
Rebelle's digital tools mimic real-world painting better than any other digital painting software I've used. The UI is intuitive without a bunch of visual bloat. I love that the brush categories are represented visually as the tools themselves (a pencil for pencils, a pastel stick for the pastels, and ink nib pen for inks, etc.). The default art brush selection is also robust. They offer the ability to easily paint with different mediums without having to go search elsewhere for third-party brushes.
The base papers are incredible. They hand-make them, then scan them and their texture height maps. Your digital paint interacts with the actual digital paper fibers, making all your strokes feel more unique.
I've used Rebelle for years through multiple versions, and I've always felt like it's been worth the cost. I've been able to utilize it in a number of my professional projects and commissions.
It also allows you to work within smaller art files and export at larger dimensions for printing with their nano-pixel export capabilities. If you're a Photoshop user, there's also a plugin extension that allows an "export to Photoshop" connection.
Their version updates are always thoughtful and useful, I think in part because they really pay attention to community feedback and requests in their support forums. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Designcenter is an integrated product design solution that streamlines and accelerates the product development process for engineers who need to deliver innovative products in
Also listed in Additive Manufacturing

Powerful integrated platform for 3D modeling, assemblies, drafting, and simulation in one environment.
* Excellent support for large and complex assemblies with strong associativity between models and drawings.
* Highly customizable through NXOpen and UFUNC, enabling automation and standardization of engineering workflows.
* Seamless integration with PLM systems like Teamcenter, improving collaboration and data management.
* Robust, scalable, and widely adopted in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and industrial machinery, making it ideal for enterprise engineering. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
2D and 3D CAD design software tools.
Also listed in GIS, Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM), Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD)

What I like about AutoCAD is that it’s easy to work in 2D or basic 3D for creating drawings and editing sketches. It also supports 2D drafting, which makes it straightforward to prepare manufacturing 2D drawings to send to the workshop. On top of that, it’s good for editing DXF and DWG files and keeping them for future use as needed. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
ZWCAD is a powerful, reliable, and DWG-compatible CAD solution that enables you to boost design efficiency without switching cost.
Also listed in Civil Engineering Design

What I like most about ZWCAD is that it feels familiar if you've worked with DWG-based CAD software before. I regularly use 2D drafting, layer management, block creation, external references, and batch plotting. These features work well together because I can organize drawings clearly, reuse standard components, and prepare multiple sheets for printing without repeating the same setup work. One thing I found particularly useful was that existing DWG files opened with very little adjustment, which made it easier to continue working on older drawings. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Solid Edge is a portfolio of affordable, easy-to-use software solutions for product development — 3D design, simulation, manufacturing, data management, cloud collaboration, a
Also listed in Additive Manufacturing, Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Simulation & CAE, General-Purpose CAD

I love how Designcenter Solid Edge allows for solid visualization, modeling, cloud collaboration, and secure data sharing. It's useful for building and sharing 3-D models more quickly, which cuts down on time and reduces mistakes. I appreciate the streamline data management via customizable locations and how intuitive and straightforward the user cloud licensing is, reducing deployment complexity. The AI-driven assembly tools like magnetic snap are particularly beneficial. I find that it utilizes synchronous technology for data use and cloud collaboration through Team Share. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Onshape is a modern CAD system that eliminates design gridlock and helps engineers do their best work. Onshape unites advanced modeling tools and design data management in a s
Also listed in Product Data Management (PDM), CAD Viewers, General-Purpose CAD, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Simulation & CAE

