If you’re looking for CAD software for Mac, you’re not without options. We’ve found some standout Mac and cloud-based CAD platforms for you.
You’re likely to hit a wall if you’re searching for computer-aided design (CAD) software designed for Mac. There are plenty of CAD software options for Windows—you’ll see many of them in our list of the top AutoCAD alternatives—but only a handful offer support for Mac.
Pressure Vessel Engineering Ltd. 120 Randall Drive, Suite B Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2V 1C6.
And, if you think you’ll bypass the issue by using a cloud-based CAD tool, you’ll quickly find that CAD vendors haven’t embraced the cloud as much as other types of software vendors have, so the offerings are still largely on-premise. According to Gartner’s Hype Cycle for IT Evolution (full content available to Gartner clients), cloud-native CAD applications still have five to 10 years before they reach mainstream adoption.
But fear not, Mac users. We’ve done some digging and have put together this list of the top-rated CAD software for Mac. Read more about our methodology at the bottom of this article.
5 Best CAD Software for Mac (presented alphabetically)
Jump to:
CorelCAD
FreeCAD
Fusion 360
LibreCAD
Onshape
1. CorelCAD
CorelCAD offers 2D drafting and 3D design capabilities, such as the drawing constraints feature for creating different geometric shapes faster and the push and pull feature for 3D direct modeling.
3D modeling in CorelCAD (Source)
Common user feedback trends
Based on analyses of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of CorelCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.
What users like:
- The short learning curve: Users mention that the tool is easy to use and beginners don’t have to spend a lot of time learning it.
- Compatibility with multiple file types: Users like the fact that the tool is compatible with DWG, PDF, ACIS, DXF, STL, CDR, and other file formats.
What users think could be improved:
- Software reliability issues: Some users mention that the software tends to crash at times.
- Better dimension functionality: Some users would like a better dimensioning feature for more accurate drawings of angles and proportions.
Who can use CorelCAD
CorelCAD can be used by construction businesses for collaborative editing on multiple devices. It offers native iOS applications, which makes it easy for field crews to add annotations in graphics and share files using their iPhones and iPads. Additionally, the tool allows team members to leave recorded messages and instructions for colleagues embedded in the graphics using a voice note tool.
2. FreeCAD
FreeCAD is an open source CAD tool that works on Mac as well as Windows and Linux. It reads many common file formats such as STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC, and DAE.
It offers different modules, including a drawing sheets module that converts 3D models into 2D views, a rendering module that can export 3D objects, and an architecture module for a BIM-like workflow.
3D model of a building in FreeCAD (Source)
Common user feedback trends
Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of FreeCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.
What users like:
- Feature-richness for a free tool: Users mention that, although it’s free, the tool comes with a full set of features.
- Reliability: Users mention that the tool does not demand a lot of CPU power and works well on devices with low RAM.
What users think could be improved:
- Steep learning curve: Users mention that the tool is not the most user-friendly solution and can be difficult for beginners to learn.
- Dependent on community for updates: Users mention that modules ignored by the community tend to become outdated quickly.
Who can use FreeCAD
FreeCAD appears to be best for hobbyists and home users. It’s also good for users who don’t have a high budget for software but still want to tinker with CAD modeling.
FreeCAD could also be a good choice for businesses on a budget looking for a free and open-source option.
3. Fusion 360
Fusion 360 is a CAD tool from Autodesk with design functionalities such as sketching and 3D modeling. It also supports project management with features such as task management, document management, and collaborative image editing.
Document management in Fusion 360 (Source)
Common user feedback trends
Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of Fusion 360 they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement. Open source erp software for mac.
What users like:
- Comprehensive design features: User mention that the tool offers all the functionalities necessary for 2D and 3D designing.
- Availability of training resources: Users like the fact that the tool comes with ample documentation and tutorials.
What users think could be improved:
- System crashes: Users mention that the tool tends to crash, especially when designing and rendering large files.
- Steep learning curve: Users mention that it can take a lot of time to learn the advanced functionalities of the tool.
Who can use Fusion 360
Fusion 360 is part of the Autodesk ecosystem designed for the AEC industry. This makes the tool suitable for construction businesses that are already using, or intend to use, other Autodesk solutions. Using a software vendor that offers multiple solutions will especially benefit larger businesses that invariably need software that can scale with their growing requirements.
