FreeCAD vs Creo

AutoCAD

SolidWorks Premium

Inventor

Autodesk Fusion

CATIA

Compare FreeCAD and Creo based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Autodesk Fusion is a 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE tool that combines industrial and mechanical design, simulation, collaboration, and machining to connect the entire product development process in an integrated, concept-to-production toolset

SolidWorks Premium is the leading 3D design solution in the industry. It seamlessly integrates powerful design tools-including industry-leading part, assembly, and drawing capabilities with built-in simulation, rendering, animation, product data management, and cost estimation. 

SolidWorks will help you get work done faster and easier than before, using innovative phases of product creation to achieve a more productive 3D design experience.

AutoCAD is a design and drafting platform which supports automated design tasks and offers features such as 2D drafting, drawing and annotation, 3D modeling and visualization, and more.

FreeCAD is an on-premise open-source paramedic 3D modeler, which helps businesses design objects of all sizes. Programmers can sketch constrained 2D shapes and utilize them as a base to create other objects. It supports several file formats such as IGES, SVG, DXF, DE, IFC, STL, STEP, OBJ, and more.


2D Drawing

3D Design & Modeling

3D Imaging

Annotations

CAD Tools

Collaboration Tools

Data Import/Export

Document Management

Electrical

For 3D Printing

For Architects

For Manufacturers

Mechanical

Modeling & Simulation

Project Management

Reporting/Analytics

FreeCAD

Linux

Windows

Hardware Engineer

This is a good software for 3D design. It is for free and there is a great community that can give support to you, with a lot of tutorials in Youtube.

Teaching Assistant

It is free and open-source and that is great for such a useful software. It is lighter that other similar software.

Owner

FreeCAD has been a Godsend for developing and evaluating my ideas and I would definitely recommend it if you are a small business with minimal or no budget for expensive CAD software.

Cost/Project Engineer

Being a community-based free software, it's still seeing lots of improvements. Constant feedback is allowing it to better improve functionality and integration across disciplines.

Amateur engineering designer

It isn't complete (e.g. there is no dimensioning readily available), and suffers from ongoing development that results in occasional crashes.

Project Manager

If you need a drafting tool, get this one. It’s also great to learn what CAD is, and how it can help you draft.

Artist

So, I'll recommend this software for those seeking a classic and quick CAD Drawing and Viewing experience. Thank you so very much for the elegant software.

QC Technician

My problem was I don't have enough time to spend on I was working in a company and my job was not related to CAD.

Also it has many integrated tools to work with 3D and 2D designs, you can review models, import many file formats and convert some meshes like STL to a solid.

Especialista

For small design projects it is a very complete tool that helps you solve problems effectively without having to invest a penny.

Greggles

Near no customer service and sometimes sub-par tutorials. Getting the right install location can be difficult.

Although free of charge, the software offered a large variety of tools and preferences, and a user friendly interface.

Graduate Research Assistant

Since the environment is lite, finding the right tools to have extended functions or tasks in modeling will be a little bit difficult. So, the software might be limited in handling complex CAD files.

Industrial and Manufacturing engineer

Overall, a good experience using this software.

The most attractive feature is that it is free to use I am not very good at designing 3D projects but Free Cad seems to be for me a good platform to teach myself.

Research Assistant

Poor and very complicated user interface. 3D surface generation can not react that you desire.

Release Manager

The interface takes a bit to get used to, but its not a huge curve by any means. Geometric constraints work great.

Civil Engineer

The Interface can generate brief difficulty when navigating without representing major inconveniences. You may experience some unstable installation especially on Mac.

FreeCAD screenshot: FreeCAD combo view

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Small Business

CATIA is a cloud-based and on-premise product modeling software, which helps businesses in various industries, such as architecture, aviation, transportation & construction, design, build, and visualize 3D models. Features include team collaboration, simulation, and real-time concurrent designing.

Inventor is a Windows-based 3D CAD software that assists in 3D modelling through mechanical design, documentation, and product simulation tools. Professionals can create custom design configurations and automate repetitive tasks.

Siemens NX software delivers an integrated solution for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing that enables organizations to create innovative products.

Creo is an engineering CAD software that helps businesses optimize the entire product lifecycle using augmented reality, real-time simulation, additive manufacturing, and generative designing methodologies from within a unified platform.

Animation

Bill of Materials Management

Compliance Management

Component Library

Cost Tracking

Design Analysis

Design Management

Manufacturing Design Data

Mechatronics

Presentation Tools

Reference Management

Requirements Management

Sketching and Annotation Tools

Supplier Management

Third-Party Integrations

Version Control

Creo

Web-based

Controls Engineer

Creo and Windchill allow us to design products with a great level of detail and sophistication with good revision control and change notice processes. It is very powerful once you get used to it.

Manager Technical Design

You have to do trainings to know what great functions this software has. Also, if you know all config options and mapkeys, you can work very quick and comfortable.

Photographer

I love to design parts seamlessly and its really clean. The STL export feature is also very handy.

Sr Engineer

It is a great program and they are ready to help when necessary.

Graduate Engineer

CREO is easy to use, friendly for beginners and the scalability of the software is very high and definitely worth for money.

Design Engineer

It helps me a lot as it has a lot of integrated features like EZ Tolerance Analysis, Creepage and Clearance Analysis, etc.

It has some features, which help you to model some parts easier than the others. The drawing module looks good as well.

Sr. Engineer / Business Administrator for CAD/PLM

I also used Standard Rendering and I was able to produce a very effective images for product catalogs. I also used Mechanism and Simulation modules and they are quite capable.

Student

Sometimes the options would get you confused as you work on because there's that much options present.

planning engg

Software user interface is old styled , its confusing to connect with the database , file size of generated model is high.

The best thing I found in this 3D Modeling software as compared to others is; the drawing options and interface is just amazing with respect to other but at the same time not much user friendly.

student

It is little bit difficult to learn because of its advancement.

I wish this software was better about telling you what's wrong in your design. Sometimes overlapping lines may not be something easily identifiable and will cause error when extruding.

Very robust mid-priced package let down by unintuitive quirks.

Director - Partner & Projects

Automation has limitation as it follows less programing /API integartions.

Mechanical Engineer

Plenty functions and easy to work with others, but hard to learn the software interface and hard to use it for curvature surfaces.

FreeCAD vs Creo Comparison (2026)

FreeCAD

Creo

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives