AlternativeTo LogoLoginSign up
AlternativeTo Logo

SketchUp Alternatives

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 development category. There are more than 100 alternatives to SketchUp for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Online / Web-based and Android Tablet. The best alternative is FreeCAD, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like SketchUp are Blender, Sweet Home 3D, Autodesk AutoCAD and Shapr3D.

SketchUp alternatives are mainly 3D Modelers but may also be CAD Software or Interior Design Apps. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of SketchUp.
This page was last updated
SketchUp iconSketchUp
  531
  • Freemium • Proprietary
  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Online

SketchUp (formerly Google Sketchup) is a 3D modeling computer program for a wide range of drawing applications such as...

Learn more about SketchUp

  1. FreeCAD is a general purpose parametric 3D CAD modeler. The development is completely Open Source (LGPL License).

    ⚫︎ Parametric ModelingFreeCAD can change the shape of model geometry as soon as the dimension value is modified.
    ⚫︎ Procedural ModelingFreeCAD can create or modify 3D models and textures based on a sequence of rules.
    ⚫︎ PortableFreeCAD can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
    Suggest and vote on features
    Screenshot
    FreeCAD vs SketchUp opinions
    Most users think FreeCAD is a great alternative to SketchUp.
     all • positive • negative      relevance • date

    FreeCAD 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.

    Top positive comment   ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    3

    Love this software for 3d printing.

    Top positive comment   ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    6

    FreeCAD is a lot more difficult to use

    Top negative comment   ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    2

    I use both and they are not alternatives. Sktechup excels at drawing things realtime (to think in 3D). Freecad is cumbersome for that. Sketchup cannot do easily parametric modelling (with constraints, etc) or print blueprints. It only deals with triangles. Sketchup is easy to learn while Freecad has a steep learning curve.

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    4

    You can't go in and draw parts as like Sketchup - not at all the same.

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    0

    Sketchup is not a CAD software

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    1

    Not the same audience. Just try to build a pyramid with FreeCAD and you will understand how far it is from sketchup.

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    15
    Show more comments ▾
    7 of 8 comments

  2. Blender is the free and open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, video editing, and motion tracking.

    ⚫︎ 3D SculptingBlender offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
    ⚫︎ Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Blender, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
    ⚫︎ Animation RiggingBlender supports bone structures to manipulate a 3D model like a puppet for animation.
    ⚫︎ Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsBlender can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
    ⚫︎ Node BasedBlender supports node editing, a form of visual programming that gives you full control over the rendering.
    ⚫︎ Motion CaptureYou can capture and modify/animate faces, gestures, movements or objects within the Blender.
    ⚫︎ Physically-Based RenderingPrecise rendering method for Blender to represent of how light interacts with material properties.
    ⚫︎ CustomizableBlender is easy to customize with themes or similar features.
    Suggest and vote on features
    Cycles is Blender’s ray-trace based production render engine.
    Blender vs SketchUp opinions
    This alternative is disputed. Blender is still a legitimate alternative to SketchUp, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
     all • positive • negative      relevance • date
    naught101

    Good generic 3D modeller, but not as suited for quick space modelling.

    Top positive comment   ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    46
    aronkvh

    It's a bit complicated but way more powerful booleans, arrays. You can draw shapes just like in SU. Get comfortable with the snapping system. Try measureit-arch , archipack, cad-transform free addons for a similar experience. There is also construction lines for like 10USD which adds the ability to draw lines and rectangles.

    Top positive comment   ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    1

    Sketch up is sold on how easy it is to use. Blender is god level complex.

    Top negative comment   ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    72

    Sketch up is more geared for designing a table or a house. Blender seem more like creation a Pixar animated movie.

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    0
    ChangeMachine

    Another comment says Blender is "God level complex". I'm gonna get hate for saying this, but I think "hell-level complex" is more like it. I respect that it's an amazing and powerful (insular) community-driven project, but intuitive and inviting it is not. Thus the fork "B for Artists", which seems promising.

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    1

    Too complex. "3D for everyone" is Sketchup's tagline.

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    1

    Blender is a graphic artist's tool. SketchUp is an architect's tool. SketchUp is very intuitive, but Blender is very complicated and not intuitive at all.

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    0
    Show more comments ▾
    7 of 22 comments

  4. 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.

