10 Best Free CAD Software for creating 2D technical drawing and 3D projects

If you need to work or learn how to use a CAD program, without spending too much money on a professional program like Autocad or others, you can use one of these free programs that provide all the functions of a CAD program.

Here is a list of the top 10 free programs to download for Windows PC, Mac and Linux for technical drawing in both 2D and 3D projects.

10 Best Free CAD Software for creating 2D technical drawing and 3D projects

List of Free CAD Programs for technical drawing


FreeCAD

Freecad

Free CAD is an open source program for Windows, Mac and Linux that directly addresses the engineering and design of products for mechanical use.

It can also be used for architectural projects or other engineering sectors based on 3D modeling.

Although free, FreeCAD is considered as an alternate of other popular CAD programs thanks to its ability to create real 3D solids, support for networks, 2D drawing and many other professional features. The program is modular therefore expandable with many extensions.

NanoCAD

nanoCAD

NanoCAD is one of the best free and unlimited solutions for creating 3D CAD drawings.
Its most important feature is the native support to the DWG format which is then that of Autocad.

This means that a DWG file created with nanoCAD can be sent to other people who can then open it with Autocad without having need to convert.

Sculptris

Sculptris

Sculptris is a free 3D graphic design program for Windows and Mac.
Easy to use, it’s not really a technical drawing program, but a software to draw 3D models like sculptures or figures.

As the name of this small software recalls, it serves to create virtual sculptures. In practical terms, it means that with Sculptris you can draw three-dimensional figures but not animations as you can do with the more complicated Blender.

SketchUp

Sketch Up

SketchUp is one of the most popular 3D modeling programs used primarily for architectural works and other niches in the 3D project industry.

The program for Windows and Mac is complete and professional with all the tools included for free. You can also see the galleries of works done to understand that there are no limits of using this program.

LibreCAD

LibreCAD

LibreCAD is a free, open source CAD drawing program for Windows, Mac and Linux.

A complete tool that is proposed as an alternative to Autocad. LibreCAD can be used for all 2D architectural engineering drawings, to design mechanical parts, for construction, simulation, interior design, creative design and diagramming.

DraftSight

DraftSight

DraftSight is another free 2D CAD editor for professional CAD users, students and teachers, to work on DWG files.

The program is perfect for those who prefer minimal and simple CAD software. DraftSight can be downloaded for Windows, Mac and Linux.

OpenSCAD

OpenSCAD

OpenSCAD is a 3D modeling platform ideal for engineers, to design parts of machines using script programming. So there is no button interface and it is only for programmers.

Kicad

KiCAD

KiCAD is a free design tool for drawing printed circuit boards (PCBs), for Windows, Mac and Linux.

QCAD

QCAD

QCAD is available for all computers to create technical drawings of buildings, mechanical parts or even diagrams.

Since it is open source, QCAD is modular and extensible. Its 2D CAD platform is powerful yet easy to use even for a beginner who has little or no experience.

3DCrafter

DraftSight

3DCrafter is a simple 3D modeling program that works simply through drag and drop. It is used to create animated models by drawing scenes in real time.

Cloud Citrix VDI

Get an easy and handy access your CAD software anytime on any device by loading it onto high performance Cloud Citrix VDI powered by Apps4Rent with excellent support.

Other guides on CAD:

Conclusions

For an engineer or architect AutoCAD is essential, since it is the main work tool. But if you are still at university or have multiple computers to work on, you can very well install one of the programs recommended in this guide, so that we can still work on 2D technical drawings and 3D projects without spending much on the various AutoCAD licenses.

4 thoughts on “10 Best Free CAD Software for creating 2D technical drawing and 3D projects”

Comments are closed.