Software Alternatives & Reviews

SketchUp VS OpenSCAD

Compare SketchUp VS OpenSCAD and see what are their differences

SketchUp logo SketchUp

3D for Everyone

OpenSCAD logo OpenSCAD

OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD objects.
  • SketchUp Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-18
  • OpenSCAD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-19

We recommend LibHunt OpenSCAD for discovery and comparisons of trending OpenSCAD projects.

SketchUp videos

SketchUp 2019 | My HONEST Review

More videos:

  • Review - Watch This Before You Get Started With SketchUp (2019 Update)
  • Review - SKETCHUP 2019 - REVIEW. REACTION. RANT.

OpenSCAD videos

Tutorial: Using OpenSCAD To Make Your Wife Happy

More videos:

  • Tutorial - OpenSCAD Tutorial - Beginners Quickstart

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SketchUp and OpenSCAD)
3D
79 79%
21% 21
Architecture
79 79%
21% 21
CAD
79 79%
21% 21
3D Modeling
78 78%
22% 22

User comments

Share your experience with using SketchUp and OpenSCAD. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare SketchUp and OpenSCAD

SketchUp Reviews

Top 15 free interior design software and tools in the year 2022
Sketchup is another popular interior design program. Sketchup is a professional and useful 3D design program. Even for specialists, the interface is rather sophisticated and takes some time to get used to. For a powerful 3D modeling experience, professionals use Sketchup.
Source: www.reddit.com
15 Best Maya Alternatives
One of the advantages of using SketchUp is access to hundreds of expertly-developed extensions. These extensions are available in the SketchUp Warehouse and will save you the considerable time you would spend creating the products and models yourself.
15 Best Sketchup Alternatives 2022
Rhino might not beat Sketchup in terms of in-depth functions and overall features, but it is a reliable and versatile 3D modeling software. The software, like Sketchup, is available for Windows and Mac but also available for iOS.
Alternatives to SketchUp: Check out 10 free programs
Like SketchUp, Revit is known for interior design and architecture, making the software one of SketchUp’s biggest competitors. Owned by AutoDesk since 2002, this software has had updates every year, which makes it a complete package for the area. Unlike SketchUp, this program is more technical and isn’t a CAD but a BIM (Building Information Modeling). On that note, Revit is...
Source: solidface.com
7 Best 3D Modeling Programs Like SketchUp | EASY RENDER
One of SketchUp’s most appealing bi-products of its simplicity is the imagination it inspires in people who use it. AutoDesk - yes the same AutoDesk who created the complicated and obtuse drafting software on the planet - has achieved the same thing with Inventor. It is a program that, like SketchUp, taps into the childlike enthusiasm that accompanies simple, unadulterated...

OpenSCAD Reviews

11 KiCad Alternatives
OpenSCAD is a worldwide 3D CAD modeler that allows skilled programmers and designers to create solid 3D CAD objects in the shortest time feasible. The software works with Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems. This CAD application's distinguishing feature is that it is based on programming that includes 3D modelling, ready-to-use items and designs, and the ability...
9 Free CAD Software to Download
For those who want to work on the specifics, especially engineers, OpenSCAD is your ideal 3D modeling platform. It does not have interactive modeling for you to design your model, but instead relies more on what you defined in the parameters through the script files.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenSCAD seems to be a lot more popular than SketchUp. While we know about 95 links to OpenSCAD, we've tracked only 5 mentions of SketchUp. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

SketchUp mentions (5)

  • Google needs to create a product called Google Gone!
    What! It just switched owners, that's all. Go to sketchup.com. Source: 12 months ago
  • design build programs
    Not exactly sure what you're asking for but maybe.... SketchUp? Source: over 1 year ago
  • Help for Mom's Condo
    I know sketchup.com a little and searched earlier for something, found https://www.closetfactory.com/entertainment-centers/. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Basement remodel.
    I've heard good things about sketchup.com but it costs. If you are going to buy materials (cabinets, fixtures, etc) primarily form a single source I would check with them. I thought that Home Depot had a virtual design center, but it seems you need to physically go in. IKEA has a good design tool that I've used in the past - very advance and free. Source: over 1 year ago
  • product dissapearing?
    There is no "license" for SU Pro. You use your email address and password that you used when you bought it. Have you installed the program? Log into sketchup.com with your user name and password. Then start SU on your computer. Source: over 2 years ago

OpenSCAD mentions (95)

  • Ask HN: What Underrated Open Source Project Deserves More Recognition?
    There's OpenSCAD, but I don't think it's exactly what you mean https://openscad.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Help for the mentally challenged! I am trying to find easy software to create this drawing and export it as a 3d printer file. And going slightly mad as 3d software is different... Any advice welcome please.
    For something this simple you can use OpenSCAD (https://openscad.org). It's free and pretty easy to learn. Below are the two commands required to produce the solid object indicated by the picture. The application can export anything you create as an STL. Source: 5 months ago
  • code to design
    Are you asking about something like https://openscad.org which allows you to code your model? An example of its use can be seen in the OpenFlexure project. Source: 5 months ago
  • Free 3D Modeling Software not web-based?
    I use OpenSCAD. https://openscad.org - it's what the Thingiverse Customizer is based on (and if you upload .scad files to Thingiverse, the Customizer works for your design too). Source: 10 months ago
  • Generative AI for 3D Modeling and Printing
    One tool many people use for parametric modeling is OpenSCAD which is very utilitarian and has methods for constructing 3d and 2d geometry (and 3d from 2d such as extrusion). - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing SketchUp and OpenSCAD, you can also consider the following products

Blender - Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.

FreeCAD - An open-source parametric 3D modeler

LibreCAD - An open source 2D CAD application for Windows, Apple and Linux.

Sweet Home 3D - Sweet Home 3D is a free interior design application that helps to draw the plan of house, arrange furniture on it and visit the results in 3D.

BRL-CAD - BRL-CAD: Open Source Solid Modeling

nanoCAD - nanoCAD is a pro-grade 2D CAD system with native DWG support and full customizability.