SketchUp vs AutoCAD

by Gralio Apr 24, 2025

SketchUp and AutoCAD serve different primary purposes within the design process. SketchUp is favored for its ease of use in 3D modeling and visualization, making it great for conceptual design and presentations, while AutoCAD remains the standard for precise 2D technical drafting and complex engineering documentation. Both products face criticism regarding value for money, but AutoCAD has slightly better user sentiment regarding customer service, which could be a factor for mid-sized businesses prioritizing support alongside functionality and support within industry-standard workflows (AutoCAD) versus intuitive visualization (SketchUp).

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 6149 reviews and 60 websites, saving 1 day, 10 hours, 39 minutes of reading.

Logo of SketchUp
Logo of AutoCAD

About

SketchUp is a 3D modeling software that's easy to use, yet powerful enough for professionals in architecture, interior design, and construction. Visualize projects of any size, create detailed 2D drawings from your models, and share your vision with colleagues and clients through presentations and immersive visuals. SketchUp is known for its intuitive interface and is used by individuals and companies worldwide, from small design studios to large architectural firms.
AutoCAD is a design and drafting software to create 2D and 3D models. It offers industry-specific tools for fields like architecture and manufacturing. AutoCAD stands out with its web and mobile apps, enabling work from anywhere. It promises increased productivity through specialized features and a familiar interface.

Summary

Main difference
SketchUp excels with its intuitive interface, making 3D modeling and visualization accessible and quick, ideal for conceptual design. AutoCAD is the industry standard for precise 2D drafting and detailed technical documentation, offering robust tools for engineering and architecture.

Relative strengths of SketchUp (compared to AutoCAD)

  • * Superior Ease of Use: SketchUp is significantly easier to learn and use, particularly for 3D modeling, allowing teams to get up to speed quickly for visualization tasks compared to AutoCAD's steeper learning curve.

  • * Better for Rapid Visualization and Presentation: SketchUp's focus on intuitive 3D modeling and integration with rendering tools makes it faster for creating compelling visuals and presentations, compared to AutoCAD where 3D is often considered less user-friendly.

  • * Vast Component Library (3D Warehouse): SketchUp offers the extensive 3D Warehouse, a large library of free, pre-made models, which drastically speeds up the design process for common elements, a feature not matched by AutoCAD natively.

Relative weaknesses of SketchUp (compared to AutoCAD)

  • * Lacks Precision for Technical Drafting: AutoCAD offers far superior tools for precise 2D drafting and the creation of detailed, accurate technical drawings required for construction and manufacturing documentation.

  • * Limited Industry-Specific Toolsets: AutoCAD provides specialized toolsets (e.g., Architecture, Mechanical) with tailored features, while SketchUp relies more heavily on potentially costly third-party plugins for comparable specialized functionality.

  • * Weaker Handling of Complex Designs: SketchUp can experience performance issues and limitations when dealing with very large or complex models, whereas AutoCAD is generally built to handle more complex technical data, particularly in 2D workflows.

What companies are using SketchUp and AutoCAD?

Perkins Eastman is a customer
Perkins Eastman
No data

Who should use SketchUp VS. AutoCAD

We find SketchUp is a go-to for those in architecture, interior design, and construction looking for user-friendly 3D modeling. Many users praise its intuitive interface for bringing visions to life, creating detailed drawings, and presenting ideas clearly. It's popular with individuals and companies of various sizes for project visualization and is often highlighted for its ease of learning compared to alternatives like-for-like alternatives like Revit or AutoCAD which tend to be more complex although more capable out of the box but also more powerful especially for larger scale BIM projects like building design etc..

AutoCAD is a staple for design and drafting, especially known for precise 2D work in fields like architecture and engineering. We find users appreciate its familiar interface and customization options. However, considerations like its high cost and reported performance issues with complex 3D models are worth noting. It's widely used across various company sizes, making it a versatile but sometimes demanding tool for professionals needing industry-standard CAD capabilities anywhere access via its web and mobile apps.

  • In our experience, SketchUp shines brightest in small to medium-sized companies (1-1000 employees), though larger firms use it too.

  • We see SketchUp most effectively used by professionals in architecture, interior design, construction, woodworking, and related fields.

  • Based on user feedback and Autodesk's targeting, AutoCAD is an excellent fit for small, medium, and large businesses alike.

  • In our experience, AutoCAD thrives in architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, and professional services.

SketchUp and AutoCAD features

Supported
Partially supported
Not supported
Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

  • Realistic rendering
    Partially supported

    Realistic rendering is possible using plugins like V-Ray or Enscape.

    Supported

    AutoCAD can create photorealistic images with accurate lighting and materials.

  • 3D modeling
    Supported

    SketchUp allows creating and editing 3D models.

    Supported

    AutoCAD supports creating and editing 3D models.

  • Design Sharing
    Supported

    SketchUp allows sharing designs with stakeholders via links, Trimble Connect, and 3D Warehouse.

    Supported

    AutoCAD allows sharing designs with various stakeholders via Shared Views and Co-authoring.

  • Drafting
    Supported

    SketchUp supports creating 2D drawings using the integrated LayOut tool.

    Supported

    AutoCAD allows creation of 2D drawings from 3D models using various built-in tools.

  • 2D Sketching
    Supported

    SketchUp allows 2D sketching, but primarily focuses on 3D modeling. LayOut offers more advanced 2D drafting.

