SketchUp Go, Pro and Studio: Which package is right for you?

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SketchUp is one of the most widely used 3D modelling tools, popular with architects, designers and builders alike. But, which do you pick: SketchUp Go, Pro and Studio?

Each package offers a different set of tools, platforms and features. Whether you’re sketching ideas on-site, producing technical drawings, or creating high-definition renders, choosing the right version can save time and reduce friction in your workflow.

This guide breaks down what each package includes, how they compare, and who they’re best suited to.

What is SketchUp?

SketchUp is a 3D modelling tool used to create and edit designs with precision and speed. It’s widely used in architecture, interior design, engineering, and construction. Users can draw in 3D, using a simple interface that feels closer to sketching by hand than working in traditional CAD programmes. SketchUp has a variety of clever tools to make designing fast, from prebuilt models from 3D Warehouse, smart visualisation tools and AI rendering. Whether you’re planning a layout, testing ideas, or designing professional models for construction, SketchUp helps bring concepts to life quickly. 

SketchUp Go

Best for: Quick edits, field access, light modelling

SketchUp Go runs in a web browser or on iPad. It’s designed for users who need access to their models while out and about, but do not need to work on larger models where processing power is important. You can view, edit and share models without installing software. 

SketchUp Go is great for pulling up plans on site and in meetings, tweaking dimensions on the go or marking up feedback without going back to your computer. SketchUp Go also includes Extended reality (XR) viewer for Meta Quest devices so you can conduct stunning immersive presentations with stakeholders. There’s also access to SketchUp Diffusion, a generative AI rendering engine. Plus, you get access to the collaboration tools, so you can read comments and keep up with what’s going on back at the office.

The downside to Go is that you do not have access to plugins or the desktop version of SketchUp, which can make more complex modelling tricky. 

SketchUp Go is useful for contractors, engineers, or consultants who don’t need full modelling power but want access to drawings in real time.

SketchUp Pro

Best for: Full-featured 3D modelling, professional-grade work

SketchUp Pro is the full desktop version, but also includes access to browser and iPad versions. It includes the 3D tools that come with SketchUp Go, but the installed Desktop version allows you to work with bigger models using your computer’s processing power, rather than relying on internet speeds. SketchUp Pro also comes with LayOut, which helps with creating 2D drawings and presentation documents. Unlike SketchUp Go, Pro supports extensions, plugins and a wide range of file formats. It’s suited to users who build complex models or produce technical documents.

You work at a desk, use a mouse and keyboard, and need full control over your models.
SketchUp Pro gives you the desktop software with advanced tools like solid modelling, LayOut for creating drawings, and Style Builder for visual styles. You can import and export a wide range of file types and access extensions to customise your workflow.

This version suits architects, interior designers, set designers, product designers and anyone producing detailed plans, drawings, or visualisations on a regular basis.

SketchUp Studio

Best for: Complex models, rendering, and BIM workflows

SketchUp Studio includes everything in Pro, but it also delivers some advanced tools for designing and rendering. It comes with V-Ray, a rendering plugin that produces photorealistic images from 3D models by simulating light, materials, and textures with high accuracy. This package also gives access to Scan Essentials, which lets users import, view and interact with point cloud data directly in the modelling environment, enabling accurate as‑built modelling and measurements. The final key feature is that SketchUp Studio allows you to import Revit files into SketchUp in a few clicks.

SketchUp Studio is for users managing data-heavy projects or needing to create photorealistic renders. Think design firms working on large buildings or public infrastructure, or architects who create projects from early iteration through to the final render. 

Ready to get going with SketchUp? Our friends at CAD Software Direct are available to answer any questions you have. Want to buy Sketchup? Visit their website to get started.