Vectary — The Complete Guide: 3D and AR Product Presentations in the Browser
Vectary is a browser 3D tool for product presentations: materials, lighting, animation and sharing by link or AR. Free plan: five projects, no CAD import.
Guides and Articles
Shapr3D — The Complete Guide: Solid Modelling With Pen and Touch, and What the Free Plan Includes
Shapr3D is a Parasolid-based solid modeller for pen and touch on iPad and mouse on Windows and Mac. Free Basic plan: two projects; students get it free.
BlocksCAD — The Complete Guide: 3D Modelling by Coding With Visual Blocks
BlocksCAD builds a 3D body from visual code blocks in the browser, in the spirit of OpenSCAD: shapes, loops and variables become a parametric model and an STL.
LeoCAD — The Complete Guide: Virtual LEGO Building for Learning 3D Design
LeoCAD is free open-source software for building virtual LEGO models, with the LDraw library and building instructions — a learning tool, not engineering CAD.
Bentley View — The Complete Guide: Free Viewing of DGN, DWG and IFC Files
Bentley View is a free CAD viewer that opens MicroStation DGN, DWG, IFC, point clouds and reality meshes, to measure, search and print without MicroStation.
nanoCAD Free — The Complete Guide: DWG Drafting in an AutoCAD-Like Interface, and What to Check in the Licence
nanoCAD Free is an old release (nanoCAD 5) of a DWG drafting program with an AutoCAD-like command line. Free with yearly registration, for non-commercial use.
DesignSpark Mechanical — The Complete Guide: Direct Modelling of Parts and Enclosures, Commercial Use Included
DesignSpark Mechanical is a direct modeller built on SpaceClaim: push and pull faces, no history tree. Free Explorer plan, commercial use OK, limited export.
SketchUp Free — The Complete Guide: Massing and Building Models in the Browser, and What the Free Edition Allows
SketchUp Free is the browser edition of SketchUp for push-pull models of buildings and rooms. Free for personal use only; commercial work needs a paid plan.
Tinkercad — The Complete Guide: Your First 3D Models in the Browser, Free
Autodesk Tinkercad builds 3D solids by adding and subtracting basic shapes in the browser. Great for simple printed brackets, spatial thinking and circuits.
Free CAD Software — Every Comparison on the Web, Summarised in One Place
We read the top free-CAD lists online, checked every tool in October 2026 and summarise what is recommended, what is outdated and what is safe for paid work.
CADProps — The Complete Guide: Volume, Weight and Dimensions of a CAD File Right in the Browser
CADProps opens STEP, IGES, SolidWorks, CATIA and more in the browser and computes dimensions, volume, surface area and weight by material, free.
Penpot — The Complete Guide: Free Interface Design and Prototyping in the Browser
Penpot is a free, open-source browser tool for interface design and prototyping, a Figma alternative: screens, clickable prototypes and teamwork.