4. LibreCAD
LibreCAD is an open source CAD tool that supports Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. The tool comes with 2D drawing features such as a snap tool, dimensioning, and annotations. It also supports multiple file imports and exports.
2D drawing in LibreCAD (Source)
Common user feedback trends
Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of LibreCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.
Free Cone Layout Calculator
What users like:
- Ease of use: Users mention that the tool offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
- Lots of tutorials: Users like the fact that there are ample video tutorials that help them get started with the tool.
What users think could be improved:
- Software speed: Users mention that the software tends to lag, especially when trying to print designs.
- Add support for 3D design: Users would like to see functionalities for creating 3D designs.
Who can use LibreCAD
LibreCAD is an exclusively 2D CAD tool for drawing and designing blueprints of buildings, layouts of parks, and the like. As a free tool, the solution can be used by small and midsize businesses across different industries, including manufacturing, engineering, architecture, and construction.
5. Onshape
Onshape is a cloud-only CAD solution that comes with features such as document management with version control, collaborative design creation/editing capabilities, and reporting dashboards to understand project status.
Importing documents in Onshape (Source)
Common user feedback trends
Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of Onshape they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.
What users like:
- Document version control: Users like the document management features of the tool, such as version history.
- Intuitive interface: Users mention that the tool comes with an intuitive interface for easy image editing.
What users think could be improved:
So you can get different output formats with only one conversion.9. Wmv to mp4 for mac. Please contact us via and you will receive a reply within 24 hours. Preview and snapshotThis App owns a built-in player to help users preview video effect. During previewing, users can capture favorite picture and save it as an image.Need help?
- Performance issues: Some users mention that the tool does not function well on non-Chrome browsers and has file loading issues.
- Lack of features: Users mention that the tool should improve certain features such as 2D drawing and 3D surfacing.
Who can use Onshape
As a fully-cloud based tool, Onshape is ideal for businesses that need to manage design documents collaboratively with multiple stakeholders. The tool’s collaboration functionalities include document sharing, document editing, comments, and file downloads in multiple CAD formats, such as Parasolid, ACIS, STEP, and IGES.
Next steps
This report offers a mix of Mac CAD solutions—from free tools that can help you with basic 2D drawing to advanced solutions offering extensive 3D modeling functionalities.
If these tools don’t meet your needs, expand your search and check out more options. To help you, we’ve created a CAD software comparison page where you can explore products using different filters, such as features offered and pricing options.
If you’re looking to understand the CAD software market better, we also recommend that you read the articles listed below: |
Methodology
To be shortlisted, products had to fulfill the following criteria:
- Products had to be compatible with Mac and offer core CAD software capabilities, such as:
- 2D drawing or 3D modeling features
- Collaborative editing of drawings
- Products needed a minimum of 20 user reviews on Capterra (published in the last two years).
- Products had to have a high overall rating (an average of at least 4 out of 5 on Capterra).
Note: The content in this piece that provides opinions and points of view expressed by users. It does not represent the views of Capterra.
Looking for Construction Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Construction Management software solutions.
