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Free alternatives to SketchUp

Best free option: Blender (Strong). Switching saves about $399 USD a year.

SketchUp, SketchUp Pro, per user

$399 USDa year

≈$568.85 CAD (converted from USD)

Every pick below has a free version.

Runs on
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Web
  • iOS
Key file formats
.skp.dae.obj.stl

Filter alternatives

2 alternatives

Strong

1 tool

Covers most of the same work, with trade-offs noted on each card.

  1. Rank 1: Blender

    Best for 3D design that goes on to rendering or animation

    License: Open source
    • Windows
    • macOS
    • Linux
    Status: Active
    • MOV: opens and saves, full fidelity. Video through FFmpeg
    • MP4: opens and saves, full fidelity. Video through FFmpeg
    • FBX: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Meshes, rigs and animation carry over; materials are simplified
    • OBJ: opens and saves, full fidelity
    • PNG: opens and saves, full fidelity
    • +2 more

    Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. SketchUp files (.skp) do not open in core Blender, so move models through DAE or OBJ. The learning curve is steeper.

Situational

1 tool

Right for specific needs, or not yet mature enough to recommend widely.

  1. Rank 2: Sweet Home 3D

    Best for planning and furnishing a home

    License: Open source
    • Windows
    • macOS
    • Linux
    • Web
    • iOS
    • Android
    Status: Unknown
    • OBJ: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Imports furniture models and exports the 3D view; no animation or rigging
    • 3DS: opens only, partial fidelity. Imports models as furniture; no export
    • DAE: opens only, partial fidelity. Imports models as furniture; no export

    Desktop builds are free from SourceForge; store builds and mobile apps are paid. Imports DAE and OBJ models from SketchUp as furniture. No release since August 2024. Free version: Free desktop download from SourceForge with a small furniture library. Store builds and mobile apps are paid and bundle more items.

Sponsor this page: $149 for 30 days. Sponsors appear above the ranking, labeled; the ranking itself is not for sale.

Feature parity

How each alternative covers what people use SketchUp for. Numbers link to editor notes.

Feature parity with SketchUp
FeatureBlenderSweet Home 3D
Modeling
Push/pull direct modelingPartialNote 1NoNote 2
Dimension-driven models at true scalePartialNote 3PartialNote 4
Documentation
2D sheets and drawings (LayOut)NoNote 5PartialNote 6
Library
Online model library (3D Warehouse)PartialNote 7PartialNote 8
Extensibility
Extensions for custom workflowsYesNote 9PartialNote 10
Interoperability
DWG and IFC exchangePartialNote 11NoNote 12
Parity score50%33%
  1. Blender, Push/pull direct modeling: Extrude and Inset tools work differently; there is no single push/pull tool
  2. Sweet Home 3D, Push/pull direct modeling: Not a general modeler; it places walls, rooms and furniture
  3. Blender, Dimension-driven models at true scale: Unit system and snapping; no measurements box like SketchUp's
  4. Sweet Home 3D, Dimension-driven models at true scale: Plans are drawn to scale with typed dimensions
  5. Blender, 2D sheets and drawings (LayOut): No 2D sheet or title-block tool
  6. Sweet Home 3D, 2D sheets and drawings (LayOut): Prints plans and saves PDF; no LayOut-style sheets
  7. Blender, Online model library (3D Warehouse): Asset Browser for your own libraries; no built-in public warehouse
  8. Sweet Home 3D, Online model library (3D Warehouse): Furniture catalogs; more items in the paid store builds
  9. Blender, Extensions for custom workflows: Python add-ons and the Extensions platform
  10. Sweet Home 3D, Extensions for custom workflows: Java plug-ins
  11. Blender, DWG and IFC exchange: DXF through add-ons; IFC through the Bonsai add-on
  12. Sweet Home 3D, DWG and IFC exchange: No DWG or IFC support

Not covered by any free alternative yet: Push/pull direct modeling, Dimension-driven models at true scale, 2D sheets and drawings (LayOut), Online model library (3D Warehouse), DWG and IFC exchange. See all feature gaps

File formats

Can each alternative open and save SketchUp files?

Opening and saving SketchUp files
FormatBlenderSweet Home 3D
.skpNoNote 1NoNote 2
.daeNoNote 3Opens onlyNote 4Partial fidelity
.objOpens and savesFull fidelityOpens and savesNote 5Partial fidelity
.stlOpens and savesFull fidelityNoNote 6
  1. Blender, .skp: Export FBX or OBJ from SketchUp first
  2. Sweet Home 3D, .skp: SketchUp files do not open; export DAE or OBJ from SketchUp
  3. Blender, .dae: Built-in Collada support ended with Blender 5.0; an add-on is needed
  4. Sweet Home 3D, .dae: Imports models as furniture; no export
  5. Sweet Home 3D, .obj: Imports furniture models and exports the 3D view; no animation or rigging
  6. Sweet Home 3D, .stl: STL is not supported

What switching saves

Switching saves about $399 USD / ≈$569 CAD (estimated from the USD price) a year. Prices checked ; ≈ means converted from USD.

Based on SketchUp Pro, per user. Price source. USD to CAD at 1.4257 as of Oct 7, 2026.

About this page

Last verified . Ranking: tier first, then the published score.

Something wrong or out of date? Report outdated info.

Related

SketchUp is a product of Trimble, named here for comparison only. Platforms listed for SketchUp: Windows, macOS, Web, iOS.