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Parametric 2D/3D CAD for modeling, assembly, and mechanism design.

Free, no paid tier Visit Website
Reviews on SourceForge
1 review tracked

The Bottom Line

Price
Free, no paid tier. Compare plans

Key facts

  • Free parametric 2D/3D CAD software.
  • Supports modeling, assembly, and mechanism design.
  • Exports to various formats for 3D printing and CAM.

Pros

  • Completely free and open-source (GPLv3)
  • Parametric design capabilities for precise control
  • Robust constraint solver for mechanism design
  • Supports a wide range of import and export formats
  • Associative assembly allows changes to propagate automatically

Cons

  • May have a steeper learning curve compared to commercial CAD software
  • User interface might be less polished than paid alternatives
  • Community support might be smaller than for widely adopted commercial tools

What is Solvespace?

SolveSpace is a free, parametric 2D/3D CAD tool designed for a variety of engineering and design tasks. It allows users to model 3D parts using extrudes, revolves, helixes, and Boolean operations, as well as create 2D parts for export in formats like DXF, PDF, and SVG. The software is particularly useful for designing 3D-printed parts, preparing CAM data for manufacturing, and simulating mechanical linkages. Its constraint solver enables the design and analysis of planar or spatial linkages with various joint types. SolveSpace helps replace manual trigonometric calculations and spreadsheets with live, dimensioned drawings, making it suitable for engineers, designers, and hobbyists who need precise control over their geometric models and assemblies.

Available on: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux

Ratings Across the Web

1 (1 reviews)

Solvespace holds an aggregate rating of 1 out of 5 from 1 reviews across SourceForge, last checked March 19, 2026.

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

  • Sketch sections with lines, rectangles, circles, arcs, Bezier segments, and TrueType text
  • Apply constraints and dimensions including distance, angle, tangency, parallel, perpendicular, and equality
  • Build solid models using extrude, lathe (solid of revolution), helix, and Boolean operations (union, difference, intersection)
  • Parametric and associative assembly with six degrees of freedom, mirroring, and scaling
  • Analyze measurements, mechanism paths, sketch area, solid volume, degrees-of-freedom, and interference checks
  • Export 2D vector drawings (DXF, EPS, PDF, SVG, HPGL, STEP), toolpaths (G-code), 3D wireframes (DXF, STEP), triangle meshes (STL, OBJ), and NURBS surfaces (STEP)

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Oct 5, 2026. Source: solvespace.com, read Oct 5, 2026

Solvespace plans and prices, checked October 2026
Plan Price Details
Free

Free

  • modeling 3d parts
  • modeling 2d parts
  • 3d-printed parts
+3 more
  • preparing CAM data
  • mechanism design
  • plane and solid geometry

Is Solvespace worth the price?

Great value

Solvespace offers an incredibly generous pricing model, as it is completely free.

This makes it an exceptionally fair and accessible option compared to commercial CAD software. It's best for hobbyists, students, and small businesses with limited budgets who need basic parametric CAD capabilities.

Full Solvespace pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

Solvespace by the numbers

Solvespace compared with 88 3D Design tools on Toolradar, as of Nov 2026
Metric Solvespace Peer median Position (1 is best)
Free plan Yes 66% have one n/a
Listed as an alternative to 2 tools 2 #38 of 88 (joint)
Compare-page visits, last 30 days 44 visits 37 #17 of 50 tools with 20+ compare-page visits

Visitors most often compare Solvespace with FreeCAD (last 30 days, Nov 2026).

Listed as an alternative to: #38 on 2026-10-16 to #38 on 2026-11-02 (rank among 88 tools, 1 is best).

Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All 3D Design data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source.

Cite this: Toolradar, “Solvespace by the numbers”, Nov 2026.

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Solvespace FAQ

How does Solvespace facilitate the design of 3D-printed parts?

Solvespace allows users to model 3D parts using extrudes, revolves, helixes, and Boolean operations, which are fundamental for creating printable geometries. It also supports exporting designs in various formats suitable for 3D printing and CAM data preparation.

What kind of user benefits most from Solvespace's parametric design capabilities?

Engineers, designers, and hobbyists who require precise control over their geometric models and assemblies benefit most from Solvespace's parametric design. This feature enables them to replace manual trigonometric calculations with live, dimensioned drawings.

How is Solvespace priced?

Solvespace is completely free to use, as it is an open-source software distributed under the GPLv3 license. There are no paid plans or required subscriptions to access its features.

Which teams would find Solvespace suitable for their design workflows?

Teams involved in mechanical engineering, product design, or any field requiring precise 2D/3D modeling and mechanism design would find Solvespace suitable. Its robust constraint solver and associative assembly features support complex design tasks.

How does Solvespace compare to FreeCAD in terms of user experience?

Solvespace may present a steeper learning curve compared to some commercial CAD software, and its user interface might be less polished than paid alternatives like FreeCAD. However, it offers robust parametric design and a strong constraint solver for mechanism design.

Can Solvespace be used for simulating mechanical linkages?

Yes, Solvespace can be used for simulating mechanical linkages. Its constraint solver enables the design and analysis of both planar and spatial linkages with various joint types, making it effective for mechanism design.

What are the primary limitations of Solvespace?

Solvespace may have a steeper learning curve compared to commercial CAD software, and its user interface might be less polished than paid alternatives. Additionally, its community support might be smaller than for widely adopted commercial tools.

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