If you searched for “exocad DentalCAD free download” or “online DentalCAD”, here is the short answer: there is no free, legal download of DentalCAD. It is commercial dental CAD software from exocad GmbH (Darmstadt, Germany), and exocad does not sell it directly. It reaches labs and clinics through authorised resellers and partner manufacturers, often bundled with scanners or milling systems, and every licence is tied to a USB dongle.
What exocad does give away is exocad webview, a free viewer for scans and DentalCAD designs. Students at approved universities can buy a discounted non-commercial licence. And if you only need to view, share or repair files, several free tools do the job without breaking any licence. This article explains each option and who it suits.
What you can get legally
| Option | What you get | Cost status | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| exocad webview | Viewer for STL, OBJ, PLY and DentalCAD exports; no design tools | Free | Dentists, technicians, patients viewing a design |
| exocad student licence | DentalCAD, ChairsideCAD or exoplan for non-commercial study use | Discounted, not free | Students at universities approved by exocad |
| DentalCAD via a reseller | Full design software, perpetual or Flex licence, dongle-protected | Commercial | Labs and clinics designing restorations |
| 3Shape Communicate | Free clinic–lab portal with a 3D viewer for 3Shape cases | Free account | Partners of TRIOS clinics and Dental System labs |
| Simplant Viewer and Editor | Review and approval of Simplant implant plans | Free (planning service is paid) | Clinicians ordering Simplant guides |
| MeshLab, Blender, Meshmixer | General mesh viewing, repair and modelling; not dental CAD | Free | Anyone who needs to inspect or fix an STL |
Why there is no free DentalCAD download
exocad’s business model is built on partners. Its resellers page says that rather than selling directly, it packages its software into manufacturers’ systems, and that DentalCAD is available worldwide through those distribution partners. Licences come in two forms:
- Perpetual licence: a permanent licence with an optional upgrade contract. With the contract you get new versions, library downloads and access to exocad’s dentalshare file exchange.
- Flex licence: regular upgrades are included, and modules can be activated or deactivated as needed. exocad’s medical-device products, exoplan and ChairsideCAD, are offered only with a Flex licence for regulatory reasons.
exocad does not offer a trial download on its website. Resellers handle offers and product information, so if you want to see DentalCAD working on your own cases, ask a reseller in your country for a demonstration. exocad does not publish a single price either; the cost depends on the licence model, the modules and the region.
What “free download” sites are actually offering
Any site offering DentalCAD for free, with a “crack”, “patch” or “dongle emulator”, is distributing pirated software. exocad runs a public anti-piracy programme and states three things worth knowing before you click:
- It monitors counterfeit and unlicensed installations, collects data and IP addresses, and takes users of unauthorised software to court. It is also a member of the BSA (The Software Alliance).
- Its original software is digitally signed and checked for viruses and malware during that process. A cracked installer has lost that protection, and you have no way of knowing what else was added. On a PC that holds patient scans, that is a data-protection problem as well as a technical one.
- Using counterfeit software can lead to fines, and the risk sits with the business that runs it.
There is a practical cost too: a pirated copy receives no updates, no implant libraries from the download portal and no support from a reseller. If you are offered a second-hand licence or dongle, exocad’s License Compliance Office can check an individual licence from its serial number before you pay.
exocad webview: the free part of exocad
exocad webview is exocad’s official free viewer. It runs in a browser at webview.dental, with nothing to install and no account, and as free apps for Windows, iPhone, iPad and Android. It opens STL, OBJ, PLY and other mesh formats, keeps the colour of intraoral scans, loads jaws and restorations together, and opens HTML scenes and zipped projects exported from DentalCAD, including annotations.
That makes it the right tool for the dentist on the other side of a DentalCAD workflow: the lab designs, exports or shares the scene, and the clinic checks contours and contacts on a phone or tablet. It cannot design, edit or repair anything, and exocad does not present it as a diagnostic tool. Many people searching for “online DentalCAD” actually need this.
Student licences
exocad sells discounted student licences for DentalCAD, ChairsideCAD and exoplan. The conditions published on exocad.com:
- You must be a student at a university that exocad has approved for student licences.
- The licence is not for commercial use, and proof of enrolment is required for each new contract term.
- In Europe you buy it through exocad’s webshop; in Latin America through participating resellers; in North America you contact exocad’s US office.
- The licence ends when your studies end; after that, you buy a regular licence through a reseller.
It is not free, but for a dental technology student it is the only legal way to practise on DentalCAD at home.
Before you buy: will DentalCAD run on your PC?
exocad’s hardware requirements are strict, and they matter even for a demonstration on your own machine:
- Windows 11 is required. Windows 10 22H2 is supported only under Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates programme.
- The CPU must be Intel or AMD x64. ARM processors and x64 emulation, including Apple M-series chips, are not supported.
- exocad software is developed only for Windows. Virtual machines, including Parallels, are not supported; on a Mac, exocad points to installing Windows via Boot Camp, which rules out Apple silicon Macs.
- A free USB port for the licence dongle and an internet connection are mandatory.
Free alternatives for viewing and simple design
If your real task is smaller than full restoration design, you may not need DentalCAD at all.
- Receiving cases from 3Shape users: 3Shape Communicate is a free portal and app for exchanging TRIOS scans, designs and order forms, with approval in a built-in 3D viewer.
- Checking an implant plan: Simplant Viewer and Simplant Editor are free for clinicians who order Simplant planning and guides.
- Repairing or converting an STL: MeshLab is free and open source (GPL 3.0) for Windows, macOS and Linux, and prepares meshes for 3D printing.
- Freeform modelling: Blender is free and open source (GPL) on Windows, macOS and Linux. It can model almost anything, but it has no dental libraries or crown workflows, and the learning curve is steep.
- Quick mesh edits: Autodesk Meshmixer is still free and has hole filling, cuts and measurements, but Autodesk states it is no longer in development.
None of these produces a crown with margin lines, tooth libraries and material settings the way DentalCAD does. For more options, see our guide to free dental CAD viewers and lab communication tools.
Which option fits you
- Dentist opening a lab’s design: exocad webview. Free, in the browser.
- Dental technology student: an exocad student licence through the channel for your region.
- Lab or clinic starting digital design: contact an authorised reseller, ask for a demonstration, and compare perpetual and Flex licences.
- Anyone who only needs to fix or view an STL: MeshLab or exocad webview.
FAQ
Is exocad free?
exocad webview, the viewer, is free. DentalCAD, ChairsideCAD and exoplan are commercial software licensed through resellers.
Can I download exocad DentalCAD for free?
Not legally. Free copies on unofficial sites are pirated, and exocad says it pursues users of unlicensed software in court. Students can buy a discounted non-commercial licence.
Is there an online version of DentalCAD?
No. DentalCAD is installed Windows software protected by a USB dongle. The official online tool is exocad webview at webview.dental, which views designs but does not create them.
Where can I download exocad legally?
Licensed users receive DentalCAD through their reseller or partner manufacturer. exocad webview is available from webview.dental, the Microsoft Store, the App Store and Google Play.
Does exocad have a trial version?
exocad’s website does not offer a trial download. Ask an authorised reseller for a demonstration.
Does exocad DentalCAD run on a Mac?
Not natively. exocad develops only for Windows, does not support virtual machines such as Parallels, and does not support Apple M-series processors. On a Mac, use exocad webview in the browser.
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Dents-Soft editorial team. Licence, version and platform details are checked against each developer's official documentation; none of the tools listed here should be treated as a certified medical device unless its vendor says so.
