SolidWorks

What hackers pick instead

• FreeCADA free, open-source parametric CAD modeler that has improved rapidly and can replace Fusion 360 for many hobby users, though its UI remains complex and hard to learn.199recommend
• OpenSCADA free CAD tool where you describe models in code, loved for precise, parametric, version-controllable designs and LLM-friendliness; critics note missing fillets/chamfers and math-heavy modeling.173recommend
• OnshapeBrowser-based parametric CAD that is easy to learn, runs on any machine and has multi-user editing; the free tier makes designs public.65recommend
• Autodesk Fusion 360Recommended for fast, capable parametric 3D modeling, with a free hobbyist license and an easy learning curve. The most common caveat is that the free license could be changed or withdrawn, and Autodesk pushes paid upgrades.60recommend
• SolveSpaceFree, fast, lightweight parametric CAD praised for simple sketching and quick learning; critics say it lacks features and its booleans often fail.37recommend

Every quote

The 40 most detailed of 72 comments. Each links to the original.

1. It's usually pretty stable for a while. It's when you get into very complex parts and assembles that it starts to really show problems.

   Mixed · Feb 2026 · in “AI Doesn't Reduce Work–It Intensifies It”

2. For [non-EDA] CAD, I use SolidWorks, as I find FreeCAD (and OpenSCAD) is not in the same quality and user-experience tier.

   Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler”

3. Anyone who says Linux solves all the problems has not tried to make something like solidworks and masterCAM run on it.

   Mixed · Dec 2025 · in “I can't upgrade to Windows 11, now leave me alone”

4. I've never heard any engineer discribe any CAD package as anything other than slow and full of bugs.

   Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “Show HN: AI in SolidWorks”

5. its interface is much better than FreeCAD's, and it's more powerful than both FreeCAD and Fusion

   Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler”

6. Solidworks, needs special license to work in a VM that my company is not willing to pay for

   Mixed · Jun 2026 · in “Windows 11 users are tired of MS account requirements creeping into everything”

7. The pro software does things that are impossible or clunky in the OSS alternatives.

   Recommends · May 2026 · in “Show HN: AI CAD Harness”

8. I'm more comfortable with Solidworks and Creo so the tool isn't in my way

   Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “After three months on Linux, I don't miss Windows at all”

9. I would rank Solidworks way up there in usability and functionality.

   Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Show HN: AI in SolidWorks”

10. commercial CAD software like Solidworks, OnShape or Autodesk Fusion

    Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “Making niche solutions is the point”

11. SolidWorks is one of the easiest pieces of CAD software to use

    Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Show HN: AI in SolidWorks”

12. definitely learn solidworks or something in that vein first

    Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Parametric CAD in Rust”

13. they can do so in a tool like Solidworks, CATIA, NX, etc

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “GenCAD”

14. Solidworks, Fusion, Inventor etc still outclass FreeCAD

    Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “OpenSCAD the Programmers Solid 3D CAD Modeller”

15. It has the easiest UX of the parametric CAD modellers

    Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Open source CAD in the browser (Solvespace)”

16. It's got the easiest UX so is ideal for learning.

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “GenCAD”

17. Start with a parametric program like solid works

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “The coolest use for the Vision Pro”

18. built-in intro of Solidworks was a way better UX

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “Blender 5.0”

19. I just like the way Solidworks does things

    Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Open source CAD in the browser (Solvespace)”

20. their local installer is really bad

    Mixed · Feb 2026 · in “FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler”

21. I'm too busy restarting Solidworks after its third crash of the day. I pay thousands a year for the privilege.

    Criticizes · Feb 2026 · in “AI Doesn't Reduce Work–It Intensifies It”

22. engineers pay Dassault through the nose for Solidworks because there are no real alternatives

    Criticizes · Aug 2026 · in “A curmudgeon tries a language server”

23. it was unusable with a display higher than 1080p because it did its own bad scaling of UI

    Criticizes · Feb 2026 · in “Resizing windows on macOS Tahoe – the saga continues”

24. The proprietary nature of the major players (Creo, Solidworks, NX, etc) is a major drag.

    Criticizes · Feb 2026 · in “Gemini 3 Deep Think”

25. Dassault can catch your Solidworks cracks even on an airgapped computer

    Criticizes · Jun 2026 · in “The Pirate Bay Remains Resilient, 20 Years After the Raid”

26. It takes some discipline, but the key is for all your geometry and relations to be driven from sketches and equations.

    Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Parametric CAD in Rust”

27. Solidworks has Smart Fasteners, Inventor has Spur Gear Component Generator, Sketch->Extrude->Shell takes 30 seconds

    Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Parametric CAD in Rust”

28. I love SW and think it's one of the better parametric solid modeling CAD packages out there.

    Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Show HN: AI in SolidWorks”

29. would probably just end up paying for the Solidworks hobbyist license; it's like $4/month

    Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “ArtCraft Apps – open-source Adobe compatible suite written in Rust”

30. It shaped how I think, it aggravates me as only a long-time companion could

    Mixed · Feb 2026 · in “FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler”

31. All of our production engineers that use CATIA think SolidWorks is fast

    Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Show HN: AI in SolidWorks”

32. They've spent decades building one that is both unambiguous and fast.

    Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Show HN: AI in SolidWorks”

33. it really is worth paying for a CAD system and learning how to use it

    Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Parametric CAD in Rust”

34. usable on a windows VM via Parallels thanks to their GPU acceleration

    Mixed · Mar 2026 · in “Microsoft's "Fix" for Windows 11: Flowers After the Beating”

35. I don't think I've ever seen Solidworks break down in a simple model

    Mixed · Feb 2026 · in “Topological Naming Problem”

36. Seeing a program mimic the physics of real moving parts

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “"Software Engineering" Is Not Engineering”

37. I've never heard anyone describe Solidworks as "fast."

    Mixed · Jan 2026 · in “Show HN: AI in SolidWorks”

38. it's far faster to make accurately in Solidworks

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “µcad: New open source programming language that can generate 2D sketches and 3D”

39. Solidworks is great for designing the chassis

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “The coolest use for the Vision Pro”

40. Do love Solidworks but I'm on linux now

    Recommends · May 2026 · in “Valve releases Steam Controller CAD files under Creative Commons license”