List of the Top 6 CAD Viewers in 2025

ACTCAD is an excellent tool for creating professional drawings tailored for various fields such as architecture, structural and civil engineering, mechanical design, electrical schematics, interior design, and tool and machine design. This professional-grade CAD software supports both 2D drafting and 3D modeling while utilizing dwg and dxf file formats, making it one of the most cost-effective options available. As a native dwg/dxf software, ActCAD is ideal for a wide range of drafting and modeling projects and has garnered the trust of over 30,000 users across more than 103 countries for over a decade. Its interface and command structure closely resemble those of other well-known CAD tools, allowing existing CAD users to transition without any learning curve while saving up to 80% on costs. ActCAD provides flexible licensing options, including single-user licenses, and offers unlimited free email technical support to all users. Additionally, it allows for full customization and the development of programs using a free API toolkit, supporting popular programming languages such as Lisp, DCL, .NET, and C++. Beyond standard commands, ActCAD includes a variety of productivity-enhancing features like a PDF to CAD converter, extensive block libraries, an image to CAD converter, and the ability to manage point sets between CAD and Excel, making it a versatile choice for professionals seeking efficiency in their design projects. With its comprehensive set of tools and user-friendly interface, ActCAD proves to be an indispensable asset for anyone involved in technical design work.

JigSpace serves as the entry point into the realm of spatial computing. Our interactive presentations, known as Jigs, seamlessly blend 3D visuals with audio, video, and text, facilitating a step-by-step experience that significantly improves the clarity of intricate products, concepts, or processes. • Dive deep: Explore your products with unprecedented detail. Engage with meticulously designed content that prioritizes clarity and provides an immersive communication experience. • Astonishing realism: The Apple Vision Pro's 4K textures, along with high-fidelity CAD files, ensure that presentations convey an authentic feel, making them incredibly lifelike. • Natural interaction: Interact with Jigs effortlessly using your hands. Disassemble components, add notes, and investigate in a hands-on way that boosts both interaction and comprehension. • Seamless collaboration: With SharePlay, you can gather all the essential stakeholders in one virtual space, ensuring that critical business information is effectively communicated. This capability transforms how teams work together and share ideas.

Access a complimentary online 3D viewer that allows you to open STEP, IGES, and OBJ files straight from your web browser. This versatile tool is compatible with all devices, including PCs, tablets, and mobile phones, ensuring a seamless experience regardless of your choice of technology. You'll enjoy the convenience of viewing complex 3D models without the need for any additional software.

Shapr3D is a user-friendly and versatile 3D modeling application designed for iPadOS and macOS, ensuring seamless integration with all leading desktop CAD software. It allows users to import projects and export their creations effortlessly from various rendering, manufacturing, or splicing applications. BENEATH THE SURFACE The technology and software behind Shapr3D merge the robust capabilities of traditional desktop CAD tools with an engaging user-friendly experience. Users of Shapr3D benefit from a suite of advanced features, including a proven Siemens™ and Parasolid™ geometric modeling kernel, along with the D-Cubed™ sketch engine. The application supports high-resolution exports in formats such as X_T, STEP, STL, OBJ, 2DDXF, 2DDWG, and USDZ, while also enabling imports in formats like SLDPRT, SLDASM, STL, STEP, IGES, X_T, 2D DWG, 2D FXF, JPG, and PNG. Moreover, Shapr3D offers offline functionality and local storage for all Macs that are compatible with Big Sur (11.0 or later), ensuring accessibility even without internet connectivity. This software provides a modeling experience that facilitates smooth input from both keyboard and mouse, enhancing creativity and productivity for users.

Open CascadeCAD Assistant serves as an offline 3D CAD viewer and converter, featuring a user-friendly interface that is available for free for both personal and commercial purposes. Initially designed to demonstrate the capabilities of Open CASCADE Technology on mobile devices, it has garnered a substantial user base across desktops and mobile platforms globally, proving to be a quick and efficient 3D visualization tool. This application empowers engineers working with 3D data by leveraging open technologies, maximizing accessibility and functionality. Built on open-source libraries such as Open CASCADE Technology, Qt, FreeType, and FreeImage, it supports a wide array of open formats for CAD and mesh data, including STEP, IFC, IGES, BREP, glTF, JT, PLY, STL, OBJ, and 3DM. In addition to these capabilities, it can handle various other file types like DXF and SAT (ACIS), as well as XT (Parasolid). Moreover, CAD Assistant provides additional features that allow users to view mesh models along with their corresponding data, making it versatile for different use cases. With the ability to import and display files in PLY format, users can easily visualize mesh structures.

VariCAD stands out as a versatile CAD software designed for both 3D and 2D applications, catering specifically to the needs of mechanical engineering professionals. This robust tool enables designers to swiftly create, assess, and refine their models, all bundled in a comprehensive package that includes every necessary feature. With its exceptional balance of performance and affordability, VariCAD is considered one of the top choices available today. The software is not only compact and user-friendly, but it also encompasses all essential tools required for mechanical design. Key components of VariCAD feature: - 3D modeling capabilities - 2D drawing and editing functions - Optional parameter support - Optional geometrical constraint support - Modeling for shells, pipelines, and wires - Interference detection for crash analysis - 3D assemblies and grouping functionalities - Surface development tools for sheet metal unbending - Extensive symbol libraries and mechanical part catalogs - Calculative tools for 3D objects and 2D sections - Bill of Materials (BOM) generation and title block creation This makes VariCAD not only a practical choice but also a comprehensive solution for engineers looking to enhance their design processes.