Generally on Mac your choice is badly restricted. For 3d you have fusion360, Onshape (free only for open designs), freeCAD. Fusion at the moment is possibly best choice for cad on Mac. Best Free CAD Software for Mac in 2021. By Sandy Wood Published Feb 28, 2021. There's never been a better time to find free CAD software for Mac. QCAD is a simple freeware which can be used to open different types of CAD files for free on MAC. Apart from viewing DWG files on MAC it can also be used to view DXF, DWT, DXB, DGN, DWF, DXFLIB, SVG, GBX, and GBR files for free. There are a number of viewing options provided. Different block list, layer list, view list, property editor, selection filter, clipboard, library browser.
12+ Best CAD CAM Software Download Reviews. This free CAM software created by MecSoft Corporation is a programming software for CNC mills. The milling module is used for programming mills and routers and any number of codes can be done. This premium software from GRZ Software LLC can be used on the Mac platform to import a CAD file.
Tailored to 3D modelers on a budget, this free CAD software features the usual CAD modeling tools. In terms of functionality, the program keeps the conventions of CAD software. Also, the user interface is clearly inspired by AutoCAD.
Most of the engineers and designers will have to work with CAD at some point of time to design objects in a better and realistic way. There are many types of CAD software that they could use like 2D CAD Software and 3D drawing software. These free 3D software downloads are free to use and can be used for many purposes. The tools will be advanced enough to render any object in a realistic way.
This freeware can be used to design many real-life objects in any size that you want. The parametric modeling will allow engineers to modify the designs that were drawn and change its parameters.
This premium software that was created by ASCON can be used as a comprehensive MCAD program that will have a powerful set of functions for creating 2D and 3D designs in perfect parameters.
This free software by Autodesk, Inc. can be used as a browser based 3D designing and modeling tools that will be suitable for 3D printing purposes. You can imagine anything and draw it quickly.
This premium software created by Trimble Inc has an intuitive and powerful interface that can be used to scale 3D models. The features can be used for page layout and innovative designs can be created.
This freeware from NaroCAD is a 3D parametric modeling software used for designing solids. The functionalities used here are related to Model Associativity.
This free software created by STRATASYS will help in simplifying the 3D printing workflow so that you will be able to print faster. It is an easy way to share and manage CAD files.
The different file transfer software that are available online can be used only on some operating system. Once it is designed to work on a particular operating system like Windows, Linux or Mac it will not function on other OS. These software are available online.
This free software created by AR-CAD LLC is compatible on the Windows platform and has motion simulation capabilities with which engineers will be able to perform motion and dynamic simulation and 3D CAD development.
This freeware is compatible with the Mac platform and can be used to create solid 3D models. It focuses on CAD aspects to create 3D models of machine parts with a 3D compiler.
This free Android app was manufactured by Goran Lukic and can be used as a 3D CAD application and 3D CAD conversion tool. It will be able to support different formats like STEP, STL, OBJ and much more.
This premium software from Autodesk Inc. is very popular and can be used for creating 2D and 3D designs in any form imaginable. It can be used on different platforms and has many advanced tools.
The different 3D CAD software that are available online can be installed as a free version or as a premium version. For the premium versions, the login credentials should be bought from the manufacturer which should be used at the time of login. The file can be downloaded from the website and it should be unzipped. The system requirements should be checked using the readme text to make sure that the software will run on the system and then the software can be installed using the instructions that are prompted. The required language should be set before opening the software.
You will be able to share the drawings and designs that you make on this software and work across different platforms and devices. It will use simplified tools to make a complicated drawing which can be edited later. Dimensioning of the designs will be very easy and the design can be saved as a PDF.
You’re likely to hit a wall if you’re searching for computer-aided design (CAD) software designed for Mac. There are plenty of CAD software options for Windows—you’ll see many of them in our list of the top AutoCAD alternatives—but only a handful offer support for Mac.
