Trimble offers two ways that schools can access SketchUp; one for primary or secondary schools and one for universities, and there’s also a subscription for students.

SketchUp for Schools is the core SketchUp modeler available for free in a web browser for any primary or secondary school signed up with Google Workspace for Education (formerly called  G-Suite) or Microsoft Education account. To qualify for either of these accounts, you must meet certain criteria set by Google designed to ensure that the accounts are used primarily for educational purposes by official schools.

Trimble also offers a wealth of educational videos, including lesson plans for easy integration of the software into the curriculum for kids and young adults.

SketchUp for College Students & Teachers

For individual students and teachers in higher education, SketchUp offers a reduced-cost version of SketchUp Studio for just $55 annually through its global resellers. There’s no way to get the student/teacher subscription directly from SketchUp, and how you’re qualified as a student or teacher isn’t transparent. Yet, it’s an absolute bargain compared to the $750 annual cost for a regular Studio license.

The third education license is for universities to offer university-wide access to SketchUp for its students and faculty. Institutions can select desktop, web, or tablet versions and a wide range of add-ons to their subscription. Prices are customizable at $50 per seat for the 10-50 seat license and decreasing per see based on the number of seats. Floating network licenses for university computer labs start at $30 per seat.

We think the best free alternative to SketchUp Pro or Studio is SketchUp itself – SketchUp Free that is.

Anyone can use a free slimmed-down version of the 3D modeling software SketchUp Free, which runs as a cloud-based application in your browser. While Sketchup Free lacks many of the advanced features found in professional versions of SketchUp, it’s a great starting point for beginners looking to develop basic 3D modeling skills or users who simply don’t need the more powerful tools advanced versions provide.

To access SketchUp Free:

1. Sign-up with a free Trimble account on the SketchUp Free webpage.
2. Click the “Start Modeling” button. First-time users will have to review and agree to SketchUp’s Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Privacy Policy supplement and possibly install a browser extension.
3. The web-based 3D modeling tool will appear in your browser and you’re ready to begin!

SketchUp Free is a great way to get used to some of the basic tools and principles of 3D modeling without over-taxing your computer (or your budget). If you want to design from a Chromebook or another less powerful device, this is an excellent option. SketchUp Free does have its limits though, and one of the biggest drawbacks for many will be the limited options for importing and exporting files. If you intend to design mostly from scratch or by using files from SketchUp’s 3D Warehouse, and plan to download models as an STL or SketchUp file, you should be fine; but any more than that, and you’ll quickly start running into limitations. But upgrading one tier to the web-based SketchUp Go will solve this problem – more on that below.

SketchUp offers a paid web-based version of their software made for hobbyists called SketchUp Go, which has its own 7-day free trial. At just $119 per year makers can get access to a version of SketchUp that’s somewhere between the free version and the pro version and might fit just right.

SketchUp Go is the same web-based editor as SketchUp Free but comes with unlimited cloud data, access to SketchUp for iPad, an Augmented Reality Viewer on mobile devices, and a few other small features that make the roughtly $10 a month really worth it. Users who plan on 3D printing, laser cutting, using various other manufacturing technologies with the files they create, or who switch between CAD programs will benefit from expanded import and export options that allow for more file types than just STL.

SketchUp Go also has full, unlimited access to 3D Warehouse‘s prebuilt models, making work faster and easier where 3D models already exist in the vast repository.

This license acts as a good middle-ground between the free and full versions of SketchUp, offering the accessibility of a web-based interface for less powerful computers while expanding the options and toolsets available, opening the door to more advanced design work. Sketchup Go is also included in the Pro and Studio subscription, so there’s no need to pay extra if you want to get some work done on the “Go”. Visit SketchUp’s commercial plans page to purchase SketchUp Go.

If you aren’t already familiar with CAD software like SketchUp, you might need some help getting used to its basic tools and functions before you find your footing. Fortunately, SketchUp offers some valuable courses for beginners via SketchUp Campus.

The tutorials cover every topic you might need, from the fundamentals of SketchUp’s toolset and of 3D modeling in general, to using the V-Ray rendering engine to give your designs some life; SketchUp Campus has many lessons on each topic.

Following that, if you’re still hungry for more, you can visit the SketchUp YouTube channel to find lots of tips and tricks, Q&As, and live modeling sessions to learn from.

Let’s take a quick tour of SketchUp main functions. This favorite among architects is an extremely versatile tool used for visualization and planning in a variety of industries beyond architecture to include engineering and construction.

First-time SketchUp users will be welcomed by a rather undaunting interface. There aren’t so many tools out front as to boggle beginners just trying to understand the 3D modeling software basics. SketchUp’s tools are largely intuitive and allow users to easily navigate the program, so it’s not difficult to grasp the basic principles and create simple 3D printable models from scratch within the first few hours of learning.

