The Best SketchUp AlternativesTop 3D Modelers & CAD Software like SketchUp
SketchUp is described as '(formerly Google Sketchup) is a 3D modeling computer program for a wide range of drawing applications such as architectural, interior design, civil and mechanical engineering, film, and video game design—and available in a freeware version, SketchUp Make, and a paid' and is a leading 3D Modeler in the photos & graphics category. There are more than 100 alternatives to SketchUp for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Web-based and BSD apps. The best SketchUp alternative is Blender, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like SketchUp are Sweet Home 3D, FreeCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD and Shapr3D.
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SketchUp alternatives are mainly 3D Modelers but may also be CAD Software or Interior Design Apps. Other popular filters includes iPad + Free and Mac + Free. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of SketchUp.- 3D Modeler
- Freemium • Proprietary
- 1658 likes146 Blender alternatives
A comprehensive open-source 3D software suite for modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging, and animating. It supports renderings, simulations including fluid and cloth dynamics, complex compositing, video editing, and Python scripting, running across all major operating systems.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Flathub
- PortableApps.com
- Haiku
- Steam
- Flatpak
Top Blender Features
Blender VS SketchUp
Is Blender a good alternative to SketchUp? - 297 likes65 Sweet Home 3D alternatives
Sweet Home 3D is a free interior design Java application that helps you draw the plan of your house, arrange furniture on it and visit the results in 3D.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Solaris
Sweet Home 3D VS SketchUp
Is Sweet Home 3D a good alternative to SketchUp?Comments about Sweet Home 3D as an Alternative to SketchUp
Comment summary: Users highlight that SketchUp is considered more versatile and suitable for a variety of 3D modeling tasks, including detailed designs. In contrast, Sweet Home 3D excels in home and furniture design but lacks the robust features necessary for broader CAD applications. Some appreciation exists for Sweet Home 3D's ease of use and assets library, but it remains a niche tool for specific design projects, rather than a comprehensive CAD solution.If you are looking for something related to home design, SweetHome3D is an excellent solution. But it is not a general purpose cad suite.
22Sketchup is far more generic and can be used for creating 3D printing models. Sweet Home 3D is a targeted application designed for laying out house designs.
38Its not general purpose, its to specific to be an alternative to virtually any other CAD program
5 - 434 likes110 FreeCAD alternatives
FreeCAD is a general purpose parametric 3D CAD modeler. The development is completely Open Source (LGPL License). FreeCAD is aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product design but also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture or other...
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- PortableApps.com
- Flathub
- Flatpak
- Snapcraft
Top FreeCAD Features
FreeCAD VS SketchUp
Is FreeCAD a good alternative to SketchUp?Comments about FreeCAD as an Alternative to SketchUp
Comment summary: SketchUp is praised for its ease of use, making it ideal for quick 3D drawings. However, it is not suitable for detailed blueprints or parametric modeling, unlike FreeCAD. Users acknowledge FreeCAD's capabilities in creating professional mechanical designs, despite its steep learning curve and lack of intuitiveness compared to SketchUp. Some comments highlight the difficulty in comparing these tools as they serve different purposes and audiences.Love this software for 3d printing.
6ph softSketchup is for quick drawing, to think in 3D. Not for blueprints or super accurate things. Freecad can resolve constraints but is anything but intuitive of fast. They can't be compared.
5FreeCAD is a rich program for mechanical components or structures. There is more of a learning curve than Sketchup but can create professional drawings, analysis, simulation, assemblies, and more.
3 - 214 likes126 Autodesk AutoCAD alternatives
Leading CAD software known for its robust 2D and 3D modeling capabilities, facilitating intricate designs in architecture, engineering, and construction across Mac, PC, and web. Features include a dynamic API for customization, cloud access, and subscription-based service for continual updates and collaborat...
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
Autodesk AutoCAD Features
Autodesk AutoCAD VS SketchUp
Is Autodesk AutoCAD a good alternative to SketchUp?Comments about Autodesk AutoCAD as an Alternative to SketchUp
Ibuddy66AutoCAD is beyond expensive and prices the average user completely out of the picture. There is no good reason for the exorbitant rising costs of this software. None!
0If you're talking about Autodesk software the 3D software is Revit, which is amazing, but AutoCAD is much more suited to 2D modelling and doing 3D requires a larger time investment or understanding of procedural coding etc.
As for Revit, it leaves Sketchup in the dust, but it's also very expensive(I didn't see it on the list even after scrolling down, hmm).
-1 - 28 likes50 Shapr3D alternatives
From design to manufacturing. Teams collaborate with more impact. Instinctive design meets multidevice capability and full interoperability for the ultimate 3D design workflow.
Shapr3D VS SketchUp
Is Shapr3D a good alternative to SketchUp?Comments about Shapr3D as an Alternative to SketchUp
maurosoft391it's for iPad, not for Windows or Android
1 - 114 likes53 Wings 3D alternatives
Wings 3D is a subdivision modeler inspired by Nendo and Mirai from Izware.
It is possible to assign materials, vertex color, UV coordinates and textures, but there will be improvements in those features before Wings goes 1.0.
There is no support in Wings for doing animations.
Wings 3D VS SketchUp
Is Wings 3D a good alternative to SketchUp? - 31 likes85 pCon.planner alternatives
The professional furnishing 2D-/3D-tool for everybody: The pCon.planner is a cost-free application allowing you to comfortably and professionally create complex furnishing concepts and to visualize them in a photo-realistic quality. File Formats: dwg, dxf, 3ds, skp, ... Language.
License model
- Free • Proprietary
Application types
Platforms
- Windows
pCon.planner Features
pCon.planner VS SketchUp
Is pCon.planner a good alternative to SketchUp?Comments about pCon.planner as an Alternative to SketchUp
Beautifully designed interface, very intuitive, wide gallery of 3D objetcs to use, and free... What's not to like.
5
Comments about Blender as an Alternative to SketchUp
Good generic 3D modeller, but not as suited for quick space modelling.
Sketchup has useful features for designing houses, furniture and similar objects quickly. It has an intuitive, simplified CAD UX and you can easily add measurements of important parts. Blender is very complex and intended for 3D CGI, not quickly designing objects. I'm sure Blender has plugins for putting measurements in and so on but it has a huge learning curve.
Although it seems like it has progressed a lot and there are plugins to reduce the gap with sketchup, it is not an alternative unless you already use Blender all the time. Sketchup is like paint for 3D: perhaps not the most powerful, but it does not get in your way. Blender complexity does not solve Sketchup limitations (accuracy, constraints, etc). Freecad would be better for that.