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FreeCAD vs Alibre Design: catalog facts
FreeCAD	Alibre Design
Free Free and open source, funded by donations and sponsorship.	Paid Paid licences with a free trial; add-ons are sold separately.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows
Parametric: change a dimension and the model updates through its history Sketch constrained 2D geometry and build 3D objects on top of it	Parametric part and assembly modeling Weldments module for structural assemblies in the Expert edition
Workbenches vary a lot in polish and consistency CAD concepts plus FreeCAD’s own conventions make for a long learning curve	Paid software; advanced features require higher editions or add-ons Smaller user community than the largest CAD suites
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: LGPL-2.1	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 20, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.