SketchUp

4.5 (1,031)
Write a Review!
3D design tools for AEC professionals and interior designers

About SketchUp

SketchUp is a 3D modeling tool. Architects, engineers, interior designers, and construction managers leverage SketchUp to visualize quickly, document clearly, and coordinate easily. From residential renovations to complex commercial projects, SketchUp helps professionals get from design to done, faster. The software offers both 2D and 3D designing tools allowing users to visualize, plan and communicate planned construction projects.


Key benefits of SketchUp

-Visualize and iterate on your designs quickly with SketchUp’s intuitive, powerful 3D modeler.

-Turn your 3D model into accurate, detailed 2D construction drawings with LayOut.

-Avoid rework during schematic design by leveraging, PreDesign, a web application that gives you critical site information before you start modeling.

-Immerse your clients in your designs at 1:1 scale with SketchUp’s mixed reality viewing applications.

-Manage multiple files, assign to-dos, and leverage unlimited cloud storage with Trimble Connect.


Images

SketchUp Software - SketchUp's desktop modeler is designed to behave like your hand, so you can draw and extrude geometry quickly.
SketchUp Software - SketchUp's organization tools help keep your complex projects clean. With Tags, you can access components of your model quickly and control visibility in bulk.
SketchUp Software - Turn your 3D models into detailed documents. With LayOut, you can customize your views, add details and dimensions, and create title blocks. The best part: when your 3D model updates, so do your drawings.
SketchUp Software - Connect the dots between climate and concept design at the start of your project. PreDesign gives you design recommendations based upon
weather and building type, so you can steer your project forward with confidence.
SketchUp Software - Customizing 2D documents is a cinch in LayOut.
SketchUp Software - Add real-world context to your projects by importing high-resolution aerial imagery into your 3D models.
View 10 more
SketchUp video
SketchUp video
SketchUp video
SketchUp video
SketchUp Software - SketchUp's desktop modeler is designed to behave like your hand, so you can draw and extrude geometry quickly.
SketchUp Software - SketchUp's organization tools help keep your complex projects clean. With Tags, you can access components of your model quickly and control visibility in bulk.
SketchUp Software - Turn your 3D models into detailed documents. With LayOut, you can customize your views, add details and dimensions, and create title blocks. The best part: when your 3D model updates, so do your drawings.
SketchUp Software - Connect the dots between climate and concept design at the start of your project. PreDesign gives you design recommendations based upon
weather and building type, so you can steer your project forward with confidence.
SketchUp Software - Customizing 2D documents is a cinch in LayOut.
SketchUp Software - Add real-world context to your projects by importing high-resolution aerial imagery into your 3D models.

Not sure about SketchUp? Compare with a popular alternative

SketchUp

4.5 (1,031)
VS.

Starting Price

US$119.00
year
US$40.00
month

Pricing Options

Free version
Free trial
Free version
Free trial

Features

30
31

Integrations

1
3

Ease of Use

4.4 (1,031)
4.2 (836)

Value for Money

4.3 (1,031)
4.5 (836)

Customer Service

4.1 (1,031)
4.3 (836)
Green rating bars show the winning product based on the average rating and number of reviews.

Alternatives

Unity

4.6
#1 Alternative to SketchUp
Unity is a game development software designed to help businesses build and deploy 2D, 3D, and virtual reality (VR)...

Rhino 7

4.6
#2 Alternative to SketchUp
This uninhibited free-form 3D modeling tool allows users to create designs quickly while maintaining accuracy and...

Floorplanner

4.2
#3 Alternative to SketchUp
Floorplanner is an architecture management software that helps businesses in retail, education, real estate, manufacturi...

Adobe Illustrator

4.8
#4 Alternative to SketchUp
Adobe Illustrator CC is a industry-standard software in vector drawing tools and applications for digital graphics in...

Reviews

Overall rating

4.5 /5
(1,031)
Value for Money
4.3/5
Features
4.3/5
Ease of Use
4.4/5
Customer Support
4.1/5

Already have SketchUp?

Software buyers need your help! Product reviews help the rest of us make great decisions.

Showing 5 reviews of 1,031
Alain Jove
Alain Jove
Overall rating
  • Industry: Telecommunications
  • Company size: 501–1,000 Employees
  • Used Weekly for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10

Sketchup and 3D Modeling made easy

Reviewed on 2021/01/04

Overall, the functionalities are great and the price is just right for it. Although it just takes...

Overall, the functionalities are great and the price is just right for it. Although it just takes time to learn the tricks but it is worth it. Also, I had a few exchanges with support and was pleased they gave me the answers in a timely manner. I was inquiring about using a house decoration in my design. Just making sure what the permissions from the owner of the model allows me..

Pros

I like Sketchup because it makes 3D modeling easier. I used to think that similar apps on 3D modeling is complicated and to the point that you'd have to be an architect or engineer yourself to do it. For me, hearing CAD designing is somewhat a complicated process. But with this, I'm happy to have those house designs materialize. It is easy and you won't lose your way basing your reference lines on the X,Y, and Z axis. It is also awesome because you can snap your lines to align with any axis. These are models for windows, doors, appliances to decorate your home with, and you can even download for more. And the best part for me is to have that guy model walk around your house design to give you a feel of your finished product.

Cons

Using the browser can be a bit of a pain sometimes as I had a few times of lagging when your design details accumulate. But the app works seamlessly. I'm not sure with other browsers but I tried it with Chrome and Firefox but haven't used it with Opera and Edge. In the apps, there are just a very few times when the lines don't align and there can be gaps on the walls if you mess around a lot with skewing and stretching the surfaces but it can be fixed and you can initially lock the lines into groups so that you can ensure it stays the same and locked in place, and also for ease of duplication.

