SolidWorks 2018 SP4 Crack is the tool you can use to make CAD & CAE models. Since it is a very robust tool. So, you can use it to make Pro designs.

There’s plenty of excellent CAD software avialable for Mac nowadays but unfortunately SolidWorks for Mac does not exist. However the good news is there are ways to install the PC version of SolidWorks 2016, 2017 & 2018 on macOS. If you use a virtual machine such as Parallels, you can switch between macOS and Solidworks at anytime seamlessly. Alternatively, you can install SolidWorks using Boot Camp if you don’t need access to macOS while you’re using SolidWorks. Here we’ll show you both ways and give you a few tips and hints about how to improve the performance of SolidWorks on Mac.

Follow the instructions below to install SolidWorks on a Mac.

1. SolidWorks Installation Checklist

Before you start, you’ll need to make sure you have the following.

1. A copy of SolidWorks 2016, 2017 or 2018.
2. You’ll also need a copy of Windows 7, 8 or 10 (see table below to see which one you need) but we strongly recommend Windows 10. All versions of Solidworks 2016, 2017 and 2018 work with all versions of Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 and you can check out the full system requirements below. We recommend installing Windows 10 on your Mac, especially if you’re going to use Parallels, as it automatically installs Windows 10 for you and makes it very easy. Plus Windows 10 is now effectively free to use as Microsoft don’t require you to activate it anymore unless you want to customize Windows.
   
3. If you don’t choose the Boot Camp method, you will need a copy of a virtual environment software such as Parallels which makes it really easy to install Windows on a Mac and run it at the same time as macOS

You’ve then got two choices as to how to install SolidWorks on your Mac – either by using Boot Camp or by using using a virtual machine. To understand the difference between both, check out our article on the best way to run Windows on Mac.

In a nutshell, Boot Camp is free in macOS but only allows you to run either Windows or OS X at one time. Our recommended virtual machine Parallels isn’t free but it allows you to run macOS and Windows at the same time which is far more convenient as you can switch between your Mac and Windows in one click:

Using Parallels means you don’t have to restart your Mac when you want to use SolidWorks – you can just switch to macOS as you do when you want to use any other application whereas with Boot Camp you have to shutdown your Mac and restart it in Windows. Although Boot Camp allows your Mac to devote all of its resources to running SolidWorks (thus in theory giving you smoother performance) both Macs and Parallels have become more powerful in processing speed and RAM size meaning SolidWorks now works almost as well using Parallels as it does using Boot Camp.

2. How To Install SolidWorks on Mac Using Parallels

Here’s how to run SolidWorks on Mac using a virtual machine.

1. The first thing you need to do is follow these instructions to install Windows 10 on Mac for free. Microsoft no longer requires uses to activate Windows 10 with a product key in order to use so the great thing is Windows doesn’t cost a cent.
2. Purchase SolidWorks and install it in Windows. Once installed, start SolidWorks so that it makes a few entries in your Windows Registry and then close it.
3. There are then a few tweaks you need to make sure that SolidWorks works properly on your Mac. First make sure you are running Windows and then go to the menu at the top of the screen and select Actions > Configure. Make sure that Resource Usage is set to No Limit. In earlier versions of Parallels running Windows 7, the process is go to Parallels > Virtual Machine > Configure > Options > Optimization and make sure your settings are the same as below:

Then select Graphics and make sure that 3D Acceleration is set to DirectX10 and Vertical Synchronization is selected in Advanced Settings.In earlier versions of Parallels running Windows 7, go to Parallels > Virtual Machine > Configure > Hardware > Video and make sure your settings are the same as this on Windows 7:

If you’re using the latest version of Parallels with Windows 10 instead, you’ll find that you can now force Parallels to use multiple core processors which will dramatically improve the performance of SolidWorks on your Mac. Make sure you select more than one processor. Depending on how much RAM you’ve got, we recommend allocating at least 4GB of RAM or more to Parallels to ensure Solidworks runs quickly. Note that macOS requires at least 4GB of RAM to run smoothly so you should make sure that at least 4GB is free otherwise you’ll find your Mac runs slow. Make sure your settings look something like this:

Finally, you need to make these changes in the Windows Registry in order to make OpenGL and RealView work in macOS running SolidWorks on Parallels. You should be good to go after that.

3. How To Install SolidWorks on Mac Using Boot Camp

The installation of SolidWorks using Boot Camp follows the same principle as with Parallels with the main difference being that it installs Windows in a partition on your hard drive.

1. First you need to install Windows on your Mac using Boot Camp.
2. You then need to purchase a copy of SolidWorks 2015 or SolidWorks 2016. If you’re using an iMac with a SuperDrive then this can be an installation DVD. However, if you’re using a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro you’ll need a digital download.
3. To install SolidWorks is then exactly the same as if you were installing it on a PC.

You can also see SolidWorks working very smoothly on a Mac in Windows 8 using Boot Camp here:

For more detailed stats on how fast SolidWorks works on a Mac, check these benchmark figures. If you do a search for “Mac”, you’ll see the Macs hold-up pretty well against PCs.

4. How To Use RealView & OpenGL In SolidWorks On Mac

You will find that RealView and OpenGL won’t work by default on Mac because the graphics cards in Mac are not supported by SolidWorks for these features. However, you can force SolidWorks to use these features although you’ll find that the results aren’t always perfect. To enable RealView and OpenGL on Mac using NVIDIA graphics cards, follow these instructions (obviously change the value of “SolidWorks 2015” or “SoliwWorks 2016” to the appropriate version of SolidWorks you are using).

