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SketchUp VS SolidWorks Simulation

Compare SketchUp VS SolidWorks Simulation and see what are their differences

SketchUp logo SketchUp

3D for Everyone

SolidWorks Simulation logo SolidWorks Simulation

Simulation solutions for SOLIDWORKS® provide an easy-to-use portfolio of analysis tools for predicting a product’s real-world physical behavior by virtually testing CAD models.
  • SketchUp Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-18
  • SolidWorks Simulation Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-27

SketchUp features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    SketchUp has an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, which makes it accessible to beginners as well as professionals. Its simplicity helps users quickly learn the software without extensive training.
  • Extensive Library
    The 3D Warehouse offers a vast repository of pre-made models and components, enabling users to enhance their designs without having to create everything from scratch.
  • Versatility
    SketchUp is suitable for a wide range of applications, including architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and engineering, making it a versatile tool for various professionals.
  • Affordability
    SketchUp offers a free version that provides sufficient features for hobbyists and small projects. Paid versions are also relatively affordable compared to other professional CAD software.
  • Third-Party Extensions
    There are numerous plugins and extensions available that enhance SketchUp's functionality, allowing users to customize the tool to better fit their specific needs.

Possible disadvantages of SketchUp

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While SketchUp is powerful for basic and intermediate designs, it lacks some advanced features found in other high-end CAD software, which may be necessary for complex projects.
  • Performance Issues
    SketchUp can experience performance issues and slow down when handling very large or highly detailed models, which can be a limitation for projects requiring high detail.
  • Rendering Quality
    The built-in rendering capabilities of SketchUp are relatively basic. For high-quality, photo-realistic rendering, users often need to rely on third-party plugins like V-Ray or Lumion.
  • 2D Drawing Limitations
    SketchUp is primarily a 3D modeling tool and its 2D drawing capabilities are not as robust as specialized 2D drafting software, making it less ideal for creating detailed 2D technical drawings.
  • Interoperability
    Although SketchUp supports various file formats, there can be compatibility issues when integrating models with other CAD software, which may require additional conversion steps.

SolidWorks Simulation features and specs

  • Integration
    Seamlessly integrates with SOLIDWORKS CAD, allowing for easy transition from design to simulation without requiring data translation or additional file handling.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    SolidWorks Simulation features an intuitive interface with comprehensive help documentation and tutorials, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Wide Range of Analysis Types
    Supports various analysis types including static, dynamic, thermal, fatigue, and fluid flow, among others, providing versatility for different engineering needs.
  • Parametric Optimization
    Allows users to perform parametric optimization studies, facilitating design improvements and innovation by evaluating multiple design scenarios efficiently.
  • Robust Validation Tools
    Equipped with tools to validate and verify simulations against empirical data, aiding in the credibility and accuracy of the simulations.

Possible disadvantages of SolidWorks Simulation

  • Cost
    SolidWorks Simulation can be expensive, with high licensing fees that might not be affordable for small businesses or individual users.
  • Hardware Requirements
    Requires high-performance hardware to run complex simulations efficiently, potentially necessitating additional investment in computing resources.
  • Learning Curve
    Although user-friendly, mastering the full suite of tools and capabilities requires time and effort, especially for those new to simulation software.
  • Complex Simulations Limitations
    Some users report limitations when dealing with extremely complex simulations or very large assemblies, which may require supplementary specialized software.
  • Limited Mac Compatibility
    SolidWorks Simulation is primarily designed for Windows-based systems, resulting in limited compatibility and support for macOS users.

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.

SolidWorks Simulation videos

What's New SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2021

More videos:

  • Review - SOLIDWORKS Simulation Step-Up Series: Accuracy and Convergence

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SketchUp and SolidWorks Simulation)
3D
90 90%
10% 10
Architecture
100 100%
0% 0
Technical Computing
0 0%
100% 100
3D Modeling
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

SketchUp Reviews

Top 13 Picks for Maxon Cinema 4D Alternatives in 2024
SketchUp offers a free web-based application, SketchUp Free, and three paid subscription plans: SketchUp Shop, SketchUp Pro, and SketchUp Studio – each tailored to provide increased functionality.
Source: aircada.com
10 Best Cinema 4D Alternatives for 3D Animation in 2024
SketchUp is a user-friendly 3-D model software program that specializes in creating architectural and interior layout models. SketchUp is popular for its intuitive interface, speedy modelling gear, and massive library of extensions.
10 Best Blender Alternatives: An Overview
2) Wide array of plugins: SketchUp's core functionalities can be vastly expanded through its rich ecosystem of plugins. Whether it's advanced Rendering, simulation, or specialised Modelling tools, there's likely a plugin available to cater to users' specific needs, ensuring that SketchUp remains versatile across diverse projects.
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.

SolidWorks Simulation Reviews

We have no reviews of SolidWorks Simulation yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SketchUp seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 times since March 2021. 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: about 2 years ago
  • design build programs
    Not exactly sure what you're asking for but maybe.... SketchUp? Source: over 2 years 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 2 years 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: almost 3 years 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 3 years ago

SolidWorks Simulation mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of SolidWorks Simulation yet. Tracking of SolidWorks Simulation recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Inventor - Inventor is a 3D CAD software that lets you quickly create 3D models with embedded intelligence, intuitive workflows, and optimized performance.

FreeCAD - An open-source parametric 3D modeler

Autodesk Fusion 360 - Integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE featuring collaborative editing and cloud-based computation.

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.

MATLAB - A high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming