Best Product Design Software for Linux of 2025

SelfCAD is a powerful 3D modeling software that is easy to use. Users can be able to model, sculpt, render, and even slice all under one program. The program targets beginners, hobbyists, professionals, students, small and large business owners and freelancers who would like to design their 3D models quickly without having to spend a lot of time learning how to use the software. SelfCAD has a simplified interface in which the tools are well arranged in the interface making it an easy to use software. There are a lot many interactive tutorials available that makes learning fun. If you would like to introduce your students to 3D modeling, prepare professionals prototypes or designs, this is the best tool you need.

FreeCAD is a versatile, open-source parametric 3D modeling software created for the purpose of designing tangible objects in various sizes. Its parametric modeling feature enables users to easily revisit the model's history and alter its parameters, facilitating design modifications. With FreeCAD, you can create constrained 2D sketches that serve as foundational elements for constructing additional objects. The software encompasses numerous components that allow for the adjustment of dimensions and the extraction of design specifics from 3D models, aiding in the production of high-quality, ready-to-use drawings. As a cross-platform tool compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, FreeCAD offers extensive customization and extensibility options. It supports a wide array of open file formats, including STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC, DAE, and many more, which enables smooth integration into various workflows. Designed to accommodate diverse applications such as product design, mechanical engineering, and architectural projects, FreeCAD caters to a broad audience. Regardless of whether you are a hobbyist, an experienced CAD professional, a student, or an educator, the user-friendly interface of FreeCAD ensures that everyone can find their place within the software. Embracing the community-driven development, FreeCAD continues to evolve, incorporating user feedback to enhance its functionality.

Rocky DEM efficiently models the flow behavior of bulk materials, accommodating complex particle geometries and diverse size distributions. It uniquely harnesses the combined processing power of multiple GPU cards, significantly speeding up simulations and allowing for the management of larger datasets in reduced timeframes. The software supports precise modeling of particle shapes, incorporating custom 3D forms, 2D shells, and fibers that can be either rigid or flexible, enhancing the versatility of simulations. Users can enable their equipment components to respond dynamically to various forces, including particle interactions and gravitational effects. With its advanced Application Programming Interface (API), Rocky DEM utilizes cutting-edge technology to enhance customization and improve the user experience. This leads to exceptional usability, remarkable portability, and superior solver performance. Additionally, Rocky DEM seamlessly integrates with Ansys Workbench, including Fluent, Mechanical, Optislang, and DesignXplorer, offering both one-way and two-way coupling capabilities that ensure consistent physical results. Such integration not only streamlines workflows but also enhances the accuracy of simulations across different engineering applications.

Dymola, or Dynamic Modeling Laboratory, serves as a comprehensive platform dedicated to the modeling and simulation of intricate, integrated systems applicable across various fields such as automotive, aerospace, robotics, and process engineering. This tool enables users to efficiently address complex multi-disciplinary modeling and analysis challenges by leveraging Dymola's advanced Modelica and simulation technologies. As an all-encompassing environment, Dymola facilitates the creation, testing, simulation, and post-processing of models, making it indispensable for engineers. In addition to its robust capabilities, Dymola features libraries developed by industry experts that enhance its functionality, allowing for rapid modeling and simulation of complex systems across diverse engineering disciplines. Furthermore, the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) enables any modeling software to produce C code or binaries that accurately represent a dynamic system model, thus broadening Dymola's applicability and integration into various workflows. This seamless interaction between different tools promotes efficiency and innovation in system design and analysis.

SOLVESPACE is an open-source parametric 3D CAD software released under the GPLv3 license, allowing users to design 3D components and create drawings through various operations such as extruding, revolving, or using Boolean methods like union, difference, and intersection. It also enables the modeling of 2D parts by allowing users to draw a single section and export it in formats like DXF, PDF, and SVG, while the 3D assembly feature aids in checking component fit. For those interested in 3D printing, parts can be exported in STL or other mesh formats compatible with the majority of 3D printers. Additionally, it supports the preparation of CAM data, enabling the export of 2D vector art tailored for waterjet machines or laser cutters, or generating STEP and STL files for integration with third-party CAM software for machining processes. The tool is particularly useful for mechanism design, utilizing a constraint solver to simulate both planar and spatial linkages, accommodating various joint types such as pin, ball, or slide joints. Instead of relying on traditional trigonometry and spreadsheets, users can work with live-dimensioned drawings to handle plane and solid geometry, and they can sketch sections utilizing a variety of shapes including lines, rectangles, datum lines, points, circles, arcs, and cubic Bezier segments, along with C2 interpolating splines and more intricate designs. This comprehensive approach encourages creativity and efficiency in the design process, making SOLVESPACE a valuable asset for engineers and designers alike.

ICEM Surf is widely regarded as the premier reference system for crafting Class-A surfaces, serving as a top-tier tool for explicit geometry modeling focused on curves and surfaces, which allows for the definition, analysis, and high-end visualization of intricate free-form CAD surface models at an exceptional quality level. This software is integral to various product design workflows across industries such as automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, and press-tool design, offering capabilities for direct surface modeling, refinement, reconstruction, and scan modeling. Its advanced features, including global modeling and specialized analysis tools, empower designers to identify minor surface defects and ensure compliance with industry standards while delivering precise surfacing results and enjoying real-time 3D visual experiences. With the core module, users can create, modify, and assess complex free-form shapes that meet high aesthetic Class-A standards, enabling a comprehensive approach to surface design and evaluation. Furthermore, the software's versatility makes it an essential asset in achieving optimal design outcomes while adhering to rigorous quality benchmarks.

Inventor® Nastran® is a finite element analysis (FEA) tool integrated within CAD software, enabling engineers and analysts to perform a diverse range of studies using various materials. This software provides comprehensive simulation capabilities that encompass both linear and nonlinear stress analysis, dynamic simulations, and heat transfer assessments. It is exclusively accessible through the Product Design & Manufacturing Collection, which includes a suite of powerful tools designed to enhance workflows within Inventor. In addition to advanced simulation features, this collection also offers 5-axis CAM, nesting tools, and access to software like AutoCAD and Fusion 360, ensuring a holistic approach to product design and manufacturing processes. By utilizing Inventor Nastran, professionals can streamline their analysis and improve their design outcomes significantly.