Related: Sheet Metal Cone Layout - Matal Sheet Cone Layout - Cone Layout Calculator - Cone Layout Freeware - Cone Layout Tool
- License: Demo
Layout Designer ist Ihr universelles Werkzeug, um den Ausdruck aus beliebigen Anwendungen auf einem beliebigen Drucker noch individueller zu steuern. Sie verfügen damit z. B. über die Möglichkeit, mehrere Seiten eines Dokuments auf einem Blatt zusammenzufassen, eine Seite eines Dokuments auf mehrere Blätter zu verteilen, oder ein Bild auf mehreren Seiten zu platzieren, zusätzliche Informationen wie Wasserzeichen oder Kopf- und FuÃzeilen hinzuzufügen, grafische Elemente auszublenden, Drucklayouts (Erscheinungsbild und Reihenfolge) selbst zu editieren, neu zu erstellen, den Ausdruck als PDF- oder Bilddatei zu speichern, per E-Mail zu versenden oder Druckjobs zu verknüpfen.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:soft Xpansion GmbH & Co.KG
- Date: 16-10-2006
- Size: 7134 KB
- License: Freeware
JLG Extended Keyboard Layout purpose is to allow the user entering special character from a US QWERTY keyboard like latin characters with accent, cedillas and other diacritic signs in a intuitive, ergonomic and easy to remember way. Example: é = CTRL + <quote>, then e à= CTRL + <backquote>, then a ø = CTRL + /, then o JLG Extended Keyboard Layout is useful for: - people not english but using a US QWERTY Keyboard (ex: Romania, Hungary, Poland, Niederland, Slovenia, Croatia, Sweden, Norway, Tunisia, Algeria, Lybia, Morroco, New Zealand (maori), etc.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:JLG Utilities
- Date: 26-11-2007
- Size: 228 KB
- License: Shareware
This program allows you to create and modify Microsoft keyboard layout files. It works with Windows Vista, Windows 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4.0 operating systems. Also, it works with Windows 95, Windows 95-OSR/2, Windows 98 and Windows ME operating systems. Keyboard Layout Manager supports both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems. There are separate 32-bit and 64-bit versions of this software. 32-bit version works on 32-bit operating systems only. 64-bit version works on 64-bit operating systems only.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:Keyboard Layout Manager
- Date: 06-06-2009
- Size: 405 KB
- License: Shareware
Print Layout Designer applies to dynamic printing service. It contains abundant templates for printing design to create dynamic printings. The program runs in an Office 2007 style, and is very easy to operate. By using Print Layout Designer, users can fast design business cards, labels, print layout or other typesetting works. What is unique, Print Layout Designer supports dynamic publishing by attaching to database. Print Layout Designer is professional in designing and dynamic publishing labels, business cards, bar codes, checks, tickets, coupons, flowcharts, interfaces, covers, schematic diagrams, customer stickers, CD labels, Paper packages and customized invitations.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:AthTek Software
- Date: 20-07-2010
- Size: 5051 KB
- License: Shareware
An extensive library for the visualization and automatic layout of graphs, diagrams and networks. Key components of the library are a customizable graph viewer/editor GUI component and diverse automatic graph layout algorithms. It also contains many graph algorithms (shortest path, min-cost-flow,..) that can be used for graph analysis. Our website offers the complete API documentation of the library and a graph editor that can be used as an applet or as a webstart application.
- Platform: JavaScript, Scripts
- Publisher:Roland Wiese
- Date: 08-04-2011
- License: Shareware
This layout manager is based on MATLAB Central File Exchange entry 'Resizable MATLAB figures' by Malcolm Wood.Uses new Matlab class system avalable from R2007b/2008a.
- Platform: Matlab, Scripts
- Publisher:amilcar chaudhary
- Date: 13-03-2013
- Size: 10 KB
- License: Freeware
Panels Three Four Layout is a grid based, adaptive layout for Panels module. It's similar to flexible layout that you can find in Panels' core, with the exception that in adaptive layout final page is rendered based on how panes are connected to the panel grid. It means that panes automatically expand to the right to fully occupy empty cells in the grid. Thanks to this behaviour very flexible auto-constructed layouts are possible.The grid consist of two stacked spaces, topmost space is 3x3 and bottom space is 4x4.
- Platform: PHP, Scripts
- Publisher:bdziewierz
- Date: 19-06-2013
- Size: 10 KB
- License: Shareware
Adept PDF Layout Changer is a useful tool for the users who need to change the metadata and layout information of PDF documents. The program allows you to view the details of the loaded file and to make changes by simply editing the available fields.
You can use this tool for changing the title, the keywords and the producer's details. You can also hide the toolbar and set the default display layout with just a few clicks.
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- Platform: WinOther
- Publisher:AdeptPDF Studio
- Date:
- License: Shareware
Amazight Keyboard Layout is the perfect choice for you if you want to keep your original keyboard layout and in the same time be able to write Amazigh language.
Give it a try and see what it can do for you!
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- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:has.achahbar
- Date:
- License: Shareware
A+ Keyboard Layout is a keyboard layout for inputting APL symbols.The installation is simple.
Just extract the zip file to a new directory and run the msi file corresponding to your processor architecture. Then open the Regional and Language Options item in the Control Panel and click the Change keyboards button on the Keyboards and Languages tab.
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- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:N. J. White
- Date:
- License: Freeware
Layout Parser was created as an open source and accessible framework that can parse and format positional data into / from Java Objects. This can be done with the help of a layout that's been defined in the XML format.
