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.FreeCAD is a general purpose parametric 3D CAD modeler. The development is completely Open Source (LGPL License).
FreeCAD vs SketchUp opinions
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.
Love this software for 3d printing.
FreeCAD is a lot more difficult to use
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.
You can't go in and draw parts as like Sketchup - not at all the same.
Sketchup is not a CAD software
Not the same audience. Just try to build a pyramid with FreeCAD and you will understand how far it is from sketchup.
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- PortableApps.com
- Haiku
- Steam
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
naught101Good generic 3D modeller, but not as suited for quick space modelling.
aronkvhIt'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.
Sketch up is sold on how easy it is to use. Blender is god level complex.
Sketch up is more geared for designing a table or a house. Blender seem more like creation a Pixar animated movie.
ChangeMachineAnother 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.
Too complex. "3D for everyone" is Sketchup's tagline.
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.
- Free • Open Source
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Solaris
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
If you are looking for something related to home design, SweetHome3D is an excellent solution. But it is not a general purpose cad suite.
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.
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.
Its not general purpose, its to specific to be an alternative to virtually any other CAD program
Not a general purpose CAD program
SH3D is great for home projects but lacks a lot when compared to Sketchup. Simply don't share enough features to be comparable.
Sketchup is a more generic 3D modeller. Sweet Home 3D is a tool for house and furniture designs.
- 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.
- 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
Completely different scope. SketchUp is a general modeller with a hard surface / architecture focus while MakeHuman is strictly for creating realistic human models.
- Paid • Proprietary
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
Autodesk Maya software is a powerful, integrated 3D modeling, animation, visual effects, and rendering solution.
- 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
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.
- Paid • Proprietary
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
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
BricsCAD is not free, their package .deb is corrupt and they can't bring you some help.
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.
- Paid • Proprietary
- 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.