Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GrabCAD VS HackADay

Compare GrabCAD VS HackADay and see what are their differences

GrabCAD logo GrabCAD

Helping mechanical engineers build great products faster

HackADay logo HackADay

Hackaday.io is a platform for people who like to build things.
  • GrabCAD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-14
  • HackADay Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-04

GrabCAD features and specs

  • Large Library of CAD Models
    GrabCAD offers a vast library of CAD models, making it easier for engineers and designers to find and download models that fit their needs or inspire their projects.
  • Collaboration and Sharing
    The platform allows for collaboration among engineers and designers by enabling them to share models, comment on designs, and give feedback. This fosters a community-driven environment ideal for teamwork and learning.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    GrabCAD's interface is designed to be intuitive, making it easy for users to navigate, search for models, and manage their own design files without a steep learning curve.
  • Visibility and Exposure
    By uploading designs to GrabCAD, users can gain visibility and showcase their work to a larger audience, which can be beneficial for professional networking and building a portfolio.
  • Integration with CAD Software
    The platform integrates well with popular CAD software, improving workflow efficiency by allowing seamless import and export of design files.

Possible disadvantages of GrabCAD

  • Quality Variance
    The quality of models on GrabCAD can vary significantly because they are user-uploaded. This variability can sometimes lead to models that do not meet professional or industry standards.
  • Limited Intellectual Property Protection
    Sharing designs on GrabCAD can pose risks to intellectual property protection since once a design is uploaded, it becomes publicly accessible, potentially leading to unauthorized use.
  • Potential for Inaccurate Models
    Some models may lack necessary details or may not be accurate, requiring users to double-check and verify the integrity of the designs before use.
  • Dependence on Internet Connection
    Accessing and downloading models from GrabCAD requires a stable internet connection, which could be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Limited Customization Options on Free Version
    Some features, such as advanced customization options, may be limited or unavailable in the free version, which might affect users who need specific functionalities without purchasing premium services.

HackADay features and specs

  • Diverse Content
    Hackaday covers a wide range of topics within electronics, engineering, and DIY projects, catering to a broad audience with varied interests.
  • Community Engagement
    The site has a vibrant community that actively shares projects and ideas, providing a platform for collaboration and feedback.
  • Regular Updates
    Hackaday frequently updates its content, ensuring readers have access to the latest in technology and maker communities.
  • Educational Resources
    The site offers tutorials and how-to guides, valuable for both beginners and experienced makers looking to learn new skills.

Possible disadvantages of HackADay

  • Technical Complexity
    Some projects and articles are highly technical, which might be challenging for beginners to fully understand without additional context.
  • Variable Quality
    The quality of content can vary greatly, as it is community-driven and includes submissions from a wide range of contributors.
  • Niche Focus
    While Hackaday covers diverse topics within its niche, it may not appeal to individuals outside the DIY or maker community.
  • Advertisement Presence
    The website contains advertisements that can sometimes detract from user experience, especially during project navigation.

GrabCAD videos

Grabcad Workbench Beta Review

More videos:

  • Review - GrabCAD Review : Best Website for Engineers | Biggest Community of Designers
  • Review - GrabCAD Platform

HackADay videos

No HackADay videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GrabCAD and HackADay)
3D Modeling
100 100%
0% 0
Digital Fabrication
35 35%
65% 65
Additive Manufacturing
0 0%
100% 100
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GrabCAD and HackADay

GrabCAD Reviews

Top 10 3D Model Databases: The Best Sites to Download 3D Models for 3D Printing
GrabCAD is different than the databases we have looked at so far. Firstly, GrabCad provides you with technical, engineering, and scale models only. Secondly, it lets you filter its database based on the 3D modeling software that the designs were created in. It’s the place to be for anyone looking for more than 27,000 technical 3D files. However, take into account that this...

HackADay Reviews

We have no reviews of HackADay yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, HackADay should be more popular than GrabCAD. It has been mentiond 49 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GrabCAD mentions (22)

  • Found a beat up Cosmos 1000 in a charity shop, and turned it into my first home server build.
    I used grabcad to get the models for those - I'm definitely not that good at modelling myself yet. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Best ways to learn Fusion?
    You can also go to grabcad.com and download some sample files and try to recreate them. Source: about 2 years ago
  • DIY Musgrave 9Para with Glock 17 magazine
    So I would like to share and discuss the idea with you - and further improve and simplify the model with your suggestions. The 3d model can be found in grabcad.com with "musgrave resurrection". Source: over 2 years ago
  • Does anyone knows where to get iPhone14 Pro max STL?
    You can try grabcad.com they tend to carry similar files for people to use. Phones, cameras, 3d printers, general machinery and the like. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Grandpa’s reaction to grandsons 3D printer
    Bro I got a 3d printer last week, literally never touched one before. I'm using Fusion 360 to model stuff, which is free for personal use, and there's a bunch of tutorials on Youtube. There's a huge library of 3d-printable stuff on https://grabcad.com. Source: almost 3 years ago
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HackADay mentions (49)

  • Wells Fargo Fires over a Dozen for 'Simulation of Keyboard Activity'
    It seems like most of these devices (example: https://hackaday.com/?p=683252) have a fixed and unusual USB vendor+product ID that will surely come up in the system log. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Deej: An open-source hardware volume mixer for Windows and Linux
    Can't help you with a list. But https://hackaday.com/ features sometimes nice DIY project, I often also see them popping up on youtube. But you might be able to find some if you search on 3D printing websites such as https://www.printables.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • What are some fun ME-related coding projects?
    Https://hackaday.com/ has many ideas/previously made projects. They also reward you for bringing up something new. Also accept year around applications. Check it out. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Did students lose interest in electronics as a hobby in the early 80s?
    We made abstractions successfully, world changing abstractions. Do the NAND to Tetris course and see that tech is abstractions on top of abstractions. Electronics today is frequently represented by code. Check out Verilog or VHDL. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware_description_language Where electronics stayed interesting is in the realm where code meets reality -> robotics and art. Playing with LED's,... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • What is your go-to source for science/tech news?
    Hackaday for when I'm browsing cool ideas I can actually do myself. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GrabCAD and HackADay, you can also consider the following products

Wikifactory - Engineer the future with Wikifactory. Wikifactory unifies teams in real-time, enabling efficient communication, streamlined workflows, and accelerated time-to-market.

Hackster - Hackster is a community dedicated to learning hardware.

Trustudies - Trustudies provide top-class home tuition along with non-paid membership from IITian.

Thingiverse - Thingiverse.com is the place to share digital designs for fabricating real, physical objects.

Instructables - DIY How To Make Instructions

Mathway - Mathway is a freemium math solving app that helps you find the solutions to any math problem you can imagine.