FreeCAD vs Inventor

by Gralio Mar 10, 2025

FreeCAD and Inventor cater to different user groups with varying needs and budgets. FreeCAD excels in its accessibility due to being free and open-source, while Inventor offers advanced features and professional support for a price. Choose FreeCAD if cost is a major concern and you're willing to invest time in learning the software, or Inventor if professional features, performance, and support are essential for your projects.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 886 reviews and 60 websites, saving 5 hours, 25 minutes of reading.

FreeCAD

Website LinkedIn

Inventor

Website LinkedIn Twitter

About

FreeCAD is a free and open-source software for 3D computer-aided design. It can be used to design anything from small parts to buildings. It's particularly well-suited for mechanical engineering but also finds use in architecture and other fields. FreeCAD allows you to create parametric models, meaning you can easily change dimensions and have the entire design update automatically. It also supports industry-standard file formats for easy collaboration.

Inventor is a 3D design software for professionals who need to create, simulate, and document mechanical designs. It's used across various industries by engineers and designers to build a digital prototype before physical production. Inventor helps reduce development costs and speed up time to market by letting you test form, fit, and function virtually. It offers powerful tools for 3D modeling, including standard 2D drawings, and can be integrated with existing design data.

Summary

Main difference

FreeCAD is a free and open-source 3D CAD software suitable for hobbyists, students, and small projects, while Inventor is a professional 3D design software ideal for engineers and designers in various industries, particularly mechanical design and product development. Inventor offers more advanced features, better performance, and professional support, but comes at a cost, whereas FreeCAD is accessible to everyone.

Relative strengths of FreeCAD (compared to Inventor)

Free and open-source, making it accessible to everyone.
Large and active community provides support and resources.
Parametric modeling allows for easy design modifications.

Relative weaknesses of FreeCAD (compared to Inventor)

Steep learning curve and unintuitive interface.
Prone to bugs and crashes, especially with complex models.
Limited documentation and support compared to commercial CAD software like Inventor.

Who should use FreeCAD VS. Inventor

FreeCAD is a free and open-source 3D CAD software perfect for hobbyists, students, and small businesses. Users love its accessibility and parametric modeling capabilities, enabling easy design changes. However, be aware of the steep learning curve and occasional bugs. It's best for smaller projects in manufacturing, education, or media and entertainment.

Autodesk Inventor is 3D design software for professionals creating and documenting mechanical designs. Users praise its user-friendly interface, robust solid modeling, and integration with other Autodesk products. However, some find file management and large assemblies challenging. Ideal for medium to large businesses across various industries, particularly manufacturing, it helps reduce development costs and accelerate time to market.

Ideal for small businesses and startups.
Best fit for manufacturing, education, and media & entertainment.

Best for medium to large businesses (101+ employees).
Excellent fit for manufacturing; suitable for various other industries.

FreeCAD and Inventor features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Drafting

Supported

FreeCAD supports creating 2D technical drawings from 3D models using the TechDraw Workbench.

Supported

Inventor can create 2D technical drawings directly from 3D models.
Dimensioning

Supported

FreeCAD supports both manual and automatic dimensioning tools for 2D drawings.

Supported

Inventor supports both automatic and manual 2D dimensioning tools.
3D Solid Modeling

Supported

FreeCAD supports creating solid models with extrusions, cuts, and revolves.

Supported

Inventor supports creating solid models with extrusions, cuts, and revolves.
2D Sketching

Supported

FreeCAD supports 2D sketching via its Sketcher Workbench.

Supported

Inventor supports 2D sketching for defining part geometry.
CAM toolpath generation

Supported

FreeCAD can generate toolpaths for CNC machining with its built-in CAM workbench.

Partially supported

Inventor supports CAM toolpaths via InventorCAM or Fusion 360.
Design Sharing

Partially supported

Designs can be shared via exporting and sending files manually.

Supported

Inventor supports design sharing with various stakeholders through features like Shared Views and neutral file formats.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

No data

-0.6

Rather negative sentiment
Customer Service

No data

No data
Ease of Use

No data

+0.38

Rather positive sentiment
Reliability and Performance

No data

+0.5

Rather positive sentiment
Ease of Implementation

No data

+0

Neutral sentiment
Scalability

No data

No data

FreeCAD and Inventor Pricing

No data

User sentiment

Strongly positive

We couldn't find a pricing page for FreeCAD.

No data

User sentiment

Rather negative

-0.6

See full Pricing page

FreeCAD and Inventor review insights

886 reviews analysed from and

Users love

Free and open-source, making it accessible to everyone.
Parametric modeling allows for easy design modifications.
Supports a wide range of file formats for import and export.
Large and active community provides support and resources.
Extensible through Python scripting and add-ons.

User-friendly interface, easy for both beginners and experienced users.
Robust solid modeling software with part and assembly variations.
Excellent customer support.
Integrates well with other Autodesk products, especially Vault.
Powerful design automation capabilities, including iLogic.

