Our verdict: SketchUp is the quickest way for architects, interior designers and woodworkers to turn an idea into a 3D model. Push/Pull modeling is easy to learn, and the 3D Warehouse supplies ready-made objects. The desktop app is subscription-only, and the cheap Go plan does not include it.
About SketchUp
SketchUp is made by Trimble. The desktop modeler is included in SketchUp Pro, priced at US$33.25 per month billed annually (US$399 per year), and in the more expensive Studio plan with V-Ray and a Revit importer. SketchUp Go is cheaper but works only on the web and iPad, and the free web version is not a Windows app.
You draw lines and faces, then extrude them with Push/Pull and group parts into components that update everywhere at once. Pro adds LayOut for 2D construction documents, DWG and IFC exchange, PreDesign climate insights and more than 1,000 extensions. The free 7-day Pro trial needs a Trimble ID but no credit card, and the app stops working when it ends unless you subscribe.
What it does well
- Push/Pull modeling. Extrudes any flat face into 3D, the core of SketchUp's fast workflow.
- Components. Reusable parts that update every copy when you edit one.
- 3D Warehouse. Millions of ready-made furniture, fixtures and building models.
- LayOut. Turns models into dimensioned 2D drawings and presentation sheets.
- Extension Warehouse. Over 1,000 extensions for rendering, woodworking and design tools.
Who it is for
Good fit
Architects, interior designers, woodworkers and hobbyists who model buildings, rooms and furniture.
Look elsewhere
Mechanical engineers who need parametric CAD, or anyone who wants a free desktop modeler.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very easy to learn
- Huge 3D Warehouse model library
- LayOut for construction documents
- Trial needs no credit card
Cons
- Desktop app only in paid Pro or Studio plans
- No perpetual license for new users
- Organic and curved shapes are hard to model
How to install SketchUp
The direct link downloads the full SketchUp 2026 installer, which also installs LayOut and Style Builder. On first launch you sign in with a Trimble ID to start the 7-day trial; no card is required. The file is over 1 GB, so use a stable connection.
Questions about SketchUp
Is SketchUp free?
Not on Windows. The free version runs in a web browser, and the desktop app needs SketchUp Pro at US$399 per year. A 7-day Pro trial needs a Trimble ID but no credit card.
Does SketchUp Go include the desktop app?
No. Trimble lists SketchUp Go for iPad and web only; the desktop modeler starts with the Pro plan.
Can SketchUp open AutoCAD files?
Yes. SketchUp Pro imports and exports DWG files, and also supports IFC for BIM workflows.
