# Top Free General-Purpose CAD Software If you have worked with CAD, or even dabbled with CAD drafting, you probably know how powerful and important free general-purpose CAD tools are across a variety of industries. Free general-purpose computer-aided design and drafting software is used not only in architecture and engineering but also in the creation of video games and in the classroom. Due to the high demand for CAD, and the increased need for companies to invest in a CAD designer, computer-aided drafting altogether can cost a large amount of money. Fortunately, we have compiled a list of the best free and open source general-purpose CAD software! Now, you can enjoy all the fun offered by a computer-aided design without having to buy. If you'd like to see more products and to evaluate additional feature options, compare all [General-Purpose CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/general-purpose-cad) to ensure you get the right product. ## View Free General-Purpose CAD Software G2 takes pride in showing unbiased reviews on user satisfaction in our ratings and reports. We do not allow paid placements in any of our ratings, rankings, or reports. Learn about our [scoring methodologies](https://research.g2.com/g2-scoring-methodologies). **36** General-Purpose CAD Products Available View all [General-Purpose CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/general-purpose-cad) View all [General-Purpose CAD Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/general-purpose-cad) ### [AutoCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews) [By Autodesk](https://www.g2.com/sellers/autodesk) [ (1,936)4.4 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews#reviews "Read AutoCAD Reviews") Product Description Redefine how you create with Autodesk® AutoCAD®. Autodesk AI empowers you to reimagine your creative process in AutoCAD, delivering advanced automation and meaningful performance enhancements that h **Users:** Architect, Designer · **Industries:** Architecture & Planning, Civil Engineering · **Market Segment:** 46% Small-Business, 34% Mid-Market ![Verified User in Construction](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Construction") CC Its precision and ability to automate repetitive tasks make complex technical drafting incredibly efficient[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews/autocad-review-12769867) ![Verified User in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering") UM The precision and reliability in technical Drafting is pretty good. Interface is professional and also customizable which is very rare. It has wide...[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad/reviews/autocad-review-12784304) Year Founded 1982 HQ Location San Francisco Company Website https://www.autodesk.com Twitter @autodesk LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/autodesk/ Ownership NASDAQ:ADSK ### [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) [By Trimble](https://www.g2.com/sellers/trimble) [ (1,327)4.5 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews#reviews "Read SketchUp Reviews") Product Description SketchUp helps architects and designers turn their ideas into reality with simple, powerful 3D modeling software. Whether your design is massive or miniature, we'll be with you every step of the way. **Users:** Architect, Designer · **Industries:** Architecture & Planning, Design · **Market Segment:** 75% Small-Business, 18% Mid-Market User SentimentHow are these determined? Reviewers like the intuitive push-pull tool for creating and modifying 3D geometry, the vast 3D Warehouse library with millions of free models, and the software's user-friendliness and ease of use. Users experienced limitations with advanced modeling and rendering tasks without additional plugins, performance slowdowns with larger models, and difficulties in creating complex geometry and extracting information from sketches. Year Founded 1978 HQ Location Sunnyvale, CA Company Website https://www.trimble.com Twitter @TrimbleCorpNews LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/5160/ Ownership NASDAQ [![G2 Advertising](/assets/my-g2-logo-41632af6f81a240a0a9886638f412b2ac9a29f4001534f8c83be89a58ef9d45d.svg "G2 Advertising")](https://sell.g2.com/case-studies/how-aisdr-uses-g2-ads-to-turn-g2-into-top-5-traffic-source) Sponsored G2 Advertising Get 2x conversion than Google Ads with G2 Advertising! G2 Advertising places your product in premium positions on high-traffic pages and on targeted competitor pages to reach buyers at key comparison moments. [ Learn More ](https://sell.g2.com/case-studies/how-aisdr-uses-g2-ads-to-turn-g2-into-top-5-traffic-source) ### [Onshape](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews) [By PTC](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ptc) [ (696)4.7 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/onshape/reviews#reviews "Read Onshape Reviews") Product Description Onshape by PTC is the leading cloud-native CAD & PDM platform that runs on any device, anywhere-requiring zero IT. Onshape is for product design companies who are fed up with the errors, time wast **Users:** Mechanical Engineer, Owner · **Industries:** Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Design · **Market Segment:** 79% Small-Business, 17% Mid-Market User SentimentHow are these determined? Reviewers appreciate Onshape's user-friendly interface, its ability to facilitate real-time collaboration, and its automatic saving and versioning features, as well as its customer support and frequent updates. Reviewers experienced performance issues with large assemblies, occasional system lags, and challenges with external collaboration for enterprise users, and they also noted that the software is entirely