Best CAD Software in 2026
Updated
In short: AutoCAD is ranked #1 of 32 as of 30 September 2026, ahead of Onshape and Creo. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Onshape. The lowest first paid tier on this page is SOLIDWORKS at $4/mo.
CAD software covers tools for creating technical drawings and 2D or 3D models. To compare options, look at modeling dimension, direct and parametric modeling, and file format support, especially if you exchange designs with others. Cloud collaboration and supported platforms can help narrow the fit for your workflow; simulation tools, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing add further points of comparison. The ranking starts with AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, and Onshape, followed by SOLIDWORKS and Creo. FreeCAD, Rhino 3D, and Solid Edge also appear among the early entries, giving you different approaches to consider for drafting and modeling.
32 CAD software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 AutoCAD Top pick · 8.8 
#2 Onshape Runner-up · 8.8 Free plan · $125/mo
#3 Creo Also great · 8.4 
- Free trial AndroidiOSmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- $175/user/mo
- Modeling dimension
- 2D and 3D
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan AndroidiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- Free
- Modeling dimension
- 3D CAD
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
- Simulation tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$125/mofirst paid tier About OnshapeVisit site - WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- No
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial macOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- $2,820/user/mo
- Modeling dimension
- 3D
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
- Simulation tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$4/mofirst paid tier About SOLIDWORKSVisit site - Free planFree trial WindowsmacOS
- Free plan
- No
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$95/mofirst paid tier About Rhino 3DVisit site - Free trial Windows
- Free plan
- No
- Modeling dimension
- 3D
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
- Direct modeling
- Yes
- Simulation tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WebWindowsRecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
- Free plan macOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- Free
- Modeling dimension
- 3D
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
- Direct modeling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$24.92/mofirst paid tier About Shapr3DVisit site - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Modeling dimension
- 3D
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
- Simulation tools
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - WebWindows
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms€225/mofirst paid tier About ARES CommanderVisit site - Free trial apimacOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$24.92/mofirst paid tier About DraftSightVisit site - Free trial Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- Free
- Modeling dimension
- 2D and 3D
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
- Direct modeling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$24.08/mofirst paid tier About nanoCADVisit site - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- No
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$749/mofirst paid tier About GstarCADVisit site - Windows
- Free plan
- No
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$999/mofirst paid tier About Alibre DesignVisit site -
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms -
- Free plan
- No
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$1,399/mofirst paid tier About ZWCAD ProfessionalVisit site - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Parametric modeling
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Modeling dimension
- 2D and 3D
- Parametric modeling
- Yes
- Direct modeling
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- $69.95/user/mo
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$57.92/mofirst paid tier About CobaltVisit site - Windows
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial Windows
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$249/mofirst paid tier About ACTCADVisit site - LinuxWindows
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan WebiOS
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
Is your app 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 CAD software is ranked first on Everything Xiaomi?
AutoCAD is ranked #1 of 32 with a score of 8.8. Onshape is second and Creo third.
How many of these have a free plan?
4 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 what each maker publishes: documentation depth, a free tier and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.