Shapr3D
Shares rank 19 of 27 CAD software by recommenders
A Mac-native 3D CAD app that people recommend for its intuitive, easy-to-use interface. Critics say model history handling is weak and on-prem saving requires contacting sales.
A Mac-native 3D CAD app that people recommend for its intuitive, easy-to-use interface. Critics say model history handling is weak and on-prem saving requires contacting sales.
9 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 7
- criticize it
- 2
- approval share
- 78%
Recommended in 3 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 7 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
- 3.5 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 3 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, not met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Intuitive, easy-to-use interface
“the interface is really intuitive and you can realistically develop on an iPad”
Comment from 20 Feb 2026 in “FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler” “It is hands down the easiest to use modern CAD software today”
Comment from 20 Feb 2026 in “FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler”
Other CAD software people recommend
The four most recommended other CAD software, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreeCAD | 199 | 95 | 68% | 12 | 2 yrs13 owners | Approved |
| OpenSCAD | 173 | 87 | 66% | 12 | 9 yrs4 owners | — |
| Onshape | 65 | 21 | 76% | 12 | — | Approved |
| Autodesk Fusion 360 | 60 | 37 | 62% | 12 | — | — |
| Shapr3DThis page | 7 | 2 | 78% | 3 | — | — |
What people said
9 of the 10 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“the collaborative efforts are paying off”
“Though I don't like that I have to "Contact Sales" to be able to save my models on-prem”
“Shapr3d is a rather light duty stuff”
“I much prefer the Mac-native modeling experience than any of its gargantuan antiquated peers”
“I don't get how people think Shapr3D is usable on the iPad with the Pencil; it is not”
“expensive and marketed on its extraordinary usability, is just utterly perplexing”
“I am just not happy with how they handle model history”
“It is hands down the easiest to use modern CAD software today”
“the interface is really intuitive and you can realistically develop on an iPad”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.