SketchUp Reviews

by Pizza_dough

I logged into SketchUp and the one project I created is nowhere to be seen. Instead I see a couple sample projects.

I used the free web version of this app to create the project. If SketchUp does not show projects for non-upgraded (free) accounts, that should be readily apparent after logging into SketchUp . It should present a listing of your projects, with some copy stating that you'll need to upgrade to view them in SketchUp . There is no mention of it if this is indeed a limitation.

If it is NOT a limitation, SketchUp is just broken from a usability perspective. It makes no sense that you can create & save projects while logged in on web, then log in here and see nothing you created.

If if IS a limitation, though, that is pretty ridiculous, because I can view my project with mobile Safari. There's a fine line between "extra features" (in the context of deciding whether to pay for software) and "reversing bad decisions" aka "making things less evil". I usually get angry about the latter things and don't end up paying for the software.

I don't know why. this app is obviously very useful. And I usually pay for useful software that I want to use. There must be some psychology behind it & some way for developers / product managers to optimize better for conversion.

1 star because this is basically useless as-is.

by Xturgorex

If you edit and update your this app model SketchUp will not retrieve the up-to-date model. Even after deleting the model from viewer, clearing it from recent apps on iPad, renaming the model online, then downloading the model with the new name, the old version of the model persists. I had to completely DELETE SketchUp from my iPad and re download to retrieve a new version of the model for viewing. After searching the this app forums I discovered this has been an issue since 2018. The latest response from the dev team, which is a year old as of Jun 2021 does not offer a working solution and says they’re working on it. I can’t understand how something that is the most basic of functionality can take this long to fix. Clearly they don’t spend much time working on SketchUp.

by Karpisi

I have a this app Pro subscription and only tried out SketchUp for the hope that it would let me do basics without opening my laptop. But from the get-go SketchUp wants you to download any models uploaded to the 3d warehouse in order to open them. Why would I want to download a giant model onto my phone? Streaming the model should be a basic. Just like all models on 3D warehouse can be previewed without download. Also why would I upload my client’s confidential models to the warehouse? My projects are saved on Dropbox and there is no way to connect Dropbox to this viewer (not there in the cloud options). Please update app to do these basic things and while you are at it, make sure I can measure some distances on the model as well. Sort of like DWG Trueview!

by Rachel Lang

The this app viewer was great. Now SketchUp is super hard to use. I’m an artist and I build 3D environments to use as backgrounds for a graphic novel. I draw on my iPad so I used to be able to create my scene on my computer and then open it in the viewer, rotate and move around to the view I want, and then save a screencap. Now the move/rotate tools are barely functional. A slight movement zooms me way out or to a totally different area of the map - it’s incredibly difficult and time consuming to use. Worst of all, the camera depth option is gone. That was one of the most important features. I searched the help topics, which provided no useful options. I sent a message to support asking for help and never heard back.

by KHAAAN!

If you want to use this app for your own personal use, making models and animations just for fun, don’t bother. SketchUp will lock you out of the 3d tools after 7 days, unless you pay a $120 yearly subscription.

Trimble will tell you to use their free web-based version, which is inferior in every way that matters, and they *still* will want you to sign up for an account, even then.

I guess we’ll have to keep on waiting for a hobbyist-friendly 3d modeler on this platform.

by Spitty Cent

I love this app online but this important app for people like me who use an iPad to view models is pretty much useless. Does not refresh with latest version of my models, which I update frequently. The only way to get the latest version is to uninstall and reinstall. They’ve apparently been ‘working on it’ for years now, but it still isn’t resolved. They do still want you to pay for the upgraded version, however, which it is difficult to justify when the non-upgraded version does not work as it should.

by Bw-photo

All I wanted to do was simply send a 3D sketch up file to a friend. When I realized that they would have to make an account just to open I file whether I text it to them or Dropbox it. The makers of Sketch Up need to realize that the users of SketchUp are not the same as the users who make 3D models in the desktop app. All they want to do is view a model and spin it around. That’s it! No making usernames or passwords or any of that. Way to make a very simple task into a pain. Now it guess I’ll have to do a screen capture video to show them the design. 🙄😡 Thanks for nothing.

by Brad3000

It almost feels like the purpose of this update was to ruin SketchUp .

1. No more search function within SketchUp ? Why would you remove this unless you were purposefully trying to make SketchUp useless. It’s a model viewer that doesn’t let you search models.

2. I can no longer set focal length? Am I missing something? I’m a professional storyboard artist and use SketchUp to build reference images for my drawings. Without the ability to change the focal length of the camera, SketchUp becomes practically useless.

