# Page 2 | FreeCAD Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra

> Page 2 - Is FreeCAD the right 3D CAD solution for you? Explore 142 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice.

Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/reviews

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FreeCAD

4.3 (142)

[View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/167527/FreeCAD/alternatives/)

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Last updated December 29th, 2025

# Page 2 - Reviews of FreeCAD

## Showing most helpful reviews

Showing 26-50 of 142 Reviews

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Most Helpful

Rating

Company Size

Reviewer's Role

Length of Use

Frequency of Use

FR

Francesco R.  
Geometra  
Architecture & Planning  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Ottimo CAD OpenSource versatile e completo"

December 19, 2024

5.0

Ho inizato ad usarlo dalla versione 0.16 e dalla 0.19 lo uso anche professionalmente nella progettazione architettonica e BIM.

Pros

Estremamente versatile e adatto a progettazione BIM, CAD, FEM, 3D, ecc. con la possibilità di creare rendering e tavole. Con gli addons e con le macro, si possono espandere le possibilità e velocizzare il lavoro.

Cons

Ci vuole un po' di tempo per imparare ad usarlo professionalmente, ma la vasta community fa un ottimo lavoro di aiuto e assistenza.

Switched from

[Revit](https://www.capterra.com/p/265023/Revit/)[AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)

Per motivi di costo e funzionalità. Con un unico software posso fare praticamente tutto quello che mi serve per lavoro.

Review Source

SR

Steven R.  
Project Responsible  
Automotive  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Review FreeCAD"

January 24, 2025

4.0

Pros

Claerly It's a simply and easy Viewer software, and you can read a lot of different cad file type.

Cons

The possibility of creation are really like a CAD software are pretty bad.

Review Source

GH

Gregory H.  
Greggles  
Consumer Electronics  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Great open source program"

July 19, 2024

5.0

Pros

\-Open source -Easy to use -Many different workbenches -Many file formats supported -Preferred to Solidworks

Cons

\-Near no customer service and sometimes sub-par tutorials -Getting the right install location can be difficult -Some operations fail unexpectedly -Hard to use with sheet metal fabricated parts

Alternatives considered

[Autodesk Fusion](https://www.capterra.com/p/178416/Fusion-360/)[SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/p/93121/SolidWorks-Premium/)

Reason for choosing FreeCAD

It was hard to license, and expensive. FreeCAD is, well, free. Solidworks is better for sheet metal though.

Review Source

JG

James G.  
Library Tech  
Libraries  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "FreeCad - Great hobbiest cad with a caveat"

October 18, 2023

3.0

Freecad provides an easy method to develop rocket components. This allows students the opportunity to use a parametric 3d modeler to model 3d components that they can then print on a 3d printer and finally actually see their rockets "Blast Off!' It works well for our use at the library and could be useful for many hobbiest projects. It is probably not quite ready for most production work, but that could change soon one the topological naming issue is resolved.

Pros

I use freecad to design high power rockets. I also teach it to our STEAM club students at our local library. It is a great exposure for them to using a parametric 3D modeler and with addons provides a simple way to develop rocket components (e.g., nosecone, fin-can, etc.)

Cons

Freecad has one major bug that needs to be fixed before I can generally recommend it. That is the infamous "topological naming problem". This issue is not unique to Freecad. Most parametric modelers have to deal with this issue in some way. In a nutshell, when you add, remove or slice sections of a model that has other sketches extruded from it, then all the surfaces get renamed. This causes the point of attachment of new sketches to be changed, so an extrusion may suddenly come out from the side instead of the top of the model. The Freecad development team is working on this issue, but as an open-source project developed primarily by volunteers progress is slow. Development work on this problem has recently picked up though. Once this is solved, I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone need a parametric 3d modeler.

Alternatives considered

[Tinkercad](https://www.capterra.com/p/207354/Tinkercad/)

Reason for choosing FreeCAD

Autodesk has licensing restrictions for use by minors. It was unclear whether we, as a library, qualified for their educational classroom. FreeCAD, with its open-source unrestricted license allowed us to freely use it for our STEAM clubs.

