Is AutoCAD for Mac as full-featured as AutoCAD for Windows?

Close but not identical. AutoCAD for Mac has nearly full 2D and 3D feature parity in 2026, but plugins and LISP routines that ship Windows-only DLLs remain unsupported. Heavy Civil 3D / Plant 3D users should still keep a Windows seat.

Do native macOS CAD apps run on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)?

Every tool on this list either ships a native arm64 build, runs in Rosetta 2 without major slowdown, or has a publicly-stated Apple Silicon roadmap.

Which CAD tools are Mac-only?

Vectorworks and ArchiCAD have particularly strong Mac heritage. Shapr3D ships a polished native macOS / iPadOS combo.

Best CAD Software for macOS in 2026 (59 Tools)

macOS has gone from CAD afterthought to a credible primary platform in 2026. Apple Silicon's unified memory and on-die GPU make M-series Macs surprisingly competitive for 3D modeling and architectural visualisation, while native Cocoa CAD apps have matured well beyond the old AutoCAD-for-Mac days. Below are every macOS-compatible CAD, BIM, CAE, and EDA tool in our catalog — sorted by expert score and review weight, with a clear callout for tools that ship a true native Mac build versus those that require Crossover, Parallels, or a Windows VM.

1.
RC
RootPro CADFreemium · Windows / macOS
★ 70.0/5
RootPro CAD is 2D general-purpose CAD software that can create design drawings for various fields such as mechanical, architecture, civil engineering, and electronics.
2.
AA
Alias AutoStudiofrom $12000 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.9/5
Industrial design and automotive styling software.
3.
M
Mayafrom $1875 · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.9/5
3D animation, modeling, and simulation software.
4.
R3
Rhino 3Dfrom $995 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.9/5
The industry standard for complex NURBS modeling and computational design.
5.
A
ArchiCADfrom $1800 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.8/5
The BIM software of choice for design-oriented architects.
6.
A
AutoCADfrom $255 · Windows / macOS / Web / Android / iOS
★ 4.8/5
The global industrial standard for 2D drafting and 3D modeling.
7.
B
BlenderFree · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.8/5
The free and open-source 3D creation suite.
8.
CA
Chief Architectfrom $1995 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.8/5
Professional home design software for builders.
9.
CA
Chief Architect Profrom $1995 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.8/5
High-end 3D home design for professionals.
10.
C3
CLO 3Dfrom $600 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.8/5
3D garment visualization and design.
11.
F3
Fusion 360from $85 · Windows / macOS / Android / iOS
★ 4.8/5
The cloud-native powerhouse for integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE.
12.
L
LTspiceFree · Windows / macOS
★ 4.8/5
Free SPICE simulator from Analog Devices, the de facto industry standard for analog design.
13.
O
OpenCASCADEFree · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.8/5
The open-source geometry kernel for CAD developers.
14.
VL
Vectorworks Landmarkfrom $153 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.8/5
The premier CAD software for landscape design.
15.
3
3Designfrom $6000 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.7/5
Parametric 3D CAD for professional jewelry.
16.
AS
Adobe Substance 3D Painterfrom $240 · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.7/5
PBR texture-painting tool used industry-wide for games, film, and product visualization.
17.
B
BricsCADfrom $590 · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.7/5
The modern CAD platform for 2D, 3D, BIM, and Mechanical.
18.
K
KiCadOpen Source · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.7/5
Free, open-source professional schematic capture and PCB layout suite.
19.
P
PrusaSlicerOpen Source · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.7/5
Open-source slicer from Prusa Research — known for Organic Supports and rapid feature delivery.
20.
S
Shapr3Dfrom $299 · Windows / macOS / iOS
★ 4.7/5
Professional CAD for mobile and desktop mobility.
21.
S
SketchUpFreemium · Windows / macOS / Web / Android / iOS
★ 4.7/5
The world's most intuitive 3D design tool for architecture and interiors.
22.
S
Solibrifrom $3500 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.7/5
The BIM quality assurance and QC leader.
23.
BS
Bambu StudioOpen Source · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.6/5
Bambu Lab's PrusaSlicer-derived slicer, optimized for high-speed CoreXY printers.
24.
CM
COMSOL Multiphysicsfrom $3995 · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.6/5
Coupled multi-physics finite element simulation across electromagnetics, structures, fluids, and chemistry.
25.
E
Eaglefrom $680 · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.6/5
PCB design software integrated with Fusion 360.
26.
MD
Marvelous Designerfrom $480 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.6/5
3D garment design used widely in games, animation, film, and apparel concepting.
27.
TP
TurboCAD Platinumfrom $999 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.6/5
All-in-one professional 2D/3D design suite.
28.
V
V-Rayfrom $396 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.6/5
Chaos V-Ray — the long-standing industry-standard production renderer for 3ds Max, Maya, Revit, Rhino, and SketchUp.
29.
V
Vectorworksfrom $1530 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.6/5
The all-in-one BIM solution for landscape and entertainment design.
30.
AC
ARES Commanderfrom $200 · Windows / macOS / Linux / Web / Android / iOS
★ 4.5/5
Professional DWG CAD with cross-platform trinity.
31.
B
BIMcollabfrom $590 · Web / Windows / macOS
★ 4.5/5
Issue management and IFC-based clash review across BIM authoring tools.
32.
B
Browzwearfrom $3600 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.5/5
Cloud-connected 3D fashion design software for virtual sampling and digital twins.
33.
P
Plasticityfrom $149 · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.5/5
New-generation 3D modeller blending the best of Rhino, Blender, and CAD — Parasolid under the hood.
34.
UC
UltiMaker CuraOpen Source · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.5/5
Free, open-source slicer — the most-used FDM 3D printing prep tool in the world.
35.
D
DipTracefrom $145 · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.4/5
Affordable schematic capture and PCB design for small teams and consultants.
36.
O
OpenFOAMFree · Linux / Windows / macOS
★ 4.4/5
Free open-source C++ CFD toolbox used widely in academia, research, and motorsport.
37.
O
OpenSCADFree · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.4/5
The programmer's solid 3D CAD modeler.
38.
Q
QCADFreemium · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.4/5
The open-source 2D CAD standard for everyone.
39.
TC
Trimble ConnectFreemium · Web / Windows / macOS / iOS / Android
★ 4.4/5
Trimble's openBIM common data environment with strong Tekla and SketchUp integration.
40.
C
CorelCADfrom $499 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.3/5
Affordable DWG-compatible CAD for professionals.
41.
D
DraftSightfrom $249 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.3/5
Professional-grade 2D CAD solution from Dassault Systèmes.
42.
E
EasyEDAFreemium · Web / Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.3/5
Free browser-based PCB design tightly integrated with JLCPCB and LCSC parts catalog.
43.
M
MoI3Dfrom $295 · Windows / macOS
★ 4.3/5
Moment of Inspiration — lightweight NURBS modeller beloved for fast concept design.
44.
SP
SolveSpace ProFree · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.3/5
Constraint-based 2D/3D parametric CAD.
45.
F
FreeCADFree · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.2/5
The premier open-source 3D parametric modeler.
46.
L
LibreCADFree · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.1/5
Open source free 2D CAD for all platforms.
47.
M
MeshLabFree · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.1/5
Open-source system for processing 3D meshes.
48.
S
SolveSpaceFree · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 4.1/5
A minimalist, open-source 2D/3D parametric CAD tool.
49.
S
Simplify3Dfrom $199 · Windows / macOS / Linux
★ 3.9/5
Veteran commercial slicer with manual fine-tuning controls beloved by power users.
50.
3
3DEXPERIENCEPerpetual · macOS
★ 0.0/5
Through virtual twin technologies, Dassault Systèmes' collaborative platform empowers business and people to create sust
51.
A
ActCADPerpetual · Windows / macOS
★ 0.0/5
简要介绍 ActCAD（官方站点）
52.
C
CR-8000Perpetual · Windows / macOS
★ 0.0/5
Zuken Americas is part of a global software company offering advanced design solutions for the creation and management o
53.
M
MetaCAMPerpetual · macOS
★ 0.0/5
Metamation Sheet Metal CAD CAM Software. Designing, Developing and Delivering Sheet Metal CAD CAM Software.
54.
MC
midas CivilPerpetual · Windows / macOS
★ 0.0/5
MIDAS provides structural analysis and FEM analysis software specialized in the fields of architecture, soil, ground, an
55.
MG
midas GenPerpetual · Windows / macOS
★ 0.0/5
MIDAS provides structural analysis and FEM analysis software specialized in the fields of architecture, soil, ground, an
56.
M
Moldex3DPerpetual · macOS
★ 0.0/5
Moldex3D | Plastic Injection Molding Simulation Software
57.
PC
Palette CADPerpetual · macOS
★ 0.0/5
Palette CAD 3D-Software für Handwerker, Fachhandel & Planer überzeugt mit Einfachheit & Professionalität zugleich. Onlin
58.
S
ShipConstructorPerpetual · macOS
★ 0.0/5
Engineering information is a shipbuilder’s most important asset. Using a solution that is built to handle shipbuilding’s
59.
W
WoodWOPPerpetual · Windows / macOS
★ 0.0/5
Whether you are seeking a machinery or software for furniture production, flooring production, kitchen production, close

Frequently asked

Is AutoCAD for Mac as full-featured as AutoCAD for Windows?: Close but not identical. AutoCAD for Mac has nearly full 2D and 3D feature parity in 2026, but plugins and LISP routines that ship Windows-only DLLs remain unsupported. Heavy Civil 3D / Plant 3D users should still keep a Windows seat.
Do native macOS CAD apps run on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)?: Every tool on this list either ships a native arm64 build, runs in Rosetta 2 without major slowdown, or has a publicly-stated Apple Silicon roadmap.
Which CAD tools are Mac-only?: Vectorworks and ArchiCAD have particularly strong Mac heritage. Shapr3D ships a polished native macOS / iPadOS combo.

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