And, if you think you’ll bypass the issue by using a cloud-based CAD tool, you’ll quickly find that CAD vendors haven’t embraced the cloud as much as other types of software vendors have, so the offerings are still largely on-premise. According to Gartner’s Hype Cycle for IT Evolution (full content available to Gartner clients), cloud-native CAD applications still have five to 10 years before they reach mainstream adoption.
But fear not, Mac users. We’ve done some digging and have put together this list of the top-rated CAD software for Mac. Read more about our methodology at the bottom of this article.
CorelCAD offers 2D drafting and 3D design capabilities, such as the drawing constraints feature for creating different geometric shapes faster and the push and pull feature for 3D direct modeling.
3D modeling in CorelCAD (Source)
Based on analyses of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of CorelCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.
What users like:
What users think could be improved:
CorelCAD can be used by construction businesses for collaborative editing on multiple devices. It offers native iOS applications, which makes it easy for field crews to add annotations in graphics and share files using their iPhones and iPads. Additionally, the tool allows team members to leave recorded messages and instructions for colleagues embedded in the graphics using a voice note tool.
FreeCAD is an open source CAD tool that works on Mac as well as Windows and Linux. It reads many common file formats such as STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC, and DAE.
It offers different modules, including a drawing sheets module that converts 3D models into 2D views, a rendering module that can export 3D objects, and an architecture module for a BIM-like workflow.
3D model of a building in FreeCAD (Source)
Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of FreeCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.
What users like:
What users think could be improved:
FreeCAD appears to be best for hobbyists and home users. It’s also good for users who don’t have a high budget for software but still want to tinker with CAD modeling.
FreeCAD could also be a good choice for businesses on a budget looking for a free and open-source option.
Fusion 360 is a CAD tool from Autodesk with design functionalities such as sketching and 3D modeling. It also supports project management with features such as task management, document management, and collaborative image editing.
Document management in Fusion 360 (Source)
Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of Fusion 360 they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.
What users like:
What users think could be improved:
Fusion 360 is part of the Autodesk ecosystem designed for the AEC industry. This makes the tool suitable for construction businesses that are already using, or intend to use, other Autodesk solutions. Using a software vendor that offers multiple solutions will especially benefit larger businesses that invariably need software that can scale with their growing requirements.
LibreCAD is an open source CAD tool that supports Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. The tool comes with 2D drawing features such as a snap tool, dimensioning, and annotations. It also supports multiple file imports and exports.
2D drawing in LibreCAD (Source)
Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of LibreCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.
What users like:
What users think could be improved:
LibreCAD is an exclusively 2D CAD tool for drawing and designing blueprints of buildings, layouts of parks, and the like. As a free tool, the solution can be used by small and midsize businesses across different industries, including manufacturing, engineering, architecture, and construction.
Onshape is a cloud-only CAD solution that comes with features such as document management with version control, collaborative design creation/editing capabilities, and reporting dashboards to understand project status.
Importing documents in Onshape (Source)
Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of Onshape they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.
What users like:
What users think could be improved:
As a fully-cloud based tool, Onshape is ideal for businesses that need to manage design documents collaboratively with multiple stakeholders. The tool’s collaboration functionalities include document sharing, document editing, comments, and file downloads in multiple CAD formats, such as Parasolid, ACIS, STEP, and IGES.
This report offers a mix of Mac CAD solutions—from free tools that can help you with basic 2D drawing to advanced solutions offering extensive 3D modeling functionalities.
If these tools don’t meet your needs, expand your search and check out more options. To help you, we’ve created a CAD software comparison page where you can explore products using different filters, such as features offered and pricing options.
If you’re looking to understand the CAD software market better, we also recommend that you read the articles listed below: |
To be shortlisted, products had to fulfill the following criteria:
Note: The content in this piece that provides opinions and points of view expressed by users. It does not represent the views of Capterra.
Looking for Construction Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Construction Management software solutions.
We already covered the ten free and useful CAD software for every type of platform.
