Stud.io is one of the most prominent alternatives to LDD and, unlike that program, it is very much supported by the company behind it. LDD is completely free and there is both a Mac and Windows version. That’s also a bonus if you’re an older LEGO fan who doesn’t really do the whole computer thing or who has never worked with any sort of 3D CAD software. LDD was created as a child-friendly system and therefore the interface is as simple as can be. Only a limited number of bricks are available by default, but by enabling “extended mode” all the possible blocks in the database can be used. It gets straight to the business of presenting you with a huge catalog of virtual LEGO pieces and the means to stick them together. This is software that doesn’t suffer from the bloating disease we often see. One of the things I like the most about LDD is how streamlined it is. Nonetheless, the program remains useful for the time being and has a lot going for it. In other words, LEGO is sending mixed signals here and we basically have no idea whether the project will be revived or not. Fan backlash to this news was notable, and even after saying there would be no update, one more post-defunding update was in fact shipped. While you can still download LDD for free, LEGO promises no updates, which means that the program will become more and more outdated as new pieces are introduced. The big downside is that the software has been officially defunded and discontinued in 2016.

This is the only official LEGO CAD software on this list and, predictably, it’s also one of the best.

In this article I want to highlight some of the software packages that ambitious and dedicated builders can use to make their lives a lot easier. They aid you in the design of LEGO builds.

In general they’re referred to as LEGO CAD programs, and they do exactly what you may think, based on that name. But in this 21st-century world of computer, well, everything, it should come as no surprise that you can use software tools to make the process much easier. While each builder has their own ways of turning a vision into plastic reality, the use of graph paper and (not-inconsiderable) artistic abilities are traditional. I have a lot of respect for those masterful and ambitious builders who over the decades have perfected the method of designing, planning, and executing a build. The best, but also hardest, form of LEGO building is free-building.

Lego digital designer builds