Review Source

Rubén E.  
Hardware Engineer  
Design  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Good free tool, but not at the level of the bests. Ideal for small companies and simple project"

October 24, 2022

4.0

I usually work with non-very complicated designs and I am used to created them from the typical 2D sketches, but I can highlight some features I like and the ones that helped me more: it is possible to import an STL file (a mesh) and convert it to a solid, which you can work with later (very useful if you want to modify any design found on the Internet); there are many plugins that help to improve FreeCAD, i.e. I use KiCadStepUp tool to import a KiCad PCB easily and be able to see the entire design with it's electronic part, which includes every electronic component.

Pros

This is a good software for 3D design. It is for free and there is a great community that can give support to you, with a lot of tutorials in Youtube. Since I am a contributor of other free and open software like KiCad, it's great to have a 3D design tool like FreeCAD. Also it has many integrated tools to work with 3D and 2D designs, you can review models, import many file formats and convert some meshes like STL to a solid.

Cons

FreeCAD has some bugs and some of the functionality is not very intuitive. From my point of view, the bugs are its worst disadvantage and some of them are the next ones: the third-party components are sometimes not imported properly, that could be because the design is broken, but I experimented it several times, so I suppose there is some bug or incompatibility; the mesh-to-solid conversion sometimes fails; when you are designing a 3D part that has some features like chamfers or edge roundings, if you changes the previous steps and it makes the number of faces varies, the part will break down, so its important to keep this bug in mind and do those conflictive features in the last steps of the part design.

Switched from

[SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/p/93121/SolidWorks-Premium/)[Inventor](https://www.capterra.com/p/236745/Inventor/)

Inventor and SolidWorks are non-free software. The licenses are expensive for personal projects, so I only used them for professional designs. I can't affort to pay those licenses.Also, after I started with Invertor, I notice that it couldn't import a mesh to convert it to a solid, so I started to used FreeCAD by that reason, and as I got used to use it and my projects are not very complex, I don't need any better.

Review Source

FV

Fabian V.  
Civil Engineer  
Construction  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "FreeCAD is a specialist Parametric, 2D and 3D Modeler, ideal for professionals, students and hobbyis"

February 23, 2022

5.0

In general terms, FreeCAD is the SoftWare that optimizes time and saves money, without having to hire experts to carry out designs and layouts for different types of projects; functional, easy to use, despite its interface with few or minimal difficulties that compensates it with other qualities that make it the ideal cause for the development of multiple designs and projects, loved by professionals, teachers, students and amateurs of this important activity. what is design.

Pros

FreeCAD is a customized open source SoftWare, ideal for experts, students and beginners. The easy, efficient and cross-platform tool such as Linux, Windows and Mac, with modules for the most complex 2 and 3D design representations, with import and export options, as well as allowing general accessible coded integration with SoftWare Python, making it a complementary tool when it comes to solutions and extreme designs. We simply have a formidable SoftWare that is complemented by the varieties of its functionalities that make work become a hobby or pastime when designing. it's great...

Cons

The Interface can generate brief difficulty when navigating without representing major inconveniences. You may experience some unstable installation especially on Mac. Difficulty anchoring 3D objects, so rotation could move them to another location on the screen.

Review Source

DT

Dominique T.  
Recherche  
Think Tanks  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Bravo les créateurs de FREECAD"

October 1, 2023

4.0

Pour certaine entreprise le cout financier et importants c'est bien qu'il y aient des logiciels libres

Pros

Tous les ateliers sont faciles à prendre en mains

Cons

Quelques ateliers sont à améliorer par la communautée

Alternatives considered

[ZW3D](https://www.capterra.com/p/174793/ZW3D/)

Reason for choosing FreeCAD

Financier

Switched from

[AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)

certain ont des prix exorbitants

Review Source

Lourdes G.  
Asistente Al Cliente  
Design  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Lo esencial en un solo lugar"

February 22, 2023

4.0

Mi experiencia es muy buena en general, sobre todo cubre todas mis necesidades en forma sencilla y efectiva.

Pros

Primeramente que es una herramienta gratuita y de código abierto, permite incorporar plug ing realizados por terceros. Fácilidad para el manejo de herramientas 3D.

