Best 3D CAD Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Rhino 3D is ranked #1 of 80 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of SOLIDWORKS and Onshape. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Onshape. The lowest first paid tier on this page is SOLIDWORKS at $4/mo.
3D CAD software supports the modeling of parts, surfaces and assemblies, with different capabilities to consider for your design work. Compared on modeling method, assembly design and surface modeling, these options also show sheet-metal tools, file import and export, cloud collaboration and supported platforms. Rhino 3D, SOLIDWORKS and Onshape are among the software shown. Check whether a free plan is available and the listed paid starting price, then weigh those details against the modeling tasks and file exchanges you need to handle. Cloud collaboration may also matter if your work involves sharing designs with others.
80 3D CAD software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
3D CAD Software, ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going. 11 of the 25 on this page can be tried for free.
- 1 Rhino 3DPaid from $95/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 2 SOLIDWORKSPaid from $4/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 3 OnshapePaid from $125/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 4 Shapr3DPaid from $24.92/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 5 Autodesk Inventor
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 6 OwlCADFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 7 Creo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 8 nanoCADPaid from $24.08/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 9 CATIA
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 10 FreeCAD
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 11 DesignSpark Mechanical
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 12 Siemens NX
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 13 AVEVA E3D Design
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 14 Zenve3DPaid from $14.99/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 15 Solid Edge
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 16 build123dFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 17 Ansys SpaceClaim
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 18 Hexagon VISI
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 19 NETVIBES
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 20 Autodesk Alias
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 21 BricsCAD MechanicalPaid from €83.17/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 22 T-FLEX CAD
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 23 ZW3DPaid from $3,000/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 24 Zoo Design Studio
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 25 Fusion with PowerShape
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
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 The Geeks Club?
Rhino 3D is ranked #1 of 80 with a score of 8.9. SOLIDWORKS is second and Onshape third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 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 how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.