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Software · head to head

Inventor vs FreeCAD

Inventor logo

Inventor

Software

Professional-grade 3D mechanical design

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FreeCAD logo

FreeCAD

Software

Open-source parametric 3D CAD modeler

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only FreeCAD has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Inventor autodesk publishes no licence price through UK G-Cloud: every listing found there is reseller delivered training at 750 to 1,500 pounds per day rather than software licensing, and neither AWS Marketplace nor GSA carries the product; FreeCAD no vendor support or professional services available; community-driven support only
  • They diverge on capability: Inventor covers Assembly design, FreeCAD covers Part design.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Inventor and FreeCAD actually diverge.

Attributes where Inventor and FreeCAD differ
AttributeInventorFreeCAD
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded19822002

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 Inventor

  • Assembly design
  • Sheet metal
  • Simulation
  • Rendering
  • Technical documentation
  • Frame generator
  • AutoCAD
  • Vault

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.

Inventor

  • Mechanical designnot FreeCAD
  • Product developmentnot FreeCAD
  • Manufacturing documentationnot FreeCAD

FreeCAD

  • Mechanical engineering designnot Inventor
  • Architectural modellingnot Inventor
  • Product design and prototypingnot Inventor
  • CAM/CNC path generationnot Inventor

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Inventor

  • Autodesk publishes no licence price through UK G-Cloud: every listing found there is reseller delivered training at 750 to 1,500 pounds per day rather than software licensing, and neither AWS Marketplace nor GSA carries the product

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

Inventor

$29/month
  • Inventor$2085/month
    • Full mechanical design
    • Simulation
    • Documentation
  • Product Design & Manufacturing Collection$2475/month
    • Inventor + AutoCAD + more

FreeCAD

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the FreeCAD review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Inventor if

  • You need assembly design.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want sheet metal.
Inventor review

Choose FreeCAD if

  • You need part design.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want assembly.
FreeCAD review

Questions people ask

Is Inventor or FreeCAD better?
Neither clearly leads. Inventor 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, Inventor or FreeCAD?
FreeCAD has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Inventor and Free for FreeCAD.
Does Inventor or FreeCAD run on more platforms?
Inventor 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. Inventor starts at $29/month.
What is Inventor best used for?
Inventor is most often used for mechanical design, product development, manufacturing documentation. Of those, mechanical design and product development are not what FreeCAD is typically brought in for.
What can Inventor do that FreeCAD cannot?
Inventor covers Assembly design, Sheet metal, Simulation, Rendering. FreeCAD covers Part design, Assembly, Drafting, FEM simulation. Both handle Parametric modeling, Windows support.
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