    ⚫︎ Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsSweet Home 3D can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
    ⚫︎ CustomizableSweet Home 3D is easy to customize with themes or similar features.
    Suggest and vote on features
    Screenshot
    Sweet Home 3D vs SketchUp opinions
    Some users think Sweet Home 3D is a great alternative to SketchUp, some don't.
     all • positive • negative      relevance • date

    If you are looking for something related to home design, SweetHome3D is an excellent solution. But it is not a general purpose cad suite.

    Top positive comment   ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    22

    Very easy to learn. Has a huge library of "furniture" and other assets developed and shared by users. Has 3D photo's and video virtual tours. May not be that great for detailed framing plans and elevations.

    Top positive comment   ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    1

    Sketchup 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.

    Top negative comment   ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    36

    Its not general purpose, its to specific to be an alternative to virtually any other CAD program

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    5

    Not a general purpose CAD program

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    2

    SH3D is great for home projects but lacks a lot when compared to Sketchup. Simply don't share enough features to be comparable.

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    1

    Sketchup is a more generic 3D modeller. Sweet Home 3D is a tool for house and furniture designs.

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    8
    Show more comments ▾
    7 of 11 comments
  5. Autodesk AutoCAD icon

    Autodesk AutoCAD

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    AutoCAD is a leading CAD (computer-aided design) software used professionally throughout architectural, electrical, mechanical and other engineering and design industries. It was once available under a perpetual license but is now accessed solely through a subscription.

    Suggest and vote on features
    Screenshot
    Autodesk AutoCAD vs SketchUp opinions
    Most users think Autodesk AutoCAD is a great alternative to SketchUp.
    ibuddy66

    AutoCAD 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!

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    0

    If 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).

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    -1

  6. Shapr3D is a revolutionary 3D modeling software created exclusively for your iPad Pro and your Apple Pencil.

    Suggest and vote on features
    Screenshot
    Shapr3D vs SketchUp opinions
    Most users think Shapr3D is a great alternative to SketchUp.
    maurosoft391

    it's for iPad, not for Windows or Android

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    0
  8. Wings 3D icon

    Wings 3D

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Free • Open Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    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.

    ⚫︎ Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Wings 3D, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
    Suggest and vote on features
    Modeling by Jove Chiere
    Wings 3D vs SketchUp opinions
    Most users think Wings 3D is a great alternative to SketchUp.
  9. pCon.planner icon

    pCon.planner

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Free • Proprietary
    • Windows

    The professional furnishing 2D-/3D-tool for everybody:.

    Suggest and vote on features
    new Interface UI with Ribbon
    pCon.planner vs SketchUp opinions
    Almost everyone thinks pCon.planner is a great alternative to SketchUp.

    Beautifully designed interface, very intuitive, wide gallery of 3D objetcs to use, and free... What's not to like.

    Positive comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    5
  10. MakeHuman icon

    MakeHuman

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Free • Open Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    MakeHuman is an interactive modelling tool for creating realistic 3D human characters. These models can be exported to several computer graphics and animation platforms including Blender, Unity 3D, Unreal Engine, OpenSim and Second Life.

    ⚫︎ Parametric ModelingMakeHuman can change the shape of model geometry as soon as the dimension value is modified.
    ⚫︎ 3D SculptingMakeHuman offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
    Suggest and vote on features
    Screenshot
    MakeHuman vs SketchUp opinions
    pros, cons and recent comments

    Completely different scope. SketchUp is a general modeller with a hard surface / architecture focus while MakeHuman is strictly for creating realistic human models.

    Negative comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    1
  11. Sketcher 3D icon

    Sketcher 3D

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Android

    Sketcher3D is a 3D modeling, design, and fun physics sandbox. Create and manipulate 3D objects, plan out a space, or just build things up and smash them down!

    Suggest and vote on features

    Discontinued

    No longer available on the Google Play Store, and the official site has not updated since 2012.

    Screenshot
    Sketcher 3D vs SketchUp opinions
    Almost everyone thinks Sketcher 3D is a great alternative to SketchUp.

    Because people on Android can use it

    Positive comment • ago
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard   
    If this Comment contains spam or other abuse, notify admins about it.

    -2
  12. Autodesk 3ds Max icon

    Autodesk 3ds Max

    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
    • Windows

    3D modeling and rendering software for design visualization, games, and animations.

    Suggest and vote on features
    Screenshot
    Autodesk 3ds Max vs SketchUp opinions
    Most users think Autodesk 3ds Max is a great alternative to SketchUp.
Showing 10 of 160 alternatives