Cons

Su interfase es muy básica, podría mejorar en sus represtentaciones 3d y también a la hora de imprimir.

Alternatives considered

[AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)

Reason for choosing FreeCAD

Gratuidad y fácilidad de uso

Review Source

MK

Michael K.  
Owner  
Health, Wellness and Fitness  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Excellent product for free"

April 2, 2020

4.0

Love it. I used Pro/ENGINEER in the early 90's and it was such a wonderful leap over AutoCAD but hugely expensive. I used my outdated copy of AutoCAD for years until I discovered FreeCAD 5 or 6 years ago. Initially it was a steep learning curve but with the abundance of videos on YouTube and perseverance I am now quite adept at using it. I have designed/built a semi-automatic machine for my production and have several 3D printed tools used in that machine. FreeCAD has been a Godsend for developing and evaluating my ideas and I would definitely recommend it if you are a small business with minimal or no budget for expensive CAD software.

Pros

Price (free), functionality: solid modeling (not just a collection of lines, arc and circles) , features, (eventual) ease of use, ability to create .stl files for 3D printer. The software is parametric meaning you can adjust dimensions and update the model, ability to create assemblies.

Cons

Steep learning curve but thankfully with YouTube... I haven't looked for awhile but the documentation was lacking when I first got into it. I haven't had to use the forum for help so I can't speak to that but in searching the forum it seems to be very active with volunteers answering questions.

Switched from

[AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)

I had an old version of AutoCAD that was great for creating drawings but lousy for developing concepts/models.

Review Source

AD

Aurélien D.  
Trainer  
Industrial Automation  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Si vous prenez le temps d'apprendre vous serez extrêmement satisfait !"

September 18, 2022

5.0

J'ai peut etre passé une semaine à comprendre comment réaliser proprement mes 3D. Je pense ne pas être venu à bout de toutes les fonctionnalités, mais pour ce qui m'est utile, je peux réaliser assez rapidement et facilement ce que je veux maintenant, et gratuitement ! Je l'aime beaucoup et le recommande.

Pros

Il est complet, gratuit et une communauté permet d'avoir le support nécessaire aux question qu'on peut se poser. Ce n'est pas Soliworks non plus, mais le rapport qualité prix est sans correspondance.

Cons

La prise en main au début est très lourde. Et des fois, il y a des problèmes de conceptions qui ne sont pas clairement expliqués. Il faut chercher pour savoir ce qui en est à l'origine. Enfin, si vous placer un chanfrein, et que vous modifiez des calcul précédent, il se peut que le chanfrein disparassi et aille se placer ailleurs... Alors oui je comprends que les calculs "font que"... mais ça aurait été chouette qu'il le comprennen seul ou au pire, propose la vérification des chanfrein. Car quand il ne se montrent pas, on ne peut pas les sélectionner et du coup on ne peut pas les enlever.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Ceo  
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

### "I switched to freecad and I found it good enough for my work project "

January 12, 2023

4.0

I use freecad to model my complex mechanical component parts, and 3d print them.

Pros

The 3d design/ modelling is quite exciting. Freecad is easy to use. And it integrates well

Cons

They use different (but similar) names than what I am used to in their 3d comands but I could understand them right away. And they are all working fine.

Switched from

[AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)

Autocad is expensive for me.

Review Source

MK

Marius K.  
Hobbyist  
Information Services  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "The only viable solution if you want free and offline cad package"

July 27, 2021

5.0

It's a powerfull CAD tool, and the best part it's totally free.

Pros

Can create any part you can imagine, exports to 3d printing friendly formats, sketching and part design workbenches are relatively easy to learn.

Cons

There are some software quirks on of them is you can not attach sketch to surface and modify the body that the sketch is attached it will mess up the part, while there are ways around that I wish they would fix it in the next iteration of the software. Also if downloading official release the UI is outdated.

Alternatives considered

[Autodesk Fusion](https://www.capterra.com/p/178416/Fusion-360/)

Reason for choosing FreeCAD

You can not beat Open source price offering which is 0 bucks.

Switched from

[Autodesk Fusion](https://www.capterra.com/p/178416/Fusion-360/)

They have changed how they treat the hobbyist license, also every year one needs to renew the license, while it's free, it's limited on how one can use their models as per their copyright.

