Both are parametric. FreeCAD's site says you can go back into the model history and change parameters, and you build features from constrained 2D sketches. Onshape's free plan includes tools for parts, assemblies, drawings, sheet metal and weldments.
The main split is where the software and your files live. FreeCAD is a desktop download. Onshape runs in the browser with built-in data management, and on the free plan all documents are accessible to the public.
FreeCAD and Onshape side by side
| Feature | FreeCAD | Onshape |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | FreeCAD open-source project; builds signed by the FreeCAD project association AISBL | Onshape, owned by PTC since 2019 |
| License | LGPL-2.1 (open source) | Proprietary (software as a service) |
| Price | Free | Free plan; Standard $1,500 and Professional $2,500 per user per year; Enterprise custom |
| Free-tier limits | None; FreeCAD says no sign-up, no paywall and no restrictions | Non-commercial use only; all documents are public |
| Platforms | Windows 10 or later, macOS 12 or later (Intel and Apple Silicon), Linux (x86_64 and aarch64 AppImage) | Web browser on PC, Mac, Linux and Chrome; iOS and Android apps |
| Browser or system requirements | 64-bit system; no hardware minimums listed | WebGL-capable browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari (macOS only) or Edge |
| Latest release | 1.1.4, released September 28, 2026 | Release 1.223, October 30, 2026 |
| Modeling and history | Parametric history with constrained sketches; OpenCASCADE kernel | Feature history, with view-only versions and branches |
| Collaboration | Not verified | Real-time collaboration and sharing, which Onshape compares to Google Docs |
| File formats | Reads and writes STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC, DAE and others | Imports Parasolid, STEP, IGES, SOLIDWORKS, Inventor, CATIA, NX and more; exports STEP, IGES, STL, OBJ, 3MF and more |
| Other tools | Workbenches for FEM, CAM/CNC, BIM and more; Python API | Professional plan adds simulation, rendering, CAM, ECAD/MCAD exchange and release management |
Checked November 2, 2026 against FreeCAD 1.1.4 (released September 28, 2026) and Onshape release 1.223 (October 30, 2026, from Onshape's changelog). FreeCAD 26.3 was at its second release candidate (October 18, 2026). Onshape prices are as listed on its pricing page in US dollars.
Cost and privacy
FreeCAD's repository carries the LGPL-2.1, and its site says there are no licensing fees, no sign-up, no paywall and no restrictions. You can use it for paid and private work.
Onshape's free plan costs nothing but is for non-commercial use, and its pricing page says all documents on it are accessible to the public. Private storage starts with the Standard plan at $1,500 per user per year; the Professional plan, at $2,500, adds company-managed data, release management, simulation, rendering and CAM. Onshape also runs free programs for students, educators and qualifying startups.
Desktop or browser
FreeCAD 1.1.4 ships 64-bit downloads for Windows 10 and later, macOS 12 Monterey and later on Intel and Apple Silicon, and Linux AppImages for x86_64 and aarch64. The release fixes two security issues triggered by maliciously crafted FCStd files, so update if you open files from others.
Onshape runs in a browser, with apps for iOS and Android, and its help center says there is no software to download and the browser version updates automatically. It needs a browser with WebGL; Onshape lists Chrome, Firefox, Safari on macOS and Edge.
History, versions and teamwork
FreeCAD organizes tools into workbenches, from sketch-based part design to finite element analysis, CAM/CNC and BIM. Its README says it is built on the OpenCASCADE geometry kernel and offers a broad Python API.
Onshape builds data management into every document. Its help center describes view-only versions that you can branch into new workspaces and compare against other history entries, so you can try a change without disturbing the main design.
Getting to the printer
Both export the usual slicer formats. FreeCAD lists STL, OBJ and STEP among the formats it reads and writes. Onshape exports parts and assemblies to STL, 3MF and OBJ, and its changelog notes updated STL export options. To move a design between the two, use STEP; Onshape says its STEP export carries geometry, MBD data and face color, not the feature history.
Which should you choose?
Choose FreeCAD if…
- You want CAD with no fees, no account and no limits on commercial use.
- You want your files kept private without paying for a plan.
- You want to script your CAD with Python or use FEM, CAM or BIM workbenches.
Choose Onshape if…
- You want to work from any device, including a Chromebook, iPad or phone.
- You collaborate with others and want version branching built in.
- You import native files from other CAD systems such as SOLIDWORKS, CATIA or NX.
Common questions
Can I use Onshape's free plan for commercial work?
No. Onshape says the free plan is for non-commercial use and that its documents are public. Commercial and private work needs a paid plan, starting with Standard at $1,500 per user per year.
Can FreeCAD open Onshape designs?
Export from Onshape as STEP, which FreeCAD reads and writes. You get the solid geometry but not Onshape's feature history, so you would rebuild editable features in FreeCAD.
Which works on a Chromebook?
Onshape lists Chrome among the platforms for its free plan, since it runs in the browser. FreeCAD's downloads cover Windows, macOS and Linux.
Sources
- FreeCAD 1.1.4 release notes FreeCAD project on GitHub · Checked 2026-11-02
- PTC completes acquisition of Onshape PTC Inc. · Checked 2026-11-02
- FreeCAD repository, README and LICENSE FreeCAD project on GitHub · Checked 2026-11-02
- Onshape pricing and plans Onshape (PTC) · Checked 2026-11-02
- FreeCAD official website FreeCAD project · Checked 2026-11-02
- Onshape Free plan Onshape (PTC) · Checked 2026-11-02
- FreeCAD downloads (supported systems) FreeCAD project · Checked 2026-11-02
- Getting started with Onshape (mobile requirements) Onshape Help · Checked 2026-11-02
- Onshape hardware and graphics performance recommendations Onshape Help · Checked 2026-11-02
- Onshape changelog Onshape (PTC) · Checked 2026-11-02
- Onshape versioning and branching Onshape Help · Checked 2026-11-02
- Onshape supported file formats Onshape · Checked 2026-11-02
This comparison summarizes the cited documentation; it is not a lab test. Features and prices change between releases; check the developer’s site for the current version.