SolveSpace
Open source parametric 2D/3D CAD program built around a constraint solver.
Liked for a simple, fun sketching interface that many find easier than FreeCAD123, and for fast, stable modeling of simple parts and functional 3D prints.456 The most common caveat is that it is barebones with many limitations78, so FreeCAD is suggested for complex work.9
Why people recommend it
Simple interface · 3
Commenters find the sketching UI straightforward, discoverable and enjoyable to use.
“pretty stable and reliable. Fast, compact, great sketching interface, good discoverable UI.”
“I love solvespace, it is hard to describe but despite it's limitations and problems (and there are many) it feels joyous to use”
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“It is very barebones, but was much easier to use than FreeCad for me.”
Simple parts · 2
Seen as a good CAD app for simple parts and functional 3D prints.
“SolveSpace is actually a good CAD app, especially for simple stuff.”
“Big fan of OpenSCAD[1] and solvespace[2] for making functional 3D prints.”
Long-term use · 2
Some commenters have relied on it for years or even decades.
“I love SolveSpace, been using it for last two decades”
“pretty stable and reliable. Fast, compact, great sketching interface, good discoverable UI.”
Stable and fast · 1
Described as stable, reliable, fast and compact.
“pretty stable and reliable. Fast, compact, great sketching interface, good discoverable UI.”
3D constraints · 1
Supports constraints in 3D space, which one user relies on heavily.
“It is very barebones, but was much easier to use than FreeCad for me.”
Caveats and dissent
Barebones · 2
Users acknowledge it is barebones with many limitations and problems.
“It is very barebones, but was much easier to use than FreeCad for me.”
“I love solvespace, it is hard to describe but despite it's limitations and problems (and there are many) it feels joyous to use”
Complex models · 1
One commenter says FreeCAD is the better open source option for complex work.
“SolveSpace is actually a good CAD app, especially for simple stuff.”
Modal dialogs · 1
Modal pop-ups when constraints are deleted or unsatisfiable feel awkward.
“I love solvespace, it is hard to describe but despite it's limitations and problems (and there are many) it feels joyous to use”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
From the makers not counted in the ranking
“In solvespace we use a simple ear clipping algorithm”
“This recently happened with solvespace (I am a maintainer).”
Threads where it came up
- Blender 5.0 2 mentions
- Faster than earcut: triangulating 3.7M map polygons in 489 ms 1 mention
- Show HN: SolidCraft – Open-Source Parametric CAD in Rust (With MCP Support) 1 mention
- The zero-cost fallacy: open-source software in the agentic era 1 mention
- LibreCAD in the Browser 1 mention
- Neosolve – SolveSpace fork with OpenCASCADE CAD kernel 1 mention
Also written as Solvespace. Data: solvespace.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 7
“pretty stable and reliable. Fast, compact, great sketching interface, good discoverable UI.”
“SolveSpace is actually a good CAD app, especially for simple stuff.”
“I love SolveSpace, been using it for last two decades”
“Big fan of OpenSCAD[1] and solvespace[2] for making functional 3D prints.”
“I love solvespace, it is hard to describe but despite it's limitations and problems (and there are many) it feels joyous to use”
“It is very barebones, but was much easier to use than FreeCad for me.”
“Also take a look at solverspace, caligula, FreeCAD, ...”