About Tinkercad
Tinkercad is a free and easy-to-use app for 3D design, electronics and coding, made by Autodesk. It runs in the browser, so there is nothing to install, and it is often used by beginners, students and teachers who are learning to model objects for 3D printing or to experiment with simple circuits.
Users build models by combining and subtracting basic shapes, and they can export designs for printing. The same environment offers tools to learn electronics and coding projects. Tinkercad is a hosted product that Autodesk provides at no cost, and it cannot be self-hosted.
Key features
- Browser-based 3D modeling from basic shapes
- Design export for 3D printing
- Electronics circuit tools
- Coding projects in the same app
- Free to use
Good fit for
- →Teaching 3D design in a classroom
- →Making a first 3D-printable part
- →Experimenting with electronics projects
- Tags
- 3d-design
- cad
- education
- 3d-printing
- electronics
- browser-based
- autodesk
Tinkercad: questions and answers
- What is Tinkercad used for?
- Tinkercad is a free browser-based app from Autodesk for 3D design, electronics simulation and coding, popular for beginners and classrooms. It is a good fit for teaching 3D design in a classroom, making a first 3D-printable part and experimenting with electronics projects.
- Is Tinkercad free?
- Yes. Tinkercad is free to use.
- Is Tinkercad open source?
- No. Tinkercad is proprietary (closed-source) software and can't be self-hosted. Open-source alternatives to Tinkercad include FreeCAD and OpenSCAD.
- What are some alternatives to Tinkercad?
- Tinkercad competes with Autodesk Fusion, SketchUp and Onshape. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Tinkercad alternatives.
Open-source alternatives to Tinkercad
See all
FreeCAD
3D & CAD
Official source code of FreeCAD, a free and opensource multiplatform 3D parametric modeler
LGPL-2.1vs SolidWorks★ 34k
OpenSCAD
3D & CAD
OpenSCAD - The Programmers Solid 3D CAD Modeller
OSSvs Autodesk Fusion★ 10k
PrusaSlicer
3D & CAD
G-code generator for 3D printers (RepRap, Makerbot, Ultimaker etc.)
AGPL-3.0vs Simplify3D★ 9.4k
KiCad
3D & CAD
This is an active mirror of the KiCad development branch, which is hosted at GitLab (updat
GPL-3.0vs Altium Designer★ 3k
Libfive
3D & CAD
Infrastructure for solid modeling
OSSvs SolidWorks★ 1.7k
OrcaSlicer
3D & CAD
G-code generator for 3D printers (Bambu, Prusa, Voron, VzBot, RatRig, Creality, etc.)
AGPL-3.0vs Simplify3D★ 16k
SaaS alternatives to Tinkercad
See all
Autodesk Fusion
3D & CAD
Cloud CAD, CAM and simulation tool for product design
SaaS
SketchUp
3D & CAD
3D modelling software for architecture, interiors and woodworking
SaaS
Onshape
3D & CAD
Cloud-native CAD with built-in version control
SaaS
Vectary
3D & CAD
Browser-based 3D design and AR tool for product visuals
SaaS
Womp
3D & CAD
Browser-based 3D modeling and rendering tool for designers
SaaS
AutoCAD
3D & CAD
2D and 3D CAD drafting software from Autodesk
SaaS

