The biggest barrier to getting into parametric CAD isn't the
What makes it interesting
Arcad uses OpenCascade for solid modeling under the hood. That's the same kernel powering FreeCAD and a bunch of commercial apps, so the geometry handling is legit. You get an editable feature history — which is the real deal for parametric workflow — and you can export STEP files for manufacturing or further CAD work. STEP export alone makes it viable for real-world projects, not just toy models.
Some highlights from my time with it:
- Editable feature history — you can go back and change parameters, like sketches or dimensions, and the model rebuilds.
- Solid modeling via OpenCascade — proper boolean ops, fillets, shells, the works.
- STEP export — perfect for slicing, CNC, or handing off to a machinist.
- Touch controls — it's mainly aimed at PC, but it works on tablets in a pinch.
- No signup, no install — just open the browser and start.
Hands-on impressions
I went in expecting a toy. After about ten minutes of poking around, I was genuinely surprised. The UI is clean, and the parametric tree feels familiar if you've used Fusion 360 or Onshape. I was able to sketch a simple bracket, add a pocket, then go back and change the depth without breaking anything. That's the core promise of parametric CAD, and Arcad delivers it in the browser.
For a beginner-friendly entry point, this is huge. Anyone who wants to learn parametric modeling from scratch can do it in a browser tab — no licensing headaches, no installer on an old laptop. That lowers the friction to essentially zero. And for the maker crowd, being able to quickly generate a STEP file and send it to a service like PCBWay or JLC is a solid workflow.
Is it ready?
The creators say it's beta but ready for a full launch, and I'd agree. The feature set covers the basics you'd expect from a hobbyist-focused CAD tool. It's not going to replace SolidWorks for complex assemblies anytime soon, but that's not the target. For quick parts, custom enclosures, and parametric experiments, it's genuinely useful.
There are still rough edges — I hit a minor glitch with a fillet on a weird edge, and the docs are a bit sparse in places. But the fact that two people built this in a few months is impressive. It's free to try, so if you've ever wanted to do solid modeling without the setup overhead, just open up the site and start sketching. I'd love to see where this goes once they add more constraint types and maybe multi-body support.