TrustRadius: an HG Insights company

Save this comparison

Save this comparison

Add Product

Recommended Comparisons

    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    SketchUp

    Score8.3 out of 10
    N/ASketchUp is 3D modeling software with an emphasis on usability. SketchUp is a Trimble product.

    $119

    per year

    Pricing
    SketchUp
    Editions & Modules
    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
    SketchUp
    Free Trial
    No
    Free/Freemium Version
    Yes
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    No
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup fee
    Additional Details—
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    SketchUp
    Considered Both Products
    Trimble
    Chose SketchUp
    To me, SketchUp is better to study designs because it is easier to manipulate than Revit. Revit has each part of the model connected so it is great to "keep your design honest" however, in trying to be creative, you are often inhibited. It is not as easy to push/pull and …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    It is easier to orient surfaces and mass models in SketchUp.
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    SketchUp, Revit, AutoCAD, and Rhino are COMPLETELY different programs. It's important to know the benefits of each, and how to work between all of them. SketchUp is the best to produce visually appealing graphics, however when it comes to construction documents, it is not going …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    SketchUp makes 3D models much quicker, and is easier to modify. ARCHICAD however changes with 2D CAD drawing changes, so they both have their benefits.
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    We didn't want to pay for Visio's extra features in mapping/diagramming (SketchUp's features are more limited, but fine for what we needed). Be able to also model in 3D was value-added in certain situations for us.
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    It is easier and more economical than others and for that reason is a good choice for day-to-day usage.
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    I did not personally select SketchUp. If it was up to me, I would only recommend it to legacy users who know/love it. Please don't take that as a shot at it, just my personal preference to use Rhino for similar functions. I think SketchUp is much cheaper than Revit for sure and …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    I haven't used any other products aside from SketchUp.
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    Making a model can be bulky in Revit, especially if you are in a design phase where you are still playing around with options. The benefit to Revit is that it is easier to then work those models into CDs. Sketchup is more friendly when you are exploring or using the model as a …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    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.
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    SketchUp is much easier to teach and troubleshoot than alternative 3D modeling programs like Rhino and Revit. SketchUp and Rhino are used for similar purposes in architecture, firms tend to prefer one or the other based on the types of geometry being created (rectilinear vs …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    Sketchup serves a very specific function in my office and fits somewhere between Rhino and Revit in our workflow. It is useful for early design studies and clear graphic diagrams for large-scale urban projects. Only up to a certain level of complexity, at which point Rhino or Re…
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    We have also used the pro version of Live Home 3D (https://www.livehome3d.com/), which is also easy to use and is well-suited to creating architectural models of buildings. It also has access to the same or similar library of 3D models that SketchUp has. For creating interior …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    Revit takes more time to learn and use, and it requires technical skills from the users. The course for leaning Revit is pretty high. However, SketchUp is very easy to learn and use. When working with urgent projects or idea concept projects, SketchUp works better and faster. …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    We use all three programs in our office, primarily based on client needs and final deliverables, but in general, we'll use MicroStation for highway projects, AutoCAD for water/sewer projects, and SketchUp for environmental projects. MicroStation tends to be more focused on the …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    SketchUp has a low software cost and an easier learning curve.
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    Main other tool that I looked at is AutoCAD. I think AutoCAD has probably a richer set of features. It's so hard to learn and rather than intuitive controls using the mouse, there are a ton of key commands that there's no way I'm going to remember unless I'm in the software …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    SketchUp has a simple interface that is easy for the staff to get used to. It also is more common in architecture schools, so entry level staff is already well versed in it by the time they start. It also has been really the only product we have used, and are very comfortable …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    No other 3d software is as easy to use as SketchUp.
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    When it comes to easy development of the design and sketches SketchUp is a great tool, but in case you require complex design and more specific details I would like to go for SOLIDWORKS. I used this as my secondary design tool but it solves the purpose of basic prototyping of …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    Fusion 360 and Onshape are much more suitable for 3D printing. These tools were not available at the beginning, but SketchUp was. SketchUp's 3D repositories, 3Dwarehouse was bigger than the Thingiverse.com. I used to get 3D files from 3Dwarehouse for my 3D printers on those …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    SketchUp is far easier to use, has faster modeling, and is more affordable to operate than the aforementioned options.
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    SketchUp can be widely used in different design disciplines while some programs such as Revit and SOLIDWORKS are specifically designed for making 3D or 2D drawings related to structures, mechanical components, and building elements. The interface of SketchUp is intuitive, all …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    SketchUp offers a more strings-free set up than its counterparts, such as Vectorworks, Revit, or AutoCAD. These other competing software also tend to be overshadowed by extraneous functions that may end up confusing you and distracting you more than they end up helping you. …
    Incentivized
    Chose SketchUp
    Rhino is more suited for organic shapes/structures
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    96%
    Would buy again
    23 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    22 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    92%
    Happy with the feature set
    22 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    89%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    17 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    95%
    Implementation went as expected
    18 Answers
    Best Alternatives
    SketchUp
    Small Businesses
    Autodesk Maya
    Score8.4 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Navisworks
    Score9.1 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Navisworks
    Score9.1 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    SketchUp
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.0
    (47 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Usability
    7.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    8.5
    (14 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    SketchUp
    Likelihood to Recommend
    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
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    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!
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    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
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    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.
    Read full review
    Usability
    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
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots