SketchUp vs Sweet Home 3D: Which Should You Use?
The verdict
Both are free to start, but they aim at different people. SketchUp is a powerful 3D modeler with a steeper learning curve and an export-locked free tier; Sweet Home 3D is a simpler, genuinely free, open-source floor planner with no watermark.
Pick SketchUp if…
Free, with limitsYou want serious 3D modeling, a huge component warehouse, and you’re fine with the browser-only, non-commercial free tier (export limited to SKP/PNG/STL).
Pick Sweet Home 3D if…
Truly freeYou want a truly free, no-watermark 2D and 3D home plan that works offline — including on Linux — and you don’t need CAD interchange.
Side by side
SketchUp
Free, with limitsSketchUp Free is free for personal, non-commercial use in the browser only; you can model and download skp/png/stl, but DWG/DXF/OBJ/PDF export, the desktop app, and extensions all require a paid plan.
Sweet Home 3D
Truly freeCompletely free and open-source for personal and commercial use with no feature paywall; the only real limit is that the online and mobile versions can't import custom 3D models or export OBJ, which the desktop app handles.
Read the full reviews
SketchUp
SketchUp Free is free for personal, non-commercial use in the browser only; you can model and download skp/png/stl, but DWG/DXF/OBJ/PDF export, the desktop app, and extensions all require a paid plan.
Sweet Home 3D
Completely free and open-source for personal and commercial use with no feature paywall; the only real limit is that the online and mobile versions can't import custom 3D models or export OBJ, which the desktop app handles.