• Best Free Cad Software For Mac

If you’re looking for CAD software for Mac, you’re not without options. We’ve found some standout Mac and cloud-based CAD platforms for you.

May 23, 2020 Related: – 10 Best Free 3D Modelling Software in 2019 (With Pros & Cons) 123D It is a beginner level drafting software and is available for free of cost. 123D software supports the following OS such as Windows, Mac, Linux. Oct 09, 2017  10 Best CAD Software For Mac in 2020 (Free & Paid) 1. SmartDraw (Best 2D CAD For Mac) 2. AutoCAD LT / AutoCAD (Best 3D CAD For Mac) 3. Fusion 360 (Best Engineering CAD For Mac) 4. CorelCAD For Mac (Best 3D Printing CAD For Mac) 5. TurboCAD Mac Pro (Best AutoCAD Alternative For Mac) 6. Apr 10, 2020 The Five Best Free Drawing Apps for Mac April 2020 Arch Read more April 10, 2020 While it’s certainly never been easier to create digital art, premium professional tools still cost an arm and a leg.

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.

These platform specific software can offer you better performance and chemical drawing facilities due to effective functions and options. Avogadro software free download for mac download.

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.

5 Best CAD Software for Mac (presented alphabetically)

Jump to:

• 
  CorelCAD
• 
  FreeCAD
• 
  Fusion 360
• 
  LibreCAD
• 
  Onshape

1. CorelCAD

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)

Common user feedback trends

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:

• The short learning curve: Users mention that the tool is easy to use and beginners don’t have to spend a lot of time learning it.
• Compatibility with multiple file types: Users like the fact that the tool is compatible with DWG, PDF, ACIS, DXF, STL, CDR, and other file formats.

What users think could be improved:

• Software reliability issues: Some users mention that the software tends to crash at times.
• Better dimension functionality: Some users would like a better dimensioning feature for more accurate drawings of angles and proportions.

Who can use CorelCAD

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.

2. FreeCAD

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)Razer keyboard software for mac.

Common user feedback trends

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:

• Feature-richness for a free tool: Users mention that, although it’s free, the tool comes with a full set of features.
• Reliability: Users mention that the tool does not demand a lot of CPU power and works well on devices with low RAM.

What users think could be improved:

• Steep learning curve: Users mention that the tool is not the most user-friendly solution and can be difficult for beginners to learn.
• Dependent on community for updates: Users mention that modules ignored by the community tend to become outdated quickly.

Who can use FreeCAD

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.

3. Fusion 360

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)

Common user feedback trends

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:

• Comprehensive design features: User mention that the tool offers all the functionalities necessary for 2D and 3D designing.
• Availability of training resources: Users like the fact that the tool comes with ample documentation and tutorials.

What users think could be improved:

• System crashes: Users mention that the tool tends to crash, especially when designing and rendering large files.
• Steep learning curve: Users mention that it can take a lot of time to learn the advanced functionalities of the tool.

Who can use Fusion 360

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.

4. LibreCAD

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)

Common user feedback trends

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:

• Ease of use: Users mention that the tool offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
• Lots of tutorials: Users like the fact that there are ample video tutorials that help them get started with the tool.

What users think could be improved:

• Software speed: Users mention that the software tends to lag, especially when trying to print designs.
• Add support for 3D design: Users would like to see functionalities for creating 3D designs.

Who can use LibreCAD

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.

5. Onshape

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)

Common user feedback trends

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:

• Document version control: Users like the document management features of the tool, such as version history.
• Intuitive interface: Users mention that the tool comes with an intuitive interface for easy image editing.

What users think could be improved:

• Performance issues: Some users mention that the tool does not function well on non-Chrome browsers and has file loading issues.
• Lack of features: Users mention that the tool should improve certain features such as 2D drawing and 3D surfacing.

Who can use Onshape

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.

Next steps

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.

Best Free Cad Software For Mac

Methodology

To be shortlisted, products had to fulfill the following criteria:

• Products had to be compatible with Mac and offer core CAD software capabilities, such as:
  • 2D drawing or 3D modeling features
  • Collaborative editing of drawings
• Products needed a minimum of 20 user reviews on Capterra (published in the last two years).
• Products had to have a high overall rating (an average of at least 4 out of 5 on Capterra).

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.

Creating designs can be a tedious task for engineers and students as a lot of precision and attention should go into making the drawing perfect. It can be done easily by using a simple 2D drawing software. With this 2D drawing software download you will be able to create accurate designs and use the tools to get the best results. There are many 2D drawing software, free download or 2D drawing freeware are available online.

Auto CAD LT

This premium software can be used to create 2D design across different platforms with precision. It will provide a very attractive visual experience and the PDFs used are more responsive. Dimensioning will be easier with the tools and the work can be done on cloud or intranet. The monitor can be used to prevent any unwanted changes to the system preferences and it runs on a TrustedDWG technology.

QCAD – 2D CAD

This freeware and open source software can be used for CAD in 2D. You will be able to create drawing for various purposes like plans for buildings, mechanical parts, schematics, interiors and other such diagrams. It works across different platforms and has many features like layers, blocks, TrueType fonts, DXF & DWG inputs, etc. More than 35 CAD tools are included and many constructions and modification tools are provided.

Cadlogic-2D Drawing

This freeware can be used to create 2D drawings and it can be used for printing or saving. It has many powerful drawing tools that can be used to create professional level diagrams with accurate measurements. The measurement units can be set based upon the requirement. It is very easy to use and has many tools like linear, radial, angular, diameter, arrow, etc.

Kedi CAD for Linux

This freeware is compatible with the Linux platform and can be used as a 2D CAD software. It is very easy to use and can be used to perform the hydraulic analysis. CAD, CAM, FEA, etc. are available and a standard parts library can be used. It is easy to create the sketches and the community can be used to collaborate.

Eazy Draw for Mac

This premium software is compatible on the Mac platform and can be used as a vector drawing application. It was designed mainly for Mac OS X to create logos, illustrations, web graphics, flow charts, elevations and much more. Though it is very simple to use, it is a very powerful tool.

2D Drafting Software for Windows

This premium Windows software can be used for creating 2D diagrams with more than 1000 drafting symbols on a user-friendly interface. It can be used to create and edit the technical drawing and also to annotate the designs. It will serve as a multi-purpose software that can be used to provide vector graphics results.

Auto Cad – Most Popular Software

This premium software is very popular for creating, uploading, opening and editing DWG drawing from the mobile tools. The drawings can be drawn using gestures and a stylus of the objects can be edited. When you tap the images the measurements will be displayed. It is possible to view the drawing from different angles. You can also see 2D CAD Software

How to Install 2D Drawing Software?

This software is available in both free version and as a premium version. If it is a freeware, you will be able to download the software directly from the manufacturer and install it on the system. If it is a premium version, then the login credentials will have to be purchased from the supplier before the software could be downloaded. As it works alongside CAD sometimes, you have to check all the system requirements prior to installation. You can also see Drawing Animation Software

This software can be used to draw the diagrams easily and mark it. The final images can be shared to others or exported. You will be able to sketch the diagrams freely and even work offline. Split screens can be used for multi-tasking and pressure-sensitive tools like Apple Pencil can be used on some software.