The Best Free SketchUp AlternativesTop 3D Modelers & CAD Software like SketchUp
The best free alternative to SketchUp is Blender, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to SketchUp and loads of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to SketchUp are Sweet Home 3D, FreeCAD, Shapr3D and Wings 3D.
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SketchUp alternatives are mainly 3D Modelers, but if you're looking for CAD Software or Interior Design Apps you can filter on that. Other popular filters include iPad + Free and Mac + Free. 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.- 3D Modeler
- Freemium • Proprietary
139 Blender alternativesA 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
Country of Origin
Netherlands
EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Flathub
- PortableApps.com
- Haiku
- Steam
- Flatpak
- Snapcraft
Blender VS SketchUp
Comments about Blender as an Alternative to SketchUp
Comment summary: SketchUp is praised for its ease of use, making it ideal for quick, intuitive modeling tasks like building and room design. It is often contrasted with Blender, which is viewed as complex and more suited for 3D art and animation. While Blender is recognized for its powerful features and flexibility, it has a steep learning curve and lacks the intuitive CAD-like experience of SketchUp. Users appreciate Blender's extensive capabilities but note that it isn't geared towards quick structure modeling.Top Positive CommentTop Negative CommentKariLHeggSketchup 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.
Most Recent Commentph softAlthough 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.
65 Sweet Home 3D alternativesOpen-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.
License model
- Freemium • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
France- EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- iPhone
- iPad
- Android
- Android Tablet
- Java
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 CommentIf 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 CommentSketchup 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 CommentIts not general purpose, its to specific to be an alternative to virtually any other CAD program
109 FreeCAD alternativesA 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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Germany- EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Snapcraft
- Flathub
- PortableApps.com
- Flatpak
Top FreeCAD Features
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 CommentLove this software for 3d printing.
Top Negative Commentph 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.
Most Recent CommentFreeCAD 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.
49 Shapr3D alternativesFrom design to manufacturing. Teams collaborate with more impact. Instinctive design meets multidevice capability and full interoperability for the ultimate 3D design workflow.
License model
- Freemium • Proprietary
Application types
Country of Origin
Hungary- EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- iPad
Shapr3D VS SketchUp
Comments about Shapr3D as an Alternative to SketchUp
maurosoft391it's for iPad, not for Windows or Android
51 Wings 3D alternativesWings 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 Features
Wings 3D VS SketchUp
85 pCon.planner alternativesThe 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
Country of Origin
- Germany
- EU
Platforms
- Windows
pCon.planner Features
pCon.planner VS 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.
47 MakeHuman alternativesMakeHuman 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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
Country of Origin
Italy- EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
MakeHuman Features
MakeHuman VS SketchUp
Comments about MakeHuman as an Alternative to SketchUp
Completely different scope. SketchUp is a general modeller with a hard surface / architecture focus while MakeHuman is strictly for creating realistic human models.
Makehuman makes 3D human models only whereas sketchup is intended for 3D objects like furniture or buildings.
Good generic 3D modeller, but not as suited for quick space modelling.