SketchUp
Free, with limitsPowerful free web 3D modeler, but personal-use only and export is gated to skp/png/stl.
Free tier & pricing
SketchUp Free is free for personal, non-commercial use in the browser only; you can model and download skp/png/stl, but DWG/DXF/OBJ/PDF export, the desktop app, and extensions all require a paid plan.
Last verified Jul 3, 2026. Report a change →
The short answer
SketchUp Free is a genuinely capable browser 3D modeler that's free for personal projects. The limits: it's web-only, non-commercial, and you can only get .skp, .png, and .stl out. Any DWG/OBJ/PDF export, a desktop app, or photoreal rendering means paying for Go, Pro, or Studio.
The facts
- Pricing
- $129/yr · Free, with limits
- Free tier
- Yes
- Runs in browser
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Windows, macOS, iPadOS
- 2D / 3D
- Basic 3D
- Learning curve
- Moderate
- Export formats
- SKP, PNG, STL, DWG, DXF, OBJ, PDF
The catch
- Browser only — no offline app.
- The free tier is personal, non-commercial use only.
- You must create an account to save or export.
- Your projects live in their cloud; you can lose them if you stop paying.
- The paid plan is annual billing only.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Free web version is genuinely powerful for hobby 3D modeling with no install
- Massive 3D Warehouse component library available to everyone
- Industry standard with an enormous tutorial and community ecosystem
- Free tier exports STL, which is great for 3D printing
Cons
- Free tier is non-commercial and browser-only
- No DWG/OBJ/PDF export without paying for Go ($129/yr) or higher
- No real photorealistic rendering until Studio ($819/yr, Windows-only V-Ray)
- Prices increased in mid-2025; desktop app requires Pro ($399/yr)
Best for
Hobbyists, students, and makers doing personal 3D models or 3D-printing in the browser for free.
Not for
Commercial users or anyone needing DWG/CAD interoperability or photoreal renders without committing to $129/yr or more.
SketchUp in depth
Who SketchUp is really for
SketchUp is the default 3D modeler for architects, interior designers, kitchen and bath pros, woodworkers and serious hobbyists who want to model an idea fast. Its whole reputation rests on the push/pull workflow — you draw a shape and pull it into 3D — which reviewers repeatedly call the most intuitive way to learn 3D. The other pillar is the 3D Warehouse: a huge free library of real furniture, fixtures and components you drop straight into a model.
The free SketchUp for Web is genuinely useful for learning and light projects, but it is walled: exports are limited to SKP, PNG and STL, and use is personal and non-commercial. DWG, PDF and the full modeling toolset live behind the paid Pro and Studio plans. If you only need to sketch a room or a piece of furniture, free is plenty; if you need to hand files to a contractor or work commercially, budget for a subscription.
Where SketchUp falls short
Two complaints show up again and again in user reviews. The first is performance: large models with lots of unpurged components get sluggish and can crash, so complex whole-house projects need disciplined component management. The second is precision — SketchUp is a modeler, not a CAD or BIM engine, so it lacks the exactness required for detailed construction documents.
That means SketchUp is a poor fit if your real job is engineering-grade drawings; for that, Chief Architect, AutoCAD or Revit are the right tools. Where SketchUp wins is speed of ideation and the ability to make a good-looking 3D model in an afternoon.
Alternatives to SketchUp
Sweet Home 3D
Truly freeCompletely free and open-source for personal and commercial use with no feature paywall; the only real limit is that the online and mobile versions can't import custom 3D models or export OBJ, which the desktop app handles.
Planner 5D
Free, with limitsFree to design unlimited 2D/3D projects, but about half the furniture catalog is locked, you get no proper renders, and DWG/DXF export plus custom 3D import require the Professional plan.
Live Home 3D
Free, with limitsThe free version limits you to one active project at a time, watermarks all image and video exports, and disables 3D-model export entirely; a one-time Standard purchase removes those limits.
See all SketchUp alternatives compared →
Head-to-head comparisons
SketchUp: questions, answered
Is SketchUp free?
SketchUp has a free tier, but with limits. SketchUp Free is free for personal, non-commercial use in the browser only; you can model and download skp/png/stl, but DWG/DXF/OBJ/PDF export, the desktop app, and extensions all require a paid plan. Paid plans start at $129/yr.
What platforms does SketchUp run on?
SketchUp is available on Web, Windows, macOS, iPadOS. It runs in any web browser with nothing to install.
What file formats can you export from SketchUp?
SketchUp exports to SKP, PNG, STL, DWG, DXF, OBJ, PDF. That includes CAD formats, so you can hand files to a contractor or open them in AutoCAD.
Does SketchUp do 3D and photorealistic renders?
SketchUp supports 3D with basic 3d render quality. For fully photorealistic output you may want a heavier tool.
Is SketchUp easy to learn?
Moderate to pick up. Hobbyists, students, and makers doing personal 3D models or 3D-printing in the browser for free.
What are the best alternatives to SketchUp?
Popular SketchUp alternatives include Sweet Home 3D, Planner 5D and Live Home 3D. Compare their free tiers, platforms and export formats on the SketchUp alternatives page.