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FreeCAD vs. Fusion 360—A Comprehensive Comparison
What’s the difference between these two 3D printing software options?
When you’re 3D printing, whether for mass production or prototyping, the software you use is arguably the most important factor in the whole process and can make or break your project. Two of the most common 3D software options are FreeCAD and Fusion 360, which we’ll look at in more detail in this article. Read on to find out which one is the best for your needs.
What is FreeCAD?
FreeCAD is a completely free and open-source computer-aided design (CAD) package—its source code is available under an LGPL-2.0 License which means it is free even for commercial use. It’s used to make parametric 3D models (those with dimensions that can be changed without having to redraw the entire model each time). FreeCAD’s open-source nature allows users to access and modify its source code, enabling customizations not possible with most commercial CAD tools. It has a computer-aided engineering (CAE) component that can be used to simulate how a part reacts to a load. It also has an experimental computational fluid dynamics (CFD) module, as well as some limited computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) functionality for preparing parts for CNC machining.
FreeCAD’s powerful 3D modeling workspace can compete with many commercial CAD packages, but it does have a steep learning curve and lacks formal technical support because of its community-driven nature (it’s not backed by a tech company). The software is continuously being improved and developed, which may come at the cost of some application stability—nothing new when it comes to open-source software packages. While it works with most open CAD formats, it doesn’t support a number of proprietary formats.
What is Fusion 360?
Fusion 360 is a cloud-connected engineering tool developed by Autodesk with an excellent set of features that assist engineers throughout the entire lifecycle of product development. It has a robust collaborative function that allows teams to work on projects without having to be in the same location. Like FreeCAD, Fusion 360 is also a parametric-style 3D modeling package. It has a wide range of features that include standard 3D modeling, and a very capable CAE module that includes features like FEA (Finite Element Analysis), mold analysis, motion analysis, and generative design. Fusion 360 also has an excellent CAM module that is regularly updated. This software runs more of its processor-intensive functions, such as simulation and rendering, in the cloud. This results in a significantly faster turnaround time to generate an output when making use of these computationally intensive functions.
Fusion 360 is easier to learn compared to FreeCAD, has a modern user interface, can import a wide range of proprietary file formats, and has a large, active user community. Multiple subscription models are also available at different price points. However, the pricing can get complicated, as Fusion 360 makes use of a token system to access some of its more advanced CAE and CAM features. For example, some types of FEA simulations will require more tokens to run and therefore cost more money. Fusion 360 does have free versions, but these have relatively limited capabilities when compared to the paid versions.
FreeCAD vs. Fusion 360 — Use Cases and Applications
FreeCAD has many of the modeling features found in premium CAD packages. It is primarily used for mechanical engineering and product design tasks and is used extensively for designing mechanical components and assemblies. Similarly, Fusion 360 is widely used in product design but offers a more polished user experience with built-in cloud collaboration. While both tools support assemblies, neither can manage large, complex assemblies like Solidworks or Autodesk Inventor. If projects aren’t too complicated, FreeCAD can assist engineers with all of the tasks required throughout a product's complete lifecycle, from initial modeling, through simulation using an FEA (Finite Element Analysis) solver, to manufacturing simulation and control using its CAM package. Fusion 360 offers an integrated and polished solution for design, simulation (FEA, generative design), and CAM, with cloud-based processing that can outpace FreeCAD in efficiency.
FreeCAD also has a powerful architectural modeling toolkit that makes it relatively easy to create architectural plans and can be used to create photorealistic renderings for marketing purposes. Fusion 360 does not include specialized architectural tools and focuses primarily on product design and engineering applications. For architectural needs, Autodesk provides other tailored solutions suggesting that Fusion 360 is not designed for this domain.
