($199) Via CAD is a very capable 2D/3D CAD program that uses a “real” CAD kernel and it capable of creating good parts for relatively little money. They seem to have a business model where you contact them for demos and pricing so they may only be an option if you’re really committed to learning more about their products. (Call for pricing) solidThinking offers a number of CAD programs that seem to be very powerful. There’s a range of pricing options and for some users, it’s free. It runs completely in the browser so it runs on PC, OS/X or even an iPad. OnShape Free - $1500/year- OnShape is a cloud-based CAD program from the same team that created Solidworks. This might be a more attractive option on a Windows machine with a touch panel, which doesn’t exist on a Mac, but it’s a great value either way. It is equally well-suited to organic or mechanical shapes. It was written by a single guy, who was one of the original developers of Rhino, so it’s powerful without being bloated. Because of this, the user interface is simple and doesn’t require a lot of typing. MoI $295- MoI (Moment of Inspiration) is a 3D CAD program that was designed to be usable on tablet or pen computers. It isn’t inexpensive but it does almost anything you could need. It has every kind of tool you could need and is equally well-suited to organic or mechanical shapes. Rhino $995- Rhino is one of the most powerful and flexible CAD programs anywhere. If you’re already a Mac user, you might also enjoy the ability to move seamlessly from your desktop to your iPad to design your parts.

Shapr3D is built on a high-end CAD kernel so you can expect your output files to be correct and trouble-free (which cannot be said of all CAD programs). Because of its start on the iPad, it’s got an intuitive pen-first user interface. It started as a dedicated iPad app and then moved to Mac and Windows. Shapr3D Free - $25/Month- Shapr3D is the newest CAD option out there.

The list below is a good starting point for Mac-friendly 3D CAD programs: Shapr3D

There are relatively few popular CAD/CAM programs that run on OSX. Most programs on Windows have an alternative available on the Mac with the notable exception of CAD/CAM programs.

Best 2d drawing software for mac free