This is not to say that SketchUp is only capable of simple 3D modeling. It’s considered one of the best CAD software available, and, to make up for any capabilities that Trimble might miss, it encourages users and third-party companies to contribute extensions (many of them free) through the Extension Warehouse, greatly expanding the base software’s capabilities.

SketchUp also comes with a free 3D model repository integrated into the program: 3D Warehouse. It’s a library where millions of 3D models (limited to a size of 50 MB) can be downloaded directly in the program, streamlining the design process with pre-existing models, often of real-world products, to integrate into a scene.

SketchUp’s features increase as you climb the ladder of their offerings, with higher-priced versions gradually unlocking more features. The most affordable paid version of SketchUp, Go, comes with the following features:

• SketchUp for iPad
• Unlimited Access to pre-built 3D models (via 3D Warehouse)
• Augmented reality mobile viewer
• Unlimited cloud storage
• Unlocked import and export file types

SketchUp Pro adds:

• Desktop application
• 2D design documentation
• Experience reality (XR) headset viewing
• Access to plugins (Extension Warehouse)

And SketchUp’s full version, Studio, adds:

• Native importing and modeling onto point cloud data
• Exporting to LayOut and document point cloud data in 2D
• Interactive, real-time visualizations as you model
• Photorealistic image rendering and export
• Fully rendered animations and 360-degree panorama exports

New in SketchUp 2025

SketchUp says the 2025 version is the most “feature-packed” release ever.  It introduces several new features and enhancements designed to improve 3D modeling, visualization, and interoperability.

Advanced Visualization Tools

• Photoreal Materials: SketchUp now supports Physically Based Rendering (PBR) materials, enabling more realistic textures that accurately reflect light and surroundings. This enhancement allows for richer, more lifelike visuals directly within the platform.
• Environments: Users can incorporate 360-degree High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDRI) or EXR image files as light sources in their models. This feature enhances reflections and lighting, providing immersive environmental contexts for designs.

AI-Powered Texture Generation

The new AI-driven ‘Generate Textures’ feature converts existing materials into PBR textures by automatically generating roughness, metalness, normal, and ambient occlusion maps. This tool streamlines the process of creating detailed textures, enhancing the realism of models.

Improved Interoperability

SketchUp 2025 offers enhanced compatibility with Revit and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) files, allowing for more predictable data exchanges and greater control over imported elements. This improvement facilitates smoother collaboration and integration with other design tools.

Extension Migration Tool

The new Extension Migrator simplifies the process of transferring extensions from previous SketchUp versions to 2025. This tool reduces downtime and ensures a seamless transition when upgrading.

Enhanced Modeling Tools

• Rotate Tool Improvements: The Rotate tool now features rotation grips similar to the Move tool, providing more intuitive control during modeling.
• Arc Tool Enhancements: Improved tangent snapping in Arc tools allows for more precise and efficient modeling.

LayOut Enhancements

LayOut, SketchUp’s documentation tool, now supports all the new visualization features and includes standalone Move, Rotate, and Scale tools that function like those in SketchUp. Additionally, new Zoom Window (Z) and Zoom to Page (P) commands offer more precise and efficient page navigation.

In addition to major new features, there are dozens of nice upgrades and bug fixes making the 2025 version of SketchUp a true upgrade.

With several program versions available, it’s worth knowing the key differences between SketchUp Free and the various commercial versions.

First, know that all SketchUp offerings have the same core tools you need to create the geometry of CAD designs. So, if your focus is on basic 3D modeling, the free version will work fine. However, you will find differences in many other aspects of the program that lend it some more ease of use and otherwise professional qualities.

For example, SketchUp’s standard tools are meant for modeling standard geometric shapes like buildings. If you want to model organic shapes, such as terrain, the free version of SketchUp isn’t enough. Paid versions feature advanced tools like a sandbox that can create organic and otherwise advanced shapes.

Another key difference lies in rendering. The free version of SketchUp has no rendering. Only SketchUp Studio comes with high-resolution, photorealistic, or highly stylized rendering capabilities for more professional contexts. However, some extensions available for SketchUp Pro do add rendering capabilities.

The Extension Warehouse, Trimble’s plugin repository, might be SketchUp’s greatest asset. It’s available only in the desktop versions of the program (Pro and Studio) and allows users to access a trove of plugins that provide additional tools and features. Third parties are encouraged to create and upload extensions, many of which are free but others are offered for a fee by their respective developers. Many of these extensions further enhance the differences mentioned above, and a handful are especially handy for preparing files for 3D printing: like CleanUp3 Extension, Solid Inspector², 3D Printing Model Repair Service (MakePrintable), and CADspan.

If you want to learn more, we have a handy guide that further details the differences between SketchUp Free and Sketchup Pro.