FreeCAD vs. Fusion 360 — System Requirements
FreeCAD and Fusion 360 have a smaller footprint when compared to more feature-rich CAD packages like the already mentioned Solidworks and Autodesk Inventor. On one hand, FreeCAD can be run on almost any hardware, provided the GPU supports OpenGL (a programming interface used in rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics). On the other hand, performance may be limited when handling complex models on lower-end systems. For comparison, Fusion 360 cannot be run on lower-end systems. Table 1 indicates the recommended system requirements for Fusion 360 and FreeCAD:
| Requirement | FreeCAD | Fusion 360 |
|---|---|---|
Operating system | Windows 8 (or newer), macOS, Linux 10.13 High Sierra or newer, Linux | Windows 10 or newer, macOS 13 Ventura or newer |
Processor | 64 Bit Processor (multi-core recommended) | x86-64 processor 2 performance cores, 4 threads 3GHz+ turbo clock rate (Windows) 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor or Apple silicon M1 chip (macOS) |
Memory (RAM) | > 4 GB (as models become larger and more complex, it’s a good idea to upgrade to 8 GB) | > 8 GB (minimum of 4 GB, but at least 8 GB for larger and more complex models will be a smoother experience) |
Display card | Compatible with OpenGL | 1GB Memory - Dedicated/Integrated Graphics - DirectX11 (Windows) 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor or Apple silicon M1 chip (macOS) |
Disk space | > 1GB | > 8.5 GB |
Internet | n/a | 5 Mbps download; 1 Mbps upload |
FreeCAD vs. Fusion 360 — System Requirements
Supported CAD Formats
The below infographic shows the different CAD formats supported by FreeCAD and Fusion.
Comparison Table
The below table provides a side-by-side look at these two 3D software options to help you choose the best one for your needs.
| Factor | FreeCAD | Fusion 360 |
|---|---|---|
Price | Completely free to use and modify | Monthly plan: $85 Annual plan: $680 3-year plan: $2,040 Token system with various pricing for advanced CAE and CAM features |
Learning curve | Quite steep, not very intuitive, some tools are difficult to locate | Fairly easy, with built-in tutorials |
User experience | A dated user interface, not as polished and streamlined as Fusion 360. Better for simpler designs | A modern, easy-to-understand user interface (this could change from one software version to the next, which can be confusing at first) |
Customer support and community | No formal customer support, but has an active community where users can ask questions in a forum or social media and get answers from other, more experienced users. | Has formal customer support, and a very active forum and social media where users and Autodesk employees answer questions. Has a much larger online presence than FreeCAD, with thousands of video tutorials. |
FreeCAD vs. Fusion Comparisons
FAQs on FreeCAD and Fusion 360
Is FreeCAD easier to use than Fusion 360?
How stable are FreeCAD and Fusion 360?
Are there any alternatives to FreeCAD and Fusion 360?
How Unofactory Can Help
To learn more about 3D printing software, 3D printing file types, or machinery, feel free to reach out to an Unofactory representative. Did you know that we offer a wide range of manufacturing capabilities? Our forte is 3D printing and we provide services for all of your prototyping and production needs. Visit our website to learn more or to request your free, no-obligation quote.
Copyright and Trademark Notices
- Fusion®, Autodesk Inventor®, and Autodesk® are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.
- Windows® is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
- macOS is a trademark of Apple Inc.
- Ubuntu is a trademark of Canonical Ltd.
Supported CAD Formats
The below infographic shows the different CAD formats supported by FreeCAD and Fusion.
Supported CAD formats for FreeCAD and FusionComparison Table
The below table provides a side-by-side look at these two 3D software options to help you choose the best one for your needs.
Factor FreeCAD Fusion 360 PriceCompletely free to use and modifyMonthly plan: $85 Annual plan: $680 3-year plan: $2,040 Token system with various pricing for advanced CAE and CAM featuresLearning curveQuite steep, not very intuitive, some tools are difficult to locateFairly easy, with built-in tutorialsUser experienceA dated user interface, not as polished and streamlined as Fusion 360. Better for simpler designsA modern, easy-to-understand user interface (this could change from one software version to the next, which can be confusing at first)Customer support and communityNo formal customer support, but has an active community where users can ask questions in a forum or social media and get answers from other, more experienced users.Has formal customer support, and a very active forum and social media where users and Autodesk employees answer questions. Has a much larger online presence than FreeCAD, with thousands of video tutorials.FreeCAD vs. Fusion Comparisons
FAQs on FreeCAD and Fusion 360
Is FreeCAD easier to use than Fusion 360?
How stable are FreeCAD and Fusion 360?
Are there any alternatives to FreeCAD and Fusion 360?
How Unofactory Can Help
To learn more about 3D printing software, 3D printing file types, or machinery, feel free to reach out to an Unofactory representative. Did you know that we offer a wide range of manufacturing capabilities? Our forte is 3D printing and we provide services for all of your prototyping and production needs. Visit our website to learn more or to request your free, no-obligation quote.
Copyright and Trademark Notices
- Fusion®, Autodesk Inventor®, and Autodesk® are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.
- Windows® is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
- macOS is a trademark of Apple Inc.
- Ubuntu is a trademark of Canonical Ltd.
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