Review Source

DD

Daniel D.  
Student  
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Ever improving, and capable of many things"

January 14, 2022

4.0

Pros

Free, parametric design. Valuable mesh to solid features. Scripting and programmatic interfaces are useful

Cons

Feature references regularly break (fixed in 0.19)

Review Source

MM

Marcelo M.  
Analista de TI  
Textiles  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "FreeCAD professional level tool"

September 13, 2022

3.0

Pros

Excellent tool for designing structures in detail, elaborating analysis parameters for deformation and strength calculations. And it's still possible to do it on less powerful machines, so to speak.

Cons

Transferring the drawing to paper with a level of detail is already a little more difficult, it has a lot of loss, also if you need to make a large and detailed structure, only with FreeCAD it is very complicated, for that you would need some other tools, making a more complex job.

Switched from

[CAD Pro](https://www.capterra.com/p/164711/CAD-Pro/)

Difficulties in accuracies and more complex and larger details

Review Source

DB

Darell B.  
Owner  
Computer & Network Security  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

### "FREECAD "

April 30, 2021

4.0

The most powerful features of Free CAD is the scripting environment. It was easy to create objects in the 3D scene and access and also modify your projects in the FreeCAD interface of the software.

Pros

The most attractive feature is that it is free to use I am not very good at designing 3D projects but Free Cad seems to be for me a good platform to teach myself. There are other free design software out there but this one seems to have a lot of features for a free version I like the ease of use for a free open source program the menu items are well layed out

Cons

There are some limited features but for free open source it is not bad. Python scripting I think takes a little patience getting used to but once you catch on it goes pretty smooth for a beginner.

Alternatives considered

[Autodesk Fusion](https://www.capterra.com/p/178416/Fusion-360/)

Reason for choosing FreeCAD

Allowing me to learn on open source makes sense.

Switched from

[Autodesk Fusion](https://www.capterra.com/p/178416/Fusion-360/)

I am a beginner creating 3D designs Free Cad allows me to learn while Fusion 360 is very good software Autodesk has opted not to make Fusion 360 free to use. Free Cad has very good open software option that keeps a beginner busy.

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Freecad, 3D drawing for beginners.  
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Freecad, 3d drawing for beginners."

October 16, 2022

4.0

When I started 3D printing, I needed software to get started. So I discovered freecad which helped me to realize my very first markets.

Pros

I like the simplicity of his workshop Parts . Which thanks to known shapes allow to realize new shapes.

Cons

What I hate the most are the bugs of this software, usually it leads to start the design from scratch.

Review Source

JI

Juan I.  
Ingenieria  
Information Technology and Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Que es FreeCad"

May 13, 2020

5.0

Pros

es totalmente gratis no se debe pagar nada por su licencia ya que la misma es GPL 2 soy parte del equipo de FreeCad en latinoamerica y estoy en desacuerdo con la publicación de venta de esta software por este medio por lo cual me dirijo ente ustedes para que comuniquen con el publicador y sea retirada esta oferta ya que una ves mas les replico este software es totalmente gratis

Cons

ninguna es muy bueno y ademas gratis de por vida

Reason for choosing FreeCAD

porque es gratis

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Mechanical Engineer  
  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "If you want a free CAD program this is by far the best option. Free and simple it just works."

July 10, 2018

5.0

This software has been used to create hundreds of drawings for mocking up ideas.

Pros

This free software does not skimp on features. Everything you could even need it there for you. This software can be used by professionals, hobbiests, and students. With on going development new features are always being added and it easily runs on any system no matter old or new the system.

Cons

The interface can have a bit of a challenging learning curve. This is not the fault of this software but of all CAD software. Often times people take classes to learn CAD. This software can be easily learned but be prepared to invest some time.

Review Source

FM

Francesco M.  
Impiegato  
Railroad Manufacture  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "Freecad per modellazione 3D"

February 24, 2023

5.0

Analizzare i 3D per fare delle valutazioni importanti nel mio lavoro quotidiano

Pros

Utilizzo per analizzare i file 3D .step.

