The Best Open Source SketchUp AlternativesTop 3D Modelers & CAD Software like SketchUp

The best open source alternative to SketchUp is Blender. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to SketchUp and many of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to SketchUp are FreeCAD, Sweet Home 3D, Wings 3D and MakeHuman.

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SketchUp alternatives are mainly 3D Modelers, but if you're looking for CAD Software or 3D Printing Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Android, Free, Linux, Mac, iPad + Free and Online. 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.
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Alternatives list

  1. Blender icon

    Blender

     1829 likes

    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.

    148 Blender alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Steam
    • Flatpak
    Splash Artwork for Blender 4.3
     
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    24
    Blender vs SketchUp Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    naught101
    47

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

    Top Negative Comment
    KariLHegg
    2

    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.

    ph soft
    Negative
    0

    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.

    3 of 24 comments
    • Blender is Free and Open SourceSketchUp is Paid and Proprietary
    • Blender is Customizable, Lightweight and Privacy focusedSketchUp is not according to our users
  2. FreeCAD icon

    FreeCAD

     522 likes

    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.

    126 FreeCAD alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    • Docker
    • Steam
    Part Design WB
     
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    9
    FreeCAD vs SketchUp Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    6

    Love this software for 3d printing.

    Top Negative Comment
    ph soft
    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.

    Guest
    Positive
    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.

    3 of 9 comments
    • FreeCAD is Free and Open SourceSketchUp is Paid and Proprietary
    • FreeCAD is a CAD SketchUp is a 3D Modeler
    • FreeCAD is Privacy focusedSketchUp is not according to our users
  4. Sweet Home 3D icon

    Sweet Home 3D

     335 likes

    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.

    70 Sweet Home 3D alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Java
    Sweet Home 3D screenshot 1
     
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    11
    Sweet Home 3D vs SketchUp Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    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
    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.

    Guest
    Negative
    5

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

    3 of 11 comments
    • Sweet Home 3D is Freemium and Open SourceSketchUp is Paid and Proprietary
    • Sweet Home 3D is an Interior Design SketchUp is a 3D Modeler
    • Sweet Home 3D is CustomizableSketchUp is not according to our users
  5. Wings 3D icon

    Wings 3D

     122 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Modeling by Jove Chiere
     
  7. MakeHuman icon

    MakeHuman

     142 likes

    Free interactive open source software for swift creation of customizable 3D human models, featuring precise morph controls, realistic pose simulation, real-time editing, multi-platform export, and support for body, facial, and garment customization in many animation pipelines.

    48 MakeHuman alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    MakeHuman screenshot 1
     
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    2
    MakeHuman vs SketchUp Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    4

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

    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Makehuman makes 3D human models only whereas sketchup is intended for 3D objects like furniture or buildings.

    • MakeHuman is Free and Open SourceSketchUp is Paid and Proprietary
  8. Akse icon

    Akse

     12 likes

    Primitive-based 3D modeling provides kids and teens with shape building, 2D blueprint editing, and freehand drawing, supporting boolean holes, 3D text, precise manipulation, and STL import/export with snapping for direct 3D printing in a backend-agnostic, open source web app.

    36 Akse alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Akse screenshot 1
     
  9. BRL-CAD icon

    BRL-CAD

     56 likes

    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...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    PA-63 Extractor
     
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    1
    BRL-CAD vs SketchUp Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    -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.

    • BRL-CAD is Free and Open SourceSketchUp is Paid and Proprietary
    • BRL-CAD is a CAD SketchUp is a 3D Modeler
  10. Dune 3D icon

    Dune 3D

     16 likes

    Dune 3D operates as a parametric 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. It provides users with the capability to sketch and constrain both in 2D and 3D dimensions. Furthermore, it allows for the addition of chamfers and fillets to designs.

    61 Dune 3D alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Dune 3D screenshot 1
     
  11. CAD Sketcher icon

    CAD Sketcher

     10 likes

    CAD Sketcher is a free and open-source project looking to enhance precision workflows in Blender by bringing CAD like tools, features and usability to Blender.

    59 CAD Sketcher alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Blender
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    CAD Sketcher screenshot 1
     
  12. K-3D icon

    K-3D

     31 likes

    K-3D is free-as-in-freedom 3D modeling and animation software. It features a plugin-oriented procedural engine for all of its content, making K-3D a very versatile and powerful package.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    K-3D screenshot 1
     
  13. JSketcher icon

    JSketcher

     5 likes

    Parametric 2D and 3D CAD modeler running client side in the web browser.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    Model made in JSketcher
     
  14. MakerSCAD icon

    MakerSCAD

     7 likes

    MakerSCAD is a web-based parametric 3D design software with a block-based programming language to create objects for 3D printing, animations, games and websites.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    MakerSCAD screenshot 1
     
12 of 26 SketchUp alternatives