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Construction · head to head

Cubit Estimating vs SketchUp

Cubit Estimating logo

Cubit Estimating

Construction

Australian estimating and on-screen takeoff in one window, priced openly per user per month

From
167/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SketchUp logo

SketchUp

Construction

3D design software for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SketchUp has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Cubit Estimating every subscription carries a minimum twelve month term, so a firm that hires an estimator for one tender period pays for the full year regardless.; SketchUp studio tier limited to Windows only; not available for macOS or Linux
  • They diverge on capability: Cubit Estimating covers Integrated takeoff and estimate, SketchUp covers 3D modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cubit Estimating and SketchUp actually diverge.

Attributes where Cubit Estimating and SketchUp differ
AttributeCubit EstimatingSketchUp
Starting price167/monthFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsWeb, iPad, Windows, macOS (Pro only)
FoundedUnknown1978

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

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 Cubit Estimating

  • Integrated takeoff and estimate
  • Calculation and rate sheets
  • Price list management
  • Bills of quantities
  • BIM and IFC takeoff
  • Revision management
  • AI Estimating add-on
  • Job collaboration

Only in SketchUp

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

What people use each for

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

Cubit Estimating

  • An Australian commercial builder that wants takeoff and estimate in one file rather than exporting quantities from a separate measurement toolnot SketchUp
  • A quantity surveying practice producing trade-structured bills of quantities to local conventionnot SketchUp
  • A subcontractor pricing repeat work from maintained supplier price lists rather than rebuilding rates each tendernot SketchUp
  • A small estimating team that needs to know the annual cost before booking a demo, because the rate card is publishednot SketchUp

SketchUp

  • 3D architectural design and visualizationnot Cubit Estimating
  • Product design and prototypingnot Cubit Estimating
  • Interior design planningnot Cubit Estimating
  • Real estate visualizationnot Cubit Estimating

Where each one falls short

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

Cubit Estimating

  • Every subscription carries a minimum twelve month term, so a firm that hires an estimator for one tender period pays for the full year regardless.
  • BIM and IFC takeoff sits only in Enterprise at $250 per user per month, meaning a builder who receives models rather than PDFs is pushed to the top tier whether or not it needs collaboration features.
  • The product is Windows only with no macOS or browser client, which excludes practices standardised on Macs unless they run virtualisation.
  • Rate libraries, measurement conventions and BOQ structures follow Australian practice, so buyers outside Australia and New Zealand inherit a method that does not match their local standard forms.
  • The AI Estimating add-on is priced at an explicitly temporary introductory rate, so a firm building the feature into its workflow is accepting an unspecified future increase on top of the seat price.

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

Cubit Estimating

167/month
  • Standard$167/month
    • Integrated estimating and takeoff
    • Calculation sheets, rate sheets and price lists
    • Basic job management
  • Professional$222/month
    • Everything in Standard
    • Code grouping
    • Custom reporting
  • Enterprise$250/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • BIM and IFC takeoff
    • Multi-user job collaboration
  • AI Estimating add-on$20/month
    • Automated element recognition
    • Works with any edition
    • Introductory rate the vendor says will increase

SketchUp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SketchUp review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Cubit Estimating if

  • You need integrated takeoff and estimate.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want calculation and rate sheets.
Cubit Estimating 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 Cubit Estimating or SketchUp better?
Neither clearly leads. Cubit Estimating starts at 167/month and SketchUp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cubit Estimating or SketchUp?
SketchUp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at 167/month for Cubit Estimating and Free for SketchUp.
Does Cubit Estimating or SketchUp run on more platforms?
Cubit Estimating runs on Windows. 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. Cubit Estimating starts at 167/month.
What is Cubit Estimating best used for?
Cubit Estimating is most often used for an australian commercial builder that wants takeoff and estimate in one file rather than exporting quantities from a separate measurement tool, a quantity surveying practice producing trade-structured bills of quantities to local convention, a subcontractor pricing repeat work from maintained supplier price lists rather than rebuilding rates each tender, a small estimating team that needs to know the annual cost before booking a demo, because the rate card is published. Of those, an australian commercial builder that wants takeoff and estimate in one file rather than exporting quantities from a separate measurement tool and a quantity surveying practice producing trade-structured bills of quantities to local convention are not what SketchUp is typically brought in for.
What can Cubit Estimating do that SketchUp cannot?
Cubit Estimating covers Integrated takeoff and estimate, Calculation and rate sheets, Price list management, Bills of quantities. SketchUp covers 3D modeling, 2D documentation, Rendering, Animation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cubit Estimating: What does Cubit actually cost?

Standard $167, Professional $222 and Enterprise $250 per user per month on annual billing, in Australian dollars excluding GST. Monthly billing is about 16 per cent more.

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
Cubit Estimating: Can I get BIM takeoff without the Enterprise tier?

No. IFC model takeoff is an Enterprise feature only.

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
Cubit Estimating: Is there a perpetual licence?

No. Cubit Estimating is subscription only with a minimum twelve month commitment.

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
Cubit Estimating: Does it suit contractors outside Australia?

It works, but rate libraries and BOQ conventions follow Australian standards, so buyers elsewhere do more setup than a locally built alternative would need.

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
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