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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 FreeCAD, 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 Blender, Sweet Home 3D, Wings 3D and MakeHuman.

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 Apr 13, 2022
SketchUp
  530
  • 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).

    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  over 1 year ago
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    2

    Love this software for 3d printing.

    Top positive comment  over 3 years ago
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    6

    FreeCAD is a lot more difficult to use

    Top negative comment  over 1 year ago
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    3

    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 • over 1 year ago
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    3

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

    Negative comment • about 2 years ago
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    1

    Sketchup is not a CAD software

    Negative comment • about 2 years ago
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    0

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

    Negative comment • over 2 years ago
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    14
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    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.

    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  almost 5 years ago
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    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  about 1 year ago
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    1

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

    Top negative comment  almost 5 years ago
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    72

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

    Negative comment • almost 2 years ago
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    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 • almost 3 years ago
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    1

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

    Negative comment • almost 3 years ago
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    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 • about 3 years ago
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    0
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    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.

    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  over 5 years ago
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    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  over 4 years ago
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    0

    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  almost 6 years ago
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    35

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

    Negative comment • over 2 years ago
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    6

    Not a general purpose CAD program

    Negative comment • almost 4 years ago
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    3

    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 • over 4 years ago
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    1

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

    Negative comment • over 5 years ago
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    7 of 11 comments

  5. Wings 3D

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    • 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.

    Most users think Wings 3D is a great alternative to SketchUp.

  6. MakeHuman

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    • 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.

    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 • 10 months ago
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    1

  8. Autodesk Maya

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Autodesk Maya software is a powerful, integrated 3D modeling, animation, visual effects, and rendering solution.

  9. BRL-CAD

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    • Free • Open Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    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...

    BRL-CAD vs SketchUp opinions
    Most users think BRL-CAD is a great alternative to SketchUp.

    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.

    Positive comment • about 3 years ago
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    -5

  10. BricsCAD the first all-in-one CAD design solution in .dwg that answers all your needs; 2D drafting, 3D modeling, mechanical design, and BIM. BricsCAD is a cost-effective, innovative, and familiar CAD solution.

    BricsCAD vs SketchUp opinions
    Almost everyone thinks BricsCAD is a great alternative to SketchUp.

    BricsCAD is not free, their package .deb is corrupt and they can't bring you some help.

    Negative comment • about 2 years ago
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    -1

  11. MODO is a fully featured 3D content creation application, famous primarily for it's modelling capabilities, MODO also offers a fast renderer, sculpting, painting, dynamics and animation tools.

  12. 3D-Coat

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    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    3D-Coat is the one application that has all the tools you need to take your 3D idea from a block of digital clay all the way to a production ready, fully textured organic or hard surface model.

Showing 10 of 38 alternatives