Inexpensive and Free CAD Programs

Prices last checked October 2026.

A common question from new CNC software users is, “What CAD program do you recommend?” As you might guess, the answer is, “It depends on what you plan to make”. Here is a list of the best deals in free or inexpensive CAD programs.

One quick note, if you’re a Mac user then check out our list of 3D CAD programs for macOS.

Free Form 3D Modeling Programs

3D modeling programs are used to make models for animations or video games and those models are never meant to leave the computer. These programs will let you design complicated shapes easily but they can make it more difficult to design mechanical shapes to exact dimensions.

Blender

Blender Free - Blender is a free, open-source 3D modeling program for Windows, Mac and Linux. The interface is very non-traditional and will require some adjustment if you’ve got experience in a more traditional 3D design program. There are plenty of books and video tutorials about Blender so it should be easy to find some material to help you out.

Silo

Silo $159 - Silo is a subdivision modeling program for Windows and Mac that, like Blender, is not primarily targeted at users trying to design models to be machined. It is incredibly powerful and the interface is easier to learn than Blender. It’s a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, and a great value if you’re looking to model organic shapes.

Free Form CAD

Free-form CAD programs let you design dimensionally accurate models but don’t impose any structure or workflow on your methods.

Shapr3D

Shapr3D Free (limited) or $299/year- Shapr3D started as an iPad app and then moved to Mac and Windows. Because of its start on the iPad, it’s got an intuitive pen-first user interface. Shapr3D is built on a high-end CAD kernel so you can expect your output files to be correct and trouble-free (which cannot be said of all CAD programs). The free version is limited to two projects and basic-resolution STL export; you’ll need Pro for STEP files. Learn more about Shapr3D for CNC here.

SketchUp

SketchUp Free or $399/year- SketchUp is a CAD program that was originally targeted to the architectural market. It is a very simple program to use but it isn’t well-suited for organic shapes. The free version runs in your web browser and can export STL files for machining. SketchUp Pro adds the desktop app for Windows and Mac.

ViaCAD 3D

ViaCAD 2D/3D $279.99- ViaCAD is a simple, powerful 3D CAD program. It isn’t as popular as some of the others here but it’s inexpensive, it’s a one-time purchase, and you can get up and running quickly. It is available for Windows and Mac. It exports STL; STEP export requires ViaCAD Pro.

MoI 3D

MoI $295- MoI (Moment of Inspiration) is a 3D CAD program that was designed to be usable on tablet or pen computers. Because of this, the user interface is simple and doesn’t require a lot of typing. It was written by a single guy, who was one of the original developers of Rhino, so it’s powerful without being bloated. It is equally well-suited to organic or mechanical shapes. Without a doubt, this is one to try. One license covers both Windows and Mac.

Rhino 3D

Rhino $995- Rhino is one of the most powerful and flexible CAD programs anywhere. It has every kind of tool you could need and, like MoI, is equally well-suited to organic or mechanical shapes. It isn’t inexpensive but it’s a permanent license with no subscription, and it does almost anything you could need. Students and faculty can get it for $195. (Also available for Mac)

Parametric CAD

Parametric CAD programs keep the entire history of the model as it is being built. If you find the need to change a shape or dimension then you just go back in the history, make the change, and the model will be rebuilt automatically. If you make a big change then you may have to do a little work to get the model rebuilt properly but it’s still going to be faster than a program like Rhino. Parametric CAD programs are incredibly powerful if you are willing to spend the time to get your head around the workflow.

Alibre

Alibre $199 - $2,300 (or from $100/year)- Alibre is a very powerful parametric CAD program for Windows. The entry-level version, Alibre Atom3D, is $199 for a lifetime license and exports both STL and STEP files. They take a lot of pride in the fact that you can do 99% of what the very expensive programs can do at a fraction of the cost. Commercial Solidworks licenses, for comparison, cost thousands of dollars. Atom3D is the most amazing deal on this page.

FreeCAD

FreeCAD Free FreeCAD is a completely free and open-source parametric CAD package for Windows, Mac and Linux. Open-source CAD programs have historically been a little rough around the edges, but FreeCAD reached version 1.0 in 2024 and has improved a lot.

FreeCAD is worth a look if you want a parametric CAD program that doesn’t have subscription fees or risk having the price terms changed in the future.

Onshape

Onshape Free - $1,500/year- Onshape is a cloud-based CAD program from the same team that created Solidworks. It runs completely in the browser so it runs on Windows, Mac, or even an iPad. The free plan is for non-commercial use, and every document you create on it is public. Paid plans keep your designs private.

Autodesk Fusion

Autodesk Fusion Free for personal use, or paid subscription- Fusion (formerly Fusion 360) is a parametric CAD program for Windows and Mac that’s very popular with hobbyists. The free personal-use license is for non-commercial use and has limits, including a cap on the number of editable documents. Commercial use requires a paid subscription.

Although it’s in no way a low-cost program, Solidworks works very well with MeshCAM and it’s very popular with MeshCAM users. Just in case you’re one of them, we’ve got a Solidworks CAM page with some instructions to help get you started.