Software · head to head
Alibre Design vs FreeCAD
The short version
- Only FreeCAD has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Alibre Design perpetual licences do not include updates; maintenance is a separate yearly plan starting at $50 per year for CAD support and updates; FreeCAD no vendor support or professional services available; community-driven support only
- They diverge on capability: Alibre Design covers Assemblies, FreeCAD covers Part design.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Alibre Design and FreeCAD actually diverge.
| Attribute | Alibre Design | FreeCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29/month | Free |
| Pricing model | one-time | open-source |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Founded | 1997 | 2002 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Alibre Design
- Assemblies
- Sheet metal
- 2D drawings
- BOM
- Rendering
- CAM software
- PDM
- License key
Only in FreeCAD
- Part design
- Assembly
- Drafting
- FEM simulation
- Path/CAM
- Architecture
- BIM
- OpenCASCADE
Both cover
- Parametric modeling
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Alibre Design
- Parametric 3D solid modelling for mechanical partsnot FreeCAD
- Producing 2D manufacturing drawings from 3D modelsnot FreeCAD
- Designing parts for 3D printing and small shop machiningnot FreeCAD
FreeCAD
- Mechanical engineering designnot Alibre Design
- Architectural modellingnot Alibre Design
- Product design and prototypingnot Alibre Design
- CAM/CNC path generationnot Alibre Design
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Alibre Design
- Perpetual licences do not include updates; maintenance is a separate yearly plan starting at $50 per year for CAD support and updates
- Sheet metal, PDM data management and rendering are Design Expert only at $1,999
- Scripting is excluded from the $199 Atom3D edition
- CAM capability is sold as separate EZ-Mill, EZ-Turn and EZ-EDM products costing up to $2,999
- A dedicated account manager is excluded from Atom3D
FreeCAD
- No vendor support or professional services available; community-driven support only
- Requires users to self-host and maintain the software; no cloud version available
Pricing, plan by plan
Alibre Design
$29/month- Atom3D$199/month
- Basic modeling
- Design$999/month
- Professional CAD
- Expert$1999/month
- Full features
FreeCAD
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the FreeCAD review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Alibre Design if
- You need assemblies.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want sheet metal.
Choose FreeCAD if
- You need part design.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want assembly.
Questions people ask
- Is Alibre Design or FreeCAD better?
- Neither clearly leads. Alibre Design starts at $29/month and FreeCAD at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Alibre Design or FreeCAD?
- FreeCAD has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Alibre Design and Free for FreeCAD.
- Does Alibre Design or FreeCAD run on more platforms?
- Alibre Design runs on Windows. FreeCAD runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Can I use FreeCAD for free?
- Yes. FreeCAD has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Alibre Design starts at $29/month.
- What is Alibre Design best used for?
- Alibre Design is most often used for parametric 3d solid modelling for mechanical parts, producing 2d manufacturing drawings from 3d models, designing parts for 3d printing and small shop machining. Of those, parametric 3d solid modelling for mechanical parts and producing 2d manufacturing drawings from 3d models are not what FreeCAD is typically brought in for.
- What can Alibre Design do that FreeCAD cannot?
- Alibre Design covers Assemblies, Sheet metal, 2D drawings, BOM. FreeCAD covers Part design, Assembly, Drafting, FEM simulation. Both handle Parametric modeling, Windows support.