CATIA vs. SketchUp

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
CATIA
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
CATIA from Dassault Systemes is a 3D product modeling and design tool used across multiple industries.N/A
SketchUp
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
SketchUp is 3D modeling software with an emphasis on usability. SketchUp is a Trimble product.
$119
per year
Pricing
CATIASketchUp
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Free
$0.00
per year
For Schools (free with G Suite or Microsoft education account)
$0
For Students
$55.00
per year
For Educators
$55.00
per year
Studio for Students / Educators (Desktop version)
$55
per year
Shop
$119.00
per year
Pro
$299.00
per year
Professional
$299.00
per year
Studio (Windows only)
$699
per year
Studio
$1199.00
per year
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
CATIASketchUp
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details——
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
CATIASketchUp
Features
CATIASketchUp
Computer-Aided Design Software
Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of Product A and Product B
CATIA
8.3
2 Ratings
14% above category average
SketchUp
-
Ratings
3D Modeling8.52 Ratings00 Ratings
2D Drafting8.52 Ratings00 Ratings
Rendering and Visualization7.52 Ratings00 Ratings
Parametric Design10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Collaboration and Sharing8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Compatibility with other software and formats6.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Assembly Design10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Simulation and Analysis8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Documentation and Annotation7.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Customization and Extensions10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
CATIASketchUp
Small Businesses
Onshape
Onshape
Score 8.0 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 8.0 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Onshape
Onshape
Score 8.0 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 8.0 out of 10
Enterprises
Rhino
Rhino
Score 8.4 out of 10
Navisworks
Navisworks
Score 9.3 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
CATIASketchUp
Likelihood to Recommend
10.0
(9 ratings)
8.0
(47 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(1 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(1 ratings)
7.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
7.8
(3 ratings)
8.5
(14 ratings)
User Testimonials
CATIASketchUp
Likelihood to Recommend
Dassault Systemes
When it comes to modelling a product using multiple parts, CATIA becomes tedious. One need someone to sit with and learn with the experience from a frequent user. If switching from any other software to CATIA, it can be intimidating as learning curve is lengthy. For example, when working with complex shape in a knuckle joint, more steps are needed in part modelling. This cause part modelling lengthier and consume time more time, in comparison to SOLIDWORKS. However, CATIA is tremendously helpful in generating really complex features. Surface modelling is way easier when one know how to use it. It becomes really handy to make changes to the design later as well. The design history tree is also very well organized, which save time in later modifications
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Trimble
SketchUp is great for individually studying options for building design. It is an awesome conceptual tool to be able to quickly model and manipulate a building to study different designs. It is not good for complex geometries, especially curves. Surfaces have a hard time registering and cutting into one another. It also eventually needs to go into Revit to be more realistic as it is not good as a documentation tool
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Pros
Dassault Systemes
  • Surface modeling module is extremely developed and successful.
  • 2D drafting module is doing the job effectively (AutoCAD is no more required).
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Trimble
  • Quickly exploring solutions in 3D: We get a lot of "what if" and "what would that look like" questions. While hand-sketching and hand-drafting can be fairly quick, SketchUp allows me to quickly create 3D and 2D views of a detail or solution, change dimensions and materials in a flash, and show a client or installer the plan in minutes.
  • Creating professional design documents in LayOut: Projects of any scale need good documentation. Using a combination of SketchUp and LayOut, I can create a Design Intent Set, plans for permitting, a set for mechanical trades to mark-up, etc. Having clear, appropriately-scaled drawings with dimensions or notations is a must, and we don't always have the time or budget to get an architect involved!
  • Using live files to guide discussions: Not all clients are "visual" people, so opening their model and orbiting around their space in real time has been extremely helpful. Clients and trades enjoy the perspective views so much that we often include them in the full-sized drawing sets to give a good "overall" view of the project intent. For complex or tight spaces, sometimes un-rendered plans and elevations just aren't enough!
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Cons
Dassault Systemes
  • The software is pretty heavy, even with computers designed for heavy-duty loads, resulting in long wait times to load files and make changes, reducing productivity.
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Trimble
  • Ability to import Revit files and libraries.
  • Ability to export true curved vector linework. There are some workarounds, needs to be refined.
  • Create an OPEN MAPS connection. Since the split from Google, the source for high-quality aerials is limited.
  • Ability to dock all menus to the master window on a Mac
  • Ability to develop dockable menu trays on a Mac
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Likelihood to Renew
Dassault Systemes
No answers on this topic
Trimble
We typically wait a few years in between renewing, as even older versions are powerful tools for modeling, and we make sure the amount of feature changes are worth the re-investment.
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Usability
Dassault Systemes
It is a good software for conception. But it is too hard sometimes to work with and understand the different options available
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Trimble
It is very user friendly and easy to learn. It's simplicity allows for a low learning curve so more people can learn it faster. The downside is that most schools are no longer teaching it, so many younger professionals come out of school not knowing it and knowing more complex software and they have a hard time "dumbing down" their skillsets
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Support Rating
Dassault Systemes
We got frequent updates on CATIA. There are lots of update notes. Also, there are lots of lots of videos online to solve the issues that you can stumble upon. It also has a built-in help manual, which helps occasionally. I have gotten my education through a physical class on CATIA, so there are opportunities like that as well.
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Trimble
Sketchup is so intuitive; I can't recall ever looking for official support. However, there are many user forums online that can answer more questions. The usefulness of the online forums is, however, tempered by the fact that there have been many versions of the software under different ownership and support regimes, and thus finding the right information for the right version of the software can be a challenge.
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Alternatives Considered
Dassault Systemes
You can create solid or 3D figures more easily and efficiently using Catia than in other programs or in specific AutoCAD. You can also create different pieces to later assemble them and thus create figures even more complex or in greater detail. In the same way, you can make 2D drawings without much complication.
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Trimble
We have not evaluated any other competing software to this one. I heard about this software from a friend who teaches how to use it. She showed me in just a few minutes and I was HOOKED. I saw immediately the possible help it would be to my business. Thank you.
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Return on Investment
Dassault Systemes
  • If designing large assemblies or very complex ones, especially in the aerospace industry, CATIA is the way to go.
  • The graphics are really good, and the software offers many possibilities to view a design: 2D, 3D, bird's eye view...
  • Controls pan zoom rotate are easy.
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Trimble
  • It's good in the sense that you can quickly make a drawing and speeds up the design process. Not sure how to quantify that from a ROI perspective.
  • Also, good for editing an image after the fact. We can easily add a dimension that was forgotten in the original image.
  • Allows team members to understand a design easier than on other software platforms.
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ScreenShots