Tinkercad is another general 3D modeling tool that gets a mention because it's free to use and targeted at beginners. Even so, this product carries a lower price tag than many of the rivals we've featured here, so may be worth a look. However, it is a general 3D modeling tool rather than specific to architecture itself, so it might be better used for materials modeling rather than buildings. There's still a learning curve, though it's not overly steep, and some of the nice touches here include a wizard that looks for structural weaknesses in designs. SolidWorks is a powerful CAD program that manages to strike a balance between ease-of-use and advanced features.

Furthermore, it offers cross-platform support, so you can use it regardless of whether your PC is running Windows, macOS, or Linux. While it's not so feature-rich as the big paid-for programs, it is a well-supported platform and it does actually have some complex features to explore. Even so, it may be a good piece of software to try in order to simply get used to basic functions, though be warned that there are no command line options here (which more advanced programs tends to offer).įreeCAD is a free open source 3D modeler, which is especially good for reverse engineering models and seeing how changing parameters can affect the whole design. It may not offer as many features as some of the other products on this page, but that's to be expected with its lower price tag.

TurboCAD Deluxe is a particularly good choice for beginners and intermediate users. Some of these are worth looking at because they better serve as an introduction for beginners, while others are notable for being free while retaining useful features. While we've featured some of the most powerful and popular AutoCAD and 3D design software programs in this roundup, especially for use in designing buildings and other architectural interests, there are plenty of alternative options to consider. Other architecture software options to consider To find out more, read our full Sketchup review. Sketchup offers a free tier, although it has limited features. It might not be suitable for designing a building entirely, but it is an excellent tool for rapidly prototyping a design when it is still at a conceptual stage. The user-base has also contributed to an extensive object library, a vast resource of pre-constructed parts to drop into any project. The free release has made Sketchup very popular, generating a large and active community of Sketchup users on hand to help the inexperienced. After a few easy to follow tutorials, designers should be able to work rapidly to construct complex solid geometry using it. Originally a Google-backed project, Sketchup is now owned and developed by Trimble, who release a new version at least once a year.Īs a start point for anyone entering 3D modelling, Sketchup is as easy as CAD gets.

Best home design software for mac free