dependent on a stable internet connection. Year Founded 1985 HQ Location Boston, Massachusetts Company Website https://www.ptc.com Twitter @PTC LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/1935/ Ownership NASDAQ: PTC ### [Designcenter Solid Edge](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews) [By Siemens Digital Industries Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/siemens-digital-industries-software) [ (613)4.3 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews#reviews "Read Designcenter Solid Edge Reviews") Product Description Designcenter Solid Edge is a portfolio of affordable, easy to deploy, maintain, and use software tools that advance all aspects of the product development process – mechanical and electrical design, s **Users:** Design Engineer, Mechanical Engineer · **Industries:** Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Automotive · **Market Segment:** 53% Small-Business, 30% Mid-Market AK We are in the service business, providing end-to-end solutions from design to manufacturing of packaging automation machines. Solid Edge...[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews/designcenter-solid-edge-review-12619280) ![Moemen S.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Moemen S.") MS In my view, the biggest value Solid Edge adds is that it lets you enter the Siemens CAD/CAM/CAE ecosystem with software that isn’t expensive and is...[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/designcenter-solid-edge/reviews/designcenter-solid-edge-review-12730586) Year Founded 1980 HQ Location Plano, Texas Company Website https://www.sw.siemens.com/ Twitter @siemenssoftware LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/28423178/ ### [MicroStation](https://www.g2.com/products/microstation/reviews) [By Bentley Systems](https://www.g2.com/sellers/bentley-systems) [ (416)4.0 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/microstation/reviews#reviews "Read MicroStation Reviews") Product Description MicroStation is a specialized computer-aided design (CAD) software solution tailored specifically for infrastructure design. It is designed to assist architects and engineers in transforming their cre **Users:** Project Engineer, Transportation Engineer · **Industries:** Civil Engineering, Architecture & Planning · **Market Segment:** 33% Enterprise, 33% Small-Business User SentimentHow are these determined? Users frequently mention that MicroStation is reliable, handles large-scale models efficiently, and offers a strong reference file system, making detailed design work easier and improving workflow and efficiency. Reviewers noted that MicroStation has a steep learning curve, the interface can feel complicated, and some tools take time to learn, making it challenging for new users. Year Founded 1984 HQ Location Exton, PA Company Website https://www.bentley.com/ Twitter @BentleySystems LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/4929/ Ownership NASDAQ: BSY ### [ZWCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/zwcad/reviews) [By ZWSOFT](https://www.g2.com/sellers/zwsoft) [ (351)4.6 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/zwcad/reviews#reviews "Read ZWCAD Reviews") Product Description ZWCAD is a fast, powerful, and compatible 2D CAD solution for architects, designers, and engineers in the AEC and manufacturing industries. Its unparalleled compatibility and compelling price make it **Users:** Engineer, Designer · **Industries:** Architecture & Planning, Civil Engineering · **Market Segment:** 68% Small-Business, 26% Mid-Market User SentimentHow are these determined? Users frequently mention the user-friendly interface, compatibility with AutoCAD file formats, fast and stable performance, and cost-effectiveness as key benefits, along with the software's ability to open large drawings quickly and run smoothly on standard computers. Users experienced occasional performance slowdowns when working with larger complex drawings, long loading times, and some bugs in layer properties drop down panel, and they also noted that technical support and software updates can sometimes take longer than expected. Year Founded 1998 HQ Location Guangzhou, Guangdong Company Website https://www.zwsoft.com Twitter @ZWSOFT LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/796054/ ### [AutoCAD LT](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-lt/reviews) [By Autodesk](https://www.g2.com/sellers/autodesk) [ (286)4.3 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-lt/reviews#reviews "Read AutoCAD LT Reviews") Product Description Create precise 2D drawings faster with the easy-to-use drafting tools in Autodesk® AutoCAD LT® software. Share your work with confidence using TrustedDWG™ technology, the original and most accurate wa **Users:** Project Engineer, Designer · **Industries:** Architecture & Planning, Construction · **Market Segment:** 52% Small-Business, 36% Mid-Market ![Doug S.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Doug S.") DS It offers everything you expect or need to draft in 2d easily, logically and effectively.[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-lt/reviews/autocad-lt-review-9344379) ![Abram A.