Use these free 3D modeling software solutions to quickly turn your design ideas into realistic 3D construction models.
- The best free landscape design software is SketchUp Free. This lite version of SketchUp comes with the essential tools for creating stunning landscape designs. It has a 3D modeling tool you can use straight from your browser. Apart from that, it can also import and export different types of image files that you can manipulate on the interface.
- Now, let’s take a look at the best 3D modeling software programs out there! Best 3D Modelling Software 1. Type: Subscription Price: $245/month. When you ask any professional 3D modeller in the industry which program they use the most, Autodesk Maya is the most common answer, and for good reason.
SkyCiv Structural 3D is a cloud-based Structural Analysis software that allows users to model, analyze and design complex 3D structures. It is completely online; requiring no installation to use. SkyCiv Structural 3D offers the very best in online structural analysis. It contains many components to adjust dimensions or extract design details from 3D models to create high quality production ready drawings. Accessible, flexible & integrated. FreeCAD is a multiplatfom (Windows, Mac and Linux), highly customizable and extensible software. It reads and writes to many open file formats such as STEP, IGES, STL, SVG.
Construction professionals are constantly coming up with new ideas for innovative designs, and it’s helpful to have software that can quickly turn these ideas into three-dimensional (3D) representations.
![Design Design](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pIwU-Gs0mYs/maxresdefault.jpg)
3D modeling software allows construction professionals to transform their designs and blueprints into lifelike models and lets artists clearly visualize the dimensions of their building designs before construction is complete.
There are several 3D modeling software tools available on the market, each with varying capabilities. And if you thought that buying one will cost you a lot of money, think again!
We’ve analyzed over 100 free design software options in Capterra directories and evaluated user reviews to identify the five best free 3D modeling software solutions (listed alphabetically). You can read our complete product selection methodology here.
5 best free 3D modeling construction software
BIMx
Live Home 3D
Onshape
SketchUp
SkyCiv Structural 3D
Note: Some of these software tools are listed as computer-aided design (CAD), but we chose them because they also offer 3D modeling options for intricate and precise designs and are a good option for users who simply want to do basic 3D design without any animation or texture painting.
1. BIMx
BIMx is a project presentation and collaboration software with integrated 2D and 3D navigation for building projects. Its cloud-integrated workflows and intuitive user interface make project management easier for architects and designers working on building information models and architectural documentation.
3D models in BIMx (Source)
BIMx helps users design interactive 3D models of buildings. Builders, clients, and consultants can use these 3D models to give prospects virtual tours of projects before construction is completed.
We analyzed user reviews for BIMx to understand what buyers liked and areas they felt could be improved. Here’s what we found.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
The software UI is intuitive. | A steep learning curve to master key commands. |
Virtual tours allow customers to view every dimension of a property even before construction is complete. | The desktop version is less functional than the mobile version. |
How much does BIMx cost? | |
BIMx offers a basic free version with limited features, but users can upgrade to the paid version for additional features. |
2. Live Home 3D
Live Home 3D is an interior and home design software that allows users to create 3D environments that give the actual look and feel of building interiors. It’s mostly used by solo architects and small teams of startup designers working on home interiors.
3D view in Live Home 3D ( Source)
Live Home 3D automatically suggests and generates 3D views of floor plans. Users can either design their own floor plan or import an external image to extract a design and recreate it. In both cases, the software offers users the option of converting their design into a 3D plan.
We analyzed user reviews for Live Home 3D to understand what buyers liked and areas they felt could be improved. Here’s what we found.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
The software’s UI is easy to use. | Not many terrain options are available. Even demo projects have the same standard terrain. |
Users can choose a wide range of colors and furniture for their models. | The UI could be aesthetically improved, and the walkthrough mode is difficult to control. |
How much does Live Home 3D cost? | |
Live Home 3D offers a free version with limited features, but users can upgrade to its paid version, Live Home 3D Pro, for a one-time payment of $19.99. |
3. Onshape
Onshape is cloud-based 3D CAD software that offers top-down designs with multipart modeling and in-context editing. It’s useful for designers, engineers, and manufacturers who want the flexibility of working from anywhere on any device.
3D section view in Onshape (Source)
As a SaaS-based tool, Onshape uses online databases to store data, eliminating the need for any physical servers and other IT infrastructure costs.
We analyzed user reviews for Onshape to understand what buyers liked and areas they felt could be improved. Here’s what we found.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
A fast learning curve. Anyone with basic CAD knowledge can operate the software with ease. | Since Onshape is cloud-based, it lacks offline caching. Therefore, models have to be constantly reloaded during poor connectivity. |
Users have access to detailed instructional videos to understand primary features. | Since the software operates via browsers, designing large models can be difficult. |
How much does Onshape cost? | |
Onshape’s free version has limited features, but users can upgrade to its paid version, which costs $125 per user per month and is billed annually ($1,500). |
4. SketchUp
SketchUp is CAD software that allows users to design and edit 3D models of interiors, landscapes, and more. It assists in end-to-end designing, starting from the earliest design stage to the end of construction. It can be used by architects and interior designers for different designing steps, such as initial diagramming, design development, detailing, documentation, and requests for information (RFI).
3D construction model in SketchUp (Source)
SketchUp allows users to include lighting effects, texture paintings, and animations in their design models. It also offers a wide range of symbols and predesigned models that allow designers to achieve desired outputs.
