Top 7 Best CAD Online Free Software in 2024

What could be better than using professional and favorite CAD software from anywhere in the world without downloading it to your PC? For this purpose and the maximum convenience of users, CAD software is made available online. Whether running in a local browser or via a web or mobile application, they are as good as traditional ones in quantity and quality of features. And some are even hailed as the best CAD programs today.

To help you find the solutions that will suit you the best, Applet3D has researched and analyzed the market offers, made the top of free CAD online software in 2024, and used each program to share our impressions and professional recommendations. Below you’ll find a table with key information and a detailed description of each online CAD program. Read on, try them out, and share your impressions in the comments below! The study was conducted in 2024.

Best free online CAD software 2024

Check out the table below, where we have collected key information about the top online CAD software free, including features, use level, latest versions, etc. We also analyzed and collected user reviews and ratings on such reputable platforms as G2, Capterra, GetApp, and Software Advice. Based on this data, Applet3D derived the overall rating of each online CAD program and arranged them in the table in descending order.

Free CAD programs online 2024 in detail

Why does our top include these software options? In the table above, we’ve summarized the key information about each solution, which should be useful for quick familiarization and understanding. However, to find the answer to the question of why we consider these programs to be the best online free CAD and recommend them for use, we suggest that you read a more detailed description of each of them. In addition to the functional features and capabilities offered by a particular solution, we have also provided below a list of pros and cons that Applet3D experts have identified during their use.

1. Vectary

Price: Free plan
Best for: Professionals
Available on: Web
Last update/version: 2023
Usage: 3D modeling, design

4.9

Rating by Applet3D

G2

4.9

Vectary is an online CAD and 3D modeling tool with which you can create, share, and customize 3D designs. Vectary is a combination of standard mesh modeling, subdivision modeling, and parametric plugins. This free CAD software online has a fully-featured set of tools with an unlimited number of models to exchange. Most of the models you create in this online CAD program free can be 3D printed.

Each model created in the browser is saved in the cloud, under your account. This CAD design online free software has a simplified user interface. Vectary is also a community platform where anyone can share and customize 3D models by tweaking settings or editing the mesh structure of other designs.

After using Vectary, our experts noted the following pros and cons:

Pros:

• Easy to load up and start working on 3D projects;
• Allows you to export directly to STL file formats;
• Very intuitive and easy to use;
• Great for beginners;
• Ability to export objects to OBJ and STL formats used by most slicers.

Cons:

• Needs more documentation to support the platform’s features and services;
• Modeling or smoothing curved surfaces on meshes with existing tools is not easy;
• Creating or modifying some types of objects with smooth curved surfaces can be a difficult and time-consuming task.

2. Tinkercad

Price: Free 
Best for: Beginners, amateurs and professionals
Available on: Web; Can be downloaded on iPad
Last update/version: 2023
Usage: 3D modeling

4.7

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.7

GetApp

4.7

Tinkercad rightfully occupies the second position as online CAD software free. Tinkercad is a simple web-based 3D design application. This online CAD free tool works on the principle of dragging and dropping 3D shapes onto a working grid and then modifying them. All you need to work is the Internet with good speed and an input device (mouse, tablet, even a laptop trackpad will do). The free online CAD program has a collection of video tutorials on creating high-precision models.

Being a web-based service, Tinkercad also gives you the ability to work on your projects from different devices and allows multiple people to work on projects at once. This simple CAD online program provides many ways to create models. You can create your own designs or edit the finished models of other Tinkercad users, as well as import and edit models from any other programs in .stl, .obj, and .svg format. Right from the online CAD tool, you can export your models for 3D printing, or download and print other users’ models.

After using Tinkercad, our experts noted the following pros and cons:

Pros:

• Great for beginners;
• Easy to use and understand;
• Simple yet useful tools;
• Allows you to search for other parts and incorporate them into the project, simply print it out yourself;
• The ability to save designs to memory and continue drawing whenever you want;
• Drag and drop a GLB file into PowerPoint to create presentations;
• Аbility to build with microbits, circuits, and more.

Cons:

• Some features are limited;
• Some of the controls are a little difficult to use;
• Tutorials are very small font and hard to read;
• Navigating with the mouse is difficult and requires learning shortcuts;
• Interface for 3D modeling may take some time to get used to.

