Computer-Aided Blueprint (CAD) software tin can exist expensive for a small business organization, but it'southward besides essential for product blueprint and technical illustrations. For businesses looking for an affordable alternative to popular CAD software options, free and open up-source CAD software might exist the ideal solution.

Some of the all-time free CAD software includes:

  • NanoCAD
  • Sketchup Free
  • FreeCAD
  • OnShape
  • LibreCAD
­ 3D or 2nd OS Open Source Biggest Pro Biggest Con
NanoCAD Both Windows No Ease of Use, Automation Resource-Intensive, Missing File System
Sketchup Free Both Windows, MacOS No Quick, Easy Model Creation New Features Often Non Free
FreeCAD 3D, Express 2d Windows, MacOS, Linux Yes Active Community Complex UI, Limited 2D Functionality
OnShape Both Browser-Based No No Installation Express Dimensioning
LibreCAD 2D, Limited 3D Windows, MacOS, Linux Yes Splendid second Design Limited 3D, Limited Support

These products are a mix of 2nd and 3D computer-aided design software, and all of them have a forever free to utilize option. Products were selected based on their popularity and characteristic completeness.

#1 NanoCAD

Source: NanoCAD

NanoCAD is a free-to-use CAD software with both 2D and 3D design functionality. NanoCAD has an easy-to-utilise interface combined with complex options that allow power users to go the well-nigh of the software. Additionally, NanoCAD receives frequent updates and new features, keeping it competitive with other cutting-edge CAD software. NanoCAD also offers paid premium packages that businesses can upgrade to equally they grow.

Pros

  • NanoCAD is easily accessible. Non-technical users tin can use it to create simple drafts without meaning training
  • NanoCAD supports automation features so drafts and documentation can hands exist transferred from the app to a database. This streamlines the exporting process and helps you become designs in the hands of product developers.

Cons

  • Rendering drafts with NanoCAD is resources-intensive and may require a powerful machine
  • NanoCAD'southward free version is missing file organization features that are offered by the premium version and toolbars that are offered by other premium CAD software

Best For Growing Companies

NanoCAD offers essential CAD features for free, with the pick of purchasing a premium package for advanced features including a robust table editor. NanoCAD may not be appropriate for organizations with very limited budgets as it does require a powerful machine for rendering designs.

With this in heed, NanoCAD is a good selection for organizations that take powerful machines but don't want to invest in premium CAD software nevertheless. If your organization's CAD needs increase, you tin upgrade NanoCAD to get premium features without having to learn a completely different tool.

#2 Sketchup Free

Source: Sketchup

Sketchup is CAD software built to create 3D designs and 2D documentation. Sketchup's free version includes 3D modeling features for individual users, also equally cloud storage and model viewing. Sketchup also provides admission to a variety of gratis and premium 3D assets for users to accept reward of. Equally businesses using Sketchup grow, they can upgrade to paid versions for features such equally offline development.

Pros

  • It's straightforward and quick to utilize to create models and designs using Sketchup Free
  • Sketchup Free allows users to share and download prebuilt models from the 3D Warehouse

Cons

  • Adjusting layouts can be challenging, and placing objects tin can be fourth dimension-consuming if you want to go it just right
  • New features are oftentimes constitute in extensions, which aren't bachelor to gratuitous users

Best For Businesses with Inexperienced Users

Sketchup Free is one of the easiest free CAD software options for creating designs. Users without much experience will exist able to work with Sketchup Gratis without training, and can easily export and share their creations. This makes Sketchup Gratis a good pick for businesses with inexperienced users that would need more than training to use a dissimilar tool.

#three FreeCAD

FreeCAD is an open-source CAD software designed for 3D modeling. FreeCAD supports parametric modeling, and then users can change designs later on edifice them past changing model parameters. Because FreeCAD is an open-source tool, there is an active community developing new features and providing support. FreeCAD as well supports 2D designs, though those features are limited compared to FreeCAD'southward 3D designing features.

Pros

  • FreeCAD is actively supported past a community of developers that keep the software upward to engagement
  • FreeCAD is available on Windows, Mac, and several major Linux distributions

Cons

  • FreeCAD's user interface is complex. Users may demand the training to maximize performance using FreeCAD
  • FreeCAD'due south 2D design features are limited compared to 3D design features

Best For Linux Users

FreeCAD is i of the few CAD software options that runs on popular Linux distributions such every bit Ubuntu and Mint. If your organization's workstations run Linux, you won't take to exercise whatsoever extra work to get FreeCAD to work, or wait for Linux features to exist developed. Linux compatibility makes FreeCAD an platonic selection for businesses that use Linux.

