DesignSpark Mechanical
Free, with limitsFree direct-modeling 3D CAD
Free tier & pricing
The Explorer plan is permanently free with no hidden fees, importing STEP/IGES/STL and exporting; advanced tools require paid Creator/Engineer plans.
Last verified Jun 23, 2026. Report a change →
The short answer
DesignSpark Mechanical is a direct-modeling 3D CAD tool from RS with a permanently free Explorer plan and a large parts library.
The facts
- Pricing
- Paid · Free, with limits
- Free tier
- Yes
- Runs in browser
- No
- Platforms
- Windows
- 2D / 3D
- Basic 3D
- Learning curve
- Moderate
- Export formats
- STL, OBJ
The catch
- Desktop install only — no browser version.
- You must create an account to save or export.
Best for
Free gesture-based 3D modeling
DesignSpark Mechanical: questions, answered
Is DesignSpark Mechanical free?
DesignSpark Mechanical has a free tier, but with limits. The Explorer plan is permanently free with no hidden fees, importing STEP/IGES/STL and exporting; advanced tools require paid Creator/Engineer plans. Paid plans start at Paid.
What platforms does DesignSpark Mechanical run on?
DesignSpark Mechanical is available on Windows. It is a desktop install with no browser version.
What file formats can you export from DesignSpark Mechanical?
DesignSpark Mechanical exports to STL, OBJ. It does not export CAD (DWG/DXF) formats, so it is not aimed at construction documents.
Does DesignSpark Mechanical do 3D and photorealistic renders?
DesignSpark Mechanical supports 3D with basic 3d render quality. For fully photorealistic output you may want a heavier tool.
Is DesignSpark Mechanical easy to learn?
Moderate to pick up. Free gesture-based 3D modeling