BEST FREE CAD / 3D Modelling software 2024 - I tested them all!

Thanks for the kind words, Angus :) You can change the navigation style to a different preset, we provide that choice in the first-run wizard, but you can also switch that later in the lower right corner of the main window via a drop-down list. Simplified text addition definitely needs to happen, although we'd probably focus on doing that in Sketcher, not in the Draft workbench. Regarding future changes, Ondsel ES is distributed under the same terms as upstream FreeCAD. This basically means that we cannot hide changes to the original pre-existing source code.

Angus, thanks for using the word "Plethora". It means a lot.

This is what a call a properly made informative video. You are doing the 3d community a service Angus.

Little hint for TinkerCAD: You can switch between bounding corner and center dimensions. That's the circle next to the ruler with the 3 lines.

I use Freecad. I don't know how good it is, and I know I'm not the best at using it, but it does what I need in ways that make sense to me.

Hey Angus, the current ondsel version contains freecad development features. If you download the current freecad development version (or wait until next release) you will have the same features like ondesl (minus the special ondsel cloud features). BTW the founder of ondesl is the developer of the PATH workbench (CAM), so no new person showed up the place, only some who want's to work more for freecad in general, but making also money with it to live. Also good timing, micheal from TT did a video about ondsel some days ago, but he didn't managed the workflow.

I'm using FreeCAD on Linux. Don't know about the default user interface on Windows, but on Linux, v0.22 you have the exact same taskbar for Part Design (basically I only use this tab for 3D printable parts). You create a body, then a sketch, then you pad/revolve, and so on. The top toolbars are also replaceable, you can change what shows up in settings, and then just move them around.

Thank you so much for these updates I can't wait to see your tutorials of each software.

I am regular FreeCAD user, and it really does the job (mostly for hobby projects, including creating toolpaths for CNC, but sometimes also for work). I especially love its parametric features/formulas that can be used pretty much everywhere (I guess other programs can do that as well, but I never used any of those). I have models where I can change a single number (like the thickness of a part for example), and the whole model, consisting of tens to hundreds of parts, updates (...if I got all the constraints correct everywhere 😅) But yeah, that's the major gripe I have with FreeCAD: its default UI settings are just bad. And it really doesn't help that the naming scheme can be confusing (e. g. the yellow "Part" object, has nothing to do with the "Part" workbench, and neither does the "Part Design" workbench with any of the two). That said, I haven't seen anything in the Ondsel version you've shown, that couldn't be done with or isn't in stock FreeCAD as well. It seems they have more or less just improved the default settings of the program. If that's the case you aren't dependent on them at all.

Ondsel looks almost identical to the weekly compilation (download) of FreeCAD. Which is currently at version 0.22.0 revision 36117. You will probably like the next release of FreeCAD as much as Ondsel.

Angus, your a great communicator, i enjoy your videos and i learn a lot, i feel grateful for them, thank you.

You did a freaking awesome job, Angus. Thanks a million for the effort.

I too started on Rhino 3D during the long beta period in the 90's when I was a teenager. Loved it at the time! Loving this channel!

Another suggestion: Siemens Solid Edge. I learned this programm in university and have been using it ever since. The main reason why i switched to it from Fusion360 is the multi part assembly. I have used several CAD programs before and i never had any software that could compare to SE. The positioning of parts is just phenomenaly easy. For single parts the modeling is not as easy as Fusion360 though and the UI is quite overwhelming at first.

I always respect and appreciate your views/opinions. Im always on the 'cusp' of making my own prints, usually modifying or adding multiple parts together.

Thank you for the work, this video was missing and had to be done by someone! Great overview, that helps huge times!

FreeCAD is weird on so many levels. The price for its great feature set is a steep learning curve. For me it was still worth it because I value freedom very much and just won't use software that cease to work when I'm offline or holds my models ransom.

OpenSCAD also worth mentioning, just for its completely different approach.

Thank you Angus, we are lucky to have you!

Thanks Angus for all your hard work throughout the years to help so many others.