#four Onshape

Onshape is a deject-based CAD software designed to speed up a concern'southward product evolution process. Onshape includes 2D and 3D design features packaged in with release management, workflow management, and existent-time collaboration tools. Onshape also allows users to design both on a computer or via a mobile app. If businesses need more avant-garde features, Onshape offers paid plans including enhanced support and support for multiple workflows.

Pros

  • Onshape doesn't require installation and can be used by devices without powerful hardware
  • Onshape provides robust versioning features that protect businesses against data loss

Cons

  • Onshape express dimensioning features for drawings and lacks text customization features
  • Since Onshape is cloud-based, poor latency can result in slowed-down exporting and drawing

Best For Minor Companies

Onshape tin can work on almost whatever device with an internet connection regardless of hardware specifications and has congenital-in data loss prevention. Many other CAD software options require powerful hardware and divide file versioning systems. Smaller businesses that can't budget for powerhouse hardware might find Onshape is the perfect CAD software.

#5 LibreCAD

LibreCAD is an open-source CAD software built for second pattern. LibreCAD also offers 3D design features, though they are not equally robust as the second pattern features. Since LibreCAD is open source, information technology is supported and developed by a community of third-party developers. This development group keeps LibreCAD upwards to date, but cannot provide the aforementioned level of support businesses might expect from proprietary CAD software.

LibreCAD can not convert STL files to 3D diagrams or OBJ files.

Pros

  • LibreCAD excels at second pattern and offers features competitive with paid CAD software
  • LibreCAD's user interface is like to popular CAD software options such equally AutoCAD, and then technical users will be able to transition to working with LibreCAD without losing productivity

Cons

  • Express features for 3D design compared to 2D design features
  • Express support compared to proprietary CAD software

Best For 2D Designs

LibreCAD specializes in 2D designs and is powerful enough to rival paid proprietary 2nd design software. Additionally, LibreCAD is very limited when creating 3D designs. LibreCAD may be the best choice for your arrangement if you create primarily or exclusively 2d designs.

Free Premium CAD Software for Students

Individuals tin sometimes get access to usually paid software for free. The about common instance of this is student and educator licenses. These are designed to allow individuals to learn industry-standard software and proceeds feel with the tools associated with them. These tin can include CNC and 3D printing machines which are becoming more mutual at high school levels. Such hardware has long been present on college and technical campuses.

Autodesk offers full versions of near of its products for free to students. For mechanical engineering students, Autodesk Inventor offers3D CAD features and simulation tools. Autodesk Architecture has a design-focused ui that allows y'all to switch between 2D and 3D.

It is worth noting that while the software for these products are free, the hardware to back up them is not. Advanced features such as the parametric 3D modeler in AutoCAD 2022 require high performance hardware to run. This specific feature allows the automation of repetitive geometry manipulation.

Fusion 360 is another tool offered by Autodesk to students. This combines a host of CAM, CAD, PCB and CAE tools into 1 software. This supports .obj, .dxf, .stl, and .iges file types, among many others.

In summary, premium software offers students the gamble to acquire more advanced and varied skills. Educators can apply the three year license to educate students in simple information similar technical drawings and schematics all the way to avant-garde application and practical skills.

What'due south Correct for Your Business concern?

Between all of the gratuitous and open-source CAD software, in that location is a skilful choice for whatever pocket-size business concern. Businesses focusing on 2d blueprint should consider LibreCAD, while FreeCAD is ideal for 3D pattern. NanoCAD is a good option for businesses that do both 2D and 3D pattern. For businesses that are looking for unproblematic software that requires minimal training, Onshape and Sketchup Gratis are good choices.

Since these are free tools, try out all of the options you think might exist correct for your business. If your designers take a gamble to use all the software you are because yous tin remove the guesswork when making a last decision. When deciding between open source and proprietary CAD software, y'all should also consider how much back up your business will need. Proprietary software options tin can usually provide more hands-on back up than open-source tools.

If none of these software options are correct for your business you lot may need to consider a premium selection. You tin can read reviews for all of these CAD tools, as well as other premium CAD software on TrustRadius.