The table below provides an overview of notable computer-aided design (CAD) software.
It does not judge power, ease of use, or other user-experience aspects.
For all-purpose 3D programs, see Comparison of 3D computer graphics software.
CAD refers to a specific type of drawing and modelling software application that is used for creating designs and technical drawings.
3D geometry definition file format (.obj) - Adobe PDF (.pdf) - Autodesk 3DS Max format (.3ds) - AutoCAD (.dwg)(.dxf) - BIM Collaboration format (.bcf) - Blender files (.blend) - Collada (.dae) - Conversion files (.cnv) - Comma separated value files (.csv) - DSTV (.nc, .stp, .mis) - Elematic ELiPLAN, ELiPOS, Plant Control, FloorMES, WallMES (.eli) - FabTrol MIS Xml (.xml) - Filmbox (.fbx) - GL Transmission Format (.glft) - IFC2x3 IFC4 IFC4.3 (.ifc) - IFCXML 2X3 (.ifcXML) - IFCZIP 2x3 (.ifcZIP) - Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) (.iges, .igs) - LandXML (.xml) - Microsoft Project (.xml) - Microstation (.dgn) - Oracle Primavera P6 (.xml) - Point cloud (.e57, .las, .laz, .pts, .ptx, .js, .tzf, .tdx) - Polygon File Format (.ply) - Potree (.js) - SketchUp (.skp) - Staad ASCII (.std) - Steel Detailing Neutral Format (.sdf, .sdnf, .dat) - STEP AP203 (.stp, .step) - STEP AP214 (.stp, .step) - TrimBIM (.tekla) - Tekla Collaboration (.tczip) - Tekla PowerFab (.pftx, .zip) - Tekla Structural Designer model (.tsmd) - Tekla Structural Designer neutral (.cxl) - Tekla Structures shape (.tsc) - TrimBIM (.trb) - Trimble Field Link (.tfl, .tflx, .txt, .cnx[61] 3D geometry definition file format (.obj) - aSa (.TEK) - Adobe PDF (.pdf) - AutoCAD (.dwg)(.dxf) - BIM Collaboration format (.bcf) - BVBS (.abs) - Collada (.dae) - Conversion files (.cnv) - Comma separated value files (.csv) - DSTV (.nc, .stp, .mis) - Elematic ELiPLAN, ELiPOS, Plant Control, FloorMES, WallMES (.eli) - FabTrol Kiss (.kss) - FabTrol MIS Xml (.xml) - HMS (.sot) - IBB Betsy (.fa, .f, .ev) - IFC2x3 IFC4 IFC4.3 (.ifc) - IFCXML 2X3 (.ifcXML) - IFCZIP 2x3 (.ifcZIP) - Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) (.iges, .igs) - Microsoft Project (.xml) - Microstation (.dgn) - Oracle Primavera P6 (.xml) - Plant Design Management System (.pdms) - Potree (.js) - RIB iTWO-Export (.cpixml) - SketchUp (.skp) - Staad ASCII (.std) - Steel Detailing Neutral Format (.sdf, .sdnf, .dat) - TrimBIM (.tekla) - Tekla Collaboration (.tczip) - Tekla PowerFab (.pftx, .zip) - Tekla-FabTrol Report (.xsr) - Tekla Structural Designer model (.tsmd) - Tekla Structural Designer neutral (.cxl) - Tekla Structures shape (.tsc) - TrimBIM (.trb) - Trimble Field Link (.tfl, .tflx, .txt, .cnx) - TubeNC (.xml) - Unitechnik (.uni, .cam)[61] 3D documents: Parasolid, STEP, IGES, ACIS, JT, PRC 3D documents with mesh (polygonal) geometry: DXF 3D, STL, OBJ, PLY, VRML 2.0, 3D PDF, U3D, X3D, 3DM, POV, Open Inventor, IFC, 3MF Raster images: BMP, JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF