# Onshape 65 Hacker News commenters recommended Onshape and 21 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 12 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** Browser-based parametric CAD that is easy to learn, runs on any machine and has multi-user editing; the free tier makes designs public. ## Why people recommend it - Runs in browser, no install (5 comments): "The user interface and documentation are stellar and you don't need to install anything to get started." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46818087)) "Depending on your needs, Onshape could be a good portable option since it runs in a browser." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47721263)) "One of the reasons that I switched to OnShape recently is that I can run it on my MacBook." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46446492)) - Easy to learn, approachable (5 comments): "after 10+ years with SolidWorks I switched to OnShape. A small learning curve but now I enjoy it just as much." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46800352)) "Learning to make simple parts in onshape is pretty darn easy (and fun)." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48235325)) "modern CAD software, like Onshape or Fusion 360 is quite easy to learn" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46340266)) - Clean, intuitive user interface (4 comments): "The user interface and documentation are stellar and you don't need to install anything to get started." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46818087)) "The multi-user editing is first class and personally I find the user interface more intuitive" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46596300)) "viewport manipulation behaves in a very similar way to onshape which feels very natural to me" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47588947)) - Free for public designs (4 comments): "OnShape has been a godsend, and keeping it free for open designs is one of the better ethical stances to take." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46931610)) "The free tier is identical to the standard tier except you can not create private documents" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47228869)) "It's free to use provided that you're okay with your design being public." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46340688)) ## What people warn about - Subscription cost is high (4 comments): "Like Adobe's 'creative' software and Onshape, they are working as hard as possible to make YOU pay more to have less." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48117244)) "a subscription that assumes I have a corporate expense account makes it not viable" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46582155)) "The licensing cost has a few more digits than GitHub ever did." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46829542)) - Needs internet, cloud-dependent (3 comments): "requires an account and internet connection because it streams to your browser" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46831385)) "it's cloud based so you can't run it with a poor connection or no connection" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48874214)) "It feels extremely sluggish, probably because it's running on the browser." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45975176)) - Free designs are public (2 comments): "The free tier is identical to the standard tier except you can not create private documents" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47228869)) "they both require a phone number and make all of your files public" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45973766)) - Distrust of vendor, proprietary (3 comments): "onshape is nice feature-wise but then you're just trusting a different group" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46600860)) "even after onshape shafted everyone which should have highlighted the risks" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48970658)) "too undocumented and proprietary to be of much use" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47979596)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [FreeCAD](https://hackerapproved.com/p/freecad.md): 199 recommend - [OpenSCAD](https://hackerapproved.com/p/openscad.md): 173 recommend - [Autodesk Fusion 360](https://hackerapproved.com/p/fusion-360.md): 60 recommend - [SolveSpace](https://hackerapproved.com/p/solvespace.md): 37 recommend - [SolidWorks](https://hackerapproved.com/p/solidworks.md): 36 recommend ## Where to get it - [Visit the official site](https://www.onshape.com/en/) ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Onshape", https://hackerapproved.com/p/onshape/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).