CADWorx vs. FreeCAD

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
CADWorx
Score 9.0 out of 10
N/A
CADWorx Plant Design Suite from Hexagon PPM is a 3D plant design software toolset that allows for the option to run on the AutoCAD or BricsCAD platform and design piping, structural steel, equipment, process and instrument diagrams, and design review, plus automatic isometrics and bills of material.N/A
FreeCAD
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
FreeCAD is an open-source CAD software that specialized in 3D design. New features are added to FreeCAD by an active community of developers.N/A
Pricing
CADWorxFreeCAD
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
CADWorxFreeCAD
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
CADWorxFreeCAD
Features
CADWorxFreeCAD
Computer-Aided Design Software
Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of Product A and Product B
CADWorx
-
Ratings
FreeCAD
7.4
1 Ratings
0% above category average
3D Modeling00 Ratings7.01 Ratings
2D Drafting00 Ratings6.01 Ratings
Rendering and Visualization00 Ratings5.01 Ratings
Parametric Design00 Ratings7.01 Ratings
Collaboration and Sharing00 Ratings5.01 Ratings
Compatibility with other software and formats00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Assembly Design00 Ratings7.01 Ratings
Simulation and Analysis00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Documentation and Annotation00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
Customization and Extensions00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Best Alternatives
CADWorxFreeCAD
Small Businesses
Onshape
Onshape
Score 7.2 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 7.2 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Onshape
Onshape
Score 7.2 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 7.2 out of 10
Enterprises
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.3 out of 10
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.3 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
CADWorxFreeCAD
Likelihood to Recommend
9.0
(1 ratings)
8.0
(2 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
6.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
CADWorxFreeCAD
Likelihood to Recommend
Hexagon AB
CADWorx's ability to create any construction 2D drawing and the drawings editing functionalities are the best and very powerful on multiple Engineering 3D models production and event to export 3D images to other CAD platforms are quick and very simple. 3D simulation is excellent and the collaboration of multiple construction project professionals is excellent.
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FreeCAD
I see FreeCad as the perfect solution for a startup with limited resources that want to save as much as possible and doesn't mind using non-standard 3D CAD software, i.e., it's not required by customers to use specific software for compatibility. It's perfect for hobbyist use and makers who don't care about brands and pay monthly fees. I see it as very well suited for small businesses that need FEA (finite element analysis) and can't/don't want to pay huge amounts of money for it, just like us. I see FreeCad as less appropriate for big corporations or well-established businesses that need standardized solutions, compatibility with clients or good version management. Don't get me wrong, it can get the job done, but it will be much slower than state-of-the-art CAD systems.
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Pros
Hexagon AB
  • 3D modeling features are very powerful.
  • 2D documentation functionalities are flexible.
  • The innovative project productivity is excellent.
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FreeCAD
  • Importing CAD formats
  • Converting mesh formats to solid and surface objects geometry
  • Fixing errors in geometry cad
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Cons
Hexagon AB
  • The rendering of big 3D designs project is very slow.
  • To create 3D for different construction project can take time.
  • Ability of importing big 3D files can be more functional.
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FreeCAD
  • Overall, the UI feels very old and non-polished.
  • There are some quirky behaviors, like being unable to select a plane by having the cursor over it; it has to be over the edges of the plane.
  • It's overwhelming having those many modules and options for doing things that appear to be similar.
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Usability
Hexagon AB
No answers on this topic
FreeCAD
Usability is awkward. Perhaps if you learn it as your first CAD, it will feel OK. Still, it comes from commercial CAD products like mine (Onshape, Solid Works, Inventor, Solid Edge). You will feel it is less intuitive, with a less polished UI, difficult to customize and, this is a subjective one, less serious. I'd love to see it improve the usability and UI. I believe the engine behind it is powerful, but how you interact with the software is still lacking.
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Alternatives Considered
Hexagon AB
The tools on CADWorx have the best power to create big construction projects' 3D models and the rendering engine is very powerful and functional enough to render the clearest picture within a very short period of time. The simulation and easy drawings editing CADWorx are more faster and accurate documentation functionalities.
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FreeCAD
Freecad is used often when receiving files from multiple sources and the need to work with cad in various forms from meshes to solid cad. Often when receiving scans of 3d objects the format is easy to work with and convert to traditional cad later on. There is no other cad that can bridge the gap between all the cad formats that we found yet.
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Return on Investment
Hexagon AB
  • CADWorx offers the most accurate 3D designs and 3D simulation functionalities are very reliable.
  • Design analysis on CADWorx is excellent and easy 2D drawing production and easy editing.
  • Project management and easy designs sharing through CADWorks integration is amazing.
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FreeCAD
  • It has allowed us to do some cad work that no other systems has allowed us to do and is key to getting that done fast
  • It has lots of online support through forums and blogs for trouble shooting
  • It could have an updated interface to make the functionality more user friendly for first time users
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ScreenShots