SketchUp vs SolidCraft
SketchUp and SolidCraft are both 3D and CAD software. SketchUp is a commercial product from Trimble Inc. SolidCraft is open source under Apache-2.0, with 13k GitHub stars.
Which to pick
- Pick SketchUp when
- Architects, builders or designers need quick 3D concept models rather than full engineering CAD.
- Pick SolidCraft when
- You want to try a new open parametric CAD tool for hobby parts.
Side by side
Easy-to-learn 3D modelling for architecture, interiors, woodworking and landscape design, with a large model warehouse.
A parametric 3D CAD app in Rust with sketches, constraints and a feature timeline, running on desktop or in the browser, with an MCP server for AI modelling.
Subscription only now, and precise engineering or construction documentation needs other tools.
Created four weeks ago; its geometry kernel and STEP handling are unproven.
Production-ready
Experimental
Desktop app and cloud service (both)
Not published
Rust, egui, WGSL and Python
Closed source, sold by Trimble Inc.
Open source, Apache-2.0 (permissive)
Closed source: you use it under the maker's terms and cannot change or resell the code.
You can build it into a product you sell, as long as you keep its copyright notice.
3.5k Wikipedia readers a month on phones
13k GitHub stars
Not known
New: started under a month ago, latest release v0.30.1.
Other comparisons
More 3D modeling and CAD software
Both sides were judged on 2026-11-03 from makers' descriptions, Wikipedia, READMEs and GitHub data. License, age and popularity lines are worked out directly.