1. Open the Registry Editor in Windows. To do this, depends on the version of Windows you are using but you can find instructions here.
2. In the Registry Editor, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/SolidWorks/SolidWorks 2015/Performance/Graphics/Hardware/Current
3. Double click on the “Renderer” key and, copy the value string and click “OK”.
4. In the Registry Editor, then go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/SolidWorks/SolidWorks 2015/Performance/Graphics/Hardware/Gl2Shaders/Other. Right click on the “Other” folder and select “New Key”. Then simply paste in the value you copied previously as the name of the folder.
5. Select the new folder and in the panel on the right, right-click and select “New” and then DWORD (32bit).
6. Change the Name the Key to Workarounds.
7. Double Click on it and enter the hex value 40008. This is the correct setting for the nVidia graphics card in your Mac.
8. In the Registry Editor, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/SolidWorks/SolidWorks 2015/Performance/Graphics/Hardware and then search for the 4 sub-folders called Parallels. In the Parallels and NVIDIA folders, change the Workarounds value to 4000480 and for the Parallels and ATI folders change to modify in 10. Close the Registry Editor.
9. Those that are using older Macs with Intel graphics cards, can try these values instead: For Realview Graphics: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSolidWorksSolidWorks 2016PerformanceGraphicsHardwareGl2ShadersOtherParallels using Intel HD Graphics 4000 OpenGL Engine. Add value Workarounds: 0x04000480. For Open CL: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSolidWorksSolidWorks 2016PerformanceGraphicsHardwareIntelParallels using Intel HD Graphics 4000 OpenGL Engine. Add value Workarounds: 0x09. If this doesn’t work on your Intel Mac, try adding these two keys instead:.PerformanceGraphicsHardwareGl2ShadersOtherParallels using Intel HD Graphics 4000 OpenGL Engine
   DWORD Workaround value 4000480..PerformanceGraphicsHardwareIntelParallels using Intel HD Graphics 4000 OpenGL Engine
   DWORD Workaround value 4000480.
10. Finally, open SolidWorks and make sure that OpenGL is activated by going to Tools, Options, System Options, Performance and select the checkbox Use Software OpenGL:

This enables SolidWorks to adapt to your Mac graphics card better and will minimize some of the graphics cards problems described earlier. The result is a slightly slower SolidWorks but it will improve stability and give you a more reliable display.

Note: If you install a service pack later on in Windows, you will have to go through the entire Registry Edit process again.

Another tip to make SolidWorks perform better on your Mac is to run Windows in Classic Mode – this will free up resources that are dedicated to running more advanced Windows features to SolidWorks. To do thus, go to Control Panel in Windows and select Appearance and Personalization. Click Personalization and then Theme. Under Theme select Windows Classic:

This will allow your Mac to devote more resources to running SolidWorks rather than fancy animations and effects in Windows.

5. Fixing Graphics Cards Issues

It’s important to be aware that you will experience some performance related issues when running SolidWorks on Mac this way. This is because Apple does not build Macs with NVIDIA Quadro and ATI FirePro graphics cards for which SolidWorks is designed for. This means that some features such as Looking Glass and RealView are not officially supported on Mac. However, there are a few hacks you can use to make RealView and OpenGL work on Mac and we show you how in the installation instructions below. Nevertheless, you may still experience other little glitches such as items temporarily disappearing when you rotate, zoom and pan such as with dimension text and 3D details missing such as the example below:

If you do experience any performance or installation issues with SolidWorks on Mac, don’t expect any support from either Dassault Systems or resellers as it is not officially supported on Mac and the installation is performed at your own risk.

6. When Will SolidWorks Be Available For Mac?

For the moment, these are the best way to run SolidWorks on macOS. The makers of SolidWorks Dassault Systems has outlined its reasons for not making Solidworks for Mac and it basically comes down to a matter of resources and technical limitations. Dassault Systems does produce software such as eDrawings and DraftSight for Mac and if you just need a SolidWorks viewer for Mac so you can open diagrams, the company has made eDrawings for Mac which allows you to view (but not edit) DWG and DXF files on Mac. However, the relatively small Mac user base and the complexities of CAD Software such as Solidworks means that the company simply can’t justify the investment required to produce a full Mac version of Solidworks.

It was revealed a few years ago that the developer Dassault Systems will eventually release a new version of SolidWorks – SolidWorks Xdesign – which will work on Mac. At the moment however, you can only sign-up for a SolidWorks Xdesign beta invite and there is still no full launch date set as yet.

There is the also interesting OnShape project headed by a former SolidWorks CEO and a group of ex-employees that’s aiming to create a online alternative to SolidWorks. At the moment, the functionality isn’t quite on a par with Solidworks but OnShape is developing rapidly and it’s quite possible that in a few years, OnCloud will basically be SolidWorks online and be accessible on any platform including Mac. Early reviews have called OnShape “Google Docs for CAD” due to it’s ease of use for a CAD software and cloud based deployment that works on any platform.

Finally, SolidWorks 2018 was launched in September 2017 but there are no plans for a Mac version. You can read more about what’s new in SolidWorks 2018 here.

We hope this guide has helped but if you have any questions about running or installing SolidWorks on Mac, let us know in the comments below.

