don’t forget to try out Scan2CAD’s blog for the latest news—covering everything from CAD Freelancers to Top 3D CAD Models to Try Out to Sites with Free DXF Designs!
