BEST FREE CAD / 3D Modelling software 2024 - I tested them all!

I tested every $0 cost CAD program on offer in 2024 to find out which is best to design 3D models for 3D printing! There's a huge range to choose from, each with their own pros and cons... so grab a warm drink and settle in!

Use the timestamps to learn more about each one!
0:00 Intro
1:15 What is CAD?
2:08 The test model - a Makercoin!
4:48 Onshape
9:37 DesignSpark Mechanical
12:55 Windows 3D Builder
14:57 Ondsel ES (built on FreeCAD)
20:24 Blender with CAD Sketcher Addon
26:30 Fusion 360
29:40 Shapr3D
33:13 TinkerCAD
38:35 SelfCAD
40:37 Conclusion and where to find more tutorials ↓

[Ondsel]

Thanks for the kind words, Angus :) You can change the navigation style to a different preset, we provide that choice in the first-run wizard, but you can also switch that later in the lower right corner of the main window via a drop-down list.

Simplified text addition definitely needs to happen, although we'd probably focus on doing that in Sketcher, not in the Draft workbench.

Regarding future changes, Ondsel ES is distributed under the same terms as upstream FreeCAD. This basically means that we cannot hide changes to the original pre-existing source code.

[danriehl]

Angus, thanks for using the word "Plethora". It means a lot.

[gyorgynagy]

Onshape 8:55
DesignSpark Mechanical 12:44
Windows 3D Builder 14:40
Ondsel ES (built on FreeCAD) 20:14
Blender with CAD Sketcher Addon 25:25
Fusion 360 29:30
Shapr3D 32:30
TinkerCAD 37:28
SelfCAD 40:23

[shredo]

I'm using FreeCAD on Linux. Don't know about the default user interface on Windows, but on Linux, v0.22 you have the exact same taskbar for Part Design (basically I only use this tab for 3D printable parts).
You create a body, then a sketch, then you pad/revolve, and so on. The top toolbars are also replaceable, you can change what shows up in settings, and then just move them around.

[astroplutonium]

This is what a call a properly made informative video. You are doing the 3d community a service Angus.

[danieltilson]

I use Freecad. I don't know how good it is, and I know I'm not the best at using it, but it does what I need in ways that make sense to me.

[superdau]

I am regular FreeCAD user, and it really does the job (mostly for hobby projects, including creating toolpaths for CNC, but sometimes also for work). I especially love its parametric features/formulas that can be used pretty much everywhere (I guess other programs can do that as well, but I never used any of those). I have models where I can change a single number (like the thickness of a part for example), and the whole model, consisting of tens to hundreds of parts, updates (...if I got all the constraints correct everywhere 😅)

But yeah, that's the major gripe I have with FreeCAD: its default UI settings are just bad. And it really doesn't help that the naming scheme can be confusing (e. g. the yellow "Part" object, has nothing to do with the "Part" workbench, and neither does the "Part Design" workbench with any of the two).


That said, I haven't seen anything in the Ondsel version you've shown, that couldn't be done with or isn't in stock FreeCAD as well. It seems they have more or less just improved the default settings of the program. If that's the case you aren't dependent on them at all.

[awwastor]

Ondsel’s business plan is fully focused around collaboration and online sync, so if you don’t care about that it’s basically entirely free. Also important to note that the people behind free cad aren’t some giant company trying to co opt the software, they’re a start up made by long term FreeCAD contributors (main founder being the maintainer of the Path workbench). Also, Ondsel, while not community driven, is open source/source available with the changes being published under LGPL (all or most I’m not clear on?), though it’s not community or foundation driven. So it seems like a safe option

[markpurcell]

FreeCAD is an extremely capable, fully parametric and completely free open source 3D CAD suite. Yes the user interface takes a bit of time to learn, but just watching a few tutorial videos will fix that (it's not that hard). Once you figure that out using a 3rd party front end won't be needed. I've done some very complex designs with this. The concept of having a design tree that you can modify is just brilliant.

[DavidLindes]

I agree that FreeCAD's UI is... less than entirely intuitive, to say the least.

That said, it has been seeing major improvements over time, AND, it's actually Free (as in freedom), not just Gratis (for now). Maybe go visit their sponsorship page, and send a donation (one-time or recurring)?? As a community, we need to support community-driven development, if we want it to remain viable. I hope you'll join that side of things.

[sarahb.]

Hey Angus, the current ondsel version contains freecad development features. If you download the current freecad development version (or wait until next release) you will have the same features like ondesl (minus the special ondsel cloud features).

BTW the founder of ondesl is the developer of the PATH workbench (CAM), so no new person showed up the place, only some who want's to work more for freecad in general, but making also money with it to live.

Also good timing, micheal from TT did a video about ondsel some days ago, but he didn't managed the workflow.

[andreasbramftl]

Little hint for TinkerCAD: You can switch between bounding corner and center dimensions. That's the circle next to the ruler with the 3 lines.

[kingofnfsfan]

Another suggestion: Siemens Solid Edge. I learned this programm in university and have been using it ever since. The main reason why i switched to it from Fusion360 is the multi part assembly. I have used several CAD programs before and i never had any software that could compare to SE. The positioning of parts is just phenomenaly easy. For single parts the modeling is not as easy as Fusion360 though and the UI is quite overwhelming at first.

[critical_always]

So... There is no software you can buy? It's all rent software. Disgusting.

[bradleykurtz]

My 3D modelling program wishlist, in no particular order:
1. FOSS
2. Offline
3. Suitable for precision
4. Easily dimensioned text
5. Parametric
I think that is everything I can think of off-hand, assuming all the standard stuff we would expect. I know these companies have to monetize somehow, and I want them to be able to. Finding a way to monetize while keeping everything accessible will be a challenge.

[gregbloor]

Ondsel looks almost identical to the weekly compilation (download) of FreeCAD. Which is currently at version 0.22.0 revision 36117. You will probably like the next release of FreeCAD as much as Ondsel.

[Gosuminer]

FreeCAD is weird on so many levels. The price for its great feature set is a steep learning curve. For me it was still worth it because I value freedom very much and just won't use software that cease to work when I'm offline or holds my models ransom.

[markmccluskey]

I needed this video. My 13-year-old daughter and I were just about to embark on our 3D printing journey but realized 3D modeling needs to come first. Getting marketing materials on CAD software is easy; getting a benchmarked comparative experience is invaluable. Many thanks for your efforts. The decisioning process seems a lot less daunting now.

[cadmirald]

As a CAD program application owner at a large company, I am always messing with CAD. it's nice to see reviews on what's free instead of stupid expensive. Thanks!!

[marcin]

For all those wondering - this video is not another clickbait video. That dude really went over the board with testing all the best CAD software options. Damn good job, thanks a lot Maker's Muse for summing it all up for us.