In the old days, Macs used to be way behind PCs when it came to CAD software. Nowadays that’s all changed and there are some superb Computer Aided Design packages available for Mac users.

Of course, there are still a few major titles such as Solidworks which still isn’t available on Mac but from incredibly user friendly 2D CAD software like SmartDraw to industry leading professional 2D/3D CAD apps like AutoCAD & AutoCAD LTthe options are better than ever.

All of the following apps can handle 2D CAD design and the most powerful ones are suitable for 3D design and modelling too.

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If you’re looking for something to redesign your home with, you might find our look at the best home design software for Mac useful too.

Here then is our list of the best CAD software on Mac in order of ranking.

1. SmartDraw (Easiest For 2D CAD)

If you’re looking for something powerful for 2D CAD design but amazingly easy to use and value for money, SmartDraw is the best 2D CAD software for Mac on the market.

SmartDraw is incredibly flexible because it can be used both as a powerful diagramming alternative to Microsoft Visio but also as a powerful but extremely user friendly CAD tool for 2D design.

What we really like about doing 2D CAD with SmartDraw is:

• 40,000+ Quick Start Templates: SmartDraw has more templates than any other CAD tool on Mac with everything from floor plans and office plans to electrical schematics, mechanical and architectural designs.
• CAD Automation: As you add elements, SmartDraw also automatically “snaps” everything together to help keep your designs organized, symmetrical and connected. It basically automates the often annoying fiddly aspects to CAD design and this we find incredibly time saving and stress reducing.
• 34,000 Symbols & Objects: We’ve never seen so many high quality vector symbols and objects in a 2D tool than you can drag and drop into designs.
• Value For Money: Compared to most 2D CAD software on this level, it’s not outrageously expensive plus you’re not only getting a CAD software, you’re getting an entire host of other diagramming tools.

You can get started now with SmartDraw for free to see exactly what it can do.

You can also check out our full SmartDraw review for Mac & PC for an in-depth look at everything it can do.

2. AutoCAD LT / AutoCAD (25% Off Until July 31st – Best For 2D/3D CAD)

AutoCAD is one of the CAD industry’s leading tools but it wasn’t until 2010 that Autodesk finally released AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT for Mac. You can download AutoCAD LT as a Mac desktop client and you can also use it online via the AutoCAD LT web app.

Th full version of AutoCAD does both 2D and 3D design but if you don’t need 3D modelling, AutoCAD LT is 75% cheaper than the full version of AutoCAD and excellent value for money for a CAD tool on this level.

Both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are incredibly professional tools that virtually invented the industry standard DWG file format.

Here’s a few of the reasons we like AutoCAD LT 2019 and AutoCAD so much:

• They’re both powerful & easy to learn: Many architects start life learning the ropes on AutoCAD products because it’s powerful but has an extremely intuitive interface that makes it easy to get to grips with.
• TouchBar support: AutoCAD is one of the only CAD drafting tools which supports the TouchBar on the latest Macs. We find this seriously speeds-up your workflow because you don’t have to use the TouchPad or mouse all the time. This shows that Autodesk take Mac users seriously and aren’t just pushing the Windows version onto macOS like many developers do.

• Superb web & mobile apps: The latest version of AutoCAD LT 2019 allows you to edit via a web browser and on your iPad or iPhone. The AutoCAD mobile and web apps are extremely close to the desktop version meaning you can edit projects anywhere.
• The 3D modelling features are amazing: AutoCAD produces probably some of the most stunning results on retina Macs you’ll see in any CAD software (although this is not available in AutoCAD LT).
• Value for money: AutoCAD LT costs 75% less than AutoCAD and you can always upgrade to AutoCAD later if you need 3D capabilities. With AutoCAD LT, you’re basically getting the same product as AutoCAD for a quarter of the cost only without the 3D features. You can see exactly how AutoCAD LT compares to AutoCAD here.

You can also currently get 20% off 1 year and 25% off 3 year subscriptions on AutoCAD products only until July 31st 2019. You can choose to pay month-to-month and cancel at any time.

Note that if you’re based in Europe, you have to use the Autodesk Europe store to buy AutoCAD software.

Those in the UK need to go direct to the Autodesk UK store.

When it comes to professional architecture, engineering and construction blueprints, AutoCAD LT & AutoCAD For Mac are industry leading tools.

3. TurboCAD Mac Deluxe

If you don’t want subscription based software and need an intermediate level CAD solution, TurboCAD Mac Deluxe is an affordable standalone desktop 2D and 3D CAD tool for Mac.

TurboCAD is already a major player on Windows providing strong competition for AutoCAD although it’s still not as well known on Mac.

TurboCAD uses the same engine as the highly respected Solidworks but has a more ViaCAD style interface.

TurboCAD Mac Deluxe is far more user-friendly than both Solidworks and ViaCAD however and is ideal for designing floor plans, diagrams, and illustrations.

One particularly nice feature is the ability to open 3D DWG (AutoCAD files) and even convert them into 2D with top and bottom side views.

TurboCAD Mac Deluxe is a good choice for those new to CAD as it has lots of online help and video tutorials to familiarize you with the interface.

One of the best things about TurboCAD Deluxe is the price.

At $129.99 for a standalone 2D/3D CAD software, it’s extremely good value for money compared to similar apps.

Although TurboCAD Deluxe is too lightweight for professonal use, there is also an advanced version of TurboCAD (see TurboCAD Mac Pro below) which gives even AutoCAD a run for its money.

