LEGO was the exemplary block building toy of yesteryear. These days, it’s moved in a wide range of mechanical headings, including elaborate Mindstorms; apply autonomy taking into account programmable blocks initially imagined for instructive purposes, and something drawing closer PC helped outline (CAD). Without putting on a show to rival the vibe of the genuine article, there’s LEGO building freeware out there that are simply shouting out to be utilized as a virtual toy. Extravagant clicking some virtual blocks together on your PC?
Throughout the years, the Lego toy brand has turned out to be progressively situated towards prebuilt models making it harder to think outside the predesigned pieces. Be that as it may, on a PC you can give your dream a chance to tear without shelling out for architectural parts. Also, Lego building projects are a spatially fascinating knowledge for youths of any age. Here are some best in the class Lego building software.
14 Best Lego Building Software
#1 Stud.io
Stud.io is an online tool that can create, render, and build instructions in a 3D form that uses virtual Lego bricks. You can make your models, structures and save models in the .lfx file format on your computer. The tool gives Intuitive and smooth building of bricks clutch, clip to each other, and hinge with the help of snap-to functionality. It has a stability check feature that allows you to build more stable and efficient designs quickly.
One of the core features of Stud.io includes a photo-realistic renderer that exports exceptional quality images for your creations and breathtaking with few clicks, and it uses the license code of FFmpeg under LGPL. It has an integrated instruction maker that uses to create building instructions, and its latest version allows you to create custom instructions for your design as well. It supports direct integration with the BrickLinks marketplace, gallery, and catalog that offers you to check parts information, browse other designs, and order your design as well.
#2 LEGO Digital Designer
LEGO Digital Designer is a program that allows you to build anything virtually by using virtual LEGO blocks. The software is developed and published by Lego Group, and you can use it on both macOS and Windows platforms. It is an enjoyable solution and offers thousands of shapes to create your image, and then you can buy the real bricks to build creation.
One of the best facts about this solution is that it allows you to print out your design and add it to your inventory of bricks to take it any LEGOLAND Theme park. The software is available to use in multiple modes, including MindStorms mode. In this mode, you can access hundreds of virtual Ledo MINDSTORMS and Technic elements that help you design your next robot model from scratch.
LEGO Digital Designer also offers a massive variety of design templates that you can easily choose and customize. After finalizing your design, you can quickly share it with others via email and social media platforms. LEGO Digital Designer also includes core features such as easy to understand interface, multiple modes, NXT brick, and more.
#3 LDraw
LDraw is an enjoyable tool for modeling Lego creations virtually. You can use this to document models that you have physically build, create instruction like Lego, render photorealistic images of your virtual models, and even make complete animations. It is one of the best alternatives to Lego Digital Designer, but offer lots of new tools and features that make it better than others.
It comes with a massive library of more than fifty thousand parts that consists of multiple categories. Each category has its parts that you can easily choose and use. LDraw is a simple and easy to use software and offer complete tutorials to enhance your proficiency. There is also has several ready-to-use designs that you can use and customize without any limit.
The interface of the software is simple, and you can easily use its parts, create unlimited models, animations, and realistic images. After finalizing your design, you can easily content you can share it with others. LDraw core feature includes allowing you to upload your parts, directly share your content with others, tutorials, and community, etc.
#4 LeoCAD
LeoCAD is a modern-style computer program that allows you to create virtual models by using virtual Lego bricks. It offers a vast library of pieces used in toy designing. The interface of the solution is quite impressive that allows new users to start creating virtual models without having to spend too much time learning the solution.
As compared to others, LeoCAD is a feature-rich solution that allows experienced users to build a model by using advanced techniques. The software is fully compatible with the LDraw solution and related tools, which makes it more feature-rich. One of the most exciting parts is that it has a library with more than 10000 different parts that can easily use to create a design.
LeoCAD is an open-source solution so that anyone can contribute to features and fixes. It has a community where experts around the world share their modules and tips to teach beginners. Share modules, save images, easy to understand interface, and more.
#5 LDCad
LDCad is a multi-platform virtual LEGO with an LDraw editor that allows you to edit the model documentation of LDraw in real-time. It has the basic system requirements includes hardware, operating system, and additional dependencies of Linux to operate.
It offers multi-threated loading of parts with the basic part snapping on growing collection. It supports script-based animation and scrip based macros as well. It integrates with flexible parts support such as springs, bands, and hoses, etc.
The top features of LDCad include external LDraw file change reloading/detection, buffer exchange meta support, OpenGL rendering exports, many customization options for color bins and part, and many more. It allows unlimited Undo-Redo and copy-paste form to other software of LDraw.
Additional features are part grouping, part ghosting, full MPD support, nested editing, and relative grids, etc. LDCad supports the configuration and all settings with editable and human-readable options.
#6 LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3
LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 is a programming software designed to simplify student access to and promote their engagement. The software offers an intuitive icon-based environment and combines the physical parts that make it better than others. It is specially designed for schools who want to motivate their students inside and outside the classroom.
The software feature a massive range of libraries that you can easily use and customize. There is also has a wide range of support material to ensure you and your students enjoy the seamless introduction. LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 comes with a complete guide and video tutorial to make simple. Thousands of parts, a massive library, share your design with others, and upload own models are key features of the solution.
#7 MecaBricks
MecaBricks is an online Lego model building tool that allows you to quickly and easily design Lego models by using thousands of virtual parts. It is quite simple to use tools, go to its official site, click on the start button, choose parts, add elements, and save your model into your device. You can also be able to share your model with others via social media platforms directly.
