Best Architectural Cad Software Mac

Architectural CAD software help architects to design as well as a document more effectively and efficiently. Using this layer management is possible as well as drawings can be created in 2D or 3D. Using these CAD Software floors, doors, stairs, walls, roofs etc can be composed of the 2D plan. If there are changes and doors or windows are removed, the walls mend themselves. Columns, beams, and slabs too can be created. These allow annotation of rooms to be done too.

Apr 05, 2020  The all-exclusive ecosystem of the Mac operating system has in some cases made it difficult for independent software developers to build apps for Apple’s computers. And the computer-aided design developing community which has been a victim of this, currently produce CAD applications to run on other operating systems—Windows, Linux—while shunning the Mac OS.

ZWCAD

This software is used for architects who want immediate work done. It has content libraries as well as various tools which help to make the workflow more efficient. It automates the task of drafting and it reduces errors while increasing the efficiency.

Chief Architect

This helps in remodeling as well as for designing. It is used for 3D Rendering, it has modeling tools and using it construction drawings, as well as elevations, can be created. This has orthographic and perspective 3D camera tools and one can take virtual tours using this software. It allows for perspective layout views and more.

LUMION 7.0

This software is easy to learn and using it videos as well as images can be created, even 360-degree panoramas. It helps with architectural visualizations. There are skies, water, material, people, plants, trees and more than can be added. It has a huge library of artistic effects.

SketchUp

This has usability and functionality as well without compromising on either. You can copy, stretch, rotate and paint anything. It allows for 3D projects to be created, you can choose the drawing scales, dimensions, graphics, call outs and more. You can even export to PDF files, images or CAD files.

CADlogic

This software is easy to use and it does not have restrictions. It allows for high efficiency, accuracy, and minimization of repetitive designing. It is usable in building designs, structural designs as well as various forms of engineering.

Punch! Home & Landscape Design Architectural Series v19

This allows for easy editing of objects, customization of building materials, it allows for the precise and fast creation of symbols using the ready-made tools, you can create plans, furniture, there are panning, cutaway tools and more.

CYCAS CAD 2D + 3D + ARCHITECTURE

This software help in the creation of technical drawings as they had a number of construction and modification tools as well as various selection tools to measure and snap objects to place.

TurboCAD 2016 Professional

QCAD

Dream Plan Home Design Software

ILEXSOFT HighDesign 2017

MyArchiCAD for Windows

This software is designed for Windows Operating Systems. This is used for generating of associative documentation and you can create a virtual building model. It is great for schools, educational institutions and professional users alike. It has a Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing modeler which is used for creation or editing and even of importing of networks such as piping, ductwork, and cable trays.

ARES® Commander for Mac

This is designed for Mac, Linux, and Windows devices. It has a user-friendly environment and there are various features to increase productivity. This comes in 14 languages and it has a programming interface for various programming languages. This uses .dwg as the main format.

CAD Touch Free for Android

This is developed for Android devices and has a multitouch interface which is precise and flexible. It offers support for imperial measure units and decimal support as well. It does not require internet connectivity and you can share and save the work in PDF, PNG and DWG formats.

AutoCAD Architecture – Most Popular Software

This is one of the most popular software. It is used to draw shapes accurately and quickly as well as modify the outlines of the roof using precisely controlled measurements. It helps in producing renovations more efficiently and confirming of styles of walls, doors, and windows before adding.

These software helps in the creation of technical drawings as they had a number of construction and modification tools as well as various selection tools and tools to measure and snap objects to place.

If you’re looking for CAD software for Mac, you’re not without options. We’ve found some standout Mac and cloud-based CAD platforms for you.

You’re likely to hit a wall if you’re searching for computer-aided design (CAD) software designed for Mac. There are plenty of CAD software options for Windows—you’ll see many of them in our list of the top AutoCAD alternatives—but only a handful offer support for Mac.

And, if you think you’ll bypass the issue by using a cloud-based CAD tool, you’ll quickly find that CAD vendors haven’t embraced the cloud as much as other types of software vendors have, so the offerings are still largely on-premise. According to Gartner’s Hype Cycle for IT Evolution (full content available to Gartner clients), cloud-native CAD applications still have five to 10 years before they reach mainstream adoption.

But fear not, Mac users. We’ve done some digging and have put together this list of the top-rated CAD software for Mac. Read more about our methodology at the bottom of this article.

5 Best CAD Software for Mac (presented alphabetically)

Jump to:

• 
  CorelCAD
• 
  FreeCAD
• 
  Fusion 360
• 
  LibreCAD
• 
  Onshape

1. CorelCAD

CorelCAD offers 2D drafting and 3D design capabilities, such as the drawing constraints feature for creating different geometric shapes faster and the push and pull feature for 3D direct modeling.

3D modeling in CorelCAD (Source)

Best Architectural Cad Software Mac Download

Common user feedback trends

Based on analyses of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of CorelCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• The short learning curve: Users mention that the tool is easy to use and beginners don’t have to spend a lot of time learning it.
• Compatibility with multiple file types: Users like the fact that the tool is compatible with DWG, PDF, ACIS, DXF, STL, CDR, and other file formats.