Onshape is cloud-based, so it doesn’t rely on your computer’s processing power or storage capacity. That makes it easy to access and work on your designs without worrying about losing them if your computer fails, and it also means you don’t have to invest heavily in a high-end laptop just to use it effectively.
Because everything is online, you don’t have to carry a laptop everywhere. As long as you have your login details, you can sign in and access your designs from anywhere.
Since your designs aren’t tied to a specific computer, collaboration is straightforward. You can share a link, and others can open the design and make changes without needing to transfer files back and forth.
It’s also helpful that you can track design updates and return to earlier versions, which is especially useful during the prototype or concept stage. Releases can be traced clearly as well, and having all stakeholders sign off improves visibility and teamwork. It also helps catch minor or major required updates early and avoid costly mistakes before final sign-off.
The learning curve isn’t very steep, so onboarding takes less time. Overall, it saves a lot of time that would otherwise be spent learning, and that time can go toward other work. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
My favorite thing about Procreate is how easy it is to use and how seamlessly it fits into my creative workflow. I can rely on it for quick sketches as well as high-quality finished pieces, and I end up using Procreate at some point in every project. It’s also been consistently reliable for me. I’ve never run into any software issues that even required reaching out to their support team. Overall, it’s a great tool, and I’d recommend it to any artist. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
SOLIDWORKS offers complete 3D software tools that let you create, simulate, publish, and manage your data. SOLIDWORKS products are easy to learn and use, and help you design p
Also listed in General-Purpose CAD, Simulation & CAE, CAD Viewers, Sketching, PCB Design
I find Solidworks the best for CFD model set up. It is easy to use and versatile. I use it in a slightly different way than Mechanical/Structural Engineers. I don't actually make "solids" that are materials; instead I set up "solids" as being fluid volumes where air/gas/liquid will flow within ductwork systems or around objects. I export to STL and this imports very well to my meshing software (Cubit and Ansys) for CFD preparation. SW is also great for making dimensioned drawings of my models.
I find the pricing of SW reasonable. I have tried free CAD tools and they do not have the capabilities or efficiency needed for real paid engineering work. They seem more for home hobbies.
I use online tools and tutorials for support which is great.
I have not used any of the SW AI tools yet. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Professional & Cost-effective 2D/3D CAD Software in DWG for Windows, Mac & Linux

The simplified UI makes it easy to work for extended periods, and the performance remains smooth even with mid-sized drawings, making this a very cost-effective CAD system. Its Trinity features allow access to DWG files from anywhere—whether on mobile, cloud, or desktop. The powerful collaboration tools also set it apart from other options. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
MicroStation is a modeling environment explicitly for the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation of all infrastructure types including utility systems, roads a
Also listed in Civil Engineering Design

Powerful Interoperability and Data Integration: MicroStation is known for its ability to seamlessly work with a vast array of file formats—including native DGN, DWG, DXF, and GIS data—without needing time-consuming conversions. This makes it a great "data integrator" that streamlines collaboration across different teams and software platforms.
Comprehensive 2D and 3D Modeling in a Single Environment: It allows professionals to handle both precise 2D drafting and sophisticated 3D parametric modeling within the same application. This all-in-one approach consolidates workflows and ensures consistency from initial design to final documentation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Autodesk Fusion is a comprehensive cloud software platform that integrates various tools for 3D design, manufacturing, electronics, simulation, and generative design. It serve
Also listed in CAD Viewers, Additive Manufacturing, CAD Data Exchange, CAD Libraries, Simulation & CAE

Autodesk Fusion makes it much easier to move from an idea to a finished 3D design without switching between different applications. I mainly use it for parametric modeling, simple assemblies, and preparing designs for prototyping. The timeline feature is especially useful because changing dimensions later automatically updates the model, which saves a lot of time during revisions. The interface feels organized, and once you become familiar with the workspace, everyday design tasks become much more efficient. Having CAD, basic simulation, and manufacturing tools in one platform helps keep the workflow simple and reduces the need to export files between different software. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I love the different color options in Sketchbook as they make me more expressive with my art and help bring my artwork to life. It's also great that I can use it across my mobile devices because a lot of other software doesn't allow me to be as creative. Plus, setting it up was very easy for me since I just had to download the app, and being familiar with it made navigating around it simple. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
SketchUp is intuitive, powerful 3D modeling software built for professionals and creatives of all kinds.
Also listed in Urban Planning and Design, Sketching, Building Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM), General-Purpose CAD, Architectural Rendering

