FreeCAD vs SketchUp

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What CAD software to choose for your personal needs – FreeCAD vs SketchUp? You’ll know exactly after reading the article.

FreeCAD is an open source program for designing and creating engineering drawings, which is based on the AutoCAD software.

SketchUp is a popular software for all sorts of digital visualization. It is ideal for complex projects where many different parts need to be modeled from the same sheet of material.

Final Verdict:

No doubts, that SketchUp is much more powerful, in comparison to FreeCAD. It’s a 3D modeling software for all sorts of digital drawing programs including architectural, home interior design, landscape, mechanical and civil engineering, etc. It comes with different versions, both free and paid premium for users to cover their needs.

SketchUp is the winner >

SketchUp Features:

  • Detailed modeling
  • 3D options
  • Various styles
  • Rendering features
  • Free components library

What is FreeCAD?

freecad interface

FreeCAD is not intended solely for architectural or structural design, it also extends to a broader spectrum of applications, including electrical engineering or simple product design. Thanks to the free and open source nature of this software, users are also able to extend the functionality of FreeCAD with the Python programming language, which has become quite popular among hobbyists who have been using CAD software for years.

FreeCAD allows users to generate floor plans, furniture schematics, and blueprints without the need of an architect, a civil engineer, or a structural engineer. The software is equipped with a drag-and-drop interface, making it very easy for the user to put together a working model in a matter of minutes.

Users can also drag and drop aspects of their project as required, modifying the blueprint accordingly to achieve the best results. One of the most important facets of using FreeCAD as a model maker knows how to draw the plan correctly.

What is SketchUp?

sketchup interface

In the free version, SketchUp allows you to make shapes and save them as a file. You can then use the Browse & Select option from within select and edit the shape. This feature is very useful when working with complex 3D models as it enables you to manipulate the object without having to go into the actual editing process.

With SketchUp Pro, you have the ability to drag and drop more complex objects and edit the ones you already have in the program. It also provides support for over 100 different types of materials and allows you to change the color of the models using the colors palette. It was sold with computers on the market and quickly became popular due to its ease of use.

One of the best parts of SketchUp is its built-in extension warehouse. It allows users to easily find and download various extension kits that can add hundreds of new features and functions to the software. This includes things like premade logos, icons, clipart and more.

Comparison:

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FREECAD
sketchup logo
SKETCHUP

FreeCAD & SketchUp Features:

  • 3D creation from 2D
  • Robot simulation
  • Sketching tools
  • Standard formats output
  • User-friendly interface
  • Import and export options
  • 3D visualization
  • Ease of use
  • Different formats
  • High quality of graphics

FreeCAD and SketchUp Price:

STARTING PRICE Free $119.00/license
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Cross-Platform:

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Support:

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FixThePhoto Choice:

As a result of its unique and well-implemented features, FreeCAD has become a favorite of both architects and engineers, regardless of their previous experience.

SketchUp is now one of the most popular and most used 3D drawing tools available. With both a standard and premium version, it is a good choice for both hobbyists and professionals.

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