We analyzed user reviews for SketchUp to understand what buyers liked and areas they felt could be improved. Here’s what we found.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
The software modules are easy to navigate, even for beginners. | SketchUp cannot be integrated with other design software. |
Besides drawing and sketching options, the software also offers built-in features such as animations, lighting, and texture effects. | Customer support isn’t responsive, and most queries are answered only via online message boards. |
How much does SketchUpcost? | |
The basic version (web only) of SketchUp is free, but users can upgrade to the paid version, SketchUp Shop (web only), for $119 per user, per year or the pro version, SketchUp Pro (both desktop and web), at $299 per user, per year. |
5. SkyCiv Structural 3D
SkyCiv Structural 3D is cloud-based structural analysis and design software that allows users to model, analyze, and design 3D structures. Due to its structural analysis capabilities, the software is well-suited for civil, mechanical, and structural engineers.
3D structural analysis in SkyCiv Structural 3D (Source)
SkyCiv Structural 3D allows users to analyze structural factors, such as bending, shear, stress, and deflection. Since the software is cloud-based, it requires no installation and works completely online.
We analyzed user reviews for SkyCiv Structural 3D to understand what buyers liked and areas they felt could be improved. Here’s what we found.
![Best Best](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Cuqao90C76U/maxresdefault.jpg)
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
A fast learning curve. | Only a limited number of structural analysis methods are available. |
The customer support team is quick to respond. | The software’s mobile app interface for iPhones isn’t intuitive. |
How much does PRODUCT cost? | |
SkyCiv Structural 3D offers a free version with limited features, but users can upgrade to the paid (basic) version at $69 per user, per month or the professional version at $109 per user, per month. |
The final decision: Which free 3D modeling construction software to buy?
Our list of the five best free 3D modeling solutions can get you started with your software search, but the right fit depends on your design needs.
We recommend the following approach to make your ultimate decision:
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If you’ve used or are currently using free 3D modeling construction software that works well for you, tell us about it in the comments section below.
Product selection methodology
Best Free 3d Design Software Free
To be considered for this list, products had to offer a free, stand-alone version of the software and not a trial version wherein users have to purchase the product after the trial period.
A product was classified as 3D modeling construction software if it contained the core 3D modeling and collaboration features and at least one design feature, such as design analysis, design templates, or design export.
We analyzed nearly 150 products from our engineering CAD software, architecture software, and BIM software market categories to identify these free products. To be selected, each product had to have a minimum user rating of 4 out of 5 on Capterra as of January 6, 2020.
Note: Listed pros and cons are derived from features listed on the product website and product user reviews on Gartner Digital Markets domains (Capterra, GetApp, and Software Advice). They do not represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Capterra or its affiliates.
Looking for Construction Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Construction Management software solutions.
In this Blog we will learn about the best free 3D modeling software available on the market and free to use. We list the best 3D modeling software in terms of its free and licensed versions, as well as its price and availability.
There is a wide range of 3D modeling software available in the market for free and licensed versions, however there are some paid options. There are a number of different types of free or free 3D modeling programs on the market.
3d Printer Software Free
This free 3D modeling software allows you to work without the hassle of model geometry and is ideal for engineers and advanced product designers who want to produce 3D printed products. How to download excel on macbook for free.
OpenSCAD
OpenSCADis a free, open source, free, open source 3D modeling program that focuses more on the design and construction of the object itself than on the geometry of the object. The best free curve - based on the curve-based 3-D modeling that Trimble created is Sketchup, but it has since moved away from its original focus on geometry and toward a more complex and complex 3-dimensional model.
Sketchup Software
If you are new to 3D modeling software, you can choose from a range of different 3D modeling software. The most widely available program today is SketchUp, and it is one of the most widely used programs in the world of 3D modeling. To name just a few of its applications, Sketch up has been used by companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, Google Maps and many others.
There is a paid version of SketchUp, which is available for free, as well as a free version, and there are paid versions with additional features. There is also a web-based application that has the same functionality as the free one, but with some additional features and functions, making it one of the most popular 3D modeling software in the world.
If you have outgrown the free version, you want to compare SketchUp Pro with professional high-end software. So there's no doubt that it's expensive based on the subscription model, but with the added features and expanded cloud storage, it's definitely worth it.
From programming to chart design to design development, you can use SketchUp Pro to guide your project from the initial stages to creation. Finally, AutoCAD Sketchup is a great tool for creating and publishing designs for various things in a professional way.
Blender software
A new version of Blender is about to revolutionize the production of 2D animations for the amount of free software. When it comes to making your own video and animation models, you have probably heard of many of them, but what about this one?
The main advantage of Blender is that it is open source software that offers a perfect set of tools and functions. One of the things that makes it different and special compared to other similar 3D software is the fact that Blenders are freely available. Users can choose the program according to their needs and requirements, and it is free.
Blender also has animation tools and functions that are useful for creating short and long movies. Blender is free and open source software, which means it is easy to adjust an amplifier with it, and a comprehensive range of modeling tools that make it easy to create transformed and edited models.
3D Crafter Software
Let's take a look at some of the most popular 3D modeling software that you can take in your hands and which is right for you. Blender is a free and open source 3D modeling software based on a wide range of open source technologies.
You can create complex 3D models with 3DCrafteras Shape Building Tools, but also create from simple 3D shapes and then print them out. This is software based on the idea of dragging and dropping basic 3D shapes onto a model, which is then manipulated into shapes to create a complex 3D model. It is easy to master once you master it and is the best choice if you want to download 3-D models created by others to make changes to them or the models they create.
Contact us herefor the Choose right 3d modeling software.