Robyn
Overall rating
  • Industry: Architecture & Planning
  • Company size: Self Employed
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10

SketchUp: A good place to start your 3D modeling experience.

Reviewed on 2021/02/16

Apart from the occasional hiccup, my experience with the software has been great. Most of the...

Apart from the occasional hiccup, my experience with the software has been great. Most of the challenges that I've faced was due to user error and due to habits that were hard to shake after switching to SketchUp. SketchUp is great for beginners and professionals alike.

Pros

Compared to other 3D modelling software that I've tried, SketchUp is by far the easiest to learn and even master. Though it comes with less tools and features than most other software, those that are there are exceptionally focused to to create simple models in an efficient manner. The 3D Warehouse is one of this software's best features for at the click of a button, you have access to a wide variety of models ranging from simple doors to incredibly detailed light fixtures. The user interface can be customized to your comfort and the wide range of plugins available in the plugin warehouse makes your modeling possibilities nearly endless. All the free videos that can be found online makes it really easy to learn the software without having to spend any additional funds.

Cons

With the existing features, one is limited to only creating simple models for the software doesn't handle complex curves very well. Though there are plugins that can help, there is only so much you can do. You'd want to keep your file size as small as possible because the program does lag when there is too much information to process. The software is very temperamental. On multiple occasions I've lost progress due to it crashing.

Tom
Tom
Overall rating
  • Industry: Architecture & Planning
  • Company size: Self Employed
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 0.0 /10

Rubbish upgrade

Reviewed on 2020/02/19

No benefits, only problems that weren't there in the version used previously. Someone explain why...

No benefits, only problems that weren't there in the version used previously. Someone explain why this is referred to as an 'upgrade' please?

Pros

Absolutely nothing other than being able to get full access to warehouse.

Cons

Usual rubbish - take a product that you're comfortable using, (I've used since 2010) force users into an upgrade they don't want it need, charge them for it, lose the template & configuration that your happy and used to using & provide a product that is no better, crashes endlessly with 'bug splats', loses files and needs time & energy getting it to how it was before. Why do tech companies feel they need to alter & if we are forced into an upgrade, let it copy the same template as previously used & make it seamless. So far, my £228 investment had lost me 6 hours of time in setting up, crashes & trying to iron out bugs. I will now have to spend another few hours tomorrow contacting my 'support' to sort out the latest cock up from the 'improved' version.

Anshika
Overall rating
  • Industry: Architecture & Planning
  • Company size: Self Employed
  • Used Weekly for 1+ year
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Value for Money
  • Ease of Use
  • Customer Support
  • Likelihood to recommend 2.0 /10

Best software for innovative 3d modeling

Reviewed on 2024/07/06

I have been working on Sketchup for 3 years. This is a very good software for making buildings of...

I have been working on Sketchup for 3 years. This is a very good software for making buildings of different types of shapes and it is very easy to do so, as it has a 3D warehouse from where you can pick up complete furniture or items from the model. Then there are plugins which help you a lot in making difficult shapes easily.

Pros

SketchUp, combined with its various plugins, is a powerful tool for architecture students.Easy to learn interface , best for beginners. Offers wide range of plugins, extensions, and tools for creating innovative 3d models. It has ability to create a photorealistuc render with the help of plugins like V-ray, Lumion, and Enscape.

Cons

Sketchup has performance issues large and complex models can cause SketchUp to slow down or crash, especially on less powerful computers. Mastering advance extensions, tools, and plugins can take time .

Tim
Overall rating
  • Industry: Architecture & Planning
  • Company size: 2–10 Employees
  • Used Daily for 2+ years
  • Review Source

Overall rating

  • Ease of Use
  • Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10

3D modeling for non 3D modelers

Reviewed on 2022/09/26

Overall, our team likes to use Sketchup. The ease of being able to express our ideas, and with the...

Overall, our team likes to use Sketchup. The ease of being able to express our ideas, and with the accuracy it can now provide, it's definitely a tool that we rely on.

Pros

Sketchup has gained popularity because of its easy UI. Compared to other 3D modeling applications, it is very easy to understand the interface and functionality. For company use, this means ease of training staff. That said, advanced users can still discover features later on through plug-ins and the 3D warehouse.

Cons

We're currently using the free version, of course it is limited. I liked that before they had a perpetual license. Now it's all just subscription, which I find too tedious and stressful as a business owner.

Alternatives Considered

Blender

Reasons for Choosing SketchUp

3D max was too advanced. We are a boutique practice and don't really need all the features and innovations from a robust program like 3D Max.

Reasons for Switching to SketchUp

The clean UI, and the ease of use is what makes Sketchup standout.
Showing 5 reviews of 1,031 Read all reviews

SketchUp FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions for SketchUp.

SketchUp offers the following pricing plans:

  • Starting from: US$119.00/year
  • Pricing model: Free Version, Subscription
  • Free Trial: Available

SketchUp is available to users for free and offered across three pricing plans, outlined below. Pricing starts at $119/year and scales with each tier. For personal use: -SketchUp Free: Available for personal use for free -SketchUp Shop: $119/year For professionals: -SketchUp Pro: $299/year -SketchUp Studio: $1,099/year For higher education students and educators: -SketchUp Studio: $55/year

SketchUp has the following typical customers:

Self Employed, 2–10, 11–50, 51–200, 201–500, 501–1,000, 1,001–5,000

SketchUp supports the following languages:

English, Swedish

SketchUp supports the following devices:

Android (Mobile), iPhone (Mobile), iPad (Mobile)

SketchUp integrates with the following applications:

Trimble Connect

SketchUp offers the following support options:

Email/Help Desk, FAQs/Forum, Knowledge Base, Phone Support

Related categories

See all software categories found for SketchUp.