SketchUp Alternatives for Linux

SketchUp is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is Blender, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to SketchUp and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to SketchUp are Sweet Home 3D, FreeCAD, LibreCAD and Wings 3D.

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.

SketchUp alternatives page was last updated

SketchUp

537

Freemium • Proprietary
3D Modeler

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

More about SketchUp

Blender
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
3D Modeler
VFX Software
Video Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Flathub
PortableApps.com
Haiku
Steam
Flatpak
151 Blender alternatives
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.
- - Blender is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to SketchUp.
- - Blender is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to SketchUp.
Suggest and vote on features
Blender Features
1. 3D SculptingBlender offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
2. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Blender, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsBlender can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Animation RiggingBlender supports bone structures to manipulate a 3D model like a puppet for animation.
5. Physically-Based RenderingPrecise rendering method for Blender to represent of how light interacts with material properties.
6. Ad-freeBlender doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
7. Motion CaptureYou can capture and modify/animate faces, gestures, movements or objects within the Blender.
8. Node BasedBlender supports node editing, a form of visual programming that gives you full control over the rendering.
9. LightweightBlender consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Real time rendering
Compositor
Community-based
Texturing
3D Renderer
Grease Pencil
Texture painting
2D and 3D physics
Rendering
Low memory usage
Comments about Blender as a Alternative to SketchUp
Some users think Blender is a great SketchUp alternative, some don't.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
naught101
Good generic 3D modeller, but not as suited for quick space modelling.
Top positive comment•
46

Cora
Blender has more features than most other free and open source applications that I've seen. The fact that it has so many bundled capabilities is amazing. It's been used by itself to create feature-length movies!
Top positive comment•
2

KariLHegg
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.
Top negative comment•
0

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.
Positive comment•
2

Guest
Sketch up is more geared for designing a table or a house. Blender seem more like creation a Pixar animated movie.
Negative comment•
1

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5 of 23 comments
Sweet Home 3D
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Interior Design App
3D Modeler
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Solaris
64 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.
- - Sweet Home 3D is the most popular Web-based alternative to SketchUp.
Suggest and vote on features
Sweet Home 3D Features
1. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsSweet Home 3D can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
2. PortableSweet Home 3D can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. 3D SculptingSweet Home 3D offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
Import furniture from web
Customizable
Video rendering
Export to PDF
Java based
Multiple languages
Comments about Sweet Home 3D as a Alternative to SketchUp
Some users think Sweet Home 3D is a great SketchUp alternative, some don't.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Guest
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•
22

Guest
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•
1

Guest
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•
37

Guest
Its not general purpose, its to specific to be an alternative to virtually any other CAD program
Negative comment•
5

Guest
Not a general purpose CAD program
Negative comment•
2

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5 of 11 comments
FreeCAD
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
CAD Software
3D Modeler
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
BSD
PortableApps.com
103 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...
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FreeCAD Features
1. Parametric ModelingFreeCAD can change the shape of model geometry as soon as the dimension value is modified.
2. Procedural ModelingFreeCAD can create or modify 3D models and textures based on a sequence of rules.
3. PortableFreeCAD can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
4. No TrackingFreeCAD will not track you or use your personal data.
5. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in FreeCAD without registration.
6. Works OfflineFreeCAD can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
7. Support for LayersFreeCAD supports the organization of elements through a hierarchical order that can be manipulated/viewed independently.
Drawing 2D
FEM
DWG support
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
3d Drawing
Windows XP Compatibility
Parametric
Bim
Portable Linux
Comments about FreeCAD as a Alternative to SketchUp
Most users think FreeCAD is a great SketchUp alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Guest
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•
3

Guest
Love this software for 3d printing.
Top positive comment•
6

ph soft
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.
Top negative comment•
3

Guest
FreeCAD is a lot more difficult to use
Negative comment•
5

Guest
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•
4

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5 of 9 comments
LibreCAD
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
CAD Software
3D Modeler
Interior Design App
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
110 LibreCAD alternatives
LibreCAD is an open source 2D CAD application for Windows, Apple and Linux. It is based on Qt, which is a leading cross-platform application and UI development framework.
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LibreCAD Features
1. PortableLibreCAD can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
2. LightweightLibreCAD consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
3. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in LibreCAD without registration.
4. Parametric ModelingLibreCAD can change the shape of model geometry as soon as the dimension value is modified.
5. Support for LayersLibreCAD supports the organization of elements through a hierarchical order that can be manipulated/viewed independently.
Bim
Construction layers
Customizable
Isometric view
Export to SVG
QT Based
Export to PDF
Comments about LibreCAD as a Alternative to SketchUp
This alternative is disputed. LibreCAD is still a legitimate SketchUp alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
Guest
Good 2D drawing, has isometrics as well, reads DXF but isn't an alternative to a 3D CAD software assembling blocks. FreeCAD is better but a difficult to make the parts.
Top positive comment•
2

Guest
LibreCAD is a 2D CAD software. Sketchup is a 3D software.
Top negative comment•
36

Guest
LibreCAD is only a 2D CAD software
Negative comment•
0

Guest
Librecad is a 2D program.
Negative comment•
0

Guest
Not 3D. Otherwise, fine program.
Negative comment•
6
Wings 3D
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
3D Modeler
Mac
Windows
Linux
55 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.
Suggest and vote on features
Wings 3D Features
1. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Wings 3D, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
Uv mapping
Abandoned Cart Recovery
Opinions about Wings 3D as a Alternative to SketchUp
Most users think Wings 3D is a great SketchUp alternative.
MakeHuman
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
3D Modeler
Mac
Windows
Linux
50 MakeHuman alternatives
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.
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MakeHuman Features
1. Parametric ModelingMakeHuman can change the shape of model geometry as soon as the dimension value is modified.
2. 3D SculptingMakeHuman offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
Texture painting
Club Recommendation
Rendering
Comments about MakeHuman as a Alternative to SketchUp
Some users think MakeHuman is a great SketchUp alternative, some don't.
Guest
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•
2
Autodesk Maya
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
3D Animator
VFX Software
Mac
Windows
Linux
71 Autodesk Maya alternatives
Autodesk Maya software is a powerful, integrated 3D modeling, animation, visual effects, and rendering solution.
Suggest and vote on features
Autodesk Maya Features
1. 3D SculptingAutodesk Maya offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
2. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Autodesk Maya, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
Texturing
Cross-Platform