Best CAD Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Onshape is ranked #1 of 32 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Rhino 3D and Shapr3D. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Rhino 3D. The lowest first paid tier on this page is SOLIDWORKS at $4/mo.
CAD software supports the creation of technical drawings and models, with different tools for different design approaches. Compared on modeling dimension, direct modeling, and parametric modeling, the entries give you ways to assess how each may suit your work. File format support and cloud collaboration can matter when sharing designs, while simulation tools and supported platforms add further considerations. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing provide additional context. Onshape, Rhino 3D, and Shapr3D are among the named options; AutoCAD and CATIA offer other choices to consider. Compare the listed modeling and workflow capabilities with the kinds of designs and file exchanges you need to handle.
32 CAD software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
5 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OnshapeWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $125/mo | 7.8 | |
| 2 | Rhino 3DWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $95/mo | 7.4 | |
| 3 | Shapr3DWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $24.92/mo | 7.1 | |
| 4 | AutoCADWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 6.9 |
| 5 | LibreCADWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.9 | |
| 6 | CATIAWeb · Windows | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 6.7 |
| 7 | CreoWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 6.7 |
| 8 | SOLIDWORKSWeb · Windows · Mac | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $4/mo | 6.7 |
| 9 | Autodesk InventorWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 6.5 |
| 10 | Solid EdgeWeb · Windows | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 6.5 |
| 11 | FreeCADWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 6.4 |
| 12 | Siemens NXWeb · Windows | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 6.2 |
| 13 | ARES CommanderWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | €225/mo | 6.1 |
| 14 | TinkercadWeb · iPhone | One bar | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.0 | |
| 15 | DraftSightWindows · Mac · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $24.92/mo | 5.8 |
| 16 | nanoCADWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $24.08/mo | 5.8 |
| 17 | GstarCADWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $749/mo | 5.7 |
| 18 | MicroStationNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 19 | Alibre DesignWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $999/mo | 5.6 |
| 20 | DesignSpark MechanicalWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 21 | ZWCAD ProfessionalNo platforms listed | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | $1,399/mo | 5.4 |
| 22 | IRONCADWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 23 | CobaltWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $57.92/mo | 5.3 |
| 24 | SolveSpaceWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 25 | OpenSCADWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Modeling dimension | Parametric modeling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Onshape | 7.8 | Free plan | $125/mo | Yes | Free | 3D CAD | Yes |
| 2 | Rhino 3D | 7.4 | Free plan | $95/mo | No | — | — | Yes |
| 3 | Shapr3D | 7.1 | Free plan | $24.92/mo | Yes | Free | 3D | Yes |
| 4 | AutoCAD | 6.9 | No | — | No | $175/user/mo | 2D and 3D | — |
| 5 | LibreCAD | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | No |
| 6 | CATIA | 6.7 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Creo | 6.7 | No | — | No | — | — | Yes |
| 8 | SOLIDWORKS | 6.7 | No | $4/mo | Yes | $2,820/user/mo | 3D | Yes |
| 9 | Autodesk Inventor | 6.5 | No | — | No | — | 3D | Yes |
| 10 | Solid Edge | 6.5 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 11 | FreeCAD | 6.4 | No | — | Yes | — | 3D | Yes |
| 12 | Siemens NX | 6.2 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 13 | ARES Commander | 6.1 | No | €225/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 14 | Tinkercad | 6.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | DraftSight | 5.8 | No | $24.92/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 16 | nanoCAD | 5.8 | No | $24.08/mo | Yes | Free | 2D and 3D | Yes |
| 17 | GstarCAD | 5.7 | No | $749/mo | No | — | — | Yes |
| 18 | MicroStation | 5.6 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 19 | Alibre Design | 5.6 | No | $999/mo | No | — | — | Yes |
| 20 | DesignSpark Mechanical | 5.5 | No | — | Yes | — | 2D and 3D | Yes |
| 21 | ZWCAD Professional | 5.4 | No | $1,399/mo | No | — | — | Yes |
| 22 | IRONCAD | 5.3 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 23 | Cobalt | 5.3 | No | $57.92/mo | No | $69.95/user/mo | — | — |
| 24 | SolveSpace | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 25 | OpenSCAD | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which CAD software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Onshape is ranked #1 of 32 with a score of 7.8. Rhino 3D is second and Shapr3D third.
How many of these have a free plan?
5 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, SOLIDWORKS has the lowest first paid tier we found: $4/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.