4. TurboCAD Mac Pro

TurboCAD Mac Pro is a more powerful version of TurboCAD Mac Deluxe and provides a cost effective alternative to AutoCAD.

Compared to TurboCAD Mac Deluxe, the Pro version has a much better 64-bit user interface, integrated Redway drawing engine, Page Layout wizard, BOM and mating tools.

The Mac version of TurboCAD is also easier to use than the Windows version of TurboCAD as it allows you to customize the palette and interface pretty much any way you want.

You can design almost anything in TurboCAD Pro from something as simple as designing a bike to creating the blueprint for an entire building.

There’s also a TurboCAD Pro Powerpack for an extra $99 which adds support for things such as 3D printing, advanced design and BIM.

Although TurboCAD Pro doesn’t quite match-up to industry heavyweight AutoCAD, TurboCAD Mac Pro costs $499.99 which is considerably cheaper than an AutoCAD subscription.

Unlike AutoCAD, there’s no subscription either although bear in mind you will have to pay for major updates.

5. Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is made by Autodesk, the creators of AutoCAD and is the replacement for Autodesk Inventor.

Autodesk Fusion 360 isn’t quite as powerful as AutoCAD but is aimed at the product design focused “prosumer” CAD market.

The other big difference with AutoCAD is that Autodesk Fusion 360 is entirely Cloud based whereas AutoCAD also has a desktop client for Mac.

The interface of Fusion 360 is more Windows-like than AutoCAD but it’s still an amazing tool for 3D product design and CAM. The use of T-Splines and Sculpt environment in particular makes it easy to conceptualize and model and it’s easily one of the best 3D CAD tools for product designer on Mac out there.

If you’re looking for something focused on 3D product design but don’t need the advanced features of AutoCAD, Autodesk Fusion 360 is an impressive and cost effective alternative.

6. HighDesign

HighDesign is professional CAD application designed specifically for Mac that offers excellent value for money. From humble beginnings at a small Italian developer, HighDesign has even attracted the attention of NASA for its CAD needs.

Although HighDesign only supports 2D CAD, it can import and export AutoCAD files (including DXF/DWG) and TIFF files. HighDesign is easier for than most professional CAD applications and anyone that has used AutoCAD will recognize the interface straightaway.

HighDesign puts a special focus on architecture and allows both photogrammetry and image editing for drafting of building plans which is quite unusual for MAC CAD software. Other features in HighDesign 2017 include Associative Linear Dimensions, PNG alpha export, vector information, tool tips and quick object info.

HighDesign is overall an incredibly accomplished CAD product that often goes under the radar of professional designers because of it’s surprisingly low price. The Standard version is just $199.99 although Professionals will need either the Pro ($299.99) or Pro Plus ($449.99) versions for full functionality.

7. ARES Commander

The German based developer of ARES Commander Graebert has been in the CAD business for over 30 years although it was only in 2015 that it was finally released on Mac.

ARES Commander is a German based software that has recently been updated to become a truly multi-platform CAD solution which and is an ideal choice for those that need to work across Windows, Mac and mobile devices off site.

ARES Commander feels remarkably like AutoCAD with DWG as its native format although it’s not very intuitive to use at first.

At just $250 per year, ARES Commander is also extremely competitive considering it’s almost as powerful as apps such as AutoCAD but costs significantly less.

ARES Commander offers three versions for desktop, mobile and cloud which it calls “The Trinity of CAD” and one license is valid for all. ARES Commander is the desktop version for Mac and PC, ARES Touch is for mobile and ARES Kudo is the Cloud version. ARES Touch is now available for iPad and iPhone and is one of the most fully featured CAD applications you’ll find on iOS.

The well organized interface feels the same across all platforms with all the same functionality on Mac, Windows and mobile.

The demand for DWG CAD software on Mac remains strong despite the explosion in 3D, BIM and PLM CAD software but ARES remains a good choice for Microstation users as it’s one of the few that supports DGN. ARES Commander for Mac also allows you to import DGN (Microstation) files, essential for civil and landscape architects.

ARES Commander features a number of useful tools such as QuickModify which allows you to combine several commands into one. So for example, you can combine rotate, move, copy and cut into one command if that’s an action that you perform frequently. This is surprisingly useful and increases productivity by reducing the amount of mouse clicking you need to.

One other nice touch is Quick Input which automatically provides angles, dimensions, options and other useful data as you design to help you make sure your designs are accurate.

Thanks to the open API, you can also create custom functions and plugins for ARES Commander on Mac based on VSTA, C, Delphi and other languages.

If you’re looking for something similar to AutoCAD on Mac but with a cheaper subscription, ARES Commander is an excellent value for money professional level CAD software.

8. VectorWorks

VectorWorks for Mac is one of the most popular CAD packages out there and supports both 2D and 3D design. In particular, when it comes to BIM VectorWorks is hard to beat if that’s one of your main concerns.

For an industry level CAD application, it’s also surprisingly accessible because it’s been designed with both beginners and professionals in mind. Although VectorWorks is most commonly used for Architecture and especially Construction Engineers, it can be used for any CAD task.

The interface of Vectorworks uses a clean WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) format which makes designing easier to conceptualize and get to grips with.

Some of the highlights of VectorWorks include graphical scripting tools, intelligent objects and a superbly implemented virtual reality feature. Also ahead of the curve is VectorWorks Marionette which intelligently uses algorithms to shape design forms and customizations (although this costs extra).

