Best 3D CAD Software in 2026
If your work involves parts, surfaces, or assemblies, compare these 3D CAD options by modeling method, assembly design, and sheet-metal tools. Surface modeling and file import and export can help you assess how designs fit your workflows, while cloud collaboration and supported platforms speak to how you work across people and systems. The entries include Onshape, Shapr3D, and FreeCAD near the top, followed by Autodesk Inventor and Rhino 3D. Check the listed free-plan availability and paid starting points alongside the capabilities you need; those details can help you weigh access and cost without losing sight of the design work your team needs to do.
68 3d cad software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Modeling method | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Onshape | 7.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $125/mo | Yes | Free | Parametric modeling for solids, surfaces, and sheet metal | View |
| 2 | Shapr3D | 7.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $24.92/mo | Yes | Free | Direct and history-based parametric modeling | View |
| 3 | FreeCAD | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Parametric modeling | View |
| 4 |  Autodesk Inventor | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | No | — | hybrid | View |
| 5 |  Rhino 3D | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $95/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 6 | OwlCAD | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | parametric | View |
| 7 | nanoCAD | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $24.08/mo | Yes | Free | hybrid | View |
| 8 |  Solid Edge | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 9 |  DesignSpark Mechanical | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | direct | View |
| 10 | Oblikovati | 7.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | parametric | View |
| 11 | T-FLEX CAD | 7.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 12 |  SOLIDWORKS | 7.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $4/mo | Yes | $2,820/user/mo | — | View |
| 13 |  Zoo Design Studio | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 14 |  SolidFace | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 15 | Creo | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | hybrid | View |
| 16 | CATIA | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | parametric | View |
| 17 | Siemens NX | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | hybrid | View |
| 18 | HiCAD | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | View |
| 19 | TurboCAD | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $8.33/mo | No | — | parametric | View |
| 20 | Cobalt | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $57.92/mo | No | $69.95/user/mo | hybrid | View |
| 21 |  Hexagon VISI | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | hybrid | View |
| 22 |  ZW3D | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $3,000/mo | No | — | hybrid | View |
| 23 |  Zenve3D | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $14.99/mo | Yes | — | parametric | View |
| 24 |  Alibre Design | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $999/mo | No | — | — | View |
| 25 | BricsCAD Mechanical | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | €83.17/mo | No | — | hybrid | View |
Is your platform 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 Inferse?
Onshape is ranked #1 of 68 with a score of 7.5. Shapr3D is second and FreeCAD third.
How many of these have a free plan?
16 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, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.