# Alternatives to SketchUp

Approachable architectural modeling.

SketchUp ranks #11 of 13 in 3D modeling software, with an Alt Score of 42. It is proprietary, freemium from $129/year and available on Windows, macOS, Web and iOS. 8 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/sketchup/
Category: 3D modeling software

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: Architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and woodworkers who need to create 3D models of buildings, spaces, or objects without a steep CAD learning curve; also used in construction, urban planning, and education.
- **What you get**: A 3D modeling tool built around push/pull surface editing, letting you turn 2D shapes into 3D geometry by pushing or pulling faces. Includes access to 3D Warehouse, a library of free pre-built models and components you can drop into a scene. Available as a browser-based app and as desktop software (with LayOut for turning models into 2D documentation). Plans range from a free/basic web tier up to Pro and Studio tiers with offline access, advanced tools, and file export options.
- **How it works**: You draw 2D lines and shapes, then use push/pull to extrude them into 3D forms, adding detail with additional drawing, editing, and measuring tools. Models can be styled, shared, or exported, and supplemented with components pulled from 3D Warehouse.

## Profile

- **License**: Proprietary (verified 2026-07-11)
- **Pricing model**: Freemium (verified 2026-07-11)
- **Starts at**: $129/year (verified 2026-07-11)
- **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, Web, iOS
- **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-11)

## Ranked alternatives

| # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms |
|---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------|
| 1 | [Blender](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/blender.md) | 73 | GPL-3.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 2 | [3ds Max](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/3ds-max.md) | 64 | Proprietary | Windows |
| 3 | [Fusion 360](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/fusion-360.md) | 64 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, Web |
| 4 | [Rhino](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/rhino.md) | 64 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS |
| 5 | [Cinema 4D](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/cinema-4d.md) | 60 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS |
| 6 | [Maya](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/maya.md) | 60 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 7 | [Onshape](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/onshape.md) | 60 | Proprietary | Web |
| 8 | [ZBrush](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/zbrush.md) | 60 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, iOS |
| 9 | [FreeCAD](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/freecad.md) | 50 | LGPL-2.1 | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 10 | [Shapr3D](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/shapr3d.md) | 46 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, iOS, Web |
| 11 | [OpenSCAD](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/openscad.md) | 32 | GPL-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 12 | [Plasticity](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/plasticity.md) | 32 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, Linux |

Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/

## Feature comparison

Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified).

| 3D modeling software checklist | SketchUp | Blender | 3ds Max | Fusion 360 | Rhino | Cinema 4D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free | Subscription | Subscription | One-time | Subscription |
| Starts at | $129/year | ? | ? | $680/year | €995 one-time | ? |
| License | Proprietary | GPL-3.0 | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Web, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows | Windows, macOS, Web | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS |
| Parametric modeling | Partial | ? | ? | Yes | Partial | No |
| Sculpting | ? | Yes | Partial | ? | ? | Yes |
| Rendering engine included | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Animation & rigging | No | Yes | Yes | ? | ? | Yes |
| CAD formats (STEP, IGES) | No | No | Partial | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| One-time purchase option | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Free for hobby use | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Plugins ecosystem | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
| GPU rendering | Partial | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes |
| Simulation | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes |

## Sources

Sources for SketchUp. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **License**: Proprietary — <https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup-education/legal-statements> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “© 2026 Trimble Inc.”
- **Starts at**: $129/year — <https://sketchup.trimble.com/en/products/sketchup-go/buy> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Annual: $10.75 per user per month, billed annually | $129 per year”
- **Pricing model**: Freemium — <https://sketchup.trimble.com/en/plans-and-pricing/sketchup-free> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “SketchUp Free is the simplest free 3D modeling software on the web — no strings attached.”
- **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, Web, iOS — <https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup-web/sketchup-web> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “SketchUp for Web is a web-based, streamlined version of our desktop app that uses the same core technology to help you draw and create detailed and complex 3D models.”
- **Status**: active — <https://help.sketchup.com/en/release-notes/sketchup-desktop-20260> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “SketchUp Desktop 2026.0”
- **Parametric modeling**: Partial — <https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/making-dynamic-component> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “When you create a dynamic component you add attributes with specific values to a basic component.”
- **Rendering engine included**: Partial — <https://help.sketchup.com/en/vray-sketchup> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “A SketchUp Studio subscription includes V-Ray, photorealistic rendering powered by Chaos.”
- **Animation & rigging**: No — <https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/animating-scenes> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Animating scenes can be a great way to show off your model from different angles or with different styles.”
- **CAD formats (STEP, IGES)**: No — <https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/importing-and-exporting-cad-files> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “The most common CAD formats are .dwg and .dxf.”
- **One-time purchase option**: No — <https://help.sketchup.com/en/license-types-and-pricing> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “On November 4, 2020, we stopped selling our perpetual Classic license.”
- **Free for hobby use**: Yes — <https://help.sketchup.com/en/admin/sketchup-free> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “SketchUp Free is not for commercial use”
- **Plugins ecosystem**: Yes — <https://help.sketchup.com/en/extension-warehouse/extension-warehouse> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “The Extension Warehouse is an online resource where you can find third-party extensions developed specifically for SketchUp's desktop application.”
- **GPU rendering**: Partial — <https://help.sketchup.com/en/vray-sketchup/frequently-asked-questions> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “V-Ray 7 GPU and later fully leverage both the GPU and CPU cores of Apple ARM processors, including the M2, M3 and M4, potentially doubling rendering performance.”

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Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/