    Supported

    AutoCAD supports 2D sketching for defining part geometry.

  • Dimensioning
    Supported

    SketchUp supports automatic and manual dimensioning tools for both 2D drawings and 3D models.

    Supported

    AutoCAD supports manual and automatic dimensioning tools for 2D drawings.

Qualities

  • Value and Pricing Transparency
    -0.11
    Neutral sentiment
    -0.69
    Rather negative sentiment
  • Customer Service
    +0.17
    Neutral sentiment
    +0.64
    Rather positive sentiment
  • Ease of Use
    +0.89
    Strongly positive sentiment
    +0.71
    Strongly positive sentiment
  • Reliability and Performance
    -0.06
    Neutral sentiment
    +0.31
    Rather positive sentiment
  • Ease of Implementation
    +0.44
    Rather positive sentiment
    +0.11
    Neutral sentiment
  • Scalability
    +0.17
    Neutral sentiment
    -0.38
    Rather negative sentiment

SketchUp and AutoCAD Pricing

SketchUp offers flexible subscription plans for 3D modeling software, with options for individuals, professionals, studios, and educational institutions. They offer monthly and annual billing options (annual pricing shown here), with discounts for annual subscriptions. All plans include access to features such as 3D modeling tools, a library of 3D models, and collaboration features.
Plans

User sentiment

Neutral
-0.11

See full Pricing page

No data

User sentiment

Rather negative
-0.69

See full Pricing page

SketchUp and AutoCAD review insights

6149 reviews analysed from and

Users love

  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface, easy to learn.
  • Versatile 3D modeling capabilities suitable for various design tasks.
  • Extensive 3D Warehouse with pre-made models and components.
  • Large and active community with ample learning resources and plugins.
  • Good integration with other software, especially rendering applications.
  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface for 2D drafting, praised for its ease of use and familiar commands.
  • Extensive customization options, including custom commands, shortcuts, and workspaces.
  • Widely used and recognized as an industry standard, ensuring compatibility and collaboration.
  • Vast online resources, tutorials, and a large user community provide ample support.
  • Precise and accurate drawing tools, essential for detailed technical drawings and plans.

Users dislike

  • Difficult to create complex or organic shapes without plugins.
  • Rendering capabilities are limited without plugins.
  • Large models can cause performance issues, including slowdowns and crashes.
  • Inconsistent experience across different operating systems (Windows vs. Mac).
  • Subscription model and pricing can be a barrier for some users.
  • Performance issues, slowdowns, and crashes are frequently reported, especially with larger files and 3D modeling.
  • High cost of licensing and subscription model is a major concern for individuals and small businesses.
  • 3D modeling capabilities are considered limited compared to dedicated 3D software.
  • Steep learning curve and complex interface can be overwhelming for beginners.
  • Limited file format compatibility and occasional issues with importing/exporting files.

SketchUp and AutoCAD Ratings

  • G2
    4.5/5
    (1304)
  • Capterra
    4.5/5
    (950)
  • Glassdoor
    3.9/5
    (1518)
  • G2
    4.4/5
    (1446)
  • Capterra
    4.7/5
    (2449)
  • Glassdoor
    4.3/5
    (4861)

Company health

Employee growth

6% increase in the last year
2% increase in the last year

Web traffic

8% increase in the last quarter
2% decrease in the last quarter

Financing

June 2022 - $1B
February 2020 - $0

How do SketchUp's 3D modeling tools compare to AutoCAD's for architectural design?

SketchUp offers a more intuitive and user-friendly approach to 3D modeling, making it easier to quickly create and visualize architectural concepts. It excels in conceptual design and presentation thanks to its ease of use and extensive 3D Warehouse. AutoCAD, while capable of 3D modeling and offering industry-specific toolsets for architecture, is often considered less intuitive for 3D work compared to SketchUp. AutoCAD's strength lies more in precise 2D drafting and technical documentation, although its 3D tools are used for detailed modeling; however, users report its 3D capabilities can be less robust and more performance-intensive than dedicated 3D software like SketchUp.

Which product offers better mobile and web access for remote collaboration?

AutoCAD appears to offer better mobile and web access specifically designed for remote collaboration. Its description explicitly highlights its web and mobile apps as a key feature, enabling users to work on designs remotely from different devices. While SketchUp offers multiplatform capabilities and collaboration features, AutoCAD's dedicated web and mobile applications provide a more direct solution for remote access and work across various platforms.

What are the advantages of SketchUp?

SketchUp's primary advantages lie in its intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it exceptionally easy to learn and use, especially for 3D modeling tasks within architecture, interior design, and construction. Users benefit from the extensive 3D Warehouse, a large library of pre-made models that speeds up the design process. Furthermore, SketchUp boasts a large and active community, providing ample learning resources, plugins, and support, alongside good integration capabilities with other software, particularly for rendering.

What are the disadvantages of SketchUp?

SketchUp users report disadvantages such as difficulty creating complex or organic shapes and achieving high-quality rendering without relying on plugins. Performance can be an issue, with large models causing slowdowns and crashes. The subscription model and pricing are also seen as barriers for some users. Furthermore, SketchUp scores poorly on non-functional aspects like reliability, performance, ease of implementation, scalability, customer service, and value/pricing transparency, and some users experience inconsistencies between the Windows and Mac versions.

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Page co-authored by
MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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