SketchUp makes 3D modeling feel approachable, even for users who are not professional designers. The interface is straightforward, and creating concepts or visualizing ideas is much faster than with many other design tools. It is especially useful for quickly building models, testing layouts, and presenting ideas in a way that is easy to understand. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Coohom is the leading 3D solution for retailers and manufacturers to better engage and convert customers online or in-store. Coohom technologies enable you to generate beautif
Also listed in 3D Rendering, General-Purpose CAD, 3D Modeling, Visual Product Customization

The most helpful thing about Coohom is how much it speeds up my design workflow. I use it to create realistic 3D visualizations for residential renovation projects, allowing my clients to clearly understand the design before work begins. The rendering is fast, the interface is easy to use, and making changes to layouts, materials, colors, or lighting only takes a few minutes. This helps me communicate ideas more effectively, reduce misunderstandings, and make design decisions with my clients much faster. Overall, Coohom has become an essential tool in my daily work and has improved both my efficiency and the overall client experience. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Altium Develop empowers teams to streamline and accelerate product development by connecting design, engineering, and collaboration tools in one unified platform — keeping eve
Also listed in General-Purpose CAD, Product Data Management (PDM), Mechanical Computer-aided Design (MCAD), Requirements Management

The release system has been really great for locking down versions, and paired with the Git-style control it’s been a huge win.
There are a few learning-curve aspects to the controls, but once you know where the buttons are and how the explorer is structured, designing a PCB runs fairly smoothly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
3D design the most natural way. Ever. Shapr3D is a professional CAD on iPad made for Apple Pencil. Revolutionary new 3D modeling experience yet intuitive like never before.

I use Shapr3d mainly for architectural concept modeling and quick design exploration. The interface is clean, and it doesn't take long to start building ideas. Working with the Apple Pencil on the iPad feels natural, and switching between iPad and desktop makes it easy to continue a project from anywhere. It is especially useful when I need to develop concepts before moving to more detailed CAD workflows. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
DraftSight lets professional CAD users, students and educators create, edit and view DWG files. DraftSight runs on Windows®, Mac® and Linux.
Also listed in CAD Viewers

DraftSight provides all the necessary tools to create or modify an engineering drawing, and to open, read, or edit DWG files from other sources. In my experience, DraftSight performs very well with professional DWG files, even up to large sizes. Its dark and light UI options also make it more comfortable to work with for long periods of time. It is very low cost compare to other market availble tools along with Solid Works integrations Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
GIMP is a cross-platform image editor available for GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows and more operating systems. It is free software, you can change its source code and distribute yo
Also listed in Drawing

GIMP gives me most of the image editing tools I need without requiring a paid subscription. I mainly use it for editing photos, creating thumbnails, simple graphics, and social media visuals. Features like layers, crop, text, color adjustment, and export options make everyday editing straightforward. After spending some time learning the interface, it became much easier to work with and fits well into my regular workflow. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Octave Forte 3D – a next generation, data-centric, and rule-driven solution – is specifically designed to deliver mission-critical requirements. Breaking through barriers impo
Also listed in General-Purpose CAD, Plant Design Management Systems

I like Octave Forte 3D (Intergraph Smart 3D) because it's a data-centric environment that allows us to work across the globe in real-time. We manage projects effectively on a global scale, and the software supports very large, massive scale projects by allowing us to see live updates as everyone works from the same database. The intelligent modeling is beneficial because we can extract quantities from our models to pass to subcontractors, helping with purchasing and tracking MTO quantities, and we can compare these quantities with our subcontractors. It's excellent for large-scale projects, particularly for plant designs, modeling, and engineering. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Inventor® 3D CAD software offers an easy-to-use set of tools for 3D mechanical design, documentation, and product simulation.
Also listed in Simulation & CAE, General-Purpose CAD

I like Inventor's versatility; the same model can be made in different ways, and the interchangeability of 2D drawing options with AutoCAD is great. The software helps a lot by requiring less time to make more productive work. The ability to convert AutoCAD 2D drawings into 3D models easily within Inventor is really handy. Also, the ease of creating structural designs using top-down or top-up assembly methods and having the option of generative design is impressive. The initial setup was very easy. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.