Best 3D CAD Software in 2026
Updated
In short: SOLIDWORKS is ranked #1 of 80 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of Onshape and Rhino 3D. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Onshape. The lowest first paid tier on this page is SOLIDWORKS at $4/mo.
From individual components to complex assemblies, 3D CAD tools support a range of design work. Compared on modeling method, assembly design, and surface modeling, the entries also cover sheet-metal tools and file import and export. Cloud collaboration and supported platforms matter when designs need to move between people or systems; free-plan availability and paid starting prices help clarify cost. SOLIDWORKS, Onshape, and Rhino 3D are among the software shown, with Creo and Shapr3D also listed. Consider the kinds of models you need to create, the formats you exchange, and which listed capabilities belong in your design workflow.
80 3D CAD software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
80ranked
6free plans on this page
$4/molowest paid tier
3 Oct 2026last checked
Input list 3D CAD Software 25 channels on this page · 139 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromModeling methodAssembly designSheet-metal toolsSurface modelingCloud collaborationSupported platforms Spec sheet Score
01 SOLIDWORKS Free planYesPaid from$2,820/user/moModeling methodnot statedAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingnot statedCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 8.8
02 Onshape Free planYesPaid fromFreeModeling methodParametric modeling for solids, surfaces, and sheet metalAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsWeb, iOS, and Android 8/8spec lines stated 8.7
03 Rhino 3D Free planNoPaid fromnot statedModeling methodnot statedAssembly designnot statedSheet-metal toolsnot statedSurface modelingnot statedCloud collaborationnot statedSupported platformsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 8.5
04 Creo Free planNoPaid fromnot statedModeling methodhybridAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationnot statedSupported platformsWindows; Solaris SPARC; Solaris x86 6/8spec lines stated 8.4
05 Shapr3D Free planYesPaid fromFreeModeling methodDirect and history-based parametric modelingAssembly designnot statedSheet-metal toolsnot statedSurface modelingnot statedCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsWindows PCs and tablets, Apple macOS computers, iPads, and Apple Vision Pro 5/8spec lines stated 8.2
06 OwlCAD Free planYesPaid fromnot statedModeling methodparametricAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsnot statedSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsWeb browser; Windows, macOS and Linux 6/8spec lines stated 8.2
07 Autodesk Inventor Free planNoPaid fromnot statedModeling methodhybridAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsWindows 7/8spec lines stated 8.1
08 FreeCAD Free planYesPaid fromnot statedModeling methodParametric modelingAssembly designnot statedSheet-metal toolsnot statedSurface modelingnot statedCloud collaborationnot statedSupported platformsWindows, Mac and Linux 3/8spec lines stated 7.9
09 CATIA Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedModeling methodparametricAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsWeb browser applications on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform; Windows for CATIA V5 sheet-metal software. 6/8spec lines stated 7.7
10 nanoCAD Free planYesPaid fromFreeModeling methodhybridAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationnot statedSupported platformsWindows 10 (64-bit), Windows 11 7/8spec lines stated 7.7
11 Siemens NX Free planNoPaid fromnot statedModeling methodhybridAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsWindows desktop; NX X Design is cloud SaaS and supports browser-based access 7/8spec lines stated 7.6
12 AVEVA E3D Design Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedModeling methodparametricAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsnot statedSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsWindows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022, and browser access 5/8spec lines stated 7.5
13 DesignSpark Mechanical Free planYesPaid fromnot statedModeling methoddirectAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsNoSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationNoSupported platformsWindows 10 (64-bit), Windows 11 (64-bit), Windows Server 2016 and 2019 (64-bit) 7/8spec lines stated 7.5
14 build123d Free planYesPaid fromnot statedModeling methodparametricAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationNoSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Linux (Python package) 7/8spec lines stated 7.5
15 Solid Edge Free planYesPaid fromnot statedModeling methodnot statedAssembly designnot statedSheet-metal toolsnot statedSurface modelingnot statedCloud collaborationnot statedSupported platformsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.4
16 BricsCAD Mechanical Free planNoPaid fromnot statedModeling methodhybridAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Linux 6/8spec lines stated 7.4
17 ZW3D Free planNoPaid fromnot statedModeling methodhybridAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsWindows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11; browser-based viewing and collaboration are documented. 7/8spec lines stated 7.4
18 Zoo Design Studio Free planYesPaid fromnot statedModeling methodhybridAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsnot statedSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, web browser 6/8spec lines stated 7.4
19 Ansys SpaceClaim Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedModeling methoddirectAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationnot statedSupported platformsWindows 5/8spec lines stated 7.3
20 Hexagon VISI Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedModeling methodhybridAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationnot statedSupported platformsWindows 11 Professional 64-bit 5/8spec lines stated 7.3
21 Cobalt Free planNoPaid from$69.95/user/moModeling methodhybridAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsNoSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationnot statedSupported platformsWindows x64 10/11 and macOS 12, 13, 14, 15 and 26 7/8spec lines stated 7.3
22 Zenve3D Free planYesPaid fromnot statedModeling methodparametricAssembly designnot statedSheet-metal toolsnot statedSurface modelingnot statedCloud collaborationnot statedSupported platformsmacOS, iPad, web browser 3/8spec lines stated 7.3
23 NETVIBES Free planNoPaid fromnot statedModeling methodhybridAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsYesSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsWeb browser and Windows; CATIA V5 also has certified on-premises configurations 7/8spec lines stated 7.3
24 Autodesk Alias Free planNoPaid fromnot statedModeling methodhybridAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsnot statedSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsWindows; Alias is desktop software. 6/8spec lines stated 7.2
25 Fusion with PowerShape Free planNoPaid fromnot statedModeling methodhybridAssembly designYesSheet-metal toolsnot statedSurface modelingYesCloud collaborationYesSupported platformsWindows 10 and Windows 11 6/8spec lines stated 7.2
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which 3D CAD software is ranked first on Specifiction?
SOLIDWORKS is ranked #1 of 80 with a score of 8.8. Onshape is second and Rhino 3D third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, SOLIDWORKS has the lowest first paid tier we found: $4/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.
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