10 Best Free 3D Design Software in 2023

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by Lindsey Francy May 24, 2023 News
10 Best Free 3D Design Software in 2023

We used to sketch on notepads, but that has changed.

The way in which people express their ideas has changed. Even though you can't bring your creations to life, you can at least add a new element to them. Enough.

Artists and designers can use 3D design software to create realistic models. The software can be used to explore your idea's full potential.

We have something for everyone in our best free 3D design software list.

Best free 3D design software

3D modeling software for creating basic three-dimensional digital models, 3D painting software for adding texture and color, and 3D rendering software for creating realistic images and animation are some of the 3D design software available.

Product and machine design software can be used for the mechanical and manufacturing industry, as well as architectural rendering for the architecture and planning industry.

Real user reviews are included in the free 3D design software list. Vendors that offer a free trial are included in this list. The 3D design software list requires a product to have certain features.

  • Offer two-dimensional technical drawing functions
  • Provide tools for three-dimensional modeling, painting, or rendering
  • Allow storing and sharing of final 3D models
  • Allow uploading of 2D and 3D models for rendering or animation 
  • Generate 3D printable instructions 
  • Support and manipulate STL, 3MF, or OBJ files
  • Provide structural, numerical, or thermodynamic analysis 
  • Have rendering features such as shading, texture editing, and lighting

The 3D design software list is ranked in alphabetical order. Some reviews may be changed.

1. 3D Slash

There is a category for 3D modeling software.

There are two offers: free and paid.

Users can use 3D Slash to create and modify 3D models. It's a great tool to use for beginners. Online and offline versions of the software are available. 3D Slash has an expansive color palette for painting models, virtual reality mode for viewing projects, real-time collaboration, and social media sharing.

What users like best:

3D Slash is easy to use. New users can easily understand how to use different parts of the software with the examples provided. 3D Slash can be found on Windows, Linux, and Mac. Good 3D models can be created and saved in the library.

Leonard R. wrote a review about 3D Slash.

What users dislike:

It's mostly for beginners. If you are an advanced modeler, you should try a different software.

3D Slash is a review.

2. Blender

The software in this category is architectural rendering software.

There are offers for free downloads.

There is a free open-source 3D creation software available. It offers a wide range of tools for modeling, animation, rigging, rendering, and more. The software has a global community of users and developers who are constantly contributing to build the software, website, and documentation. Advanced users are able to modify the application and write specialized tools with the help of Python.

What users like best:

It's very lightweight and can be used many different ways. A complete package is provided within that 300 MB. Being open source makes it easy to find add-ons that enhance your experience. I can't think of a way to use a blender with no add-ons. It's good for solo and independent developers.

Dheeraj B. wrote a review for the blender.

What users dislike:

It can be difficult for new users to get used to the complex interface. The lack of professional support options might be a problem for some people.

ISMAEL M. wrote a review for the blender.

3. FreeCAD

There is a category for general-purpose software.

There are offers for free downloads.

Another free-to-download open-sourced 3D modeler used for creating and editing 2D and full-precision 3D models is Freecad. A wide range of use cases can be found in the application. Users can adjust parameters to create objects of any size. Multiple open file formats are supported by FreeCAD, which is available on Mac, Windows, andLinux.

What users like best:

Engineering and construction drawings creation can be done with it. It's perfect for 3D modeling. Rendering large 3D designs is also quick, and it has an excellent computer aided design capability.

The review is titled "FreeCAD Review".

What users dislike:

Adding more robustness to the part modeling workspace is one way to improve the user experience.

The review was written by Luis Enrique T.

4. Fusion 360

There is a computer aided manufacturing (CAM) software category.

A 30-day free trial and paid plans are included in the offers.

3D modeling software is available in the cloud in the form of fusion 360. The application is popular in the manufacturing and product design space. Flexible 3D modeling, photo-realistic rendering, topology and shape optimization, and real-time cloud collaboration are some of the features of fusion.

What users like best:

There are a lot of great features in the user interface of fusion. It took me a few hours to model complex geometries that were accurate.

Shannon W. wrote a review for fusion.

What users dislike:

It's a small vehicle. To find a solution to a problem, you need to research the forums. Some issues persist for a long time while others are fixed quickly.

Anthony W. wrote a review for fusion.

5. MeshLab

There is a category for 3D printing software.

There are offers for free downloads.

There is a focus on editing and processing 3D triangular meshes in MeshLab. You can get it for free on Mac, Windows, and Linux. While other 3D design software are more comprehensive and cater to a wide range of applications, MeshLab is mainly used for mesh processing tasks like cleaning, reconstruction, simplification, and color and texture mapping.

What users like best:

I use MeshLab to repair and modify STL files so I can use a 3D printer. I use this software to modify 3D objects that I download from the internet. Since it is a very light program that can run on almost all operating systems, I like being able to use it on low income computers. The tools are very easy to use and can be used with all three-dimensional objects.