3. Onshape

Price: Free plan
Best for: Beginners, amateurs and professionals
Available on: Web; Can be downloaded on Android and  iOS 
Last update/version: 2024
Usage: 3D modeling and collaborative design

4.6

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.5

GetApp

4.5

Software Advice

4.5

G2

4.7

Such free online CAD programs are ideal for product and detail design. Onshape is equipped with a set of features necessary for CAD software. This solution works on almost every system, even iOS, and Android. Because Onshape is a web-based platform, everything you do is instantly stored in the cloud, protecting you from data loss.

Onshape comes with three main design tools: parts, assemblies, and drawings. For online CAD drawing, you can easily import DWG, DW, or DXF files if you have worked in Autodesk before. This simple online CAD program supports a huge number of formats.

This CAD online program offers a collaborative work mode. Onshape gives all team members instant access to the same workspace and the same data in one central location in the cloud. Due to its main features, Onshape is one of the best free CAD drawing online tools for professionals and industrial designers working in teams on open-source projects.

After using Onshape, our experts noted the following pros and cons:

Pros:

• Easy to use and understand;
• Very easy to create simple models;
• Constant improvement of the features available;
• Integrated versioning and access control features;
• The ease of working together on a single document;
• Simple to share work with outside vendors;
• The contextual mode is very useful;
• Good customer support;
• The part design mode is very convenient;
• Allows export to various formats for integration with other software.

Cons:

• Difficult to use in large architectural projects and offline access to the model;
• The lack of private projects with free accounts;
• Assembly features need to be improved; 
• Performance is not as fast as local CAD systems;
• Documents can get bogged down very quickly in part studios, assemblies, and derived parts;
• Several features are missing that would help with working with drawings and parts.

4. AutoCAD Web

Price: Free 
Best for: Professionals and amateurs 
Available on: Web
Last update/version: 2024
Usage: 2D drafting and 3D modeling

4.6

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.7

GetApp

4.7

G2

4.4

This is a truly unique free online drafting program that properly meets all the needs of users. Autodesk not only offers a free version of the program but also allows you to use it online. Using AutoCAD as a free online drafting tool, you can use all the basic tools and commands for drawing AutoCAD. With this web solution, you also have access to DWG files and can update and share them online.

The web version of AutoCAD has a simplified interface, so even beginners can work with it. AutoCAD Web is only available with an AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT subscription. This free online drafting software is also available on Apple iOS (iPad and iPhone) and Android mobile devices.

After using AutoCAD, our experts noted the following pros and cons:

Pros:

• Simple design;
• Prototyping;
• Great 3D modeling experience;
• Zoom in and out tool;
• Viewing of DWG files and editing files on the go;
• Ability to upload a file from cloud storage;
• Sharing edited files through different channels;
• Offset command for lines and blocks;
• Rotation function on 3D models;
• Drawing commands for lines and polygons.

Cons:

• There is a bit of a learning curve to use the software;
• Many features work with additional plugins;
• Editing drawings is a complex and time-consuming task (even simple edits);
• Finding drawings on the mobile is a hassle;
• The select command sometimes is hard to do;
• The dimensions are not so easy.

5. SelfCAD

Price: Free plan
Best for: Beginners, amateurs and professionals
Available on: Web; Can be downloaded on Windows and macOS
Last update/version: 2023
Usage: Drawing, 3D modeling, 3D printing, sculpting, rendering, animation

4.6

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.6

GetApp

4.6

SelfCAD is software for computer-aided design based on a polygonal mesh. With this online free CAD software, you can create complete elements for 3D modeling and 3D printing. This 3D CAD program is very easy to use and can be mastered in a few hours. 

You can use SelfCAD for online CAD drawing for free. It works both in the browser and the cloud. It is supported on Windows 7, 8, and 10, macOS, and Linux on Chrome, Firefox, and Safari web browsers. This simple online CAD tool contains many tools for creation and modification. SelfCAD has an extensive library of objects and parts. It is possible to import models in different formats from other 3D design programs. Finally, this free online CAD drawing program has step-by-step guides that are very useful for learning.

