Indie Alternatives

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Indie alternatives to SolidWorks

3 products made by independent developers and small teams that do what SolidWorks does, 3 of them with a free plan. Free and open-source options come first.

At a glance

ProductPriceOpen sourceSelf-hostPlatforms
FreeCADFreeYes–Mac, Windows, Linux
OnshapeFree plan––Web, iOS, Android
Shapr3DFree plan––iOS, Mac, Windows

The alternatives

1. FreeCAD

Open-source parametric 3D CAD modeler

Free parametric 3D modeler for mechanical engineering, product design and architecture.

Free · Mac, Windows, Linux · Website ↗

2. Onshape

Cloud-based CAD and product design

Browser-based parametric CAD platform with version control and real-time collaboration for product design teams.

Free plan · Web, iOS, Android · Website ↗

3. Shapr3D

3D CAD modeling for iPad, Mac and Windows

Direct-modeling CAD app built for touch, pen and mouse, used for product design and prototyping.

Free plan · iOS, Mac, Windows · Website ↗

Questions

Is there a free alternative to SolidWorks?

Yes. 3 of the 3 indie alternatives listed here have a free plan or are free: FreeCAD, Onshape and Shapr3D.

Is there an open-source alternative to SolidWorks?

FreeCAD is open source.

Which SolidWorks alternatives work on Mac, Windows, iPhone or Android?

On Mac: FreeCAD and Shapr3D. On Windows: FreeCAD and Shapr3D. On Linux: FreeCAD. On iPhone and iPad: Onshape and Shapr3D. On Android: Onshape. On the web: Onshape.

What makes these alternatives to SolidWorks “indie”?

They are built by independent developers or small teams rather than large companies. Each one is listed because it does the same core job as SolidWorks.

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