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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    FreeCAD

    Score8 out of 10
    N/AFreeCAD is an open-source CAD software that specialized in 3D design. New features are added to FreeCAD by an active community of developers.N/A

    NX CAD

    Score8.1 out of 10
    N/ASiemens NX software is an integrated product design solution that helps deliver products faster and more efficiently. NX delivers design, simulation, and manufacturing solutions that enable companies to realize the value of the digital twin.N/A
    Pricing
    FreeCADNX CAD
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    FreeCADNX CAD
    Free Trial
    NoYes
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    FreeCADNX CAD
    Considered Both Products
    FreeCAD
    No answer on this topic
    Siemens AG
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    No answers on this topic
    96%
    Would buy again
    26 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    No answers on this topic
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    17 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    No answers on this topic
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    27 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    92%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    11 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    No answers on this topic
    88%
    Implementation went as expected
    15 Answers
    Features
    FreeCADNX CAD
    Computer-Aided Design Software
    Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of FreeCAD and NX CAD
    Feature
    FreeCAD
    7.4
    1 Ratings
    4% above category average
    NX CAD
    7.6
    5 Ratings
    7% above category average
    3D Modeling7.01 Ratings8.75 Ratings
    2D Drafting6.01 Ratings8.85 Ratings
    Rendering and Visualization5.01 Ratings5.94 Ratings
    Parametric Design7.01 Ratings8.45 Ratings
    Collaboration and Sharing5.01 Ratings6.54 Ratings
    Compatibility with other software and formats9.01 Ratings7.65 Ratings
    Assembly Design7.01 Ratings8.35 Ratings
    Simulation and Analysis10.01 Ratings7.33 Ratings
    Documentation and Annotation8.01 Ratings7.15 Ratings
    Customization and Extensions10.01 Ratings7.45 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    FreeCADNX CAD
    Small Businesses
    Onshape
    Score9.9 out of 10
    Onshape
    Score9.9 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Onshape
    Score9.9 out of 10
    Onshape
    Score9.9 out of 10
    Enterprises
    PTC Creo
    Score5.5 out of 10
    PTC Creo
    Score5.5 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    FreeCADNX CAD
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.0
    (2 ratings)
    8.1
    (28 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.5
    (7 ratings)
    Usability
    6.0
    (1 ratings)
    7.3
    (8 ratings)
    Support Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.3
    (3 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.4
    (3 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    FreeCADNX CAD
    Likelihood to Recommend
    FreeCAD
    I see FreeCad as the perfect solution for a startup with limited resources that want to save as much as possible and doesn't mind using non-standard 3D CAD software, i.e., it's not required by customers to use specific software for compatibility. It's perfect for hobbyist use and makers who don't care about brands and pay monthly fees. I see it as very well suited for small businesses that need FEA (finite element analysis) and can't/don't want to pay huge amounts of money for it, just like us. I see FreeCad as less appropriate for big corporations or well-established businesses that need standardized solutions, compatibility with clients or good version management. Don't get me wrong, it can get the job done, but it will be much slower than state-of-the-art CAD systems.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    There is perfect integration between NX CAD and NX CAM modules with less data loss. Better graphical interface and simplified commands makes NX CAD a better software then others. The tool has scope to develop an algorithm for generating surfaces from the point data. Include of option to convert .STL to any CAD format will be helpful. The connectivity of splines laying in different planes can be improvised.
    Incentivized
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    Pros
    FreeCAD
    • Importing CAD formats
    • Converting mesh formats to solid and surface objects geometry
    • Fixing errors in geometry cad
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Siemens AG
    • Seamless interaction across multiple departments.
    • The software allows you to create a very high level of control and organization within your engineering staff. This reduces the companies mistakes and maximizes productivity.
    • The software makes it very easy to track your product through every phase of the production cycle.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    FreeCAD
    • Overall, the UI feels very old and non-polished.
    • There are some quirky behaviors, like being unable to select a plane by having the cursor over it; it has to be over the edges of the plane.
    • It's overwhelming having those many modules and options for doing things that appear to be similar.
    Incentivized
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    Siemens AG
    • Keeping the colors of surfaces if volume bodies are linked
    • Show and keep symbolic threads
    • For me, I miss more information why a surface can't be deleted or a radius is not possible. And maybe a solution, how could it look like, if NX CAD adds a new surface.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    FreeCAD
    No answers on this topic
    Siemens AG
    possibility of integration and customization
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    FreeCAD
    Usability is awkward. Perhaps if you learn it as your first CAD, it will feel OK. Still, it comes from commercial CAD products like mine (Onshape, Solid Works, Inventor, Solid Edge). You will feel it is less intuitive, with a less polished UI, difficult to customize and, this is a subjective one, less serious. I'd love to see it improve the usability and UI. I believe the engine behind it is powerful, but how you interact with the software is still lacking.
    Incentivized
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    Siemens AG
    Siemens NX CAD has been has been simple in design & user interface. It is best among the competitors. It can develop heavy models & designs with very ease. It has Layers options for arranging multiple assemblies in the same file. It does not require heavy system investment & works fine on professional PCs
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    FreeCAD
    No answers on this topic
    Siemens AG
    NX CAD version is going out of support after only 12 months. Changes will not be implemented after 12 months from prodcution
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    FreeCAD
    No answers on this topic
    Siemens AG
    the manitenance period is too small for our implementation timeline
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    FreeCAD
    Freecad is used often when receiving files from multiple sources and the need to work with cad in various forms from meshes to solid cad. Often when receiving scans of 3d objects the format is easy to work with and convert to traditional cad later on. There is no other cad that can bridge the gap between all the cad formats that we found yet.
    Incentivized
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    Siemens AG
    NX CAD is very good for interoperability between different three dimensional modelling softwares, it can convert to .jt models, from native format such as .CATPart, .CATProduct, and ones from SOLIDWORKS. Also it is integrated to Siemens Teamcenter, which also enables other downstream workflow, such as Tecnomatix Process Simulate. Other software packages would need more integration effort to make this possible
    Incentivized
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    Return on Investment
    FreeCAD
    • It has allowed us to do some cad work that no other systems has allowed us to do and is key to getting that done fast
    • It has lots of online support through forums and blogs for trouble shooting
    • It could have an updated interface to make the functionality more user friendly for first time users
    Incentivized
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    Siemens AG
    • The software itself is pretty expensive compared to other CAD-systems.
    • Implementation is not out of the box, it requires a lot of consulting and iteration cycles.
    • On the positive side is to mention the seamless of downstream functionalities, from product development to manufacturing and visualization, etc.
    Incentivized
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    ScreenShots

    NX CAD Screenshots

    Screenshot of NX technology can generate multiple design options. (It's like having an extra employee dedicated to "trying out" different designs.) Then Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) can be used to generate the part.Screenshot of Studies show an inordinate amount of time can be spent by designers as they look for previous or similar parts. The software can search for similarly-shaped parts.Screenshot of NX has the ability to validate a part (or assembly) and its adherence to standards, collisions, and manufacturability.Screenshot of Virtual inspection and mark up full sized assemblies.Screenshot of a rendering created from the actual product design. Notice the lighting and surface realism.