Top 5 CAD Software Tools for Beginners

Computer-aided design (CAD) is becoming increasingly popular thanks to 3D printing. Whether you want to design your own models, print them, or otherwise bring your creative ideas to life, choose the right CAD software. This list suggests the best CAD software options that beginners can easily get started with in no time.

What Does a Good CAD Software for Beginners Require?

CAD software should be intuitive for beginners, but that’s not the only important criterion. Here are some other factors I consider 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 STL file is the standard file format used by most 3D printers and slicing software.
• Free trial: if the software is not free, it should offer a comprehensive free trial. What seems like a good choice at first may not be so after some testing.
• Learning resources: It is always best to choose a software that has plenty of tutorials, documentation, and an active community. This support can be invaluable when you run into problems.
• Compatibility: The software must be compatible with your operating system. Some CAD tools are platform-specific, while others, such as browser-based CAD applications, run on different systems.
• Cost: Beginners should not spend so much money on such a giant AutoCADThere are many CAD software tools available that are much more affordable, and it will take some time for you to get the hang of them.

Remember, the “best” software may vary depending on your specific needs, so don’t be afraid to try 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 the most user-friendly CAD software on this list. Its accessibility comes from its creative LEGO-like approach to 3D modeling. You are presented with a variety of pre-made shapes that you can easily place, manipulate, and combine. Two shapes can be combined or one shape can be subtracted from another. Moreover, Tinkercad is a browser based CADSo you can start designing right away without the need for a complicated installation.

Unfortunately, Tinkercad is also limited in a few annoying ways. The biggest limitation is that cylindrical objects aren’t truly round and can have a maximum of 64 sides. (It’s possible to create a smooth cylinder, but you’ll need to implement a workaround.) There are also no specific tools for basic operations like adding filleted edges.

While we wholeheartedly recommend Tinkercad as a great starter software, especially for kids, it’s important to know that you’ll probably need to move on to more capable CAD alternatives in the future as your skills develop and your projects become more complex.

Best All-rounder: Autodesk Fusion

Price: Free with Premium option

Fusion It’s developed by the same company as Tinkercad, and Tinkercad projects can be easily ported to Fusion, making it a great next step for those who’ve grown out of the simplicity of Tinkercad. It’s also by far the most popular CAD tool among hobbyists because it strikes a great balance between ease of use and robust capabilities.

One of the standout features of Fusion is that it’s fully parametric, meaning 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 recreate your entire model from scratch. For example, if you’ve designed a custom enclosure for an electronics project, you can easily adjust its size to accommodate different components by changing a few parameters.

However, Fusion is not without its drawbacks. In my experience, it can be quite slow even on powerful computers, and there are a number of bugs that have gone unaddressed for a long time. The free version limits you to 10 active, editable documents, which isn’t a big deal if 3D design is something you only do occasionally, but can be restrictive for more frequent users. Finally, Fusion is only available for Windows and macOS, so Run on Linux.

Best Cloud Based: OnShape

Price: Free with Premium option

On the Figure is a powerful parametric CAD software developed by former engineers and managers of SolidWorks, one of the most widely used CAD software packages in the professional world. I recommend it to beginners because cloud based nature – you can use it on almost 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 having your files made public. You can hide your files a bit by giving them strange, unsearchable names, but that’s about all you can do as a free user. If it becomes a concern down the road, consider the paid version.

In terms of usability, I must admit that OnShape did not sit well with me to be honest, but your experience may be different. I find the user interface unpleasant and many operations unintuitive.

Best Non-Traditional CAD: Plasticity

Price: $149 to $299

Flexibility It brings a new breath to the CAD software world with its unique approach that blends traditional CAD software with the intuitive workflow of modern polygon modeling software. MixerIf you have a background in 3D art rather than engineering, you may find Plasticity’s approach more intuitive and more in line with your creative process.

One of the highlights of Plasticity is its advanced geometry and fillet engine, powered by Parasolid’s best-in-class algorithms. This allows you to create world-class fillets, booleans, and offsets, and modify them however you want.

However, it’s important to note that Plasticity is not parametric, so you can’t always easily change a specific dimension of an object once it’s created. As such, I wouldn’t use it to design a smartphone case for multiple smartphone models, but I would happily use it to prototype a stylish bathroom organizer or 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 complex projects. It runs smoothly on Windows, macOS, and iPadOS, making it perfect for designing on the go. Unfortunately, there is no version for Linux, but you can run it using Wine (I haven’t tried this myself.)

Built on the robust Siemens Parasolid engine, Shapr3D ensures your models are production-ready and compatible with all major 3D modeling tools. It offers a full 3D modeling toolset, 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.

Although Shapr3D offers a free version, it’s severely limited. You’re limited to just two active designs and you can only export low-resolution models, meaning your 3D prints won’t be as smooth as you’d like. To unlock the full potential of Shapr3D, you’ll need to opt for a paid subscription. However, the monthly subscription fee is quite high compared to some of the other options we’ve discussed, starting at €25 per month.

As you can see, there are many options for beginners to choose from, both free and paid. While I’ve focused mostly on design software that’s great for 3D printing and object design in this article, I feel it would be a crime to end this article without mentioning SketchUp. This popular CAD tool is especially great for architectural design and has a large user base in this niche. If you’re interested in exploring 3D modeling for architectural drafting, you might want to check out: 3D modeling guide with SketchUp.

Image credit: DALL-E. All screenshots courtesy of David Morelo.