Below are the recommended specs to run any of the desktop versions of SketchUp.

• OS: Windows 10, Mac OS 11+ (Big Sur) or higher
• CPU: 2 GHz (Windows) 2.1 GHz (Mac) processor or better (recommended)
• RAM: 8 GB or more (recommended)
• Graphics Card: 3D class graphics card with 1 GB of memory or higher with hardware acceleration and support for OpenGL 3.1 or higher.

For more information, you can visit the SketchUp support website’s system requirements page. If you are still unsure, you can do the SketchUp Checkup, to check your computer for compatibility issues (Windows only).

Designed around parametric modeling, FreeCAD is a reliable CAD software that is available, as you would expect, for free. The software’s parametric modeling capability allows you to easily modify your 3D model by going back in the model history and adjusting the features of a given change.

Being open-source, its feature set is oriented towards its community, so be prepared for FreeCAD to be a bit overwhelming at first. But if you make an effort to dig deeper into this free CAD software, you will be rewarded with an impressively powerful set of features at no cost.

FreeCAD offers a modular architecture that allows plugins to be mounted to the core application. It also provides a Sketcher with a constraint-solver that allows you to sketch 2D shapes, a robot simulation to study robot movements, and a Path module dedicated to mechanical machining like milling (CAM), which can output, display, and adjust G-code. One of the most impressive modules in this software is the architecture bench that enables BIM (Building Information Design). This feature allows you to design models of buildings that contain essential metadata like the cost of materials, weight, and much more.

In sum, if you are looking for a free SketchUp alternative, it doesn’t get much better than FreeCAD! You can download it from the FreeCAD website.

Equipped with an incredible feature set fit for enterprise-grade CAD software, Onshape offers a version absolutely free — but only for open-source projects. Called Onshape Free, this 3D modeling tool is aimed at professional-level users looking for version control and collaboration tools to work in large teams. All versions of Onshape are delivered over the cloud as a service, so it works on pretty much any system you can imagine – even on iOS and Android phones.

One of the most interesting features of this free CAD software is its collaborative mode. Unlike local CAD and PDM, Onshape gives everyone on the team instant access to the same CAD workspace and the same CAD data in one central place on the cloud. Another nifty feature is the ability to branch from and manage a master design without the need to save copies or keep track of numerous different file versions due to the helpful version history.

One area Onshape trumps SketchUp is its support of mobile devices. The free apps available for Android and iOS are not merely file viewers. They offer the complete toolset of the core 3D CAD software! In other words: even on your smartphone, this free SketchUp alternative is still the real deal.

You can access Onshape Free from their website.

Given its innovative UI and interesting approach to collaboration, Vectary is one free online CAD software that is definitely worth your attention. The software includes parametric modeling, allowing for quick adaptions of the mesh using sliders and selections that are mostly found in professional engineering suites like Fusion 360.

But this doesn’t quite make Vectary a fully-fledged engineering program for the web. The program doesn’t rely on precise measurements quite like other CAD software does. Rather, designs are created in a 3D viewport using subdivision modeling and then transformed with a variety of tools — making this free online CAD software better equipped for the needs of visual designers.

To get started quickly, the developers have prepared a series of templates that you can use for mockups, layouts, and even 3D social media messages. Also, Vectary emphasizes user collaboration, as all models are saved in the cloud and can be easily shared. There’s even a Viewer API that allows the community to “build web projects on top of Vectary Viewer.”

Vectary’s free plan includes ten private projects and unlimited public projects but includes commercial use of the software. Business options allow for a larger number of private projects and a variety of other perks.

Vectary can be accessed through the Vectary website.

Blender is a free and open-source software for 3D modeling. It’s one of the most popular 3D modeling programs available for both personal and professional use and is often considered one of the most powerful available. Quite the reputation.

Don’t jump on board just yet, though. While Blender and CAD programs like SketchUp have many features in common, there are some differences worth considering. Foremost among them is 2D model and documentation exporting: Blender is simply not a program for architects, engineers, woodworkers, or the like who need a part list compiled based on CAD work. The program is catered more towards model sculpting and animation, so it lacks these sorts of features that other professions need. It is, however, still excellent for designing 3D printable models. Especially those with organic shapes.

However, Blender has a lot of capabilities that only come from extensions with programs like SketchUp. Organic shapes stand out here and might make Blender better for some product designers who need to represent curved shapes or materials like upholstery. Renders and animation stand out, too. Where SketchUp needs extensions for its best renderings and animations, Blender does them in top quality by default. So if you want to up your presentation game, it could be worth looking at.

If Blender is missing a key feature or two that you need, don’t worry. It also has a large community that offers scripts, addons, textures, and the like (both free and paid) that you can find on third-party websites like Blender Market or Blender Addons.

Get Blender from the Blender Foundation website.