Layout Parser is a framework that can be used by developers that want to integrate Java with various legacy languages or systems that only understand positional data.
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- Platform: WinOther
- Publisher:mariovalentim
- Date:
- License: Shareware
Sparkbooth Layout Creator is an application that you can use in order to generate your own photo booth layouts. You can drag and drop selected images and position them as preferred.
The utility provides users with a simple means of adding overlay and background images when creating new templates. Paper properties are highly customizable, therefore users can easily create the exact layouts they have in mind.
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- Platform: WinOther
- Publisher:John Wu
- Date:
- License: Shareware
MAGIX Page & Layout Designer is a reliable application designed to help you create a professional business image.
You can design your own company logo, create marketing and advertising material, and present your business in the best possible light.
This program makes it simple to impressively market your products or services using flyers, posters, brochures, newsletters and more.
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- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:MAGIX AG
- Date:
- License: Shareware
Monarch Stone Layout Planner is a powerful and user-friendly graphics tool that can be used to plan and review a custom stone layout.
The application also allows you to choose one of the available stone sets and change its color.
Monarch Stone Layout Planner is written in the Java programming language and can accessed from Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
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- Platform: WinOther
- Publisher:Monarch Stone Inc.
- Date:
- License: Shareware
Cone Of Silence is a TTF character that was created in order to assist you in modifying the overall aspect of your digital papers. All you need to do is get the font onto your computer and then put it to use when writing your documents to see how it will change their look.
To install it, you can simply right-click the file and click Install. Alternately, you can install a font by dragging it into the Fonts folder you will find in the Control Panel page.
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- Platform: WinOther
- Publisher:elspiko
- Date:
- License: Shareware
K-surfaces with a cone point is a small, simple application designed to help you study and investigate discrete K-surfaces.
A K-Surface is a surface of constant negative Gaussian curvature. The initial Gauss map may be edited on the left. On the right hand side you may investigate the surface and its Gauss map.
The Gauss map may be seen as the evolution of massive balls on the sphere connected by rubber bands.
for WindowsAll
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- Platform: WinOther
- Publisher:Ulrich Pinkall
- Date:
- License: Shareware
View Layout Replicator make it easier for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 customizers to copying the layout of a view and paste it to the layout of other views in the same entity.
The application is compatible with Claims based authentication (only when using STS server configured in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 deployment). Give View Layout Replicator a try to see what it's really capable of!
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- Platform: WinOther
- Publisher:tanguy92
- Date:
- License: Shareware
Philippines National Keyboard Layout is an application designed to adjust yout yeboard to be used with the Baybayin script.
The application allows you to use the following keuyboard layouts:
Philippines - QWERTY (Latin)
Philippines - QWERTY (Baybayin)
Philippines - Capewell-Dvorak (Latin)
Philippines - Capewell-Dvorak (Baybayin)
Philippines - Capewell-QWERF 2006 (Latin)
Philippines - Capewell-QWERF 2006 (Baybayin)
Philippines - Colemak (Latin)
Philippines - Colemak (Baybayin)
Philippines - Dvorak (Latin)
Philippines - Dvorak (Baybayin)
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- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:JC John Sesecuneta
- Date:
- License: Shareware
You can create amazing website quickly and easily with Website Layout Maker. Just drag and drop layouts for creating a website. It reduces the effort needed to make website. You can also easily edit because the created site is fully div-tag-based. It provides three stages, Theme, Layout and Element. Theme stage, pick a theme from various pre-made themes. Layout stage, set, resize and copy layout easily. Element stage, provide powerful and various options such as shading background. You can use all these stages with practical page preview.
- Platform: Windows
- Publisher:smilemelon.com
- Date:
- Size: 7792 KB
- License: Comercial
FmPro Layout Diff extracts and compares field info from FileMaker 7/8/8.5 layouts. This info is presented in a columnar format for viewing, exporting, and comparison. Fields can be compared by either Field ID or Field Name, with the resulting differences displayed in a re-sizable, sortable list. FmPro Layout Diff quickly shows FileMaker 8.5 layout object names for an entire layout, without requiring each and every object to be individually clicked in layout mode within FileMaker. Large layouts are instantly resized and printed on a single printed page for documentation and development purposes.
- Platform: Mac
- Publisher:fmpromigrator.com
- Date:
- Size: 2467 KB