How to Install FreeCAD on Ubuntu Linux

FreeCAD is a powerful, open-source parametric 3D CAD modeler designed for product design, mechanical engineering, and architecture. Whether you need to design mechanical parts for 3D printing, create architectural floor plans with precise measurements, or build parametric models that automatically update when dimensions change, FreeCAD provides professional-grade modeling tools without licensing costs. The platform supports extensive file formats (STEP, IGES, STL, DXF), offers Python scripting for automation, and features a modular workbench system that adapts to different engineering disciplines.

This guide covers installing FreeCAD on Ubuntu using the default repository, the FreeCAD Personal Package Archive (PPA) for stable or development builds, Snap, or Flatpak with Flathub. Each method provides the same core functionality with different update schedules and packaging formats.

Choose Your FreeCAD Installation Method

FreeCAD offers multiple installation paths on Ubuntu, each with distinct trade-offs for version freshness, stability, and system integration. Choose the method that best matches your needs.

Method	Version/Channel	Stability	Best For
Ubuntu Repository (APT)	Stable, tested builds	High – thoroughly tested	Most users seeking reliability
FreeCAD Stable PPA	Latest stable releases	High – community tested	Users wanting newer stable versions
FreeCAD Daily PPA	Development builds	Low – unstable, bleeding-edge	Developers and testers only
Snap	Latest stable from Snapcraft	Medium – sandboxed environment	Users preferring automatic updates
Flatpak	Latest stable from Flathub	Medium – sandboxed environment	Users managing universal packages

The default Ubuntu repository provides the most stable option for production work. The stable PPA delivers newer versions while maintaining reliability, but the daily PPA ships untested development builds that may break functionality. Snap and Flatpak offer sandboxed installations with automatic updates but slightly larger disk footprints.

Method 1: Install FreeCAD via APT

Before proceeding, open a terminal (press Ctrl+Alt+T or search for “Terminal” in Activities) and update your package list to ensure you install the latest available version:

sudo apt update

Option 1: Install FreeCAD with Ubuntu Repository

The most straightforward method to install FreeCAD is using the APT (Advanced Package Tool, Ubuntu’s package manager similar to combining Windows Update with the Microsoft Store) with the standard Ubuntu repository. This method provides a stable version of the software. To install FreeCAD using this method, run the following command:

sudo apt install freecad

Option 2: Install FreeCAD Stable with FreeCAD Maintainers PPA

The FreeCAD Maintainers PPA delivers newer stable releases faster than the Ubuntu repository. This method suits users who want the latest stable version without using Snap or Flatpak.

First, install the required package to add the PPA:

sudo apt install software-properties-common -y

Next, import the FreeCAD stable PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:freecad-maintainers/freecad-stable -y

After adding the PPA, update the package list:

sudo apt update

Finally, install FreeCAD from the stable PPA:

sudo apt install freecad

Option 3: Install FreeCAD Daily Development Builds (Advanced Users)

The daily PPA provides unstable development builds intended for testing and development only. These builds may crash, lose data, or break functionality. Use the stable PPA (Option 2) for production work.

Install the prerequisites:

sudo apt install software-properties-common -y

Next, import the FreeCAD daily PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:freecad-maintainers/freecad-daily -y

After adding the repository, update the package list:

sudo apt update

Finally, install the daily build (note the different package name):

sudo apt install freecad-daily

Method 2: Install FreeCAD via Snap

Alternatively, Snap provides a convenient installation method with automatic background updates. Snapcraft comes pre-installed on Ubuntu desktops unless previously removed.

Install FreeCAD as a snap package:

sudo snap install freecad

Method 3: Install FreeCAD via Flatpak and Flathub

Additionally, Flatpak offers another universal package option with sandboxed application isolation. Flatpak ensures you have the latest version without affecting other system packages.

If your system does not have Flatpak installed, please refer to our guide on “How to Install Flatpak on Ubuntu” for step-by-step instructions on installing the most recent supported version of Flatpak.

Enable Flathub for FreeCAD

Before installing FreeCAD through Flatpak, you must first enable the Flathub repository, which serves as the primary source for Flatpak applications. To enable Flathub, execute the following command in your terminal:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

This command adds the Flathub repository to your Flatpak configuration, ensuring you can access various applications, including FreeCAD.