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Abram A.") AA Affordability Compared to Full AutoCAD, Professional-Grade 2D Drafting Tools,DWG File Compatibility & Simplicity and Performance[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/autocad-lt/reviews/autocad-lt-review-11193259) Year Founded 1982 HQ Location San Francisco Company Website https://www.autodesk.com Twitter @autodesk LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/autodesk/ Ownership NASDAQ:ADSK ### [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews) [By Autodesk](https://www.g2.com/sellers/autodesk) [ (520)4.5 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-fusion/reviews#reviews "Read Autodesk Fusion Reviews") Product Description Autodesk Fusion connects capabilities, data, and people across the entire product development lifecycle. Fusion provides you with CAD, CAM, CAE and PCB tools along with PLM/PDM and MES (manufacturing **Users:** Owner, Design Engineer · **Industries:** Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Design · **Market Segment:** 68% Small-Business, 22% Mid-Market User SentimentHow are these determined? Users frequently mention the software's versatility, intuitive user experience, easy transitioning between CAD and CAM, and the ability to design and manufacture almost anything, with advanced modeling tools and customizable toolbars and shortcuts that improve productivity. Reviewers noted that the software can lag on the cloud server side when saving design files, has some weaknesses when handling complex assemblies, and can become unstable when working with very complex models or a high number of triangles, and also mentioned poor compatibility with other CAD software. Year Founded 1982 HQ Location San Francisco Company Website https://www.autodesk.com Twitter @autodesk LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/autodesk/ Ownership NASDAQ:ADSK ### [DraftSight](https://www.g2.com/products/draftsight/reviews) [By Dassault Systemes](https://www.g2.com/sellers/dassault-systemes) [ (209)4.2 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/draftsight/reviews#reviews "Read DraftSight Reviews") Product Description A feature-rich DraftSight is a versatile 2D CAD solution tailored for professionals such as architects, engineers, construction service providers, professional CAD users, designers, educators, and hob **Users:** Mechanical Engineer, Design Engineer · **Industries:** Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing · **Market Segment:** 62% Small-Business, 32% Mid-Market ![Sky W.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Sky W.") SW powerful functions in a reasonable price[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/draftsight/reviews/draftsight-review-10981363) ![Verified User in Food & Beverages](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Food & Beverages") UF Works much the same as Autocad so is easy to use if you are used to that.[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/draftsight/reviews/draftsight-review-10981486) Year Founded 1981 HQ Location Velizy-Villacoublay Company Website https://www.3ds.com Twitter @Dassault3DS LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/3896/ Ownership EPA: DSY.PA ### [Shapr3D](https://www.g2.com/products/shapr3d/reviews) [By Shapr3D](https://www.g2.com/sellers/shapr3d) [ (172)4.8 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/shapr3d/reviews#reviews "Read Shapr3D Reviews") Product Description Shapr3D is the leading multi-platform CAD software, delivering precision, flexibility, and efficiency across devices, including iPad, Mac, Windows, and Vision Pro. Built on Siemens Parasolid®, Shapr3D **Users:** Student, Founder · **Industries:** Design, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering · **Market Segment:** 84% Small-Business, 10% Mid-Market RC The software is great. It's easy to use, feature rich. The software is polished and mostly bug free. Their autosave and syncing features are...[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/shapr3d/reviews/shapr3d-review-10608222) ![Slobodan S.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Slobodan S.") SS Greatest of this program is pencil! It's very fast. I recommend for 3d printing.[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/shapr3d/reviews/shapr3d-review-10695502) Year Founded 2015 HQ Location Budapest, Hungary Company Website https://shapr3d.com Twitter @shapr3d LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/shapr3d/ ### [Altium Develop](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews) [By Altium](https://www.g2.com/sellers/altium-caf10713-ff96-44ab-90af-cc9c6c9ef346) [ (1,036)4.5 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/altium-develop/reviews#reviews "Read Altium Develop Reviews") Product Description Altium Develop is a collaborative platform for electronic product development that connects requirements management (via Requirements Portal), ECAD design, supply chain, and manufacturing into a singl **Users:** Electrical Engineer, Student · **Industries:** Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing, Automotive · **Market Segment:** 59% Small-Business, 29% Mid-Market User SentimentHow are these determined? Reviewers frequently mention the platform's robust functionality, seamless integration of MCAD with ECAD, and the ability to collaborate with a team of multiple people in different locations. Reviewers mentioned that Altium Develop can be expensive and resource-heavy, especially for smaller teams or individual developers, and that it has a steep learning curve for new users. Year Founded 1985 HQ Location La Jolla, CA Company Website https://www.altium.com/ Twitter @altium LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/11855/ Ownership ASX:ALU ### [Inventor](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews) [By Autodesk](https://www.g2.com/sellers/autodesk) [ (440)4.4 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews#reviews "Read Inventor Reviews") Product Description Autodesk® Inventor® 2021 software provides engineers and designers professional grade design and engineering solution for 3D mechanical design, simulation, visualization, and documentation. With Inv **Users:** Design Engineer, Mechanical Engineer · **Industries:** Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Machinery · **Market Segment:** 43% Mid-Market, 35% Small-Business ![Rehan A.