FreeCAD vs. TurboCAD

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
FreeCAD
Score 7.9 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
TurboCAD
Score 9.0 out of 10
N/A
TurboCAD is 2D and 3D CAD software sold in many different editions, including Deluxe, Expert, and ProPlatinum.N/A
Pricing
FreeCADTurboCAD
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
FreeCADTurboCAD
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
Features
FreeCADTurboCAD
Computer-Aided Design Software
Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of Product A and Product B
FreeCAD
7.4
1 Ratings
4% above category average
TurboCAD
9.0
1 Ratings
23% above category average
3D Modeling7.01 Ratings00 Ratings
2D Drafting6.01 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Rendering and Visualization5.01 Ratings8.01 Ratings
Parametric Design7.01 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Collaboration and Sharing5.01 Ratings8.01 Ratings
Compatibility with other software and formats9.01 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Assembly Design7.01 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Simulation and Analysis10.01 Ratings7.01 Ratings
Documentation and Annotation8.01 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Customization and Extensions10.01 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Best Alternatives
FreeCADTurboCAD
Small Businesses
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.5 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.5 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.5 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.5 out of 10
Enterprises
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.5 out of 10
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.5 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
FreeCADTurboCAD
Likelihood to Recommend
8.0
(2 ratings)
9.0
(4 ratings)
Usability
6.0
(1 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
FreeCADTurboCAD
Likelihood to Recommend
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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IMSI Design
TurboCAD is well suited to a smaller budget, it is by no means the best there is but for the money, it fills the gap. Being an AutoCAD & DraftSight user I find the user interface a little old and the lack of common drafting industry shortcut keys a bit of a hindrance. However this product, TurboCAD gets the job done, other packages like DraftSight do not even come with an active 3D option on the cheaper end, standard license whereas TurboCAD does, even though it's a little clumsy to use.
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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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IMSI Design
  • Produces accurate drawings to scale, and with several ways to show the "views" to people in need of them at our factory.
  • Relatively easy to use, once you understand the toolset. You can draw anything with it.
  • Sending files to CNC machine shops to produce parts is easy with this program.
  • Sending to mold making companies works out well. Just ask them what file format they want and TurboCAD can give it to them.
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Cons
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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IMSI Design
  • Some of the load times are lengthy is there a way to streamline this?
  • Path Hatching and Object Trim could use a hot key
  • More intuitive layer management system
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Usability
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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IMSI Design
TurboCAD does all of the things we need it to do and some. The wide variety of options to create specificity in each of our projects is a large plus. The reason it was given a 9 is because the learning curve can be a little steep and sometimes certain processes are not as intuitive as they could be
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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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IMSI Design
3DS Max is the one I use the most, the other two are good choices also. They have more online tutorials for helping learn them.
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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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IMSI Design
  • Ability to render quotes.
  • Ability to supply complete drawings.
  • Easy to use interface provides a faster design time window.
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ScreenShots