FreeCAD features tools similar to CATIA, Creo, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, NX, Inventor, Revit, and therefore also falls into the category of building information modeling (BIM), mechanical computer-aided design (MCAD), PLM, CAx and CAE.

It is intended to be a feature-based parametric modeler with a modular software architecture, which makes it easy to provide additional functionality without modifying the core system.

Under its current state, direct 2D drawing (like AutoCAD LT) is not the focus for this software, and neither are animation or 3D model manipulation (like Blender, Maya, or Cinema 4D).

[7] There are moves to expand FreeCAD in the architecture, electrical, and construction (AEC) engineering sectors and to add building information modeling (BIM) functionality with the Arch Module.

[10] FreeCAD's support for the proprietary DWG file format has been problematic due to software license compatibility problems with the GNU LibreDWG library.

As FreeCAD (and also LibreCAD) has dependencies on Open Cascade, which prior to version 6.7.0 was only compatible with GPLv2,[11] it couldn't use the GNU LibreDWG library as GPLv2 and GPLv3 are essentially incompatible.

[citation needed] FreeCAD was notably presented at FISL 16 in 2015, in Porto Alegre,[17] as well as at the Libre Graphics Meeting in London in 2016.

[19] The FreeCAD 1.0 version includes several new features, such as the new assembly workbench; fixes for many bugs, including the topological naming problem; unification and correction of many workbenches; very diverse changes and improvements in the user interface and user experience (UI/UX);[20] and a new logo, chosen from five finalists of the public contest created to renew the brand.

Thanks to the hard work of Obelisk and a whole cadre of talented designers, a collection of excellent candidates was assembled that kept the spirit of the original logo, but also evolved it, sometimes in unexpectedly delightful ways (the dino-logo holds a special place in my heart).

[32] The winning logo was designed and proposed by Sebastián Tabares (syta.co) in the respective forum and Discord thread, accompanied by a showcase showing the different uses and variations that can be given to the logo,[33] immediately, it got support from many members of the community that from that moment began to give their “touch” to the initiative, including designs for CNC machining, 3D printing, stickers, GIFs, animations, FEM models, merchandise, wallpapers, among many other things.