# Zoo CAD

5 Hacker News commenters recommended Zoo CAD and 3 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 5 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended for re-iterating on CAD models with text prompts instead of rebuilding from scratch. Main caveat: cloud-only geometry kernel, which critics call lock-in.

## What people warn about

- Cloud-hosted kernel, no local option (3 comments): "promoting vendor lock-in by forcing users to use their cloud-hosted geometry kernel" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46029619)) "Zoo has said it's open to local hosting of the kernel for years." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46030102)) "they did this extremely online-only/SaaS model where they're rendering and streaming the 3D from their cloud" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49190891))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [FreeCAD](https://hackerapproved.com/p/freecad.md): 199 recommend
- [OpenSCAD](https://hackerapproved.com/p/openscad.md): 173 recommend
- [Onshape](https://hackerapproved.com/p/onshape.md): 65 recommend
- [Autodesk Fusion 360](https://hackerapproved.com/p/fusion-360.md): 60 recommend
- [SolveSpace](https://hackerapproved.com/p/solvespace.md): 37 recommend

## Where to get it

- [Visit the official site](https://zoo.dev/)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Zoo CAD", https://hackerapproved.com/p/zoo/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).