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Rehan A.") RA Inventor GUI is easy to use. I am using Inventor since form 2 years for Sheet metal product desiging. I most like the way of generate DXF for CNC...[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews/inventor-review-7843100) ![Hari V.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Hari V.") HV The main advantage of inventor is its Intuitive User Interface which very beginner friendly. It is also a powerful CAD tool which can handle large...[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/inventor/reviews/inventor-review-9155914) Year Founded 1982 HQ Location San Francisco Company Website https://www.autodesk.com Twitter @autodesk LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/autodesk/ Ownership NASDAQ:ADSK ### [Octave BricsCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/octave-bricscad/reviews) [By Octave](https://www.g2.com/sellers/octave-9e5a428c-f303-4735-9417-dff1ef5736d4) [ (135)4.5 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/octave-bricscad/reviews#reviews "Read Octave BricsCAD Reviews") Product Description BricsCAD the first all-in-one CAD design solution in .dwg that answers all your needs; 2D drafting, 3D modeling, mechanical design, and BIM. The BricsCAD® family of products brings a cost-effectiv **Users:** Owner · **Industries:** Construction, Architecture & Planning · **Market Segment:** 72% Small-Business, 24% Mid-Market ![Ricardo A.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Ricardo A.") RA - User Interface Familiar to most users (Similar to older versions of Autocad) - Easy to Learn for experienced designers from other platforms. -...[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/octave-bricscad/reviews/octave-bricscad-review-8907927) ![Taylor B.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Taylor B.") TB The price compared to AutoCAD. It seems to run smoother as well and not as laggy.[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/octave-bricscad/reviews/octave-bricscad-review-10458256) HQ Location Madison, US Company Website https://www.octave.com/ LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/octaveintelligence/ ### [Creo](https://www.g2.com/products/creo-2025-08-26/reviews) [By PTC](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ptc) [ (200)4.1 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/creo-2025-08-26/reviews#reviews "Read Creo Reviews") Product Description Creo helps you deliver your best designs in less time with numerous productivity and usability enhancements. Manufacturers rely on PTC to deliver innovative CAD tools for designing composites, conduct **Users:** Design Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer · **Industries:** Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Automotive · **Market Segment:** 37% Enterprise, 36% Mid-Market ![Verified User in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering") UM the simplicity of the application and the ability to perform analysis[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/creo-2025-08-26/reviews/creo-review-4644274) ![Verified User in Automotive](/assets/icons/anonymous-avatar-purple-4ae1032bdb50ee5682003170c8184aee790d25958bd397abbd384ba52c596a7b.svg "Verified User in Automotive") UA New interface helps easily for designing, better simulation and good concept for drawing[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/creo-2025-08-26/reviews/creo-review-4986753) Year Founded 1985 HQ Location Boston, Massachusetts Company Website https://www.ptc.com Twitter @PTC LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/1935/ Ownership NASDAQ: PTC ### [CMS IntelliCAD](https://www.g2.com/products/cms-intellicad/reviews) [By CMS](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cms) [ (97)4.7 out of 5 ](https://www.g2.com/products/cms-intellicad/reviews#reviews "Read CMS IntelliCAD Reviews") Product Description CMS IntelliCAD® is a sophisticated CAD software solution designed to meet the diverse needs of professionals in engineering, architecture, and consulting. This full-featured software provides users wi **Users:** Architect, Design Engineer · **Industries:** Architecture & Planning, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering · **Market Segment:** 87% Small-Business, 10% Mid-Market ![Stanislav M.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Stanislav M.") SM Software is easy to install. I could afford it in my small business due to democratic price. This CAD system meets all my requirements.[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/cms-intellicad/reviews/cms-intellicad-review-6711212) ![Mykola B.](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Mykola B.") MB Easy installation. Convenient use of all the necessary tools, as well as a budget price, is a big plus for small organizations.[Read review](https://www.g2.com/products/cms-intellicad/reviews/cms-intellicad-review-7960104) Year Founded 1993 HQ Location Burleson, TX Company Website https://www.intellicadms.com/ Twitter @CMS\_INC LinkedIn® Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/cad-manufacturing-solutions-inc- [![G2 Advertising](/assets/my-g2-logo-41632af6f81a240a0a9886638f412b2ac9a29f4001534f8c83be89a58ef9d45d.svg "G2 Advertising")](https://sell.g2.com/case-studies/how-aisdr-uses-g2-ads-to-turn-g2-into-top-5-traffic-source) Sponsored G2 Advertising Get 2x conversion than Google Ads with G2 Advertising! G2 Advertising places your product in premium positions on high-traffic pages and on targeted competitor pages to reach buyers at key comparison moments. 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