Ehilemar A. wrote a review for the mesh lab.

What users dislike:

It's annoying that there isn't an easy-to-access vieworientation. It would be helpful if the files could be aligned to a coordinate system.

There is a review of the mesh lab.

6. Meshmixer

There is a category for 3D printing software.

There is a free download for windows.

The free 3D mesh-processing application is called meshmixer. Features like drag-and-drop mesh mixing, 3D sculpting, mesh simplification and smoothing, and precise 3D positioning are provided. The software is used to make parts for printing. Due to its ability to create complex meshes from 3D scans, Meshmixer is used in the health sector.

What users like best:

One of the best features of this software is the ability to convert meshes into solid. You can use it in 3D printing applications. The ability to auto-orient the model on the build plate is very useful.

Mirko C. wrote a review about the mesh mixer.

What users dislike:

It takes some practice to get used to the way things work. It takes some time to watch videos and read how to use it correctly.

Evan C. wrote a review about the mesh mixer.

7. Onshape

There is a category for product and machine design software.

There are two offers: free and paid.

It is easy to use Onshape through desktop and mobile devices. Features of Onshape that make it competitive in the 3D design industry include PCB studio, real-time data management, built-in interactive simulation, collaborative space, and more. It is a good tool for speeding up a product's time to market.

What users like best:

Users who don't have access to the necessary hardware can use Onshape's browser-based solution. It's good for cloud-based collaboration on teams. Features are being added to make the product better.

John A. wrote Onshape Review.

What users dislike:

Onshape is new and lacks some of the more mature software features. In the sheet metal side of modeling, this is true. About 20 years ago, I had the same situation with traditional software. I used to think sheet metal enhancements were very rare. I am positive that Onshape will change this trend in the industry.

Bryan L. wrote a review about Onshape.

8. OpenSCAD

There is a category for general-purpose software.

There are offers for free downloads.

Solid 3D computer-aided design models can be created using OpenScad. It's approach to designing 3D models is different from other free software. OpenScad doesn't use the traditional graphicalUI or artistic aspect of 3D modeling. Any model is created by reading and rendering an object. Engineers and designers use the tool to create complex and custom parts.

What users like best:

I used to think that AutoCAD was great but cumbersome. When I first started in the world of 3D printing and rapid prototyping, I used to use OpenScad. After many years of programming, it is easy for me. The fact that it is free is icing on the cake because it was so easy. The ability to make components as modules so the same code works for all sizes is amazing.

This product is very good.

Maritza R. is the author of the OpenSCAD review.

What users dislike:

There is only one hurdle and that is the slowness of the rendering or compiled engine. Seven hours is the amount of time it takes for a thousand lines of code to be created. It isn't much of aNetworkExposure as it is single-thread.

The review was written by Dr. Robert B.

9. SketchUp

There is a category for general-purpose software.

There are two offers: free and paid.

3D modeling software is available on the web. It has a user-friendly interface and an assortment of tools to edit and create 3D models. Users can manipulate designs and extend 2D flat surfaces into 3D shapes with its push-and- pull feature. Home design, wireframes creation, prototype design, 3D printing, and more are some of the uses of the software.

What users like best:

One of the most efficient and fluid ways to recreate the experience of working with cardboard massing models is to use sketch up. Our office has been using SketchUp for over a decade, and our design process uses it to explore dozens of initial massing iterations and then develop a final model that is similar to a building information Modeling (BIM) model. The ease of use allows us to share our models with builders, which greatly reduces the amount of explaining things in written RFI's and 2D details during construction.

Eugene S. wrote a review for SketchUp.

What users dislike:

It doesn't have data-driven features. Issues can occur with reversed faces if not models carefully. If using for conceptual design, over-modeling can make it hard to transition to a 3D model.

Eric B. wrote a review for SketchUp

10. Tinkercad

There is a category for 3D printing software.

There are offers for free web applications.

Another product of the company is Tinkercad. It is a free 3D designing software that has a simple drag-and-drop interface and is popular among beginners. Basic tools and advanced features are available in the software. The in-build basic shapes and objects like cylinders, spheres, and gears can be used to create a model. It's 3D printing friendly due to the file formats it supports.

What users like best:

It's easy to use. It's simple to use for beginners, but flexible enough to make rapid prototype designs to test for viable products. Even if they seem too easy for you, they are a great way to start with Tinkercad.

The review is titled "Tinkercad Review"

What users dislike:

Although it is very helpful and easy to use for beginners and start ups, it could use more advanced features in the future that are currently missing to compete with more design oriented professional 3D software.

The review is titled "Tinkercad Review"

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Give your design some shape

Start using 3D design software to help shape your ideas. All you need to start is software that works for you, an eye for design, and a passion for art.

3D printing converts your ideas to objects and puts new life into them if you know how to do it.