SketchUp Free vs Pro: Best Plan for Interior Designers

3d design tool for interior design

When starting out with SketchUp for interior design, one of the first questions you’ll face is whether to stick with SketchUp Free or invest in SketchUp Pro. Both options let you create 3D models, but there are crucial differences that can affect your workflow and the results you can achieve. Let’s break down the distinctions between Free and Pro (and touch on SketchUp Studio) from an interior designer’s perspective. By the end, you’ll know which plan is the best fit for your needs.

SketchUp Free: Great for Beginners, Limited for Pros

SketchUp Free is the web-based version of SketchUp that you can use at no cost. For hobbyists or those just testing the waters of 3D modeling, it’s an excellent starting point: you can build basic room models, experiment with layouts and learn SketchUp’s interface without installing anything.

However, SketchUp Free does come with significant limitations for professional interior design work:

  • No Extensions/Plugins: The free version doesn’t support SketchUp’s vast library of extensions. This means you can’t add extra tools or rendering plugins to enhance your interior visuals – you’re limited to the core SketchUp toolset. For example, if you wanted to create a photorealistic render of your design or quickly add baseboards with a plugin, you wouldn’t be able to in SketchUp Free.

 

  • No LayOut for 2D Drawings: If you need to create detailed floor plans, elevations, or printable presentation documents from your model, SketchUp Free won’t have you covered. LayOut, the companion app for turning models into scaled 2D drawings, is only included with SketchUp Pro. Without LayOut, you’d have to trace or recreate drawings in another program, which is extra work.

 

  • Limited Import/Export Options: The free version only allows you to import/export a few formats (images, STL, etc.). You can’t directly import a DWG file (common for floor plans from AutoCAD) or export your model to CAD or other professional formats. This can be a hurdle if you need to collaborate with architects or use your SketchUp model in other software.

 

  • Browser Performance: Because SketchUp Free runs in your browser, very large or detailed models might start to lag depending on your computer’s capabilities. The performance isn’t always as smooth as the desktop app, especially for high-polygon interiors filled with many objects.

 

  • Non-Commercial Use License: Importantly, SketchUp Free is intended for personal use only. The terms of service prohibit using it for commercial purposes. So if you’re doing interior design as part of your business or for paying clients, you’ll need to move up to a paid version to stay within the license agreement.

Bottom line: SketchUp Free is fantastic for learning and trying out ideas, but if you’re doing any kind of serious or professional interior design work, you’ll likely hit its limits pretty quickly. It’s like a free sample – good to taste, but not a full meal for a working designer.

SketchUp Pro – Power and Flexibility for Professionals

SketchUp Pro is the paid desktop version and the standard for most professional SketchUp users, including interior designers. It’s packed with everything you need to go from initial idea to final presentation. Here are some reasons SketchUp Pro stands out:

  • Full Access to Extensions: SketchUp Pro allows you to install extensions (plugins). This opens up a world of additional functionality that can be critical for interior design. For instance, you can use a rendering extension like V-Ray or Enscape to create photorealistic images of your living room design complete with lighting and reflections. You could add an extension that quickly generates cabinets or one that helps create lighting layouts. Extensions let you tailor SketchUp to your workflow and with Pro you have thousands available at your fingertips.

 

  • LayOut for 2D Documentation: As mentioned, Pro includes LayOut. This alone is a game-changer for interior designers. You can take your 3D model views and place them into a title-blocked page, add dimensions, annotations and print or PDF everything to scale. Need a set of construction documents for a kitchen remodel? Model it in SketchUp, then use LayOut to produce the plan, elevation and section drawings with proper dimensions. When you update the model (say you change the layout), the LayOut document can update too, keeping your drawings in sync. This beats manually drafting 2D plans separately and ensures consistency.

 

  • Import/Export Options: SketchUp Pro supports a variety of file formats. You can import DWG/DXF files (great for starting from an architect’s AutoCAD plan). You can export your SketchUp model to 3D formats like OBJ or FBX if you need to work in other software (for example, exporting to a rendering program or game engine). You can also export 2D images at high resolution, or PDF/EPS vector drawings. This flexibility makes Pro much more interoperable with other tools in your pipeline.

 

  • Commercial License & Support: With Pro, you are licensed to use the software for commercial work so you can design for clients without worry. You also get access to technical support and the latest updates as long as your subscription is active. This means if you ever encounter a software issue, you have official support to help (versus no help with the free version).

 

  • Better Performance on Desktop: Running as a desktop application, SketchUp Pro can handle larger models more smoothly (assuming your computer is reasonably powerful). It also works offline, so you’re not dependent on an internet connection or browser. For lengthy design sessions or very detailed interiors, this can be more stable and responsive.

 

  • Extras: SketchUp Pro comes with additional tools like Solid Tools (useful if you do any 3D solids editing), Style Builder (to create custom sketchy edge styles) and the ability to create dynamic components (components with configurable options). These might be more advanced features, but they’re nice to have as you grow into more complex uses.
Modern interior space designed using SketchUp Pro, showcasing professional-grade 3D modeling and rendering capabilities for interior designers.

To Sum it Up

SketchUp Pro provides the robust toolset needed to go from initial concept to client-ready presentation. For an interior designer aiming to deliver professional-grade work, Pro quickly pays for itself in time saved and enhanced capabilities. Many interior designers start with SketchUp Free to learn the basics but make the jump to Pro as soon as they begin real projects or find themselves needing more than the free version can offer.

What About SketchUp Studio?

SketchUp Studio is a higher-tier subscription. It includes everything in Pro plus additional specialized tools like Sefaira (for energy modeling) and V-Ray (for advanced rendering) bundled in. While these are powerful, most purely interior design workflows won’t require Sefaira’s building performance analysis. The included V-Ray is great for rendering, but you can also purchase rendering extensions separately if needed. Studio is mainly worthwhile if you also want those specific extras in one package. 

Compare plan table

Which SketchUp Plan is Best for Interior Designers?

For the majority of interior designers, SketchUp Pro is the best choice. It strikes a balance by providing all the essential modeling and documentation tools without the limitations that hinder professional work. The ability to extend SketchUp via plugins, generate documents in LayOut and legally use it for business purposes are key advantages that SketchUp Free simply doesn’t offer.

If you’re currently using the free version and are serious about interior design, consider taking advantage of SketchUp’s free trial of Pro (typically 30 days) to test out these features on one of your projects. You’ll likely find that working with extensions and LayOut and having the software on your desktop, improves your workflow significantly.

Cost-wise, SketchUp Pro comes as a subscription (paid annually). When budgeting, think of it as an investment in your design business. Even one medium-sized project won by impressing a client with professional deliverables can justify the expense. And remember the time you save by not having to manually draw plans or struggle with workarounds – that time is valuable too.

Which SketchUp Plan is Best for You?

Use SketchUp Free for learning, personal projects, or very preliminary conceptual work. Use SketchUp Pro for any serious interior design endeavor where quality, efficiency and professional output are required. It will give you the full toolkit to design, iterate and present without hitting frustrating roadblocks.

Still unsure which to choose? Visit the SketchUp Plans & Pricing page to compare the features side by side and start a free trial of SketchUp Pro to experience the difference yourself. Whichever plan you go with, SketchUp’s core 3D modeling power will help bring your interior design visions to life, but with Pro, you’ll have the freedom to take those visions even further. Enjoy your SketchUp journey and happy designing!