Zoo Design Studio

Zoo Design Studio is an AI-native CAD application that lets hardware engineers design parts with point-and-click tools, code or an AI agent called Zookeeper. The key difference from AI 3D generators is the output: Zoo creates boundary representation (B-rep) geometry with design intent, so a generated bracket or gear can be dimensioned, constrained and edited like any other CAD part.

What is Zoo Design Studio used for?

Engineers use Zoo Design Studio for mechanical part design, from quick concept parts to detailed assemblies. Zookeeper can take a written description, plan an approach, propose constraints and build an editable model you then refine by hand.

• Generating editable CAD parts such as brackets, gears, housings and rotors from a prompt
• Modeling with sketches, extrusions and features in a familiar CAD interface
• Writing parametric geometry in KCL, Zoo's code language, for repeatable designs
• Switching between AI, code and manual editing on the same model
• Calling geometry generation from software through the Zoo API or MCP server
• Browsing editable example models in the public Aquarium gallery

Who Zoo Design Studio is best for

Zoo Design Studio suits mechanical engineers, hardware startups, makers who prefer code-driven CAD, and developers who want CAD generation inside their own apps. Teams handling export-controlled data can use the US regulated region. People who only need decorative meshes for games or 3D printing figurines will find a text to 3D mesh generator simpler, and established teams relying on mature simulation and CAM inside their current CAD package may want to wait for Zoo's analyze and manufacture modules.

Zoo Design Studio pricing

As of October 2026, Zoo publishes these plans. Free costs $0 and includes unlimited use of Zoo Design Studio plus a small monthly usage allowance for Zookeeper and API calls, but Zoo can train on your data with no opt-out. Plus costs $20 per month for hobbyists, with a larger usage allowance, more Zookeeper reasoning modes, an option to opt out of training and email support. Pro costs $99 per month with a much larger allowance. Team costs $399 per user per month and adds data excluded from training by default, admin console, organization API keys and auditing. Enterprise is a custom contract with SSO, custom models and dedicated support. Annual billing discounts are offered, and pay-as-you-go usage is available once you opt in.

Limitations to keep in mind

• On the free plan your data can be used for training, so keep confidential parts on a paid tier
• Zookeeper reasoning time is metered, so long agent sessions use up the allowance
• Simulation and manufacturing features are announced but not yet part of the product

Zoo Design Studio vs alternatives

Meshy and Tripo AI generate textured meshes quickly and are the better choice for game assets, visuals or decorative prints, but their output is not parametric CAD. ChatGPT can write scripts for code-based CAD tools, which works for simple parts but lacks a geometry engine that checks the result. Zoo Design Studio wins when you need precise, editable engineering geometry and want AI help inside the CAD tool itself.

Tips for getting started with Zoo Design Studio

Describe parts to Zookeeper with real dimensions, tolerances and the manufacturing method, since it plans around design intent. Open the generated KCL to see how the model was built and adjust parameters there. Start with an example from the Aquarium gallery to learn the workflow, and upgrade to Plus before working on anything you would not want used for training.

Zoo Design Studio FAQ

Is Zoo Design Studio free?

Yes, Zoo Design Studio has a free plan with unlimited CAD modeling and a small monthly Zookeeper allowance. Paid plans start at $20 per month.

What is Zookeeper in Zoo Design Studio?

Zookeeper is Zoo's engineering agent. It researches, reasons about constraints and generates fully editable CAD models from your prompts inside Zoo Design Studio.

Does Zoo Design Studio have an API?

Yes, Zoo offers a developer API and an MCP server, and API usage draws from the same monthly usage allowance as Zookeeper.

Is Zoo Design Studio safe for export-controlled data?

Zoo offers a US regulated region it describes as suitable for ITAR data and publishes its SOC 2 Type II report on its trust center.