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Free alternatives to Autodesk Fusion

Best free option: Onshape (Strong). Switching saves about $680 USD a year.

Autodesk Fusion, Autodesk Fusion, 1-year subscription

$680 USDa year

≈$969.48 CAD (converted from USD)

Every pick below has a free version.

Runs on
  • Windows
  • macOS
Key file formats
.f3d.step.stl.dxf

Filter alternatives

3 alternatives

Strong

2 tools

Covers most of the same work, with trade-offs noted on each card.

  1. Rank 1: Onshape

    Best for browser-based parametric CAD

    License: Free tier
    • Web
    • iOS
    • Android
    Status: Verified
    • STEP: opens and saves, full fidelity. Geometry and face color carry over
    • STL: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Imported meshes are reference only and cannot be edited
    • DXF: opens and saves, full fidelity. 2D sketches and drawings
    • SLDPRT: opens only, partial fidelity. Imports as non-parametric geometry; exports STEP instead
    • SLDASM: opens only, partial fidelity. Import the assembly and its parts as a single zip file

    The Free plan is for non-commercial use and every document is public. Private documents need a paid plan. Imports Fusion designs as STEP, not .f3d. Free version: Free plan is for non-commercial use and all documents are public. Standard costs US$1,500 per user per year.

  2. Rank 2: FreeCAD

    Best for open-source parametric design

    License: Open source
    • Windows
    • macOS
    • Linux
    Status: Unknown
    • DWG: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Needs the free ODA File Converter or LibreDWG; geometry and layers only
    • DXF: opens and saves, partial fidelity. 2D geometry, layers and text carry over; blocks and dimensions can lose detail
    • PDF: saves only, full fidelity. TechDraw pages export to PDF; PDFs cannot be opened for editing
    • STL: opens and saves, full fidelity. Mesh format
    • STEP: opens and saves, full fidelity. Solid geometry exchange
    • +1 more

    Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with no income limit or cloud account. The interface and modeling approach differ from Fusion's timeline.

Situational

1 tool

Right for specific needs, or not yet mature enough to recommend widely.

  1. Rank 3: SolveSpace

    Best for lightweight constraint-based 3D sketching

    License: Open source
    • Windows
    • macOS
    • Linux
    Status: Unknown
    • STEP: saves only, partial fidelity. STEP export is listed on the project site; STEP import is not
    • STL: saves only, partial fidelity. Exports triangle meshes for 3D printing
    • DXF: opens and saves, partial fidelity. 2D geometry only

    A small, fast open-source tool for mechanical sketches and mechanisms. Exports STEP and STL for other software.

Sponsor this page: $149 for 30 days. Sponsors appear above the ranking, labeled; the ranking itself is not for sale.

Feature parity

How each alternative covers what people use Autodesk Fusion for. Numbers link to editor notes.

Feature parity with Autodesk Fusion
FeatureOnshapeFreeCADSolveSpace
Modeling
Parametric solid and surface modelingYesYesNote 1PartialNote 2
Assemblies and jointsYesNote 3PartialNote 4PartialNote 5
Documentation
2D drawings from modelsYesNote 6PartialNote 7PartialNote 8
Manufacturing
CAM toolpaths for CNC machiningNoNote 9PartialNote 10NoNote 11
Analysis
Simulation (FEA)NoNote 12PartialNote 13NoNote 14
Electronics
Electronics and PCB designNoNote 15NoNote 16No
Collaboration
Cloud data management and sharingYesNote 17NoNote 18No
Parity score57%43%21%
  1. FreeCAD, Parametric solid and surface modeling: Part Design and Sketcher build solids with a feature tree
  2. SolveSpace, Parametric solid and surface modeling: Constraint-driven sketches with extrude, revolve and boolean tools; no history timeline
  3. Onshape, Assemblies and joints: Mates and mate connectors
  4. FreeCAD, Assemblies and joints: A built-in Assembly workbench with fewer joint types
  5. SolveSpace, Assemblies and joints: Parts can be linked into assemblies with basic constraints
  6. Onshape, 2D drawings from models: Drawings are part of the Free plan
  7. FreeCAD, 2D drawings from models: TechDraw makes dimensioned sheets; the tools are less polished
  8. SolveSpace, 2D drawings from models: Dimensioned views and 2D export to DXF, PDF and SVG
  9. Onshape, CAM toolpaths for CNC machining: CAM Studio is not part of the Free plan
  10. FreeCAD, CAM toolpaths for CNC machining: The CAM workbench covers 2.5D and 3-axis toolpaths with a manual setup
  11. SolveSpace, CAM toolpaths for CNC machining: Exports vectors for laser and waterjet cutting; no toolpaths
  12. Onshape, Simulation (FEA): Simulation is not part of the Free plan
  13. FreeCAD, Simulation (FEA): The FEM workbench runs CalculiX and other solvers; setup is manual
  14. SolveSpace, Simulation (FEA): A constraint solver for linkages; no FEA
  15. Onshape, Electronics and PCB design: PCB design is not available on the Free plan
  16. FreeCAD, Electronics and PCB design: No PCB design; KiCad is the usual companion
  17. Onshape, Cloud data management and sharing: Cloud-native with version control and live sharing
  18. FreeCAD, Cloud data management and sharing: Files are local; share them with Git or a file service

Not covered by any free alternative yet: CAM toolpaths for CNC machining, Simulation (FEA), Electronics and PCB design. See all feature gaps

File formats

Can each alternative open and save Autodesk Fusion files?

Opening and saving Autodesk Fusion files
FormatOnshapeFreeCADSolveSpace
.f3dNoNote 1NoNote 2NoNote 3
.stepOpens and savesNote 4Full fidelityOpens and savesNote 5Full fidelitySaves onlyNote 6Partial fidelity
.stlOpens and savesNote 7Partial fidelityOpens and savesNote 8Full fidelitySaves onlyNote 9Partial fidelity
.dxfOpens and savesNote 10Full fidelityOpens and savesNote 11Partial fidelityOpens and savesNote 12Partial fidelity
  1. Onshape, .f3d: Fusion files do not import; export STEP from Fusion
  2. FreeCAD, .f3d: Fusion files do not open; export STEP from Fusion
  3. SolveSpace, .f3d: Fusion files do not open; use STEP or STL
  4. Onshape, .step: Geometry and face color carry over
  5. FreeCAD, .step: Solid geometry exchange
  6. SolveSpace, .step: STEP export is listed on the project site; STEP import is not
  7. Onshape, .stl: Imported meshes are reference only and cannot be edited
  8. FreeCAD, .stl: Mesh format
  9. SolveSpace, .stl: Exports triangle meshes for 3D printing
  10. Onshape, .dxf: 2D sketches and drawings
  11. FreeCAD, .dxf: 2D geometry, layers and text carry over; blocks and dimensions can lose detail
  12. SolveSpace, .dxf: 2D geometry only

What switching saves

Switching saves about $680 USD / ≈$969 CAD (estimated from the USD price) a year. Prices checked ; ≈ means converted from USD.

Based on Autodesk Fusion, 1-year subscription. Price source. USD to CAD at 1.4257 as of Oct 7, 2026.

About this page

Last verified . Ranking: tier first, then the published score.

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Related

Autodesk Fusion is a product of Autodesk, named here for comparison only. Platforms listed for Autodesk Fusion: Windows, macOS.