The platform starts with a very basic level, and now it has thousands of users around the world who can use it to create their imagination. It offers thousands of ready-to-use models that you can quickly edit and modify. You can freely use its library, features, and tools to make your models more exciting and stunning. With this, you can also be able to shop for some expert’s design high-resolution models and share with others.
MecaBricks no require registration, but if you want to save your model into its library, you need to sign up with the name, email address, and password. After a successful login, you can see its features. Its other prominent feature includes daily updates with new parts, online communities, workshops, and more.
#8 LPub3D
LPub3D is free to use a computer program that allows you to create Lego models by using virtual Lego blocks. It is a complete solution and offers all the key services, tools, and features to create a unique model. Installing this on your PC is quite tricky as it requires you to perform specific configurations. However, if your computer meets all its requirements, you only need to define the path to the LDraw engine and library.
The interface of the solution is easy to understand that helps you intuitively generate your model. One of the best facts about this Lego building software is that it allows you to create a Lego-style model on your computer with detailed instruction manuals. LPub3D is based on the LDraw engine and libraries that deliver an extremely functional 3D model viewer so that you can view your design several perspectives.
Aside from building the 3D model, LPub3D also allows you to create commercial projects by using your parts and tools. With this, you can also choose and customize any model from its library without any limit. LPub3D key feature includes allowing you to share your model with others, add own parts, editing tools, and more.
#9 MLCad
MLCad is a virtual model building software that allows you to create unique models by using virtual blocks easily. The software comes as an alternative to Lego Digital Designer and offers all the key services with some new features. It comes to a comprehensive and customizable interface that consists of multiple sections, such as a toolbar, menu bar, and information bar, etc. Each section has its options and functions that you can use to create a model.
The software offers thousands of parts that you can freely use to make your model more enjoyable. You can view comments when you start building the models that teach you about all its features and tools. After finalizing your model, you can save it into its online library as well as share it with others via social media platforms.
MLCad comes with some advanced tools that convert your model into a stunning picture or transform it into an animated video. Its other prominent feature includes more than a hundred types of bricks, a massive toolbar, templates, editing tools, and more.
#10 BrickUtils Portable
BrickUtils Portable is a computer program that helps children boost their creativity by exploring different scenarios and possibilities with virtual blocks. It is a similar Lego Digital Designer and comes with some new tools and features. The more interesting fact is that you can keep it on a removable storage device and use it on the go.
You can easily create any model by using its virtual blocks and edit with several tools to make your model more enjoyable. There is also has a feature that allows you to gain access to some managing options, and these options will enable you to tick individual bricks in case they are extra. BrickUtils Portable lets you test out the design and display all the extra bricks.
Its interface is quite simple, where you can easily explore every section to get its functions and tools. Like other Lego building software, BrickUtils Portable also comes with some modern features such as a massive library, more than thousands of bricks, editing tools, share colors, share your model with others, and more.
#11 Bricksmith
Bricksmith is a LEGO creation tool that allows you to create virtual instruction and models with ease. It uses the LDraw library to use a magic feature, which is a collection of 3D models of Lego building blocks. The tool gives the facility of running out of parts.
Bricksmith offers thousands of parts at your fingerprints with unlimited options to use a full LEGO color palette. It has a drag and drops feature that enables you to use the flexible element generation efficiently.
Top core features of Bricksmith includes undo and redo, copy and paste, multiple view-ports, a magnifier generator, support the sub-models and steps that allow you to document correctly to build your creation, and many others.
The tool has a smart interface with basic guidance to perfect the building with objects. It offers brick movement and color options for brick using LDraw colors.
#12 Konstruktor
Konstruktor is an online tool that allows you to build LEGO models and visual infrastructures with the help of built-in bricks and other sub-units quickly. It is compatible with the LDraw library that enables you to use a magic feature that is the collection of 3D models.
The tool is intuitive structure and easy to use interface with many predefined facilities. It has an instruction maker that offers the facility to create building instructions and also gives custom building instruction.
Core features of Konstruktor include export to POV-Ray raytracer on the fly, enhance building structure with multi-part support, support tabbed document interface for the perfect creation, and many more. It also provides the script based animation facility. Konstruktor is a free tool with multiple features. It gives step-by-step creation guidance with color options as well.
#13 BlockCAD
BlockCAD is a freeware computer program that allows you to build virtually with lego-like virtual brick or blocks. It is similar to LEGO Digital Designer and offers all the similar features with some new tools to make it better than others. The software allows you to save your models, the same image of your design, or reuse a complete design as a part of another model.
It is quite simple and easy to use the software, and everything can be controlled with a mouse click and also allows you to use the keyboard for some special commands to make your design more exciting and stunning. Like other similar programs, BlockCAD also offers multiple templates that you can choose and modify without any effort.
The interface of the program is quite impressive, where you can easily access all tools, blocks, and elements. BlockCAD’s most prominent feature includes simple and easy to use, multiple modes, reuse model, save images, share your design with others, and more.
#14 SR 3D Builder
SR 3D Builder is a Lego PC CAD software that allows building almost anything you can imagine virtually. It is a comprehensive solution that comes with almost all the leading tools and features. The interface of the software is user-friendly and offers a massive library that helps you create a stunning model without any effort.
SR 3D Builder offers six different sections to explore, including the menu bar section where you can contain file system and application options. The second section is the toolbox section that helps you find a shortcut to building models quickly. There is also has an information section that will give details about what you are doing and also allows you to watch tutorials.
The software introduces a connection solver feature that will help you see connections between two parts by displaying a pink pyramid when the mouse is over a suitable contact surface. SR 3D Builder other feature includes create a fully 3D environment, group management, modify and save unlimited models, automatic detections, and more.