Cons

Non è di facilissima intuizione, potrebbe essere modificata l'interfaccia per aiutare gli utilizzatori

Review Source

TM

Thomas M.  
engineer  
Design  
Used the software for: 6-12 months

### "Best free multiplatform CAD"

January 2, 2023

5.0

Pros

Coming from a paid win software, this was the first linux alternative I tried. There was no big deal in getting familiar to the tool layout. Great simulation tools, similar workflow to other CAD.

Cons

Nothing to say here. It is a very capable software that I use.

Review Source

ROSA YURAIMA R.  
Pipeline Design and Analyst in Oil Industry, Venezuela  
  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "Modelling in 3D and for free"

May 2, 2018

5.0

Pros

This is a software that I can use it in any computer without restriction and without paying anything, because is free and do many things that do a private software, for me is very useful because I can modeling the pipelines and see them in 3D to know if exist a trouble or mistake with the design, or we just have to implement it.

Cons

It needs to implement a set of tutorials in the official website, because in the beginning was very difficult to me to understand the processes of modeling with this software, but once I manage them everything was very easy.

Review Source

Natalia B.  
Software Engineer  
  
Used the software for: 1-2 years

### "I got this software helpful for me and it's really great, The main good thing all about it is free."

July 14, 2018

5.0

Pros

FreeCAD shows 3D drawing in different angels and projections.The most liking thing is it's being free for user. I fine everything i want to do in this software. I like its all programs which are easy to use.And this is one of the best software which work on every system instead of creating problems like some other softwares in market.

Cons

There are no cons for me but it was a little hard to know about the all programs in it .they took time and it is also obvious for every one to learn a new software after some practice it gets easier then easier..

Review Source

VR

Verified Reviewer  
Business Owner  
Consumer Services  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "My FreeCAD review"

October 9, 2018

3.0

I mostly use it for my file conversion needs. It detects some important (not much) type of file extensions in the 3d industry. Since all major paid softwares have a kind of free usage option, FreeCAD has a limited user ecosystem rather than others.

Pros

FreeCAD is a free software you can design everything in 3D. This is a lightweight (not consumes PC's cappacity so much) software you can use in your projects.

Cons

The software has not sculpting feature. Besides, it has a poor interface design.

Review Source

AL

Alessandro L.  
Technician  
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering  
Used the software for: 2+ years

### "the cad that helps you in moments of despair"

January 13, 2022

4.0

I have solved a strong problem of artifact in a file imported from other suite software in my principal software for 3d modeling. Thanks to freecad I was able to modify the file, export it and send it to the cnc machine.

Pros

the best solution if you have to manage a project from A to Z and you don't want to spend a 5 zeros figure !! Sheet metal features and mechanical stress simulation tools are a great and wonderful thing! You can create professional documentation and edit problem files imported from other formats saves your life. Works great!

Cons

I would like it to have automatic annotation management such as higher level cads. I wish you had a cfd simulation module and the ability to simulate assemblies of multiple assembled parts. ( A dream!)

Review Source

JC

John C.  
Entrepreneur  
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering  
Used the software for: Less than 6 months

### "Extraordinary 3D CAD functionality for FREE, yet you need to invest time to master it."

May 17, 2022

5.0

This is a fully functioning free download that is probably worth the effort to learn (I'm still learning it). I have over 30 years experience using various other CAD systems, yet still need to get over the learning hurdle with this system to feel comfortable using it.

Pros

Surprisingly powerful and visually similar to other 3D CAD modelers. I was able to import an IGES assembly from another mid-range system without any issues. Although I was not able to then modify the assembly. A good number of tutorials are available on YouTube.

Cons

Functions are similar to other products, yet to me, it is not intuitive and requires investing more time to learn. The icons do not look as elegant as more premium systems, yet what can you expect for a FREE program that people worked hard to create on their own dime.

Alternatives considered

[Blender](https://www.capterra.com/p/167519/Blender/)

Reason for choosing FreeCAD

The price is right. It promises useful functionality without worrying about paying a software maintenance contract. The product has a "fan base" of users and many free video tutorials on YouTube.

Switched from

[Inventor](https://www.capterra.com/p/236745/Inventor/)

No longer will have access to other CAD system.

Review Source

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