Top Rated SketchUp Alternatives
For me personally SU has been hard to learn. I am in my 50's so I wasn't raised with technology. With that said, if you're unsure if you should use it, I say try it! I've been working with a teacher for about two years and what I love most is how professional the drawings look when they are completed. It really elevates my designs as a designer and conveys the end product well to clients so they can see the results. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
For me personally, it's a very hard program to learn. I've been trying for two years and have worked with three teachers and taken two separate courses. There are so many nuances to this program and if one line is slightly off it can ruin the entire drawing moving forward. I learned CAD years ago and there was a snap feature to ensure the lines were connecting. I wish SU had something like that. I also really struggle with getting items on the face. I will place a piece of furniture in a drawing only to find out it's floating in the air. I also get very frustrated with the push pull feature. My god when I'm trying to punch out windows it never works as simple as when my teacher does it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Video Reviews
Simplicity and Easy to use
Beginner friendly!
1,302 out of 1,303 Total Reviews for SketchUp
Overall Review Sentiment for SketchUp
Log in to view review sentiment.
One of the standout aspects of SketchUp is its versatility. Whether I’m designing architectural models, creating interior layouts, or visualizing landscaping projects, SketchUp allows me to bring my ideas to life quickly and accurately. The program’s vast library of pre-made components and textures also speeds up the design process and enhances creativity. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
While SketchUp excels in many areas, there are a few drawbacks, especially when it comes to 3D printing. The software isn’t specifically designed for creating models intended for 3D printing, which can lead to issues like non-manifold geometry, overlapping faces, or gaps in the model. These issues often require additional time for troubleshooting and fixing before a model is ready for printing.
Additionally, the precision tools in SketchUp, while sufficient for many design tasks, can sometimes feel limiting when exact measurements and tolerances are critical for 3D printing. This can result in models that don’t print as intended without further refinement in more specialized 3D printing software. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Sketchup is a pretty intuitive program to learn from the moment you start. I like all of the free plug-ins and the support videos. Layout is a great extension as well, just wish it was a little easier to use for some things. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
One of the big things that I wish was better, was using the groups and components. They do work well, but I wish there was a way to add parts and pieces to an existing component (like a block in AutoCAD). This would be extremely helpful when you realize that you need to add/change something and the only way is to create a new component and then have to start the process over. Unless there is a plug-in for doing that, that I haven't ran across yet? Another thing I wish it was able to do was open another window (similar to AutoCAD), instead of having to open another session of SU when you are using components, etc., from other models and being able to do a copy/paste. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Sketchup is extremely useful for my company's work in acoustic analysis; we use it primarily for building models for CATT, which is a program for simulating the acoustic environments of spaces we design, such as concert halls and theaters. The extensions make it easy to import preexisting 3d models from programs like Revit or Rhino so that we can simplify them in SketchUp, then export them for analysis in CATT. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Coming from programs like AutoCAD, Revit, or SolidWorks, it can be difficult to get used to the interface and controls. My coworkers and I (who primarily work in Revit) also have a hard time extracting information from SketchUp models. Because of this, it's mainly used as a transitionary tool between another 3d modelling software and CATT. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
I absolutely love the components. The fact we can can draw all of our different casework options we offer in house and can just drag and drop is one of the biggest time savers! Also with the ability to share components - we can keep them on our work shared drive and any employee can access. This has created a nice sense of consistency with our drawings! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
It can be a little tricky to navigate sometimes because of all the features - BUT the amount of resources that are available at any given time REALLY saves me. I've been using the software for many years and still continue to learn things, so don't be discouraged if you don't pick it up in one day! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
As Head Architect, I consider SketchUp an essential part of my design toolkit. A brilliant digital hub where creativity and functionality converge. Where its versatile modeling features, which are perfect for both rapid concept sketches and intricate models, rock! It's got 3D modeling capabilities that enable me to visualize projects from multiple perspectives. Additionally, its got a 3D Warehouse that acts as a valuable resource, providing a wide array of models that save me from starting from scratch. Furthermore, SketchUp is designed for collaboration, allowing for seamless and real-time sharing with team members, which enhances our ability to brainstorm and refine designs together. It's truly a remarkable tool! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Well, while great for initial designs, its more complex engineering features usually require additional plugins or software. Extras definitely. Function-wise, I feel it's rendering capable could improve. Nothing more. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
I like that nearly everything I can imagine is possible to model via sketchup . . . lots of people who aren't as skilled in the tool think it's not very powerful, but I can attest that it is an amazing tool for design. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
I don't like that plug-ins aren't automatically brought along for each iteration of the program. As well, I think the subscription platform is terrible !!!!!! I also don't like that sketch up doesn't utilize the available resources do their best. I don't want more from my subscription, what I want as I want it to do its job better. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
It is extremely intuitive and versatile. I am able to train employees on how to use it in a couple days, and then they are able to quickly create models. Modifications to existing models is also extremely easy and versatile. The issue with other 3D software, in my opinion, is that it is often very buggy to modify an existing model. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
The new subscription system is cumbersome and I've noticed a lack of innovation since it was rolled out. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Very easy to navigate and you can build anything with simple lines and make it real with textures and materials. Supports rendering softwares such as Enscape and V-ray which alongside its vast library of objects, make it perfect for interior design. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
You need to dedicate a lot of time to make things photorealistic, object library is user collaborating and objects often do not look realistic. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Sketch up is the most intuitive program out there for modeling or for architecture or even woodworking. The tools make sense & having 3dWarehouse available to find a model instead of creating everything from scratch are the things I like best about SketchUp! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Having to get 3rd party for some things that you think SketchUp should already have is a little annoying. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Adaptability, open source libraries, visual appearance, and ease of command structure.
It's my go to tool for developing geometry and incorporating all the AEC industry elements into a single light model that has the ability to set up scenes, render internally and export CAD data for drafting. With the use of on the fly groups and component families, the user can create their own adaptive heirarchy that matches their mindset. With the use of Layout, you can create useful presentation drawing sets, but not for fully detailed drawing sets. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
It's not for drafting and is not a true parametric or BIM tool. You can make it work, but expect there to be some effort on the user's part. There is a way to add parametric elements but that is on the developer's side. Also, make sure you don't need true circles, but if you just need representation and diameters to be true, then it's all good. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
