Best Free CNC Software 2026: 6 Options Compared
Best free CNC Software compared: FreeCAD, Autodesk Fusion, Carbide Create, CAMotics and 2 more, with free-plan limits, platforms and prices from official pages checked October 24, 2026.
•3 min read•3D & CAD
Quick comparison
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Best for | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FreeCAD | Free (Free, no sign-up) | Windows, macOS, Linux | CAD and CAM in one free tool | Docs only |
| Autodesk Fusion | Free (Personal-use license for hobbyists earning under $1,000 USD a year from home-based non-commercial projects; limited to 10 active editable documents, per Autodesk's personal-use page as quoted in search) | Windows, macOS | Hobby CAD plus CAM | Docs only |
| Carbide Create | Free (Free 2D/2.5D CAD/CAM; Pro adds 3D modeling and non-Carbide 3D machine G-code); paid from $120 per year (Pro subscription; perpetual $360) | Windows, macOS | Simple 2D carving and cutting | Docs only |
| CAMotics | Free (Open-source and free, per camotics.org) | Windows, macOS, Linux | Checking G-code before cutting | Docs only |
| Universal G-code Sender | Free (Free and open source) | Desktop | Running a GRBL hobby machine | Docs only |
| LinuxCNC | Free (Free; source under GNU GPLv2 per the home page) | Linux | Replacing a machine's controller | Docs only |
Independent comparison. Paid placements are labelled separately; editorial links earn no affiliate commissions. Learn more.
Good fit if
- You want one free tool from model to toolpath (FreeCAD is the pick)
- You own a Carbide 3D machine (Carbide Create is the pick)
- You want to catch G-code mistakes before cutting (CAMotics is the pick)
- You run a GRBL router and need a sender (Universal G-code Sender is the pick)
Not ideal if
- You need paid-tier features, uptime guarantees or support that these free plans leave out
CNC work needs software at three stages: design the part, generate toolpaths, and send the G-code to the machine. Free tools exist at every stage, but few do all three. FreeCAD models the part and has a CAM workbench for toolpaths. Fusion's personal-use license covers CAD and CAM for hobbyists earning under $1,000 a year, with a limit of 10 active editable documents. Carbide Create is free 2D and 2.5D CAD/CAM from Carbide 3D, aimed at its own machines; running other machines needs the paid Pro edition at $120 a year, or $360 perpetual. CAMotics simulates the G-code in 3D so a typo does not break a tool. Universal G-code Sender streams the code to GRBL-class controllers, while LinuxCNC replaces the controller itself on a dedicated Linux PC. Match the tool to the stage you are missing. A hobby router owner with a GRBL controller needs a CAM program, a sender and perhaps a simulator, all of which can be free. The trade-off is integration. Paid suites hand a design to a toolpath and then to a machine in one window; free tools make you export and import between each stage, and that is where mistakes enter, so simulate every file before you cut.
FreeCAD
LGPL-2.1 parametric modeler with a CAM workbench for toolpaths. Free without conditions, but the CAM side takes time to learn.
Price: Free (Free, no sign-up) (FreeCAD pricing, checked 2026-10-22).
Platforms and license: Windows, macOS, Linux. LGPL-2.1 (open source).
Project activity: 34.9k GitHub stars · latest release 1.1.4 (Sep 28, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026
Best for: CAD and CAM in one free tool.
Worth knowing: Mainly parametric 3D; 2D drafting is not its strength.
Autodesk Fusion
Personal-use license is free for hobbyists earning under $1,000 a year, limited to 10 active editable documents. Confirm the current terms with Autodesk.
Price: Free (Personal-use license for hobbyists earning under $1,000 USD a year from home-based non-commercial projects; limited to 10 active editable documents, per Autodesk's personal-use page as quoted in search) (Autodesk Fusion pricing, checked 2026-10-23).
Platforms and license: Windows, macOS. Proprietary.
Best for: Hobby CAD plus CAM.
Compare: Autodesk Fusion alternatives
Carbide Create
Free 2D and 2.5D CAD/CAM aimed at Carbide 3D machines. Pro adds 3D modeling and non-Carbide G-code for $120 a year.
Price: Free (Free 2D/2.5D CAD/CAM; Pro adds 3D modeling and non-Carbide 3D machine G-code); paid from $120 per year (Pro subscription; perpetual $360) (Carbide Create pricing, checked 2026-10-24).
Platforms and license: Windows, macOS. Proprietary.
Best for: Simple 2D carving and cutting.
CAMotics
Free open-source G-code simulator that runs on Linux, macOS and Windows. It checks tool paths in 3D but does not generate them.
Price: Free (Open-source and free, per camotics.org) (CAMotics pricing, checked 2026-10-24).
Platforms and license: Windows, macOS, Linux. GPL-2.0-or-later (open source).
Project activity: 763 GitHub stars · latest release 1.2.0-release (Feb 9, 2019) · last commit Mar 23, 2026
Best for: Checking G-code before cutting.
Worth knowing: G-code simulator that shows tool paths in 3D; it does not generate toolpaths or run the machine.
Universal G-code Sender
Free GPL-3.0 Java sender for GRBL-class controllers. It streams and jogs, but you still need another program to make the G-code.
Price: Free (Free and open source) (Universal G-code Sender pricing, checked 2026-10-24).
Platforms and license: Desktop. GPL-3.0 (open source).
Project activity: 2.3k GitHub stars · latest release v2.1.27 (Sep 10, 2026) · last commit Oct 25, 2026
Best for: Running a GRBL hobby machine.
Worth knowing: Java G-code sender for GRBL-class controllers; README lists Windows downloads and other platform packages.
LinuxCNC
GPL-2.0 machine controller for Linux, with release 2.9.10 listed on its home page. Replaces the controller; it is not a design tool.
Price: Free (Free; source under GNU GPLv2 per the home page) (LinuxCNC pricing, checked 2026-10-24).
Platforms and license: Linux. GPL-2.0 (open source).
Project activity: 2.5k GitHub stars · latest release v2.10.0-pre2 (Sep 28, 2026) · last commit Oct 27, 2026
Best for: Replacing a machine's controller.
Which one to pick
- You want one free tool from model to toolpath: FreeCAD
- You own a Carbide 3D machine: Carbide Create
- You want to catch G-code mistakes before cutting: CAMotics
- You run a GRBL router and need a sender: Universal G-code Sender
Limits of this review
Docs-only for FreeCAD, Autodesk Fusion, Carbide Create, CAMotics, Universal G-code Sender, LinuxCNC: we did not install or run them, so feature claims come from vendor pages. Vendor prices and free limits change; confirm on the linked pricing page before you commit.
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Kevin Fan
Kevin Fan is a SaaS founder. He runs Free Instead Of, which tracks free and open-source alternatives to paid software and checks each price and free-plan limit against the vendor's own pages.
Methodology
Based on official pricing, license and product pages checked between 2026-10-22 and 2026-10-24: FreeCAD, Autodesk Fusion, Carbide Create, CAMotics, Universal G-code Sender, LinuxCNC. Prices, free limits and licenses are the figures shown on those pages on those dates. No tool on this page was installed or run. No accounts were created.