What users think could be improved:

• Software reliability issues: Some users mention that the software tends to crash at times.
• Better dimension functionality: Some users would like a better dimensioning feature for more accurate drawings of angles and proportions.

Who can use CorelCAD

CorelCAD can be used by construction businesses for collaborative editing on multiple devices. It offers native iOS applications, which makes it easy for field crews to add annotations in graphics and share files using their iPhones and iPads. Additionally, the tool allows team members to leave recorded messages and instructions for colleagues embedded in the graphics using a voice note tool.

2. FreeCAD

FreeCAD is an open source CAD tool that works on Mac as well as Windows and Linux. It reads many common file formats such as STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC, and DAE.

It offers different modules, including a drawing sheets module that converts 3D models into 2D views, a rendering module that can export 3D objects, and an architecture module for a BIM-like workflow.

3D model of a building in FreeCAD (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of FreeCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• Feature-richness for a free tool: Users mention that, although it’s free, the tool comes with a full set of features.
• Reliability: Users mention that the tool does not demand a lot of CPU power and works well on devices with low RAM.

What users think could be improved:

• Steep learning curve: Users mention that the tool is not the most user-friendly solution and can be difficult for beginners to learn.
• Dependent on community for updates: Users mention that modules ignored by the community tend to become outdated quickly.

Who can use FreeCAD

FreeCAD appears to be best for hobbyists and home users. It’s also good for users who don’t have a high budget for software but still want to tinker with CAD modeling.

FreeCAD could also be a good choice for businesses on a budget looking for a free and open-source option.

3. Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is a CAD tool from Autodesk with design functionalities such as sketching and 3D modeling. It also supports project management with features such as task management, document management, and collaborative image editing.

Document management in Fusion 360 (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of Fusion 360 they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• Comprehensive design features: User mention that the tool offers all the functionalities necessary for 2D and 3D designing.
• Availability of training resources: Users like the fact that the tool comes with ample documentation and tutorials.

What users think could be improved:

• System crashes: Users mention that the tool tends to crash, especially when designing and rendering large files.
• Steep learning curve: Users mention that it can take a lot of time to learn the advanced functionalities of the tool.

Who can use Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is part of the Autodesk ecosystem designed for the AEC industry. This makes the tool suitable for construction businesses that are already using, or intend to use, other Autodesk solutions. Using a software vendor that offers multiple solutions will especially benefit larger businesses that invariably need software that can scale with their growing requirements.

4. LibreCAD

LibreCAD is an open source CAD tool that supports Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. The tool comes with 2D drawing features such as a snap tool, dimensioning, and annotations. It also supports multiple file imports and exports.

2D drawing in LibreCAD (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of LibreCAD they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• Ease of use: Users mention that the tool offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
• Lots of tutorials: Users like the fact that there are ample video tutorials that help them get started with the tool.

What users think could be improved:

• Software speed: Users mention that the software tends to lag, especially when trying to print designs.
• Add support for 3D design: Users would like to see functionalities for creating 3D designs.

Who can use LibreCAD

LibreCAD is an exclusively 2D CAD tool for drawing and designing blueprints of buildings, layouts of parks, and the like. As a free tool, the solution can be used by small and midsize businesses across different industries, including manufacturing, engineering, architecture, and construction.

5. Onshape

Onshape is a cloud-only CAD solution that comes with features such as document management with version control, collaborative design creation/editing capabilities, and reporting dashboards to understand project status.

Importing documents in Onshape (Source)

Common user feedback trends

Based on analysis of user reviews on Capterra, here’s an overview of the areas of Onshape they like best, as well as those they feel could use improvement.

What users like:

• Document version control: Users like the document management features of the tool, such as version history.
• Intuitive interface: Users mention that the tool comes with an intuitive interface for easy image editing.

What users think could be improved:

• Performance issues: Some users mention that the tool does not function well on non-Chrome browsers and has file loading issues.
• Lack of features: Users mention that the tool should improve certain features such as 2D drawing and 3D surfacing.

Who can use Onshape

As a fully-cloud based tool, Onshape is ideal for businesses that need to manage design documents collaboratively with multiple stakeholders. The tool’s collaboration functionalities include document sharing, document editing, comments, and file downloads in multiple CAD formats, such as Parasolid, ACIS, STEP, and IGES.

Next steps

This report offers a mix of Mac CAD solutions—from free tools that can help you with basic 2D drawing to advanced solutions offering extensive 3D modeling functionalities.

If these tools don’t meet your needs, expand your search and check out more options. To help you, we’ve created a CAD software comparison page where you can explore products using different filters, such as features offered and pricing options.

Methodology

Best Architectural Cad Software Mac Free

To be shortlisted, products had to fulfill the following criteria:

• Products had to be compatible with Mac and offer core CAD software capabilities, such as:
  • 2D drawing or 3D modeling features
  • Collaborative editing of drawings
• Products needed a minimum of 20 user reviews on Capterra (published in the last two years).
• Products had to have a high overall rating (an average of at least 4 out of 5 on Capterra).

Best Architectural Cad Software For Mac

Note: The content in this piece that provides opinions and points of view expressed by users. It does not represent the views of Capterra.

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Looking for Construction Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Construction Management software solutions.