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FreeCAD vs Inventor

FreeCAD logo

FreeCAD

Software

Open-source parametric 3D CAD modeler

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Inventor logo

Inventor

Software

Professional-grade 3D mechanical design

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only FreeCAD has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: FreeCAD no vendor support or professional services available; community-driven support only; 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
  • They diverge on capability: FreeCAD covers Part design, Inventor covers Assembly design.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreeCAD and Inventor actually diverge.

Attributes where FreeCAD and Inventor differ
AttributeFreeCADInventor
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows
Founded20021982

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 FreeCAD

  • Part design
  • Assembly
  • Drafting
  • FEM simulation
  • Path/CAM
  • Architecture
  • BIM
  • OpenCASCADE

Only in Inventor

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

Both cover

  • Parametric modeling
  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

FreeCAD

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

Inventor

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

FreeCAD

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the FreeCAD review.

Inventor

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

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Inventor if

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

Questions people ask

Is FreeCAD or Inventor better?
Neither clearly leads. FreeCAD starts at Free and Inventor at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreeCAD or Inventor?
FreeCAD has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for FreeCAD and $29/month for Inventor.
Does FreeCAD or Inventor run on more platforms?
FreeCAD runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Inventor runs on Windows.
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 FreeCAD best used for?
FreeCAD is most often used for mechanical engineering design, architectural modelling, product design and prototyping, cam/cnc path generation. Of those, mechanical engineering design and architectural modelling are not what Inventor is typically brought in for.
What can FreeCAD do that Inventor cannot?
FreeCAD covers Part design, Assembly, Drafting, FEM simulation. Inventor covers Assembly design, Sheet metal, Simulation, Rendering. Both handle Parametric modeling, Windows support.
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