Install FreeCAD via Flatpak Command

Once Flathub is enabled, install FreeCAD system-wide:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.freecadweb.FreeCAD -y

Launch FreeCAD Application

After FreeCAD is installed, you can launch the application using either the Command Line Interface (CLI) or the Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Launching FreeCAD through CLI

The command to launch FreeCAD varies based on your installation method. For APT or PPA installations, use the standard command:

freecad

If you installed via Snap, use the Snap runtime:

snap run freecad

For Flatpak installations, use the full application ID:

flatpak run org.freecadweb.FreeCAD

To verify your installed version from an APT or PPA installation, run:

freecad --version

Launching FreeCAD through GUI

Alternatively, users who prefer the graphical method can launch FreeCAD by locating the application icon in their desktop environment.

1. Click on the Activities button (usually located in the top-left corner of your screen).
2. Select Show Applications (represented by a grid icon) to open the list of installed applications.
3. Locate the FreeCAD icon by scrolling through the list or typing “FreeCAD” in the search bar.
4. Click on the FreeCAD icon to launch the application.

Update and Remove FreeCAD

Keep FreeCAD current with regular updates, or remove it cleanly when no longer needed. The commands vary by installation method.

Update FreeCAD

Regular updates ensure you have the latest features, security patches, and bug fixes. Each package manager handles updates differently.

APT Update Command Method for FreeCAD

Update all APT packages on your system, including FreeCAD:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Snap Update Command Method for FreeCAD

Update all snap packages on your system, including FreeCAD:

sudo snap refresh

Flatpak Update Command Method for FreeCAD

Update all Flatpak packages on your system, including FreeCAD:

sudo flatpak update

Remove FreeCAD

Remove FreeCAD when switching installation methods, freeing disk space, or no longer needing the application. Choose the removal command matching your installation method.

APT Remove Command Method for FreeCAD

For users who installed FreeCAD through APT, use the following command to remove the application:

sudo apt remove freecad

For the daily PPA version, use this command instead:

sudo apt remove freecad-daily

Remove the stable PPA repository when no longer needed. For detailed PPA management, refer to our guide on removing PPAs from Ubuntu.

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:freecad-maintainers/freecad-stable -y

Remove the daily PPA repository:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:freecad-maintainers/freecad-daily -y

Snap Remove Command Method for FreeCAD

To uninstall FreeCAD installed via Snapcraft, execute this command:

sudo snap remove freecad

Flatpak Remove Command Method for FreeCAD

To remove the Flatpak version of FreeCAD, run the following command:

sudo flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.freecadweb.FreeCAD -y

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While FreeCAD installation typically proceeds smoothly, you may encounter occasional issues. The following examples show practical commands you can run to diagnose and fix common problems.

If you have multiple FreeCAD installations from different sources (APT, Snap, Flatpak), they may conflict. Remove unused installations before troubleshooting so you only maintain one active version.

PPA conflicts with existing repositories: If adding the FreeCAD PPA fails or causes dependency errors, first refresh your package lists and then remove any conflicting PPAs.

sudo apt update
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:old/ppa-name

When dependencies are blocked, APT typically prints an error similar to the following:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 freecad : Depends: libsome-dependency (>= 1.2) but it is not going to be installed

Remove unused PPAs, then re-add only the FreeCAD stable or daily PPA so they do not conflict.

Dependency resolution failures: When APT reports unmet dependencies or broken packages, run a fix pass and then retry the installation.

sudo apt --fix-broken install
sudo apt install freecad

This command attempts to repair missing or partially installed packages before you install FreeCAD again.

Snap or Flatpak launch failures: If FreeCAD fails to launch via Snap or Flatpak, first confirm the package is installed and then check logs for permission or sandboxing errors.

snap list | grep -i freecad
flatpak list | grep -i freecad

sudo journalctl -xe | grep -i freecad

If the package appears in the list but still fails to start, remove and reinstall the Snap or Flatpak version to restore a clean configuration.

Closing Thoughts

FreeCAD provides professional parametric 3D modeling for mechanical engineering, product design, and architecture without licensing costs. The installation process covers the stable Ubuntu repository for reliability, the FreeCAD stable PPA for newer releases, and the optional daily PPA for development testing. Additionally, Snap and Flatpak offer sandboxed alternatives with automatic updates. Your Ubuntu system now runs a capable CAD platform ready for mechanical part design, architectural modeling, and parametric workflows with extensive file format support and Python scripting capabilities.