Alternatives to SketchUp: Check out 10 free programs

Author: Reviewer Solid

Alternatives to SketchUp: In the market for over 20 years, SketchUp is a 3D computer-aided drawing (CAD) software. Known for its simple and easy to work with platform, enables users to grasp its way very quickly. The program is mostly used for architectural design. It can also make robots, 3D printable objects, interior, furniture, and landscape designs.

Besides its simplicity, SketchUp is popular for the 3D warehouse. That is a huge library of 3D models that users can import into their projects, making design simpler and faster.

The CAD comes in two versions: free and paid. The SketchUp free version is completely web-based and runs on almost all platforms. When it comes to the paid version, it comes in two ways. The Shop one, which is the same as the free version but adds some features to it for about $120 per year. The Pro version, on the other hand, is a downloadable software available only for Windows or macOS, charging around $300 per year for more enhanced tools and features.

But, if you feel like SketchUp doesn’t check all the boxes of your needs in a 3D software, here are 10 free alternatives programs to SketchUp. They provide similar tools and help you achieve similar results..

We will start with our own because we consider it the best existing alternative to SketchUp. SolidFace is a 2D / 3D parametric historical constructive CAD modeling software. It has the advantage that in addition to 3D modeling, it also allows you to completely create 2D projects, for example, mechanical parts, multiple engineering designs, graphic design in general, and civil plants.

Solidface has 15 years of experience in UniCAD 2D / 3D development, making it a product with powerful 3D visualization, detailing, and parameterization capabilities. You can perfectly read other CAD softwares through DWG, DXF, standard BMP files.

SolidFace automatically creates parametric references for modeling functions that can be edited in a very simple and interactive way, plus it allows the creation of multiple bodies. It is an extremely powerful tool that helps develop dependent parts of a single part file. The software is compatible with 3D printing, integrated into the cloud, and, best of all, it comes with its free version fully downloadable CAD software, it is known for its characteristic reach, which includes very familiar features, including. It is similar to the 2008 version of AutoCAD and comes with an interface with certain similarities and other features ideal for 2D design and 3D direct modeling. Compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux, and several hundreds of third-party applications based on.dwg., SolidFace is one of the best alternatives to SketchUp.