SolidCraft and CraftCAD are different programs. CraftCAD, spelled CADCraft by its makers, is open-source drafting software from the ArtCraft team; SolidCraft is open-source parametric CAD from Tangency Labs.
Side by side
The names are close. The maker and the job are not.
| SolidCraft | CADCraft (CraftCAD) | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Tangency Labs | ArtCraft team |
| Role | Open-source parametric CAD | Open-source 2D and 3D drafting CAD, written in Rust |
| Licence | MIT or Apache-2.0, at your option | MIT or Apache-2.0 |
| Price | No price published | No account and no subscription |
| Systems | Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, plus a browser version | Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, plus a browser version |
| Documented work | Parametric CAD. "Early but usable for simple parts." | Command line, layers, dimensions, hatches, blocks, DXF and DWG, layouts and PDF plotting |
| Automation | solidcraft-cli and a local MCP server | cadcraft-cli and an MCP server |
| Old name | SolveCraft through version 0.7 | Not SolidCraft |
What each project documents
Judge the published job, not the similar spelling.
- SolidCraft is parametric CAD for parts. At the time of writing (October 2026) its latest GitHub release was v0.16.2. The project calls it early but usable for simple parts. On a public set of 76 reference parts, 75 results matched.
- Its geometry kernel, SolidCore, is Apache-2.0. The rest of the program is MIT or Apache-2.0, at your option. No price is published.
- Desktop builds cover Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD, and there is a browser version. solidcraft-cli and a local MCP server ship with it.
- CADCraft documents a drafting workflow: a command line, object snaps, layers, hatches, blocks, dimensions, paper-space layouts and plotting to PDF.
- It reads and writes DXF and DWG, and it exports SVG and PNG. It also has geometric and dimensional constraints and named parameters.
- CADCraft describes itself as 2D and 3D CAD and as early, fast-moving software. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and FreeBSD, and in the browser. Its licence is MIT or Apache-2.0, with no account and no subscription.
- Shared platforms and a shared style of licence do not make the two programs one product. Search spellings such as craft cad, CraftCAD and CadCraft point at CADCraft, not at SolidCraft.
Which should you use?
Pick the job you have.
- Choose SolidCraft if you want Tangency Labs' open-source parametric CAD, on Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD or in the browser, and simple parts fit "early but usable for simple parts." Read SolidCraft parametric CAD and the SolidCraft tutorial.
- Choose CADCraft if you want drawing-style CAD: layers, dimensions, hatches, blocks, DXF or DWG, and sheets that plot.
- Do not follow the old name across. SolveCraft is SolidCraft, not CADCraft. See SolveCraft is now SolidCraft.
- If the other program you meant is FreeCAD, use SolidCraft vs FreeCAD.