Do I need to create an account to start modeling in CalcSteel?

No. You can open the 3D editor at /model right now, model a beam, apply loads and see real-time stresses without creating any account. This is intentional — CalcSteel is designed to let engineers try the full editor before any commitment. Accounts are only required when you want to: save more than one project between sessions, run more than a few FEM analyses, export PDF reports, or sync work across devices. Signup takes 30 seconds (email or Google) and the free plan is enough for most students and occasional users.