After using SelfCAD, our experts noted the following pros and cons:

Pros:

• Very intuitive and easy-to-understand user interface;
• Easy 3D modeling;
• Includes many tutorials;
• Great for both advanced users and beginners;
• The constant updates and improvements to the program’s features and online environment;
• Easily integrates with augmented reality apps like MarvinXR and Aryel;
• The formats for both import and export;
• Can quickly produce print-ready models;
• Excellent communication and service from the development team.

Cons:

• Needs more ways to bring drawings and images of objects into the 3D structure for modification and development;
• Seems limited in terms of parametric modeling;
• Lack of sophisticated modeling techniques/strategies for jewelry design/complex and more complex parametric shapes; 
• Loading issues.

6. SketchUp Free Web

Price: Free plan
Best for: Beginners, amateurs and professionals
Available on: Web
Last update/version: 2023
Usage: 3D modeling and architectural design

4.5

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.5

GetApp

4.5

Software Advice

4.5

G2

4.5

SketchUp Free has a neat and intuitive interface that makes it easy to create 3D models, render them, and save the project as a DWG. This version of SketchUp has quite a large collection of 3D models in the 3D Warehouse or uploaded by other users. As a free CAD design online program, SketchUp is available through a browser on Windows 7, 8, or 10, as well as on macOS. Alternatively, you can use your Google account to authenticate.

With intuitive tools for precise navigation and modeling, you can create simple 3D printable models from scratch within the first few hours of learning. That online free CAD program also includes functionality for designing a drawing layout and allows you to render the surface in various “styles”.

SketchUp users can use Trimble Connect, which allows them to post 3D models online, making it easy to access 3D designs remotely or collaborate with other users on the team. All in all, this is the best free CAD program online for beginners or intermediate users looking to get into SketchUp Pro.

SketchUp is a powerful and versatile software that can satisfy many 3D modeling needs. Our specialists often prefer SketchUp when working on 3D models. Thanks to its import and export functions, they can easily move on to the next stage of 3D rendering, resulting in realistic, high-quality images. Entrust the work on your project to a professional and experienced 3D visualization studio! Use our 3D design rendering services.

After using SketchUp, our experts noted the following pros and cons:

Pros:

• Free online drafting tool;
• Powerful tool;
• Excellent viewing features;
• Ability to create very complex designs.

Cons:

• Slow to pick up;
• Finding decent models from the built-in browser is a chore.

7. SmartDraw

Price: Free
Best for: Professionals and amateurs
Available on: Web
Last update/version: 2021
Usage: CAD drawing

4.2

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.1

GetApp

4.1

Software Advice

4.1

G2

4.6

SmartDraw is a versatile online CAD drawing application that offers tools for designing flowcharts, floor plans, electrical designs, landscaping, organization charts, and more. SmartDraw can be used both online and offline (Windows). That online drafting software has over a hundred built-in templates and various symbols for all types of CAD drawings.

SmartDraw integrates with Microsoft Office products as well as Google Docs and Google Sheets. This free online CAD drawing tool is easy to use and has a good range of scaling features. SmartDraw allows you to create architectural plans, floor plans, technical drawings, office layouts, engineering drawings, landscape plans, and building designs.

After using SmartDraw, our experts noted the following pros and cons:

Pros:

• Contains a wealth of symbol libraries and is relatively easy to pick up;
• There are lots of templates to start with;
• Integration with popular tools such as Trello and Jira;
• Has a great variety of modes and modeling adapting to any type of objective;
• Concept maps can be made;
• Mind Mapping feature allows to create tasks in a visually friendly way that mimics brainstorming;
• A large number of customizable templates.

Cons:

• The software is very unstable and crashes repeatedly;
• The speed of the online version leaves much to be desired;
• Using this online CAD drawing application takes some getting used to.

Conclusion

Online versions of CAD software are a real boon for users of all levels. Free online CAD programs are a very handy solution if you are trying to decide on software for your professional work. Without requiring program downloads and additional settings, they provide all the tools you need to work. Sometimes they are not even inferior to full-fledged paid versions. In this article, we have reviewed the best free online CAD software options available in the market in 2024, among which you can select the best one for yourself.