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Software · head to head

Revit vs SketchUp

Revit logo

Revit

Software

Building Information Modeling (BIM) software

From
$380/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SketchUp logo

SketchUp

Software

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: Revit windows-only software with no native macOS support, limiting adoption among Mac-based design teams; SketchUp studio tier limited to Windows only; not available for macOS or Linux
  • They diverge on capability: Revit covers BIM modeling, SketchUp covers 3D modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Revit and SketchUp actually diverge.

Attributes where Revit and SketchUp differ
AttributeRevitSketchUp
Starting price$380/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsWeb, iPad, Windows, macOS (Pro only)
Founded19821978

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

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 Revit

  • BIM modeling
  • Parametric design
  • Collaboration
  • Documentation
  • Analysis
  • AutoCAD
  • 3ds Max
  • Navisworks

Only in SketchUp

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

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Revit

  • Building designnot SketchUp
  • Construction documentationnot SketchUp
  • MEP coordinationnot SketchUp
  • Structural analysisnot SketchUp
  • Project collaborationnot SketchUp

SketchUp

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

Where each one falls short

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

Revit

  • Windows-only software with no native macOS support, limiting adoption among Mac-based design teams
  • Heavy computational requirements make it difficult to run on mid-range hardware, creating high infrastructure costs

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

Revit

$380/month
  • Monthly$380/month
    • Full BIM modeling
    • 3D visualization
    • Collaboration tools
  • Annual$2910/year
    • Full BIM modeling
    • 3D visualization
    • Collaboration tools
  • Revit LT$70/month
    • Basic BIM features
    • Reduced capability

SketchUp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SketchUp review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Revit if

  • You need bim modeling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want parametric design.
Revit 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 Revit or SketchUp better?
Neither clearly leads. Revit starts at $380/month and SketchUp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Revit or SketchUp?
SketchUp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $380/month for Revit and Free for SketchUp.
Does Revit or SketchUp run on more platforms?
Revit 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. Revit starts at $380/month.
What is Revit best used for?
Revit is most often used for building design, construction documentation, mep coordination, structural analysis. Of those, building design and construction documentation are not what SketchUp is typically brought in for.
What can Revit do that SketchUp cannot?
Revit covers BIM modeling, Parametric design, Collaboration, Documentation. SketchUp covers 3D modeling, 2D documentation, Rendering, Animation. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Revit: What is Revit's pricing model?

Revit 2026 costs $380 per month or $2,910 annually per user. Flex plans start at $300 for 100 tokens (10 days of use over one year). Revit LT costs $70/month for basic BIM features.

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