# SketchUp 16 Hacker News commenters recommended SketchUp and 6 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 8 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** Recommended as an intuitive 3D modeling tool with little learning curve. Common caveat: the free version is limited. ## Why people recommend it - Intuitive with little learning curve (4 comments): "Sketchup was so intuitive (as a 3D modelling noob) it was ridiculous." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45825344)) "They made a 3d drawing application without a learning curve" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45826147)) "a 3D drawing application without a learning curve" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45853900)) - Useful for home and woodworking projects (2 comments): "It was very successful in reducing the number of walls my wife wanted to move around after they had been finished" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49104803)) "IIRC that version made it really easy to design things with dimensional lumber." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45825947)) - Works with Claude AI integration (2 comments): "had good results getting a cut list and build steps with pictures from Claude and the Sketchup integration" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50100460)) "Astra does such a good work with SketchUp 2026 and computer use" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49716592)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [Blender](https://hackerapproved.com/p/blender.md): 298 recommend - [Autodesk Maya](https://hackerapproved.com/p/maya.md): 18 recommend - [Akse3D](https://hackerapproved.com/p/akse3d.md): 6 recommend - [Cartesian AI 3D Modeling](https://hackerapproved.com/p/cartesian-ai-3d-modeling.md): 6 recommend ## Where to get it - [Visit the official site](https://sketchup.trimble.com/en) ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "SketchUp", https://hackerapproved.com/p/sketchup/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).