One great thing about BricsCAD is that you can try it for free for 30 days without a credit card. While it doesn’t have the same powerful features, it’s still an impressive offering for free architectural design software. If you just need a basic 3D modeling solution, BricsCAD Shape is completely free. The latter two are feature-packed with tools that aren’t found in AutoCAD, such as Sheet metal, 3D Compare, and BIM.īricsCAD also integrates with the cloud, has a robust rendering engine, recognizes XREFS, and is customizable.
dwg.ĭespite being a paid software like AutoCAD, BricsCAD is more affordable with four editions: Lite, Pro, BIM, and Mechanical. You can use it with the major operating systems, such as macOS, Windows, and Linux, and hundreds of third-party apps from across the world, which are based on.
If you’re familiar with AutoCAD’s 2008 version, BricsCAD has a somewhat similar interface plus rich features in 2D design and 3D direct modeling. Unbeatable in the fields of engineering and automation.The reason it’s so expensive is because it is so similar to AutoCAD. Students can pay as little as $60/year and qualifying startups and entrepreneurs can even get it for free initially.
You have to request a quote for exact pricing, but the starting price is around $4,000/year along with an annual maintenance fee of over $1,000. Despite being primarily focused around 3D modelling, its 2D sketching tool still remains functional, even though it’s much lighter than what you find in AutoCAD.
The latest edition of SolidWorks has excellent features, like the ability to do freehand sketches on touch-screens. That means you’ll need to have some knowledge of engineering terms rather than just geometric ones. Solidworks is a parametric solid modeler focused mainly around 3D designs. The best alternatives are easy to learn and use and will ideally have ample documentation.