FreeCAD vs. NX CAD

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
FreeCAD
Score 7.8 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
NX CAD
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
Siemens NX software is an integrated product design solution that helps deliver products faster and more efficiently. NX delivers design, simulation, and manufacturing solutions that enable companies to realize the value of the digital twin.N/A
Pricing
FreeCADNX CAD
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
FreeCADNX CAD
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Features
FreeCADNX CAD
Computer-Aided Design Software
Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of Product A and Product B
FreeCAD
-
Ratings
NX CAD
7.6
5 Ratings
14% above category average
3D Modeling00 Ratings8.65 Ratings
2D Drafting00 Ratings8.65 Ratings
Rendering and Visualization00 Ratings6.34 Ratings
Parametric Design00 Ratings8.35 Ratings
Collaboration and Sharing00 Ratings6.44 Ratings
Compatibility with other software and formats00 Ratings7.65 Ratings
Assembly Design00 Ratings8.35 Ratings
Simulation and Analysis00 Ratings7.43 Ratings
Documentation and Annotation00 Ratings7.15 Ratings
Customization and Extensions00 Ratings7.25 Ratings
Best Alternatives
FreeCADNX CAD
Small Businesses
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.3 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.3 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.3 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.3 out of 10
Enterprises
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.7 out of 10
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.7 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
FreeCADNX CAD
Likelihood to Recommend
8.0
(1 ratings)
8.4
(28 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
8.5
(7 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
7.1
(8 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(3 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
7.4
(3 ratings)
User Testimonials
FreeCADNX CAD
Likelihood to Recommend
FreeCAD
It is a great cad software if you are wanting to try something without the commitment of a payment plan. It has the ability to do most of what other cad systems do and has some functionality that is way superior to other cad systems. It could be better with things like assemblies and larger part count developments
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Siemens AG
There is perfect integration between NX CAD and NX CAM modules with less data loss. Better graphical interface and simplified commands makes NX CAD a better software then others. The tool has scope to develop an algorithm for generating surfaces from the point data. Include of option to convert .STL to any CAD format will be helpful. The connectivity of splines laying in different planes can be improvised.
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Pros
FreeCAD
  • Importing CAD formats
  • Converting mesh formats to solid and surface objects geometry
  • Fixing errors in geometry cad
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Siemens AG
  • Seamless interaction across multiple departments.
  • The software allows you to create a very high level of control and organization within your engineering staff. This reduces the companies mistakes and maximizes productivity.
  • The software makes it very easy to track your product through every phase of the production cycle.
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Cons
FreeCAD
  • Would be great if it was cloud based
  • If it had some basic analysis tools
  • Had a rendering function
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Siemens AG
  • Keeping the colors of surfaces if volume bodies are linked
  • Show and keep symbolic threads
  • For me, I miss more information why a surface can't be deleted or a radius is not possible. And maybe a solution, how could it look like, if NX CAD adds a new surface.
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Likelihood to Renew
FreeCAD
No answers on this topic
Siemens AG
possibility of integration and customization
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Usability
FreeCAD
No answers on this topic
Siemens AG
Siemens NX CAD has been has been simple in design & user interface. It is best among the competitors. It can develop heavy models & designs with very ease. It has Layers options for arranging multiple assemblies in the same file. It does not require heavy system investment & works fine on professional PCs
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Support Rating
FreeCAD
No answers on this topic
Siemens AG
NX CAD version is going out of support after only 12 months. Changes will not be implemented after 12 months from prodcution
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Implementation Rating
FreeCAD
No answers on this topic
Siemens AG
the manitenance period is too small for our implementation timeline
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Alternatives Considered
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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Siemens AG
NX CAD is very good for interoperability between different three dimensional modelling softwares, it can convert to .jt models, from native format such as .CATPart, .CATProduct, and ones from SOLIDWORKS. Also it is integrated to Siemens Teamcenter, which also enables other downstream workflow, such as Tecnomatix Process Simulate. Other software packages would need more integration effort to make this possible
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Return on Investment
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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Siemens AG
  • The software itself is pretty expensive compared to other CAD-systems.
  • Implementation is not out of the box, it requires a lot of consulting and iteration cycles.
  • On the positive side is to mention the seamless of downstream functionalities, from product development to manufacturing and visualization, etc.
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ScreenShots

NX CAD Screenshots

Screenshot of NX technology can generate multiple design options. (It's like having an extra employee dedicated to "trying out" different designs.) Then Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) can be used to generate the part.Screenshot of Studies show an inordinate amount of time can be spent by designers as they look for previous or similar parts. The software can search for similarly-shaped parts.Screenshot of NX has the ability to validate a part (or assembly) and its adherence to standards, collisions, and manufacturability.Screenshot of Virtual inspection and mark up full sized assemblies.Screenshot of a rendering created from the actual product design. Notice the lighting and surface realism.