SpeakCAD vs OpenSCAD: code CAD without writing the code
SpeakCAD is built on the same foundations as OpenSCAD: solid CSG geometry compiled to a manifold mesh. The difference is who writes the program. In OpenSCAD you do; in SpeakCAD you describe the part and the AI writes, compiles and iterates on the code for you.| Criterion | SpeakCAD | OpenSCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Plain-English chat, photos, STL/3MF/.scad uploads | OpenSCAD code you write |
| Learning curve | None: describe and refine | Programming language, transforms, booleans |
| Install | None: runs entirely in the browser | Desktop download for Windows, macOS or Linux |
| Rendering | In the browser, seconds, live preview | Desktop app, F6 render can take minutes |
| Output | STL, 3MF (manifold) | STL, 3MF, AMF, OFF, others |
| Parametric | Yes: every dimension is a variable | Yes |
| Libraries (BOSL2, MCAD) | No: the AI writes helpers itself | Yes |
| Access the code | Yes, view and copy from the app | Yes, it is the whole workflow |
| Price | 5 free credits, then $1 or less per download | Free, open source |
Same engine, different interface
OpenSCAD is loved because a model is a text file: precise, versionable, parametric. Its weakness is that every fillet, every hole pattern and every tolerance is a line of code you have to know how to write. SpeakCAD keeps the strengths and removes the typing. The AI writes idiomatic OpenSCAD with named parameters, compiles it with the modern Manifold backend, and shows you the result in a couple of seconds.
When OpenSCAD is the better choice
If you already think in code, need external libraries such as BOSL2, or maintain large parametric projects with many files, the desktop tool is unbeatable and free. SpeakCAD is also happy to be your first draft: view the code in the app, copy it into OpenSCAD and continue there.
When SpeakCAD is the better choice
If you want a part today and do not want to learn a language, or you know OpenSCAD but do not want to spend an evening on a knob, describing the part is faster. Upload your existing .scad file and the AI edits it for you as well.