A free SelfCAD alternative: OwlCAD’s full browser editor costs nothing, with editable parametric history, edge fillets, solid STEP export and private cloud projects.
OwlCAD’s full modeling editor is free: parametric history, real fillets, exact dimensions, solid STEP, and private-by-default cloud projects. It exports print-ready files for your slicer (it doesn’t slice itself).
Free editor · Private by default · No install
Competitor details last checked: 5 October 2026
OwlCAD focuses on modeling and print preparation rather than bundling a slicer, and the full editor is free to use.
Scrub back to any sketch, boolean, or dimension and the model rebuilds downstream, so you change a parameter without starting the shape over.
Round or bevel single edges at a radius you can re-tune, type exact lengths and angles, and measure the model itself: hole radius and diameter, true arc length, face area, and the smallest gap between two parts.
Export a true solid STEP (B-rep) for the parts you build, plus STL, 3MF, OBJ, GLB, SVG and DXF: handoff to mechanical CAD, not just meshes.
Projects are private the moment you make them, autosave to the cloud, and keep a version history you can roll back. Share only when you choose to.
Watertight checks, hollowing, auto-orient, and fit-to-printer, then print-ready STL or 3MF for your slicer, whether Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, Cura or OrcaSlicer.
Modeling, import, and export cost nothing; only AI generation is part of Pro. SelfCAD has a free plan, but its full toolset needs the paid Pro plan, and a free account can’t download an export directly: SelfCAD sends it to MyMiniFactory to download from there.
OwlCAD runs a hosted MCP server, the standard that lets AI apps such as Claude Code, Claude Desktop or Cursor use outside tools, so your agent can build a part on your account: a real parametric model where every step and dimension stays editable, checked by the CAD kernel and by a render of its own work, handed back as a print-ready file plus a project you can open and edit. Part of Pro, and it spends no AI credits.
Open it in your browser, keep your designs private, and export for any slicer.
Yes. OwlCAD is browser-based 3D modeling and its full editor is free, where SelfCAD’s full toolset needs its paid Pro plan and its free accounts can’t download an export directly. Only OwlCAD’s AI generation is paid; modeling, import, and export are free.
An editable parametric history you can scrub and retro-edit, real edge fillets and exact dimensions, solid STEP export, and projects that are private by default with cloud version history.
No. OwlCAD focuses on modeling and print preparation (a print check for overhangs and thin walls, watertight checks, hollowing, auto-orient, fit-to-printer), then exports print-ready STL or 3MF for your slicer of choice, such as Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, Cura or OrcaSlicer.
Yes. Nothing to install, on any modern browser, and you can start without an account.