Is 3D-Coat or SketchUp better?

Neither clearly leads. 3D-Coat starts at $29/month and SketchUp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, 3D-Coat or SketchUp?

SketchUp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for 3D-Coat and Free for SketchUp.

Does 3D-Coat or SketchUp run on more platforms?

3D-Coat runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. SketchUp runs on Web, iPad, Windows, macOS (Pro only).

Can I use SketchUp for free?

Yes. SketchUp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 3D-Coat starts at $29/month.

What is 3D-Coat best used for?

3D-Coat is most often used for voxel sculpting from a digital clay block, retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshes, uv mapping and pbr texturing, preparing print-ready models for 3d printing. Of those, voxel sculpting from a digital clay block and retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshes are not what SketchUp is typically brought in for.

What can 3D-Coat do that SketchUp cannot?

3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Surface sculpting, Retopology, UV mapping. SketchUp covers 3D modeling, 2D documentation, Rendering, Animation. Both handle Windows support, MacOS support.

CAD · head to head

3D-Coat vs SketchUp

3D-Coat

CAD

Digital sculpting for game artists

From: $29/month
Rated: -

Full review Website

SketchUp

Construction

3D design software for everyone

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Only SketchUp has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
Each has a real cost: 3D-Coat specific pricing not disclosed on website; SketchUp studio tier limited to Windows only; not available for macOS or Linux
They diverge on capability: 3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, SketchUp covers 3D modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3D-Coat and SketchUp actually diverge.

Attributes where 3D-Coat and SketchUp differ
Attribute	3D-Coat	SketchUp
Starting price	$29/month	Free
Pricing model	one-time	freemium
Free tier	No	Yes
Platforms	Windows, MacOS, Linux	Web, iPad, Windows, macOS (Pro only)
Category	CAD	Construction
Founded	2007	1978

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 3D-Coat

Voxel sculpting
Surface sculpting
Retopology
UV mapping
Texture painting
PBR materials
Smart materials
Baking

Only in SketchUp

3D modeling
2D documentation
Rendering
Animation
Extension warehouse
3D Warehouse
LayOut
V-Ray

Both cover

Windows support
MacOS support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

3D-Coat

Voxel sculpting from a digital clay blocknot SketchUp
Retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshesnot SketchUp
UV mapping and PBR texturingnot SketchUp
Preparing print-ready models for 3D printingnot SketchUp
Node-based material authoring on the GPUnot SketchUp

SketchUp

3D architectural design and visualizationnot 3D-Coat
Product design and prototypingnot 3D-Coat
Interior design planningnot 3D-Coat
Real estate visualizationnot 3D-Coat

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

3D-Coat

Specific pricing not disclosed on website
3DCoatPrint free version limited to 40K triangles on export
Requires contacting sales or visiting store for pricing details

SketchUp

Studio tier limited to Windows only; not available for macOS or Linux
Go tier restricted to iPad and web—no desktop application access
LayOut (documentation tool) only available in Pro and Studio tiers
1000+ extensions library only available in Pro and Studio; Go has limited extension access

Pricing, plan by plan

3D-Coat

$29/month

Amateur$99/month
- Non-commercial use
Professional$379/month
- Full commercial license
Floating$568/month
- Network licensing

SketchUp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SketchUp review.

Which should you pick?

Choose 3D-Coat if

You need voxel sculpting.
You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
You also want surface sculpting.

3D-Coat review

Choose SketchUp if

You need 3d modeling.
You want to start without paying.
You work on Web, iPad, Windows, macOS (Pro only).
You also want 2d documentation.

SketchUp review

Questions people ask

Is 3D-Coat or SketchUp better?: Neither clearly leads. 3D-Coat starts at $29/month and SketchUp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3D-Coat or SketchUp?: SketchUp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for 3D-Coat and Free for SketchUp.
Does 3D-Coat or SketchUp run on more platforms?: 3D-Coat runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. SketchUp runs on Web, iPad, Windows, macOS (Pro only).
Can I use SketchUp for free?: Yes. SketchUp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 3D-Coat starts at $29/month.
What is 3D-Coat best used for?: 3D-Coat is most often used for voxel sculpting from a digital clay block, retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshes, uv mapping and pbr texturing, preparing print-ready models for 3d printing. Of those, voxel sculpting from a digital clay block and retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshes are not what SketchUp is typically brought in for.
What can 3D-Coat do that SketchUp cannot?: 3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Surface sculpting, Retopology, UV mapping. SketchUp covers 3D modeling, 2D documentation, Rendering, Animation. Both handle Windows support, MacOS support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

3D-Coat: Is there a free version of 3D Coat?

Yes, 3D Coat offers multiple free options. 3DCoatPrint is a special free version designed for 3D print-ready models, limited to 40K triangles on export. Additionally, a 30-day unlimited trial is available for the full version.

Source

SketchUp: How much does SketchUp cost?

SketchUp publishes three core annual plans, priced per user and billed annually: Go at $10.75 per month, Pro at $33.25 per month and Studio at $68.25 per month.

Source

3D-Coat: What is the 30-day trial period for 3D Coat?

3D Coat provides a 30-day trial with unlimited learning resources. The trial grants full access to all tools needed to create production-ready, fully textured 3D models.

Source

SketchUp: Is there a free version of SketchUp?

There is a 7 day free trial of the core features. SketchUp is also free for K-12 use when accessed with a Google Workspace for Education or Microsoft Education account.

Source

3D-Coat: Does 3D Coat offer specialized versions?

Yes, 3D Coat offers 3DCoatTextura as a specialized version focused on texturing and rendering at a more affordable price than the full 3DCoat version.

Source

SketchUp: What is the difference between SketchUp Pro and Studio?

Studio adds a Revit importer, point cloud modelling, photorealistic visuals, animations and panoramas on top of Pro. Studio runs on Windows only, while Pro is available on web, iPad and desktop.

Source

SketchUp: What does SketchUp Go include compared with Pro?

Go is limited to iPad and web, with premade furnishings and materials, cloud storage, a mobile viewer and real time sharing. Pro adds desktop modelling, the LayOut documentation tool and access to over 1000 extensions.

Source

3D-Coat vs SketchUp

3D-Coat

SketchUp

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in 3D-Coat

Only in SketchUp

Both cover

What people use each for

3D-Coat

SketchUp

Where each one falls short

3D-Coat

SketchUp

Pricing, plan by plan

3D-Coat

SketchUp

Which should you pick?

Choose 3D-Coat if

Choose SketchUp if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on 3D-Coat

More on SketchUp

Keep looking

Other head to heads