FreeCAD vs SolidCraft
FreeCAD and SolidCraft are both 3D and CAD software. FreeCAD is open source under LGPL-2.1, with 35k GitHub stars. SolidCraft is open source under Apache-2.0, with 13k GitHub stars.
Which to pick
- Pick FreeCAD when
- Engineers, makers or small firms need free parametric CAD without SolidWorks or Fusion licences.
- Pick SolidCraft when
- You want to try a new open parametric CAD tool for hobby parts.
Side by side
A parametric 3D CAD modeller for mechanical parts, architecture (BIM), FEM analysis, CAM and 3D printing, built on OpenCascade with Python scripting.
A parametric 3D CAD app in Rust with sketches, constraints and a feature timeline, running on desktop or in the browser, with an MCP server for AI modelling.
Steeper learning curve and rougher edges than commercial CAD, though version 1.x fixed many long-standing issues.
Created four weeks ago; its geometry kernel and STEP handling are unproven.
Production-ready
Experimental
Desktop app
Desktop app and cloud service
C++, Python, OpenCascade and Qt
Rust, egui, WGSL and Python
Open source, LGPL-2.1 (weak copyleft)
Open source, Apache-2.0 (permissive)
You can use it inside a product you sell; changes you make to its own files must be shared.
You can build it into a product you sell, as long as you keep its copyright notice.
35k GitHub stars
13k GitHub stars
Established: started 14 years ago, latest release 1.1.4.
New: started under a month ago, latest release v0.30.1.
Other comparisons
More 3D modeling and CAD software
Both sides were judged on 2026-11-03 from each project's README and GitHub data. License, age and popularity lines are worked out directly.