SketchUp AlternativesOnly apps categorised as CAD Software

The best CAD alternative to SketchUp is Sweet Home 3D, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to SketchUp and loads of them are CAD Software so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting CAD Software alternatives to SketchUp are FreeCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD, Shapr3D and pCon.planner.

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SketchUp alternatives are mainly CAD Software, but if you're looking for 3D Modelers or Interior Design Apps you can filter on that. Other popular filters include iPad + Free and Windows + Free + Parametric Modeling. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to SketchUp.
SketchUp iconSketchUp
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Versatile 3D modeling software for architecture, engineering, film, and gaming. Offers tools for both professionals and hobbyists available in free and paid versions.

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SketchUp alternatives page was last updated Jun 10, 2025
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  1. Sweet Home 3D icon

    Sweet Home 3D

     302 likes
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    Open-source, Java-based software that allows users to create detailed floor plans, arrange furniture, and explore the final layout in 3D, assisting in interior design projects with ease and flexibility.

    67 Sweet Home 3D alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Java
    Sweet Home 3D screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Interior Design
    2.  Import furniture from web
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  3D Sculpting
    5.  Portable
    6.  Multiple languages
    7.  No Coding Required
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  Export to PDF
    11.  Java based
    12.  Video rendering

    Sweet Home 3D VS 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.
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    Jan 19, 2017
    22

    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 Negative Comment
    Guest
    Jun 29, 2016
    38

    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.

    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Negative Dec 8, 2019
    5

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

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    3 of 11 comments
    SketchUp Icon
    Sweet Home 3D icon

    • Some users think Sweet Home 3D is a great SketchUp alternative, some don't.

    • Sweet Home 3D is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to SketchUp.

    • Sweet Home 3D is Freemium and Open SourceSketchUp is Paid and Proprietary
    • Sweet Home 3D is CustomizableSketchUp is not according to our users
  2. FreeCAD icon

    FreeCAD

     452 likes
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    A powerful open-source parametric 3D modeler ideal for mechanical engineering, supporting Python scripting, running on Windows, Linux, and Mac, with modular architecture allowing extensive adaptability and use with scientific computing libraries.

    109 FreeCAD alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    FreeCAD screenshot 1

    Top FreeCAD Features

    1.  Parametric Modeling
    2.  Drawing 2D
    3.  Interior Design
    4.  FEM
    5.  Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
    6.  3d Drawing
    7.  Parametric
    8.  DWG support
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Procedural Modeling
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Dark Mode

    FreeCAD VS 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.
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    Oct 25, 2018
    6

    Love this software for 3d printing.

    Top Negative Comment
    ph soft
    Apr 4, 2023
    5

    Sketchup 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.

    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Positive Dec 30, 2020
    3

    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.

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    3 of 9 comments
    SketchUp Icon
    FreeCAD icon

    • Most users think FreeCAD is a great SketchUp alternative.

    • FreeCAD is Free and Open SourceSketchUp is Paid and Proprietary
  4. Autodesk AutoCAD icon

    Autodesk AutoCAD

     214 likes
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    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 collaborations.

    126 Autodesk AutoCAD alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Autodesk AutoCAD screenshot 1

    Autodesk AutoCAD Features

    1.  DWG support
    2.  Drawing 2D
    3.  3D Printing
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Batch plotting
    6.  Parametric Modeling
    7.  Real time collaboration
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Support for scripting
    10.  Cloud Sync

    Autodesk AutoCAD VS SketchUp

     
    Comments about Autodesk AutoCAD as an Alternative to SketchUp
    Ibuddy66
    Negative Sep 20, 2021
    0

    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!

    Guest
    Negative Nov 3, 2020
    -1

    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).

    SketchUp Icon
    Autodesk AutoCAD icon

    • Most users think Autodesk AutoCAD is a great SketchUp alternative.

    • Autodesk AutoCAD is the most popular Web-based alternative to SketchUp.

    • Autodesk AutoCAD is the most popular commercial alternative to SketchUp.

    • Autodesk AutoCAD is Paid and ProprietarySketchUp is also Paid and Proprietary
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Autodesk Fusion icon
    Autodesk Fusion

    A comprehensive CAD, CAM, and CAE solution that supports collaborative editing and cloud computation. It offers free-form modeling, data import, and toolpath generation. Free licenses are available for students, hobbyists, and st...

    https://www.autodesk.com
    Learn More
  6. Shapr3D icon

    Shapr3D

     29 likes
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    From design to manufacturing. Teams collaborate with more impact. Instinctive design meets multidevice capability and full interoperability for the ultimate 3D design workflow.

    45 Shapr3D alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • HU flagHungary
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • iPad
    Sketch to model. Mastered in hours.

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Easy to use

    Features

    1.  Mechanical Design
    2.  Apple Pencil support
    3.  Sketching
    4.  Augmented Reality
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Cloud Sync
    8. Android icon  Android Sync

    Shapr3D VS SketchUp

     
    Comments about Shapr3D as an Alternative to SketchUp
    maurosoft391
    Negative Apr 23, 2022
    1

    it's for iPad, not for Windows or Android

    SketchUp Icon
    Shapr3D icon

    • Most users think Shapr3D is a great SketchUp alternative.

    • Shapr3D is Freemium and ProprietarySketchUp is Paid and Proprietary
    • Shapr3D is LightweightSketchUp is not according to our users
  7. pCon.planner icon

    pCon.planner

     31 likes
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    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.

    85 pCon.planner alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    new Interface UI with Ribbon

    pCon.planner Features

    1.  WYSIWYG Support
    2.  Support for Layers

    pCon.planner VS SketchUp

     
    Comments about pCon.planner as an Alternative to SketchUp
    Guest
    Positive May 25, 2018
    5

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

    SketchUp Icon
    pCon.planner icon

    • Almost everyone thinks pCon.planner is a great SketchUp alternative.

    • pCon.planner is Free and ProprietarySketchUp is Paid and Proprietary
  8. BRL-CAD icon

    BRL-CAD

     56 likes
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    BRL-CAD is a powerful cross-platform open source solid modeling system that includes interactive geometry editing, high-performance ray-tracing for rendering and geometric analysis, image and signal-processing tools, a system performance analysis benchmark suite, libraries for...

    71 BRL-CAD alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    PA-63 Extractor

    BRL-CAD Features

    1.  Image Processing
    2.  Benchmark analytics
    3.  Ray Tracing

    BRL-CAD VS SketchUp

     
    Comments about BRL-CAD as an Alternative to SketchUp
    Guest
    Positive May 3, 2019
    -5

    The manner in which you draw a shape, enter dimensions, and push/pull a flat plane shape are the most similar to the SketchUp workflow of any 3D/CAD program I have used.

    SketchUp Icon
    BRL-CAD icon

    • Most users think BRL-CAD is a great SketchUp alternative.

    • BRL-CAD is Free and Open SourceSketchUp is Paid and Proprietary
  10. SOLIDWORKS icon

    SOLIDWORKS

     83 likes
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    Leading 3D CAD software for design, analysis, and product data management, developed by Dassault Systèmes. Enhances productivity, fosters collaboration, and accelerates time to market. Features include parametric modeling, photorealistic rendering, and strong PLM process support.

    98 SOLIDWORKS alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    SOLIDWORKS screenshot 1

    SOLIDWORKS Features

    1.  Parametric Modeling
    2.  Easy Measurements
    3.  Drawing 2D
    4.  3D design

    SOLIDWORKS VS SketchUp

     
7 of 74 SketchUp alternatives