Best Open-Source Option: FreeCAD
Well-supported open source platform.
Well-optimized for 3D work.
Clunky to work with.
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2D features aren’t great.
Best for Students and Teachers: AutoCAD Student Version
Part of the Autodesk family of modeling applications.
AutoCAD is an industry standard.
Watermarking on the free software editions.
More complex than others; not newcomer-friendly.
Best Alternative to AutoCAD: LibreCAD
Free and open source.
Excels at 2D work.
Not as strong for 3D work.
Skews toward app developers rather than CAD users.
Another open-source offering, LibreCAD is a high-quality, 2D-CAD modeling platform.
It includes lots of powerful features that include snap-to-grid for drawing, layers, and measurements.
Best Premium Offerings: SketchUp for Web
Options for hobbyists to industry professionals.
Self-pacing and learning resources.
Free version includes several products.
Pricing model isn’t great.
Free feature is web-only.
In 2012, Google sold the product to Trimble.
Trimble has enhanced it and developed it further and now offers a slew of related products.
The interface makes it easy to get up to speed on the basics.
