SketchUp is currently also the only CAD tool that allows Mac users to use Enscape on Mac via the Enscape SketchUp Extensions.

The SketchUp Extension Warehouse features everything from 3D rendering tools to vegetation extensions and texture packs. SketchUp ExtensionsĪnother amazing feature of SketchUp is the number of extensions that are available for it. If it’s home design, then Live Home 3D is a better option.

If you want to just create floor plans, then SmartDraw is much easier to use.

The patented “push and pull” feature in SketchUp Free is impressive and allows you to drag and manipulate designs however you want.Īlthough SketchUp Free is powerful, it’s certainly takes time to get results and there are far easier home design software that are much easier to use have the steep learning curve. You can move the camera around your 3D design at any time and there are predefined camera angles and you can choose how long you want transitions between angles to be. There’s everything from houses to skyscrapers and a huge range of objects to choose from. There are no templates as such but you can download examples of other people’s 3D models in 3dwarehouse which you can modify yourself. On the right are a range of panels including the Instructor which provides tips on how to manipulate your designs and how to find certain tools and functions. On the left are the navigational and drawing tools which is what you use the most. The toolbars appear discreetly on the left and right hand side of the screen.

The first thing you notice about SketchUp Free is the interface is extremely simple. When you sign-up for SketchUp, you’ll initially get a free 30 day trial of the Pro version and then it will revert to the free version if you choose not to upgrade. However, SketchUp Make is no longer being developed and won’t be supported in future versions of macOS so our advice is to use the browser based SketchUp Free. There are two free versions of SketchUp: SketchUp Free which works in any browser and SketchUp Make which you can download on your desktop. SketchUp Pro costs $299 per year and yet the free version is almost exactly the same as the Pro apart from it has less import and export options. There are two versions of SketchUp: Free and Pro.

Trimble sketchup free