Computer-aided design (CAD) is becoming more popular thanks to 3D printing. If you would also like to design your own models to print or bring your creative ideas to life in some other way, choose the right CAD software. This list recommends the best CAD software options that beginners can easily get started with in no time.
What Makes Good CAD Software for Beginners?
CAD software, for those just starting out, should be intuitive, but that’s not the only criteria that matters. Below are some other factors that I’ve considered when choosing the best CAD software tools for beginners:
- STL export: for 3D printing, the software must have the option to export the design as an STL file, the standard file format used by most 3D printers and slicing software.
- Free trial: if the software isn’t free, it should offer a comprehensive free trial. What may seem like a good choice initially may not be after some testing.
- Learning resources: it’s always best to choose software with abundant tutorials, documentation, and an active community. This support can be invaluable when you’re stuck on a problem.
- Compatibility: software must be compatible with your operating system. Some CAD tools are platform-specific, while others, like browser-based CAD apps, work across different systems.
- Cost: beginners shouldn’t spend much money on a behemoth like AutoCAD. Many far more affordable CAD software tools exist, and it will take some time before you outgrow them.
Remember, the “best” software can vary based on your specific needs, so don’t be afraid to try out a few options before settling on one. Listed below are my personal top picks based on my personal experience as a 3D printing hobbyist.
Best First Step: Tinkercad
Price: Free
Tinkercad is by far the most user-friendly CAD software on this list. Its accessibility stems from its ingenious LEGO-like approach to 3D modeling. You’re presented with a variety of pre-made shapes that you can easily place, manipulate, and combine. Two shapes can be joined together, or one shape can be subtracted from another. What’s more, Tinkercad is a browser-based CAD, so you can start designing right away without a complex setup.
Unfortunately, Tinkercad is also limited in several annoying ways. The biggest limitation is that cylindrical objects are not truly round but comprised of at most 64 sides. (It’s possible to create a smooth cylinder, but you need to implement a workaround.) Also, there are no specific tools for basic operations like adding filleted edges.
While I wholeheartedly recommend Tinkercad as a fantastic beginner software, especially for children, it’s important to know that you’ll probably need to move on to more capable CAD alternatives in the future, as your skills grow, and your projects become more complex.
Best All-Rounder: Autodesk Fusion
Price: Free with premium option
Fusion is developed by the same company as Tinkercad, and Tinkercad projects can be easily imported into Fusion, making it an excellent next step for those who have outgrown Tinkercad’s simplicity. It’s also by far the most popular CAD tool among hobbyists, as it strikes a great balance between ease of use and robust capabilities.
One of Fusion’s standout features is that it’s fully parametric, so you can easily modify your designs by changing the parameters that define them. This is incredibly useful for iterative design processes, as you can quickly adjust dimensions or features without having to rebuild your entire model from scratch. For example, if you’ve designed a custom enclosure for an electronic project, you can easily adjust its size to accommodate different components by simply changing a few parameters.
However, Fusion isn’t without its drawbacks. In my experience, it can be quite sluggish, even on powerful computers, and there are a number of bugs that have persisted for quite some time without being addressed. The free version limits you to 10 active and editable documents, which isn’t a big deal if 3D design is something you do only occasionally, but it could be restrictive for more frequent users. Finally, Fusion is only available for Windows and macOS, so extra work is required to run it on Linux.
Best Cloud-Based: OnShape
Price: Free with premium option
OnShape is a powerful parametric CAD software developed by several former engineers and executives from SolidWorks, one of the most widely used CAD software packages in the professional world. I recommend it for beginners because of its cloud-based nature – you can use it on just about any modern device with a large enough screen and at least some processing power.
Another appealing aspect for beginners is that OnShape is completely free if you’re willing to accept that your files will be made public. You can somewhat hide your files by giving them strange, search-unfriendly names, but that’s about all you can do as a free user. If it becomes a concern down the line, consider the paid version.
In terms of usability, I have to admit that OnShape never honestly really clicked with me, but your experience may vary. I find the user interface to be unpleasant and many operations to be unintuitive.
Best Non-Traditional CAD: Plasticity
Price: Ranging from $149 to $299
Plasticity is a breath of fresh air in the world of CAD software, with its unique approach that blends traditional CAD software with the intuitive workflow of modern polygonal modeling software like Blender. If you’re coming from a background in 3D art rather than engineering, you may find Plasticity’s approach more intuitive and aligned with your creative process.
One of Plasticity’s standout features is its advanced geometry and fillet engine, powered by Parasolid’s best-in-class algorithms. This allows you to create top-notch fillets, booleans, and offsets, and modify them at will.
However, it’s important to note that Plasticity isn’t parametric, so you can’t always easily change a specific dimension of an object once the object has been created. For this reason, I wouldn’t use it to design a smartphone case for multiple smartphone models, but I would happily use it to create a stylish bathroom organizer or a design prototype of a computer mouse.
Best Paid Option: Shapr3D
Price: Free with premium option
Shapr3D stands out as a highly polished and user-friendly CAD software that offers enough features for beginners who are ready to tackle more complicated projects. It runs smoothly on Windows, macOS, and iPadOS, making it perfect for on-the-go designing. Sadly, there’s no version for Linux, but you may be able to run it using Wine (I haven’t tested it myself.)
Built on the robust Siemens Parasolid engine, Shapr3D makes sure your models are manufacture-ready and compatible with all major 3D modeling tools. It offers a full 3D modeling tool set, hybrid modeling with both design history and direct modeling capabilities, and an integrated visualization environment with AR support. For those who need to produce technical documentation, Shapr3D includes industry-standard technical drawing tools.
While Shapr3D does offer a free version, it’s severely limited. You’re restricted to only two active designs, and you can only export low-resolution models, which means your 3D prints won’t be as smooth as you may want. To unlock the full potential of Shapr3D, you’ll need to opt for a paid subscription. However, the monthly subscription cost is quite high compared to some other options we’ve discussed, starting at €25 per month.
As you can see, 3D modeling beginners have many options to choose from—both free and paid. While I’ve focused in this article mostly on design software that’s great for 3D printing and object design, I feel it would be criminal to end this article without mentioning SketchUp. This popular CAD tool is particularly excellent for architectural design and has a large user base in that field. If you’re interested in exploring 3D modeling for architectural drafting, you may want to check out our guide to 3D modeling with SketchUp.