We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
It's a split decision.
Choose SOLIDWORKS for product design that needs parts, assemblies, drawings, simulation, data management, or manufacturing workflows. Choose SketchUp for broader 3D design workflows, LayOut documentation, photorealistic visuals, and a large extension and model ecosystem. Price depends on eligibility: SOLIDWORKS Makers starts at a promotional $2/month equivalent, while SketchUp’s $2.50/month-equivalent entry is for university network labs. SketchUp also has a free K–12 school plan; its individual Go plan is $10.75/month equivalent, billed annually.
01Side by side
| SOLIDWORKS | SketchUp | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $2/month equivalent, promotional Makers annual price | $2.50/month equivalent, university network lab |
| Free plan | No free plan listed | Free SketchUp for Schools for K–12 |
| Best for | Product CAD, simulation, and manufacturing workflows | Versatile 3D design, visualization, and documentation |
| Core strength | Parts, assemblies, drawings, and simulation | Modeling, LayOut, visuals, and extensions |
| Learning curve | Review ease-of-use score: 6/10 | Review ease-of-use score: 8/10 |
| Integrations/data | Product data management and collaboration tools | Extension Warehouse and cloud model sharing |
| Team/seat costs | Single-user or shared-workstation device licenses | Volume pricing; SSO/Federation available |
| Support | Review support score: 5/10 | Review support score: 5/10 |
SOLIDWORKS Choose SOLIDWORKS if
- Choose SOLIDWORKS if product CAD is your main workflow.
- Choose SOLIDWORKS if you need simulation and data management.
- Choose SOLIDWORKS if design-to-manufacturing workflows matter.
SketchUp Choose SketchUp if
- Choose SketchUp if you need flexible 3D modeling and documentation.
- Choose SketchUp if its extension and model libraries fit your work.
- Choose SketchUp if you qualify for its free K–12 plan.
02Pricing compared
The cheapest headline price is not a like-for-like option. SOLIDWORKS Makers is for personal, non-commercial projects earning under $2,000 a year. The pricing page lists its annual plan at $48 a year ($4/month equivalent), with a promotion at $24 a year ($2/month equivalent). The monthly option is listed at $15/month.
For individual SOLIDWORKS users, Design Standard, Professional, and Premium are listed at $235, $288, and $393 per user/month, respectively, with annual billing. The published pricing details do not break down which features separate those tiers.
SketchUp’s $2.50/month-equivalent entry is university network lab licensing, not an individual plan. Its individual Go plan is $10.75/month equivalent, Pro is $33.25, and Studio is $71.58, all billed annually. SketchUp for Schools is free for eligible K–12 schools; it requires Google Workspace for Education or Microsoft Education.
03Features and depth
SOLIDWORKS is the more product-engineering-focused option in this comparison. Its feature set covers parts, assemblies, drawings, sheet metal, and framing, plus simulation for testing performance and durability. It also lists product data management, collaboration, and workflows that connect design to manufacturing. The homepage highlights AI Virtual Companions for automating repetitive tasks and capturing knowledge in the CAD environment.
SketchUp covers a wider mix of 3D design and presentation work. Its tools include modeling, LayOut for 2D documentation, photorealistic visuals, cloud sharing, and a large model and materials library through 3D Warehouse. Extensions can customize workflows; the Pro plan lists 1,000+ extensions. Higher-priced options add specific workflows: Studio lists Revit import, point-cloud modeling, rendered animations, and 360° panoramas, while Pro Scan lists Scan Essentials and point-cloud modeling.
Choose based on the work you need to produce: SOLIDWORKS for product design and engineering workflows; SketchUp for varied 3D design, documentation, visualization, and extensions.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Our review scores rate SketchUp higher for ease of use (8) than SOLIDWORKS (6), but those scores do not explain which tasks or user types they cover. We would not treat them as a guarantee that either tool will be easy for your team.
The feature lists point to different learning demands. SOLIDWORKS includes parts, assemblies, simulation, data management, and manufacturing workflows; SketchUp spans modeling, documentation, visualization, and extensions. A team switching tools should compare the workflows it actually needs, not just the modeling interface.
Device limits matter too. SketchUp Go is web and iPad only, while its Pro plan includes a desktop modeler. The Makers options for SOLIDWORKS are split between a Windows local installation and a browser-based xDesign version.
Questions people ask
Can I import SketchUp into SOLIDWORKS?
The published product information does not confirm whether SOLIDWORKS imports SketchUp files or which formats either product supports. Check the current import/export documentation for the exact file type and version you plan to use before switching; we can’t confirm compatibility from these details.
Which is better, FreeCAD or SketchUp?
The published information covers SketchUp, not FreeCAD, so it is not enough to make a grounded comparison. For SketchUp, the listed strengths include 3D modeling, LayOut documentation, visuals, 3D Warehouse, and extensions. Compare those against FreeCAD’s current features and pricing before deciding.
Do professional engineers use SOLIDWORKS?
The published description positions SOLIDWORKS as 3D CAD and cloud product development software, with parts, assemblies, drawings, simulation, data management, and manufacturing workflows. It does not provide user demographics or adoption data, so we can’t substantiate how widely professional engineers use it.
Which is the best version of SOLIDWORKS?
There is no single best version in the published pricing details. Design Standard, Professional, and Premium are listed at $235, $288, and $393 per user/month with annual billing, but the published material does not map their feature differences. Makers is a separate option for eligible personal, non-commercial projects.