We already covered the ten free and useful CAD software for every type of platform. Here is another ten best CAD software for Mac that will run natively on the Mac OS X operating system. It is fully compatible with the Mac operating system and no need to use any specific emulation software or a compatibility layer to uses this software. Use this site to help select the best CAD program for your Mac. We review, compare and rate CAD software for Mac OS-X to give you informed recommendations for the most effective Computer Aided Design software to meet your needs. Contact the appleCAD Team and a CAD. The best part about this CAD app is that it’s completely free. This 3D design creating CAD software is supported by Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X systems. It is available in the English language, so it’s enough easy to use and even helps with creating animated designs using it. Files in 2D and 3D can be imported using unique formats as well. Jan 18, 2017 CAD software has been used for decades to aid the construction industry. It’s an electronic drafting solution that can produce engineering. Here are the top 14 best free CAD software for Windows. Autodesk 123D Design. Autodesk 123D Design is the free version of CAD created by Autodesk. This is the best tool for beginners to learn designing, to get a solid foundation. The software is like Autodesk’s Inventor. It is very powerful yet simple to operate.
Here is another ten best CAD software for Mac that will run natively on the Mac OS X operating system.
It is fully compatible with the Mac operating system and no need to use any specific emulation software or a compatibility layer to uses this software.
Vectorworks is an object-oriented CAD software for Mac OS. The software primarily uses for 2D Drafting, technical drawing, and highly effective 3D modeling.
Mac os mojave flash drive. It gives 2D, 3D, production management, and presentation capabilities for all levels of the design course.
It additionally very versatile, so designers have the complete freedom to design how they want and very handy to create, model, and present easily and precisely with one software.
Website – Vectorworks
AutoCAD for Mac is a robust 3D free form design tool and powerful drafting capabilities for your favorite platform.
It has a simple, Intuitive graphical User interface that makes your ideas into reality.
It saves all your work into DWG format, so you can easily share files with clients, suppliers, and partners around the world, regardless of platform.
Website: AutoCAD for Mac
CADintosh for Mac is a 2D-CAD software for electrical, mechanical, and architectural drawings.
It has interactive window redrawing, where users can work at the same time as the window redrawing.
You can easily import and export your work into multiple formats such as HPGL, DXF, and PICT.
There are two types of modes provided by the software. One is Pen oriented Mode, and another one is the individual Mode.
Pen oriented Mode gives you 8 line widths/line colors/pens, and individual Mode gives you line width from 0.0 to 99.99 mm, pattern, and colors.
Website: CADintosh for Mac
BRL-CAD is a powerful cross-platform solid geometry (CSG) modeling system.
The software comes with interactive geometry editor, ray-tracing for rendering & geometric analyses, network distributed frame buffer support, image & signal-processing tools.
Website: BRL – CAD
Domus CAD is a 3D Architectural Parametric CAD that allows you to create a three-dimensional element without starting from a two-dimensional plane.
It provides ready elements such as walls, floors, roofs, and stairs that built from the onset in their full three-dimensional form.
You can easily see the 3D model changes in real-time as you design in your plan.
Website: Domus.Cad
Sailcut CAD is a sail design and plotting software. It means that you can design and visualize your personal sail and compute the actualgrowth of all panels in flat sheets.
Sailcut CAD is ready to do cross cut, twist foot cut, vertical cut, mitre cut, and radial cut sail design as well as wing sails, all in quite a few languages.
It alsoincludes a viewer whereyou’ll be able to assemble a hull, a rig, and a set of sails to see how they match.
Sailcut CAD has been successfully used for making sails for racing and cruising yacht as well as for model boats.
Website: Sailcut CAD
MacDraft Pro is the 2D CAD software that makes it easy to design floor plans, architectural drawings, and illustration simple on the Mac.
Create detailed and professional 2D drawings in moments, with this easy-to-use, powerful, and affordable drafting software.
With its precise vector tools, smart units, and fully-featured scaled atmosphere, MacDraft Pro is designed to implement an easy-to-use solution without wasting too much time to learn techniques to use more complicated software.
The latest version of MacDraft Pro contains some important changes and features that make it more intuitive, highly effective, and easy-to-use than ever before.
Adding a wide range of features not only make MacDraft Pro easier but also speed up your design process.
Website: MacDraft Pro
HighDesign is the alternative, fully featured 2D CAD software for Mac OS.
it’s a perfect combination of advanced drafting and design tool with a modern, performance based user interface designed to help the user in every stage of the creative process.
HighDesign offers in-depth knowledge of drawing and editing skills, from the vital drafting methods to extra superior, DXF/DWG compatibility.
parametric tools like vector hatches and patterns, smart annotations, symbols with several views, partitions, columns, windows and doors, and more.
The software is really helpful to satisfy the actual requirements of architects, engineers, and design professionals.
it allows them to design difficult projects with accuracy and strong management over several parts of the projects.
Website: HighDesign
QCad is a software for computer-aided drafting in two dimensions (2D).
With QCad you’ll be able to create technical drawings such as plans for buildings, interiors, and mechanical components, or schemas and diagrams.
QCad works on Windows, Mac, and many Linux and Unix systems. The source code of the QCad community edition is launched under the GPL license.
Website: QCAD
Graphite is a 2D and 3D wireframe CAD software for Mac. The software is previously known as Vellum.
It has a simple, easy to use user interface that helps creative people to create a precision drawing and Drafting without having any knowledge.
With Graphite, the user can create 2D and 3D wireframe designs of immense complexity and precision detail.
Website: Graphite
Not all 3D modeling software is available for every operating system. That’s why we compiled a list of the most popular 3D design programs for Mac users. Read on to discover the top 20!
The list of the most used 3D design software for Mac (see below) is based upon our list of the 25 most popular 3D modeling programs. However, we excluded software that is not available or not suitable for the Mac OS. This leaves us with the ultimate 3D modeling list for Macintosh users.
The two most used 3D modeling software programs for Macintosh devices are freeware program Blender (score: 80) and freemium software SketchUp (75). Blender is known for its enormous design freedom and its endless number of tools and functions – however, it’s also known for its steep learning curve. SketchUp, on the other hand, is said to be rather beginner-friendly and great for architectural and geometric objects. However, it’s not suited for creating organic structures.
Next come three programs from the Autodesk family: its professional high-end programs AutoCAD (59) and Maya (59) as well as its beginner-friendly free-to-use online app Tinkercad (51) all score well with Mac users. ZBrush (49), a professional 3D sculpting software, comes in 6th. Its free light version, named Sculptris (19), made it to rank 15.
After ZBrush, Cinema 4D (43), 123D Design (42), OpenSCAD (38), and Rhinoceros (36) complete the list of the top 10.
Screenshot of SketchUp, a popular 3D modeling software with Mac users.
We calculated the popularity of a 3D modeling software for Mac based on their ‘popularity score’ in the 3D printing community. The popularity score consists of mentions and fans on social media, page authority, forum mentions, video mentions, 3D printing database mentions, and Google results. This score is especially helpful if you’re looking for a modeling software for Mac that is widely used for 3D printing, so you can be assured of an online community to brainstorm with and help you out if you get stuck.
Most 3D design programs are available for Windows and Mac users alike. However, some 3D design software that is not available for Mac OS includes Solidworks (62), 3DS Max (55), and Inventor (55). While these are not many, they still represent quite popular 3D modeling software packages. In our original list which includes all platforms, these programs ranked 3rd, 6th, and 7th among the most popular.
Some good news to end with: there are more and more options for Mac users. For example, Rhino 5 is available for Mac. Since many 3D design apps run online now (browser-based), programs like Tinkercad and 3DTin are also accessible from any device. With Cheetah3D there’s also a 3D design software which is exclusively available for Mac OS.
Are you new to the world of 3D modeling and 3D printing? Make sure to avoid these 5 common mistakes in order to create stunning designs. Do you already know how to create printable 3D files? Then simply upload them to our website, choose from more than 100 materials and finishes, and let us take care of printing your object.