SketchUp vs Blender
SketchUp is a paid, subscription-based design tool, while Blender is a free open-source 3D suite.
Pick SketchUp if…
You want a paid 3D tool aimed at design work, with a desktop modeler, LayOut for 2D documentation and 1,000+ extensions in the Pro plan.
Pick Blender if…
You want free 3D software that also covers sculpting, animation, rendering and tracking, and you don't mind a longer learning curve.
Price
- Paid
- Free
- Open source
Starting price
Free plan
Open source
Works on
| Feature | Subscription 3D modelling tool for design, with web, iPad and desktop plans. | Free, open-source 3D creation suite for modelling, sculpting, animation, rendering and more. |
|---|---|---|
| Price |
|
|
| Starting price | $10.75 per user per month, billed annually (Go) | — |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Works on | Web, Windows, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Try SketchUp (opens the SketchUp website in a new tab) | Try Blender (opens the Blender website in a new tab) |
SketchUp is sold as a per-user subscription: Go at $10.75 per month (iPad and web), Pro at $33.25 and Studio at $71.58, all billed annually. Studio is Windows only. SketchUp for Schools is free for K-12 users with a Google or Microsoft education account.
Blender describes itself as the free and open source 3D creation suite and is licensed under the GNU GPL. Its site lists modelling, sculpting, UV work, Cycles rendering, tracking, animation and rigging, and it runs on Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon) and Linux.
The scope differs. SketchUp's plan descriptions focus on 3D design, documentation, BIM workflows and sharing, while Blender is a general 3D creation suite with no paid tier.
If you need a web or iPad option, SketchUp's Go plan covers both; Blender's downloads are for desktop operating systems.
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Last updated 16 October 2026. How we make money