If you’ve struggled to learn AutoCAD and want something powerful and innovative, Vectorworks is an amazing piece of CAD technology.

9. SolidThinking Evolve

SolidThinking Evolve for Mac is aimed at Professional Industrial Designers. It’s very much a mix of CAD and 3D modeling capabilities wrapped up in a very slick interface. SolidThinking Evolve features Geometry Simplification tools, smoothing options and concentrated mass parts.

Evolve allows organic surface modeling, parametric control and there’s a very handy ConstructionTree history feature. If your job involves a lot of CAD and 3D modeling, then SolidThinking Evolve is a great all round solution but it lacks some of the advanced functionality of top CAD software such as AutoCAD and VectorWorks.

10. Siemens NX

Siemens NX (formerly known as Unigraphics) is an industry leading 2D and 3D CAD and industrial design software for both Mac and PC. Siemens NX is used by professionals worldwide for professional industrial and aerospace industries.

Siemens NX is probably the leading PLM (Product Lifestyle Software) available for Mac and certainly the only true industrial class PLM software for Macs.

Siemens NX is one of the few CAD software packages that also includes 4th generation 4GD technology to enhance and facilitate design on industrial assemblies.

Another unique feature is synchronous technology for 2D which adds more intelligence to 2D data and enables users to edit multi CAD 2D files five times quicker.

It’s impossible to list all the features and functionality of Siemens NX here but it’s safe to say it’s squarely aimed at industrial designers with an industrial budget.

11. MacDraft Pro

MacDraft Pro is another powerful but user friendly CAD software designed specifically for Mac. MacDraft Pro is the professional version of MacDraft PE (see review below) with a more advanced multi-layered, scaled drawing environment.

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It’s suitable for mechanical, architectural and engineering professionals and supports importing AutoCAD and DWG/DXF files.

You can drag and drop common image or CAD elements into your designs and it can even be used to design brochures, magazines and even flyers.

MacDraft Professional is extremely user friendly for a 2D CAD app and makes interior design, architectural drawing and illustration much easier than on AutoCAD.

In particular it has some very precise vector tools, smart units and has a fully-featured scaled environment. On the downside, it does lack some basic features such as trimming arcs or circles and of course, it’s 2D only.

However, if you want an easy to use 2D CAD desktop software for macOS, MacDraft Pro is one of the best out there.

12. MacDraft PE

MacDraft Personal Edition (PE) is a simpler version of MacDraft Pro with a more basic toolset and functionality. It’s a very good starting point for beginners to 2D CAD as it’s easy to learn.

It has a very limited library although you can purchase 2000 more from the developer website including architectural, electrical and graphic symbols.

Although it’s aimed at beginners, the interface can be a little tricky to navigate at first and adding basic elements such as windows and doors isn’t as clear and straightforward as it should be.

However, it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it and once you have, it’s surprisingly versatile.

Be aware that MacDraft PE can’t produce drawings of smaller than about 17 inches and only supports a maximum of 5 Layers unlike the Pro version which allows unlimited layers. It also does not support DWG and updates aren’t free like in the Pro version.

If you’re on a limited budget and want something to get started in 2D CAD software on Mac, MacDraft PE is an excellent stepping stone to the Pro version.

13. CorelCAD For Mac

CorelCAD for Mac is from the makers of the extremely successful CorelDRAW graphic design program CorelDRAW for Mac which no longer exists.

CorelCAD for Mac 2018 lives on however and it’s pretty good too for a professional standalone CAD software under $1000. CorelCAD for Mac is based on Corel’s own ARES engine and works for both 2D and 3D drawings.

It can import DWG files and is also suitable for 3D printing and exporting in STL and PDF format. CorelCAD uses a ribbon based interface which will be familiar to anyone that’s used Microsoft Office and is generally very easy to use and navigate around.

CorelCAD is perfect for Architects, Engineers and Construction (AEC) service providers that focus mainly on 2D designs but need to sometimes flesh-out things in 3D too.

Overall, CorelCAD for Mac is extremely good value for money with lots of powerful features.

14. ArchiCAD

ArchiCAD for Mac is another industry leading software for CAD and is unique for using the Maxon CINEMA 4D rendering engine for photo realistic rendering. The results of this are stunning and few programs can bring your CAD designs to life quite like ArchiCAD.

It was also one of the first packages to support BIM and includes BIMcloud integration for easy collaboration with other designers on projects, wherever they are in the World. The one downside of ArchiCAD is that it still requires Java on Mac which we don’t recommend for a variety of performance and security issues on Mac.

15. Graphite

Graphite for Mac, formerly known as Vellum, is a professional 3D and 2D CAD program. Graphite’s strength is high precision wireframe drafting although it is quite dated now.

However, if you’re mainly going to be doing wireframe drawings, Graphite specializes in this form of CAD. You can work with AutoCAD DWG files and it integrates with the developer Ashlar Vellum’s popular 3D modeling software Cobalt.

One of the main advantages users report with Graphite is speed – it has a very smooth and efficient workflow that makes producing complex designs very quick. This is a result of what the developer Ashlar-Vellum calls an “Organic Workflow” between its products for maximum speed and efficiency.

There are many glowing testimonials to Graphite but we’d advise using the free trial first before deciding whether to go for it.

