SketchUp for Web is an online 3D modeling tool accessible through a web browser. It offers a range of features and subscription plans tailored to various industries, including architecture, construction, and interior design. This article will explore its features, user reviews, and other options to consider when using SketchUp.
What is SketchUp?
SketchUp is a 3D modeling application that allows users to think through ideas and pre-build projects. It provides a simple and easy-to-use platform for creating 3D models directly in a web browser.
Unique features include web-based modeling, auto-save, and version history. The application is designed to be user-friendly, requiring only three steps to start modeling: open a browser, launch SketchUp, and get creative.
What to Consider When Selecting a SketchUp Alternative?
Ease of Use: Look for a tool that offers a user-friendly interface and minimal learning curve. This ensures that you can start creating without extensive training or prior experience.
Web-Based Accessibility: Choose a platform that is accessible through a web browser, eliminating the need for software installation and allowing you to work from any device with internet access.
3D Modeling Capabilities: Ensure the alternative provides robust 3D modeling features, enabling you to pre-build projects and visualize ideas effectively.
Auto-Save and Version History: Opt for a tool that includes auto-save and version history features to prevent data loss and allow you to revert to previous versions of your work.
Collaboration and Sharing: Select a platform that supports real-time collaboration and easy sharing of projects, facilitating teamwork and feedback from clients or colleagues.
Best Alternatives to SketchUp
1. Piktochart
Piktochart is an AI-powered design tool that allows users to transform complex ideas into captivating visuals such as infographics, reports, and presentations. It is designed to be user-friendly, requiring no design experience, and helps maintain brand consistency. Try Piktochart For Free!
Pros of Using Piktochart
AI Design Generator: Instantly create professional visuals from any idea or prompt.
Document to Visual Conversion: Effortlessly convert documents into engaging data visualizations.
Text-to-Image: Generate custom AI images from text prompts.
Extensive Visual Tools: Includes charts, graphs, diagrams, icons, illustrations, photos, design components, maps, processes, flowcharts, and tables.
Brand Assets Hub: Easy access to brand fonts, colors, and logos to ensure brand consistency.
Who should use Piktochart?
Piktochart targets professionals, educators, marketers, and businesses looking to create visually engaging content without needing design expertise.
Pricing
Free: $0 (Free forever)
Pro: $29 per member/month (billed monthly) or $14 per member/month (billed annually, save 52%)
Business: $49 per member/month (billed monthly) or $24 per member/month (billed annually, save 52%)
Enterprise: Custom Pricing (Contact for details)
Campus: Custom Pricing (Minimum 3000 seats, contact for details)
Reviews
Piktochart Visual has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Users appreciate its ease of use and the ability to create professional content without design skills. Check out more of our reviews here!
2. Snappa
Snappa is a graphic design software that allows users to create online graphics quickly and easily. It offers pre-made templates, high-resolution stock photos, text and graphic effects, background removal, image resizing, and social media scheduling. It is designed to be user-friendly, fast, and includes all necessary resources without extra fees.
Pros of Using Snappa
Time-Saving: Pre-set image dimensions and templates save time.
User-Friendly: No learning curve, easy to use without graphic design experience.
Comprehensive Resources: Access to millions of high-resolution stock photos and a wide variety of fonts, vectors, and shapes.
One-Click Features: Background removal and image resizing are simplified.
Cons of Using Snappa
Limited Advanced Features: May not cater to professional designers needing advanced tools.
Dependency on Templates: Heavy reliance on pre-made templates might limit creativity for some users.
Pricing
Pro Plan: $15 per month (monthly) or $10 per month (billed yearly)
Team Plan: $30 per month (monthly) or $20 per month (billed yearly)
Reviews
Snappa has an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Users generally appreciate its ease of use and the availability of pre-designed templates. Check out more Snappa reviews here.
3. Easil
Easil is a design tool that empowers teams to create brand-compliant digital and print marketing materials with drag-and-drop ease. It offers a wide range of pre-designed graphic templates that can be customized using a brand kit, images, and videos.