Users dislike

Difficult to learn for new users, with a steep learning curve.
Prone to bugs and crashes, especially with complex or large models.
Unintuitive interface and workflow can be frustrating.
Limited documentation and support compared to commercial CAD software.
Topological naming issues lead to design instability when modifying models.

Difficult file management; need to understand file structure to avoid errors.
Large assemblies can be challenging for users unfamiliar with assembly modeling.
Limited sheet metal generation and plastic component tools; requires additional licenses.
Steep learning curve, especially for advanced features like iLogic.
Unintuitive work planes can make assembly difficult.

FreeCAD and Inventor Ratings

G2

4.1/5

(58)
Capterra

4.3/5

(139)

G2

4.4/5

(435)
Capterra

4.5/5

(254)
Glassdoor

4.3/5

(4861)

Company health

Employee growth

20% increase in the last year

2% increase in the last year

Web traffic

14% decrease in the last quarter

2% decrease in the last quarter

Financing

No data

March 2020 - $0

How do FreeCAD's parametric modeling features compare to Inventor's iLogic automation?

FreeCAD's parametric modeling is a core feature allowing design changes by modifying parameters, automatically updating the model. Inventor's iLogic takes this further by enabling design automation through rules-driven design, where changes to parameters trigger specific actions or calculations beyond simple model updates. iLogic uses a VB.NET-like language for greater control over design behavior, while FreeCAD relies on Python scripting for similar advanced customization. Essentially, both offer parametric modeling, but Inventor's iLogic provides a more powerful and integrated automation framework for complex design tasks.

Which product better supports collaboration for complex mechanical assemblies?

Inventor is better suited for collaboration on complex mechanical assemblies. While FreeCAD is open-source and offers parametric modeling, Inventor's robust features, including design sharing capabilities and integration with other Autodesk products, particularly Vault, make it more suitable for professional collaborative design. Inventor's focus on design automation and support for large assemblies, despite the steeper learning curve, addresses the specific needs of complex project collaboration. FreeCAD, while valuable for individual projects, lacks the robust collaboration features and performance stability necessary for complex mechanical assemblies.

What are the advantages of FreeCAD?

The primary advantage of FreeCAD is its cost: it's free and open-source, making it accessible to anyone. It also offers parametric modeling, allowing for easy design modifications and supports a wide range of file formats. A large and active community provides support and resources, and the software is extensible through Python scripting and add-ons.

What are the disadvantages of FreeCAD?

FreeCAD has a steep learning curve and can be difficult for new users to grasp. It is known to suffer from bugs and crashes, particularly when handling complex or large models. The user interface and workflow are sometimes considered unintuitive. Documentation and support are less comprehensive than commercial alternatives. Finally, topological naming problems can create design instability when models are modified.

Alternatives to FreeCAD and Inventor

Shapr3D

Shapr3D is professional 3D CAD software that makes it easy to design and manufacture real-world products. It's known for being user-friendly, so your team can learn it quickly and start designing, even on the go with their iPads or laptops. Shapr3D helps streamline the entire process from initial concept sketches to sharing prototypes with clients and handing off detailed designs to your engineering team. It's used by various industries from consumer goods to aerospace to make product development smoother.

SOLIDWORKS

SOLIDWORKS is a popular computer-aided design (CAD) software primarily used by engineers and designers. It offers a range of tools for 3D modeling, design validation, and product data management. SOLIDWORKS is known for its user-friendliness and caters to various industries, with a strong focus on manufacturing. It helps businesses design better products faster by streamlining the design process and improving collaboration.

AutoCAD

AutoCAD is a design and drafting software to create 2D and 3D models. It offers industry-specific tools for fields like architecture and manufacturing. AutoCAD stands out with its web and mobile apps, enabling work from anywhere. It promises increased productivity through specialized features and a familiar interface.

BricsCAD

BricsCAD is a cost-effective computer-aided design (CAD) software that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for 2D drafting, 3D modeling, mechanical design, and building information modeling (BIM). BricsCAD aims to be familiar to users of other CAD software, enabling a quick transition. It boasts innovative features like machine learning to improve drawing accuracy and efficiency. BricsCAD offers both permanent and subscription licensing options to fit various needs and budgets.

SketchUp

SketchUp is a 3D modeling software that's easy to use, yet powerful enough for professionals in architecture, interior design, and construction. Visualize projects of any size, create detailed 2D drawings from your models, and share your vision with colleagues and clients through presentations and immersive visuals. SketchUp is known for its intuitive interface and is used by individuals and companies worldwide, from small design studios to large architectural firms.

CATIA

CATIA is advanced 3D design software used by companies to create detailed models of products before they're built. It's particularly helpful for industries like aerospace and automotive that design complex products. CATIA allows teams to work together on designs, simulate how products will perform, and even experience their creations virtually.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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