16. iCadMac

iCadMac markets itself as a cheaper alternative to AutoCAD for Mac and is a user-friendly 2D and 3D app which writes and reads AutoDesk DWG files.

The developers of iCadMac are also responsible for progeCAD Professional on Windows. iCadMac can also convert PDF to DWG and exports plans in 3D to PDF.

The interface is also highly customizable so that you have fine control over the layout of your tools although apps such as AutoCAD for Mac have caught up in this area nowadays.

iCadMac also includes an iPad app that lets you design on the move. iCadMac doesn’t support BIM however and it’s backed by a much smaller team and infrastructure than the major CAD developers out there.

17. DeltaCAD

DeltaCAD for Mac isn’t aimed at professional CAD designers but it’s an excellent starting point for beginners.

It does support importing of AutoCAD files but there’s no support for BIM or the more advanced features professionals need in a CAD application.

One unusual feature however is that you can write your own custom macros in AppleScript to extend it’s functionality. For instance you can use macros to create objects or read in data although only those that have been using Mac for a long time will have any idea of how AppleScript works.

If you just want a cheap CAD program on Mac for doing house plans, newsletters, furniture Layouts etc, DeltaCAD is a decent choice.

18. CADintosh X

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Similar to DeltaCAD, CADintosh X for Mac is a budget 2D CAD program for Mac users. At just over $30, it’s one of the cheapest CAD programs for Mac available and is suitable for technical and architectural drawings.

CADintosh X is very basic – there are 8 pens and 6 line types to choose from but it there’s no support for importing files from major CAD programs – it only imports DXF, HPGL, IGES and PDF.

19. AutoQ 3D

AutoQ 3D is another low-end CAD program for Mac with a user-friendly interface that’s suitable for beginners to CAD or someone who just wants to build a basic prototype.

The difference to other CAD programs in this price range is that it supports 3D as well. It’s also got the best interface of CAD apps at this level and comes with a free iPad and iPhone app.

AutoQ 3D allows you to see drawings from all angles with Preset Views, Snap shapes into place and for just under $30, you can’t go too far wrong for a 2D/3D CAD app in one.

20. BricsCAD For Mac

BricsCAD is a professional CAD package that combines powerful 3D modelling with advanced 2D design features. BricsCAD is one of the few CAD packages that runs on all Mac, Windows and Linux platforms.

It’s suitable for all types of industrial 2D and 3D design but it has specialized support for sheet metal design. BricsCAD uses what’s known as a Quad cursor which enables designers to make complex technical drawings, 3D models and intricate layouts very quickly. BricsCAD is also unique because it handles both 3D drawings and parametric assemblies but saves files in DWG format. In fact BricsCAD compares favorably with AutoCAD and it even provides a free book on how to switch from AutoCAD to BricsCAD.

There are three versions of BricsCAD – Classic ($750), Pro ($970) and BricsCAD Platinum ($1110) but prices for all are slightly higher if you want premium support. Classic only handles 2D but Pro adds 3D modelling and Platinum adds BIM support.

BricsCAD is an excellent AutoCAD for Mac alternative with many of the same features but without the subscription pricing model.

21. Rhino For Mac

Rhino For Mac is a specialized 3D CAD software designed specifically for Mac with a loyal following and arguably still one of the best programs for organic 3D design. Rhino features tools to do everything from creating, editing, and rendering to animating, translating NURBS curves and creating polygon meshes.

Rhino For Mac is pretty good value for money at $695 because some of the free form 3D modelling features cost a lot more in similar packages and yet it still remains powerful enough for professional needs.

In the beginning, there were many features missing from the Mac version of Rhino compared to Windows but nowadays the two products are almost exactly the same. Only Worksessions, Animation Tools and some Commands are missing from Rhino for Mac and the Grasshopper feature is still in progress.

If you just want a 3D CAD app on your Mac without breaking the bank, Rhino for Mac is an impressive tool.

22. PowerCADD

Finally, PowerCADD for Mac is for all those old school CAD designers that miss the days of pen and paper. PowerCADD is for 2D CAD only and creates CAD designs that look like they were done on paper.

PowerCADD is suitable for all types of CAD design from buildings to machinery, brochures and even maps. The functionality of PowerCADD can be extended too by something called “Externals” which are basically add-ons that can be activated simply by dragging them into a specific folder.

PowerCADD is a bit dated now and at $995 isn’t exactly cheap either but if you miss the aesthetics of pen on paper, it offers something a bit different.

Which Is The Best CAD Software For Mac?

SmartDraw is still our favorite 2D CAD tool for Mac users, simply because it makes CAD so easy, whatever your level.

For complex 2D and 3D CAD, the industry leading AutoCAD can’t be beat for features and ease of learning. Its DWG format is still the industry standard for CAD design. If you’re a beginner to CAD, the 2D only version AutoCAD LT is far cheaper and easier to use than AutoCAD making a good starting point.

Autodesk Fusion 360 is still the best for product designers and although it’s Cloud based, it works superbly on Mac.

If you don’t want to be locked into a monthly subscription model, TurboCAD Mac Pro for Mac is a good alternative to AutoCAD on Mac and will satisfy all but the most demanding of architects and engineers.

TurboCAD Mac Deluxe meanwhile is excellent value for intermediate users that need 2D and 3D CAD features.

Finally, for those that are just getting started in CAD design or want something desktop but easy to use, MacDraft PE is an excellent entry level Mac CAD package.

We’ve looked at a lot of different options in this article and if it’s all been too much to digest, here’s a useful summary of our top 5 picks.

Best CAD Software For Mac Compared

Are There Any Free CAD Tools For Mac?

If you’re looking for something free to do basic mockups or get started in CAD, there are a few free or open source CAD applications for Mac worth trying.

Here’s a selection of the best ones.

SketchUp

SketchUp started life as a simple online design tool by Google until it was bought by Trimble Navigation and turned into a professional CAD tool for both Mac and PC.

SketchUp was Google’s idea of a free and basic user-friendly CAD application for all abilities and Trimble Navigation has maintained this ease of use but added more professional features.

SketchUp Pro is both a serious option for CAD professionals but also beginners that want to create impressive mock ups. It’s suitable for those in a range of professions from architecture, construction, engineering to interior design, light construction and landscape architecture.

The basic version of SketchUp is an ideal tool to give clients 3D mock-ups of their designs or for clients themselves to provide architects with an idea of their vision or plans.

If you want your client to sketch out their vision for you to develop for example, point they can download SketchUp free for personal use and create a basic outline that you can then develop further.

The professional version of SketchUp is for serious CAD designers but it still retains the general ease of use of the original Google product and still has Google Earth integration for geo-tagging designs.

SketchUp is free for Educational and Personal use but the Pro version costs $695.

FreeCAD

As the name suggest, FreeCAD is a free 3D modelling software for Mac which uses Parametric modelling to create designs. FreeCAD can read files in STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC and DAE format and is aimed mainly at those in mechanical engineering and product design fields.

FreeCAD features some of the tools found in major industry leading CAD applications such as SolidWorks but relies more on modules and scripts to design things like OpenSCAD. If you’re comfortable with scripting and modules, FreeCAD is another powerful yet free 3D design tool for Macs.

QCAD

QCAD is a free open source 2D Computer Aided Drafting application for Mac, Windows and Linux which allows you to create technical drawings for buildings, interiors, mechanical parts, schematics and diagrams. QCAD is a great starting point for novices in CAD design with a simplified, clear interface but plenty of features.

QCAD can import and open DWG and DXF files and also has a special add-on for Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM). There’s also a professional version of QCAD which costs less than $40 and adds extra features although it doesn’t support 3D CAD.

If you’re new to CAD and need something easy to get started with at zero cost, QCAD is an excellent beginners CAD package for Mac users.

Tips On Choosing The Right Package For You

In reality, there’s no such thing as the “best” CAD software for everyone. However, there’s definitely such a thing as the best CAD software for your needs.

Choosing the right CAD software for your specific needs however depends on whether you’re a professional designer, student or simply an amateur looking to do a little bit of home or landscape design.

Professional packages such as AutoCAD are complicated to learn and use as they whereas packages such as TurboCAD are somewhere in the middle, sometimes referred to as “prosumer” CAD software.

Online technical drafting software such as SmartDraw are aimed at those with minimal CAD experience and provide plenty of templates and automated functions to do the hard work for you.

Before you buy, here’s a few important questions and things to consider before deciding which one to choose.

• Are your CAD needs industry specific or general?

If you need CAD software for a specific industry, such as Architecture, then you need software designed specifically for the needs of 3D Architecture and all the components that go into buildings. If it’s mechanical CAD you’re going to be doing on your Mac then the needs are a bit different.

CAD software also covers many other fields including construction, engineering, commercial interiors, light construction, landscaping, interior design, urban planning, game design, film & stage, woodworking and much more.

You should make sure the CAD software you choose supports the specific industry you’re working in.

• Do you need 2D or 3D CAD software?

Again, this depends on what you want to use it for. If you only need to work in the Y and X axis i.e. draw floor plans, elevations and top/front/bottom angles of different objects, then 2D CAD software is all you need.

3D CAD software meanwhile allows you to work in the X,Y and Z axis and is essential for architects, product designers or those that need mechanical CAD software features. Basically, anyone that needs to manipulate a design from every possible angle.

3D software allows you to create both models and wire-frames but it’s more expensive than 2D software and can run into thousands of dollars on Mac.

Note that most professional 3D CAD software such as AutoCAD and ArchiCAD have now been updated to include support for 3D printers.

• Are you looking for paid or free software?

It should be no surprise that free CAD software on Mac is generally nowhere near as powerful as paid software although there are still some pretty decent packages now available which we’ve included in this article.

If you just need 2D design capabilities or don’t need to collaborate in a team with others, you can probably get away with using free CAD software if you’re not working in a professional environment.

3D designing is another matter however and there are few free 3D tools which are worth using. If you’re intending to use the software for professional work, it’s highly recommended to go for a paid CAD software as you may spend more time fighting with a free option or searching for features that are lacking than actually being productive.

Don’t be caught-out by CAD software that claims to be “free” but actually only offers a free version with limited functionality that requires you to upgrade to unlock features.

• Do you need BIM support?

BIM (Building Information Modeling) is the next step in Computer Aided Design and an increasingly important feature of CAD software for professionals.

BIM models are more intelligent than traditional CAD plans because they contain much more information. For instance, BIM models can calculate the knock-on effect that the smallest of changes to modeling plans can have.

In the long run, BIM can help cut down on the amount of errors or reworking that needs to be done to your CAD designs.

Most of the top industry leading packages such as AutoCAD and Vectorworks, include BIM capabilities as standard but cheaper packages usually don’t.

We’ve indicated which packages support BIM in these reviews.

• Do you need CAD or 3D design software?

We have focused here mainly on CAD software, although we have also featured some 3D design or animation software because the line can be often blurred.

The difference between the two types of software is subtle but the key difference is that CAD software is specifically for the needs of professional and industrial designers, with all the technical specs and needs they have.

In a nutshell, 3D design software is generally aimed at the more creative side of design – for example animation – whereas CAD programs focus on technical plans and designs.

• Does the developer offer support?

Make sure that the CAD app you choose offers extensive help, training and after sale support. CAD software is very complex and if you’ve never used it before, it can be very daunting to get to grips with.

In particular, the most common problem you will experience with CAD software on Mac that’s been ported from Windows is instability and it can send you insane trying to work out exactly what is causing glitches or bugs with the program.

The most reputable CAD software developers offer free customer support but some charge extra for it so check before buying.

Autocad 2018 For Mac Tutorial

• Other things you may want to consider
  

Other useful features you might want to check for in professional CAD software on a Mac include:

• A command line (which enables you to search for a tool or object in real-time), design setup wizards, templates and tutorial videos. Particularly if you need to create architecture designs, look for software with house wizards which take the basic information in your design and can whip-up a basic house design in minutes saving hours of work.
• A complete set of editing tools is also important i.e. the ability to use pointer markers, layer editors and color coordinate different elements in your designs. Most CAD software now includes a snap tool to make sure that your designs fit together neatly but it’s still always worth checking.
• If you need to import and export files, check what CAD file types it supports. Common formats are DWG, DXF (Drawing Exchange Format, important for things like CNC cutters, plasma cutters etc), DWF and DGN. If you’re going to be exporting for 3D printing, STL export is important and of course, it’s always handy to be able to export to common document formats such as PDF and image formats such as PNG and JPG.
• Support for your specific industry. In architectural CAD software for example, photo realistic rendering is a useful feature because it allows you and your client see what the final design will actually look like. Although there is CAD software on Mac for almost every conceivable need and area nowadays, there are certain industries such as pipeline, piping and valve architecture that require ISO prints for which there’s no specific software on Mac for yet.
• Support for graphics tablets. If you’re a professional architect or CAD designer and prefer to use a digital pen for sketching blueprints, make sure the software you select supports tablets. Check out our guide for which drawing tablets for Mac work best with macOS.

Once you’ve digested all of this, you’re much better prepared to choose the right drafting software on Mac for you.

How To Run Windows CAD Applications On Mac

If you really don’t want to go to the hassle of finding CAD software for your Mac or can’t find anything that measures up to CAD software you use on PC, you can always install Windows on your Mac.

A virtual environment like Parallels has the advantage of allowing you to run both macOS and Windows at the same time but if you use Boot Camp, you can only boot in either macOS or Windows at one time which can be annoying if you need to switch between your Mac and Windows CAD software regularly.

For an example, check out our guide on how to run SolidWorks on Mac which is only available on Windows.

However, we don’t recommend running Windows on your Mac in order to use CAD software. You will inevitably experience bugs running Windows CAD software on a Mac this way, especially graphic related issues such are the complexities and demands of CAD software.

It’s much better to use a Mac only CAD software solution like the ones covered here instead and the choice on Mac is enough so that using Windows really isn’t necessary for most people.

This also means that if you have any problems with the software, you will receive support from the developer. If you’re running Windows CAD software on a Mac however, the developer is unlikely to offer technical support as most don’t support problems running Windows on Mac.

New Mac CAD Releases In 2019

We hope this overview has shown that there’s no need to go back to PCs or Windows for your CAD needs.

Indeed, the future for Computer Aided Design on Mac in 2019 generally looks very good as more developers recognize the growing demand on Mac or move their software online.

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A good example of the way the industry is moving is Onshape which was started by some members of the team behind the popular SolidWorks 3D CAD design software for Windows.

Solidworks 2018 For Additive Manufacturing

Although you can run SolidWorks on Mac using a virtual machine it’s not an ideal solution and doesn’t work as well as on PC. Onshape meanwhile claims to offer the functionality of Solidworks but in any web browser, running on any platform.

Onshape is the first serious attempt at a web-based 3D CAD software that enables teams to work on designs as the same time in real-time. It works extremely well on a Mac too which isn’t surprising as the majority of programmers that created it coded it on Mac.

The main problem with Cloud or online CAD software is that it often can’t meet the technical needs of graphic intensive CAD demands but Onshape allows you to create complex parts, assemblies, and detailed drawings comfortably within a web browser on a Mac. You can even use Onshape on your iPad or iPhone.

By current market standards, Onshape is priced quite competitively too. The basic version is free but professionals will need to upgrade to the Pro plan for $100 a month to unlock all the functionality.

In addition to developments such as Onshape, there are also signs that Apple is increasingly willing to move closer towards enterprise apps like CAD software such as the deal it reached with IBM.

This means Apple is likely to put more effort in supporting business oriented CAD software on Mac in future when it comes to components and software support.

So all in all, the future for CAD designers on Mac looks very bright indeed.

If you have any questions or problems with the software covered here, or need some advice on which CAD software is right for you on your Mac, let us know in the comments below.

If you’re interested in interior design and floor planning specifically, we also recommend you check out our guide to home design software on Mac.