Pros of Using Easil
User-Friendly Interface: Drag-and-drop design capabilities make it easy for non-designers to create professional-looking materials.
Brand Consistency: Features like flexible locking permissions and design approval workflows help maintain brand integrity.
Versatile Templates: Offers thousands of editable graphic and video templates for various needs, including social media, marketing, and branding.
Cons of Using Easil
Learning Curve: While user-friendly, new users might need some time to get accustomed to all the features.
Limited Free Plan: The free plan might have limited features compared to the paid plans.
Pricing
Edge Plan: $59 per user/month (monthly) or $49 per user/month (billed yearly)
Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing based on specific requirements. Contact Easil for a tailored quote.
Reviews
Easil has an overall rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention ease of use and a variety of templates. Check out more Easil reviews here.
4. Fotor
Fotor is an online photo editor that offers a comprehensive suite of tools for enhancing and editing photos. It provides features for basic adjustments like brightness and contrast, advanced editing like retouching portraits, and AI-powered tools for tasks like background removal and object removal.
Pros of Using Fotor
AI-Powered Tools: Utilize advanced AI features for quick and efficient editing, including background and object removal.
Multi-Platform Availability: Accessible on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, making it versatile for different users.
Extensive Design Assets: Access a wide range of high-res photos, stickers, icons, and fonts to enhance your projects.
Cons of Using Fotor
Advanced Features Require Pro: Many advanced editing tools are locked behind a paywall, requiring a subscription to Fotor Pro.
Overwhelming Range of Features: The extensive list of features might be overwhelming for new users.
Pricing
Fotor's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Reviews
Fotor has an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention ease of use and a variety of editing tools. Check out more Fotor reviews here.
5. DesignBold
DesignBold is a group of designing enthusiasts with a mission to democratize design by making it accessible to everyone, regardless of their skill level or background. They offer a variety of tools and templates to help users create stunning visuals for any project, from business cards to social media posts to presentation slides.
Pros of Using DesignBold
User-Friendly Interface: DesignBold offers an easy-to-use interface that allows users to create stunning visuals without needing advanced design skills.
Vast Library of Templates and Graphics: Users have access to a wide range of templates, graphics, and fonts to enhance their designs.
Quick Website Creation: Users can create their own websites in just 10 minutes using premium templates.
Cons of Using DesignBold
Potential Learning Curve: While the interface is user-friendly, new users may still need some time to familiarize themselves with all the features and tools.
Limited Advanced Features: For professional designers, the platform might lack some advanced features found in more specialized design software.
Pricing
DesignBold's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Reviews
DesignBold has an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention ease of use and a variety of templates. Check out more DesignBold reviews here.
6. PicMonkey
PicMonkey is a comprehensive photo editing and design tool that allows users to create professional-quality images for social media, advertisements, logos, and more. It offers a wide range of templates, advanced photo editing tools, and branding resources to help users enhance their visual content and maintain a consistent brand identity.
Pros of Using PicMonkey
Wide Range of Templates: Offers templates for various needs including social media posts, flyers, logos, and presentations.
Advanced Photo Editing Tools: Includes features like Touch Up, Color Changer, and background remover.
Extensive Graphics and Fonts: Access to over 9,000 graphics and textures, and hundreds of fonts.
Cons of Using PicMonkey
Subscription-Based: Requires a subscription to access all features, which may not be ideal for users looking for free tools.
Learning Curve: While user-friendly, some advanced features may require time to learn and master.
Pricing
Business Plan: $228.00 USD per user (annual) or $23.00 USD per user (monthly)
Reviews
PicMonkey has an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention ease of use and a variety of templates. Check out more PicMonkey reviews here.
7. Vectr
Vectr is an AI-powered vector graphics editor that allows users to create and edit vector images online. It offers tools for background removal, converting images to vectors, real-time collaboration, and cross-platform synchronization.
Pros of Using Vectr
No Quality-Loss: Ensures high-quality prints and display with scalable vector graphics.
Real-Time Collaboration: Allows users to share their design workspace live and collaborate instantly with integrated chat features.
Cross-Platform Sync: Keeps designs synchronized across all devices in real-time.
Generative AI Tools: Automates complex tasks like image to vector conversions, leaving more time for creativity.
Cons of Using Vectr
Premium Account Required for Sharing and Downloading: While creating and editing designs is free, sharing vector graphics with others or downloading them requires a premium account.
Browser Compatibility: Works best on Chrome, and users may face issues on other browsers.
Pricing
Vectr's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Reviews
Vectr has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Users generally find it to be an excellent tool for beginners and basic editing. Check out more Vectr reviews here.
8. Lucidpress
Lucidpress is a web-based design and publishing tool that allows users to create and collaborate on various types of visual content such as brochures, flyers, newsletters, presentations, and more. It offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality, making it accessible to users with varying design skills. Lucidpress helps businesses maintain brand consistency, speed up content creation, and reduce creative requests by turning designs into branded templates that teams can customize.
Pros of Using Lucidpress
Brand Consistency: Guarantees brand consistency by locking critical elements like logos, fonts, and colors.
Content Creation Speed: Speeds up content creation, allowing faster delivery of content to the audience.
Self-Serve Content: Empowers teams to self-serve their content needs, leading to higher productivity.
Cons of Using Lucidpress
Internet Dependence: Dependence on internet connectivity as it is a web-based tool.
Learning Curve: Possible learning curve for new users unfamiliar with design tools.
Pricing
Lucidpress's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Reviews
Lucidpress has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention ease of use and a variety of templates. Check out more Lucidpress reviews here.
9. BeFunky
BeFunky is an all-in-one online creative platform that provides tools for photo editing, graphic design, and collage making. It aims to simplify the creative process with features like photo effects, batch editing, background removal, and customizable design templates.
Pros of Using BeFunky
Ease of Use: The platform is designed to be user-friendly, with drag-and-drop simplicity and intuitive tools.
AI-Powered Tools: Features like the Background Remover and Batch Processing are powered by artificial intelligence, making tasks quicker and more efficient.
Customizable Templates: Provides a large selection of professionally designed templates that can be easily customized.
Cons of Using BeFunky
Limited Advanced Features: While it is user-friendly, it may lack some advanced features that professional designers might need.
Subscription for Full Access: Some of the more powerful features are locked behind the BeFunky Plus subscription.
Pricing
BeFunky's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Reviews
BeFunky has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention ease of use and a variety of templates. Check out more BeFunky reviews here.
10. RelayThat
RelayThat is a design automation tool that helps marketing managers, agencies, and teams create consistent, on-brand digital marketing materials, display ads, and social media content. It automates the design process across various channels, ensuring brand guidelines are maintained with minimal effort.
Pros of Using RelayThat
Brand Management: Easy management and switching between multiple workspaces and campaigns.
Headline Generator: Quick generation of copy using wildcard keywords.
Creative Block Solutions: Access to curated libraries of top-performing color and font combinations.
One Click Resize: Effortless resizing and remixing of layouts for different channels.
Cons of Using RelayThat
Limited Flexibility: Some users find the design options restrictive.
Subscription Issues: Difficulty in canceling subscriptions has been reported.
Pricing
PRO: $15 per month per user.
PRO PLUS: $25 per month (includes 2 users).
ENTERPRISE: Contact for pricing.
Reviews
RelayThat has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention the automation and time-saving features. Check out more RelayThat reviews here.
Which One Should You Go With?
While all these tools offer unique features and benefits, Piktochart stands out for its ease of use and powerful AI-driven design capabilities. Whether you're a professional, educator, or marketer, Piktochart makes it simple to create stunning visuals without any design experience. If you're looking for a versatile and user-friendly alternative, give Piktochart a try—you won't be disappointed.
Piktochart Team
