SketchUp Free for Free! Get to know the free version of SketchUp

Publication date: 12-02-2025  |  Update date: 12-02-2025  | Author: Piotr Kurpiewski

SketchUp Free is the browser-based free version of SketchUp.The program is available by subscription and is intended for personal use.This version has limitations compared to paid variants such as Pro and Studio, but it's excellent for beginners.To use SketchUp Free, create an account using your email address. The free version offers 10 GB of cloud storage for your projects.The interface and tools are similar to the desktop version, and the navigation is intuitive.You can create new models, open existing files, and also use the library of ready-made SketchUp models.Remember that you cannot use SketchUp Free for commercial purposes, and you also don't have access to advanced features such as creating textured materials.Yet Sketchup Free is a great choice for starting your adventure with 3D modeling.

Are you considering starting to learn SketchUp but don't want to spend money? I have good news for you. The web version of this software is available completely for free!

What is SketchUp Free?

Free is one of the subscription plans for SketchUp designed for personal use. Unlike the Pro and Studio versions, you don't need to download any files or go through a complicated installation process to use it. It is used directly in a web browser, for example, Google Chrome. Although the application does not have the same capabilities as the paid versions, it is perfect for starting an adventure with 3D graphics.

How to use SketchUp for free?

The free version of the software is available at: www.app.sketchup.com. To use it, you need to create an account at Trimble, the producer of SketchUp. You can use an account from Google, for example, just have an email address in the Gmail domain. After agreeing to the data processing and completing the standard registration process, you can enjoy the full functionality of SketchUp Free!

Where to start?

SketchUp Free allows you to work with a model from scratch or open ready-made files directly from your computer's disk. It provides 10 GB of free space for storing projects in the cloud. You can add files by selecting the Open from device button. New models are created by selecting the Create new button. The arrow next to the button allows you to immediately specify the units in which the project environment will be created. If you don't do this, the drawing will default to inches. Therefore, choose the correct European metric system in advance.

Ready files are saved by clicking the Save button and specifying the appropriate location in the cloud, i.e. the SketchUp directory and possibly additional added project folders. This way, you have access to your projects at any time.

Interface

The navigation and UI (User Interface) are very similar (or even identical) to the standard desktop version of the software. Basic tools are located in the vertical bar on the left side. On the right side, there is the default tray, which includes, among other things, materials, tags, scenes, and shadows, and even a panel with the 3D Warehouse service. This means that you can use the library of ready-made SketchUp models for free!

Limitations

What are the limitations of this browser-based application? First of all, it is intended for personal use, excluding commercial use for professional purposes.

Moreover, SketchUp Free does not have some of the more advanced tools. For example, it is not possible to create materials with textures. It also does not have the ability to install extensions that enhance the software with additional features. So forget about creating organic geometry, advanced materials, or photorealistic visualizations.

Unfortunately, you won't create such visualizations in SketchUp Free.

Summary

Despite these obvious limitations, SketchUp Free also offers many possibilities. Access to files from anywhere, ease, and intuitive modeling make it a great choice to start!

If you need something more, take advantage of a 7-day free SketchUp trial in the desktop version by going here: www.sketchup.com/try-sketchup.

If you want to quickly learn this software, be sure to check out our SketchUp Pro 2021 from scratch course.