Compare FreeCAD and SOLIDWORKS 
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (67.9% of reviews)
Small-Business (44.1% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
No pricing available
FreeCAD
Star Rating
(61)4.1 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (67.9% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Not enough data
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about FreeCADSOLIDWORKS
Star Rating
(639)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (44.1% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about SOLIDWORKSSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that SOLIDWORKS excels in overall user satisfaction, boasting a significantly higher G2 Score compared to FreeCAD. Users appreciate its intuitive interface that simplifies complex 3D modeling and assembly tasks, making it a preferred choice for professionals.
- According to verified reviews, SOLIDWORKS users highlight the software's extensive features, including powerful tools for parametric modeling and simulations. This versatility allows users to create intricate designs and easily modify dimensions, enhancing productivity.
- Users say that FreeCAD is a great option for beginners due to its free access and user-friendly interface. Many find it effective for basic CAD tasks, such as 3D modeling and engineering drawings, making it a solid starting point for those new to CAD software.
- Reviewers mention that while FreeCAD is a capable tool, it lacks the advanced features and support that SOLIDWORKS offers. Users have noted that FreeCAD can be limiting for more complex projects, particularly in areas like file conversion and detailed simulations.
- G2 reviewers highlight the quality of support provided by SOLIDWORKS, with many users praising the responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team. In contrast, FreeCAD users have expressed concerns about the availability of support resources, which can be a challenge for those needing assistance.
- According to recent user feedback, SOLIDWORKS shines in its ability to handle file conversions seamlessly, allowing users to work with various CAD formats efficiently. This feature is particularly beneficial for professionals who often collaborate with teams using different software.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
FreeCAD
No pricing availableSOLIDWORKS
No pricing availableFree Trial
FreeCAD
No trial information availableSOLIDWORKS
No trial information availableRatings
Meets Requirements
8.3
45
8.8
532
Ease of Use
7.6
46
8.6
536
Ease of Setup
7.9
7
8.2
108
Ease of Admin
Not enough data
8.0
47
Quality of Support
7.7
37
8.2
472
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
Not enough data
8.3
47
Product Direction (% positive)
8.2
45
8.6
527
Features by Category
CAD to CAM
Not enough data
9.0
42
Not enough data
8.8
42
Not enough data
8.9
43
CNC Programming
Not enough data
8.7
39
Not enough data
8.6
38
Not enough data
8.4
37
Machining
Not enough data
8.6
39
Not enough data
8.7
39
Not enough data
8.8
39
Design
8.4
23
9.4
106
8.2
28
9.4
107
8.0
23
9.2
103
7.5
21
8.1
100
Edit
8.4
24
8.5
98
7.2
21
8.4
90
8.0
23
9.3
101
7.5
23
8.3
85
Collaboration
8.2
20
8.6
94
7.7
22
9.0
96
8.2
21
8.4
90
Library
Not enough data
8.9
29
Not enough data
8.6
28
Not enough data
8.4
28
Not enough data
8.6
23
CAD
Not enough data
8.8
24
Not enough data
9.4
30
Not enough data
9.1
29
Integration
Not enough data
8.5
26
Not enough data
9.6
29
Not enough data
8.6
25
Data
Not enough data
9.3
29
Not enough data
8.8
27
Not enough data
8.3
26
Not enough data
9.0
27
Not enough data
8.3
24
Not enough data
8.7
25
Logistics
Not enough data
9.1
25
File Support - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
8.7
61
Not enough data
8.5
47
Not enough data
8.4
52
File Editing - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
7.5
55
Not enough data
8.6
60
Software Integrations - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
7.6
49
Not enough data
8.8
58
Software Type - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
7.7
48
Not enough data
8.6
53
Generative AI - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
6.0
20
Not enough data
6.1
20
Building Preparation - Additive Manufacturing
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
File Options
8.3
19
8.9
44
8.4
19
9.1
43
8.1
18
9.1
43
7.9
18
9.3
44
6.9
14
8.3
35
7.9
18
8.3
41
Tools
7.3
19
9.5
43
7.5
19
9.1
41
7.8
19
9.2
43
Design
8.0
19
9.4
43
Design
Not enough data
7.9
12
Not enough data
7.8
12
Tools
Not enough data
9.2
13
Not enough data
8.7
13
Library
Not enough data
8.2
13
Platform
Not enough data
8.6
13
Not enough data
8.1
12
Customization
Not enough data
7.8
12
Not enough data
8.3
12
Design
Not enough data
9.2
62
Not enough data
9.0
62
Not enough data
8.8
62
Not enough data
7.7
60
Tools
Not enough data
8.0
54
Not enough data
7.9
56
Not enough data
7.4
49
Work
Not enough data
7.6
41
Not enough data
7.8
42
Not enough data
8.3
51
Not enough data
8.1
44
Not enough data
8.4
47
Environment
Not enough data
8.3
53
Not enough data
8.4
51
Not enough data
8.2
49
Not enough data
8.6
53
Tools - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Not enough data
9.4
32
Not enough data
8.6
27
Not enough data
9.2
28
Not enough data
9.1
26
Not enough data
7.7
25
File Options - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Not enough data
8.6
31
Not enough data
8.6
27
Not enough data
8.3
29
Not enough data
8.0
26
Not enough data
7.3
32
Customization - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Not enough data
8.3
22
Not enough data
8.4
24
Not enough data
7.6
24
Not enough data
8.2
24
Environment - Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)
Not enough data
8.0
27
Not enough data
8.4
23
Not enough data
7.9
23
Not enough data
9.0
27
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
FreeCAD and SOLIDWORKS are categorized as Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD), CAD Viewers, and General-Purpose CAD
Unique Categories
FreeCAD has no unique categories
SOLIDWORKS is categorized as Simulation & CAE, Sketching, PCB Design, Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), CAD Libraries, CAD Data Exchange, and Additive Manufacturing
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
FreeCAD
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
SOLIDWORKS
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Design
16.1%
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
14.3%
Industrial Automation
8.9%
Information Technology and Services
7.1%
Automotive
5.4%
Other
48.2%
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
23.2%
Design
11.8%
Automotive
6.6%
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
6.0%
Medical Devices
5.8%
Other
46.6%
Alternatives
Discussions
Is FreeCAD easy to learn?
1 Comment
G2
its easy, if you are familiar with other CAD softwareRead more
Is FreeCAD reliable?
1 Comment
MN
No, it has all kinds of silly errors that sometimes pop up when you change something that is unrelated to the error.
FreeCAD-pros admit this in their...Read more
new user
1 Comment
G2
Looks impressive. I look forward to getting involved. Interested in Vintage 1930s cars. i'm in AustraliaRead more
What is SOLIDWORKS used for?
3 Comments
TS
A person can use SolidWorks for many things, Part modeling, Assembly Testing, rendering, Creating working animation of any machine or product. Start...Read more
best use o this software
2 Comments
OS
Making 2D sketches and extruding them to make 3d sketches.Read more
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