FreeCAD
FreeCAD/FreeCADReviewed by Radar
What it does
FreeCAD is a desktop 3D design program for real-world objects such as machine parts, 3D prints and buildings. You draw 2D sketches, turn them into 3D shapes, and change the design later by editing its measurements. It can also produce technical drawings. It is used by hobbyists, students, teachers and engineers. Ready-made packages exist for Windows, macOS and Linux. It is free and has a Python scripting interface for advanced users. Learning it takes time, like most CAD programs.
How easy it is to install
A · download and open · Windows
The releases include a Windows x86_64 installer .exe (about 415 MB) and a portable .7z, so you download, install and open it.
Numbers on GitHub
- Stars
- 35,004on Oct 31, 2026
- Downloads
- 31,867,947237,081 this week
- Growth
- +226stars in 6 days
Stars over time
Facts
- Runs on
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- You need to install
- Nothing extra
- Disk space
- 415 MB–1.2 GB · from the installer
- Accounts or keys
- None
- Cost
- Free · Open source under LGPL-2.1; no paid tier is mentioned.
- License
- LGPL-2.1 (Copyleft)
- Can replace
- AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Fusion
- Last update
- Oct 31, 2026
Risk signals (1)
- Infolatest releases are prerelease builds
The three newest GitHub releases are development builds: weekly-2026.10.21, 26.3rc2 and weekly-2026.10.14. The README points to the 'latest releases page' for stable packages, so users should pick the stable version, not a weekly or rc build.
AI review
Evidence is shown in its original language.
What Radar could not check
- Which version is the current stable one and how it differs from the weekly and release-candidate builds.
- How well it runs on lower-end Windows computers or with basic graphics.
- Real disk use after installing add-on workbenches from inside the program.
- Whether the experimental Windows ARM build works for everyday use.
- Whether the Windows installer is digitally signed.