I genuinely can’t imagine why they would do this unless they don’t want people using this product anymore. They say full this app is coming to ipad soon - maybe they’re trying to cripple this app viewer, so they can force everyone into a paid subscription on the full app?

by Tsao Tsao

1) the navigation tools you show on the download page of SketchUp Store simply don’t exist in SketchUp . I can only rotate around the center of the model and pan. No way to “stand somewhere and look around”. The navigation button that you show on the download page simply doesn’t exist on the actual app

2) same with the AR function. It’s there on your screenshot of SketchUp on your App Store page. Just not on the actual app. I have a this app pro account.

So let’s say maybe this is me being stupid and these things exist but I simply haven’t found them. Ok. Fine. But that’s then a problem of a confounding and incomprehensible user interface which is completely different from what you present in SketchUp Store.

I’m deeply unimpressed by this app viewer and will probably simply migrate back to Home Design 3D which is less powerful but has functional and comprehensible navigation tools.

by CJABDEL

this app is a great product but this should at least have some of the basic design functions especially on an iPad. Should be able to make minor design tweaks from SketchUp rather than have to open up a laptop.

Would be especially useful when presenting a project to customer on site. To be able to tweak a design in the field with customer.

by Crystalstreak

I really just need a viewer app for this app files to get some background scenes for making a webtoon. However, the files I wanna use are often city scapes over 500mb, and SketchUp won’t open them without crashing since they’re so big. I’d love if SketchUp can open those giant files on my iPad, honestly I’d pay for an upgrade even if it means I can view them on my iPad easily! This is literally the only thing I need before I’d consider SketchUp to be perfect at what it does, so I’ll rate SketchUp 5 stars when I can do so (and of course I’ll buy the upgrade immediately).

by Deisterhold

SketchUp works great for the most part, my only pet peeves are that you can only use SketchUp in landscape on iPhone (even in the file picker) and that the UI for managing files is difficult to understand. For example, if I open a file from Trimble connect, do I need to delete and download again if I make changes to it? I would prefer to have the files as either a list/table view with swipe to delete/info/redownload or a collection view with a edit button in the top right that allows models to be deleted.

by Chicken Nugget009

My dad works for this company he said I should download SketchUp but I think you can have some improvement like say I want to design a house there could be a pice that I could just tap and it would make the front of the house and also can you add stuffed animals to design I know you probably don’t read every single one of these but please read the one that I made and I don’t get it I have to search it up to get to it

by Iamthaynes

Works great. Would be even better if you could view the Outliner list in SketchUp . Also, when you select a component, it would be nice if you could read the whole ‘Definition’ section.

When I create a model, I often name the components the dimensions, so when I’m in the shop, it would be great to be able to click on the component and see the whole line.

by Joshua122042

Viewing my models on SketchUp is flawless as far as performance goes. It’s actually smoother than on the laptop I use to put these models together. My only complaint is when models are imported from pc to mobile, lighting and shadow effects are removed. I’m sure it’s because of performance but if there is a toggle setting to add or remove these effects that would be perfect.

by Eric The Clockster

Does exactly what it’s supposed to do and operates smoothly even with large files, although this tends to burn up your phone battery pretty quickly if you’re not plugged in. I realize you can look into models using the section planes, but it would be nice to be able to hide/show selected components within SketchUp .

by Tonejac

I’ve been a long time user of this app since it was owned by Google. I’ve never been a pro version user but have been a prosumer type user over the years, designing furniture, interiors, and small construction projects.

This new version of this app on the iPad, incorporating the Apple Pencil is a game changer. It is a whole new experience but has all the familiarity of the regular desktop version. It mentally changes the whole feel of everything. It’s like it has opened up a low friction pathway for imagining ideas and just drawing them on the screen.

It’s early days for SketchUp , and I’ve encountered a few bugs a missing functionality, but it’s quite awesome. I’m sure Trimble will fix all the issues in upcoming app updates.

by Mentor422NM

Exception: As of updating my iPad to version 12.1.4, SketchUp continually crashes. Developer needs to address this.
I'm new to this app and SketchUp makes it possible for me to take and use my models wherever I go with my iPad. It works incredibly well and is kept up to date with the most recent version of this app. Couldn't be without it.

by I Don't Want A Nickmame

I’ve been waiting for SketchUp a long time. It’s an excellent way to communicate ideas quickly in the field. My rating reflects that SketchUp meets my expectations, which is strictly to show clients and colleagues ideas. I didn’t expect it to be able to do much else, but it has a few features that are a huge bonus. Powerful tool!

by DO00ood

I've been an artist starting with iPad drawings and finalizing with separate this app computer CAD drawings for years. After 15min playing with this new iPad version, I am thrilled with what I see. Most of it is very good and usable, and I am able to make simple models with no additional learning/researching required. I am sure this will continue to improve. And this will obsolete my need for the iPad drawings. Great first effort this app team! Thank you

by Jsabato1756

SketchUp worked just fine this morning. Auto-update unfortunately kicked in, and now SketchUp is trash. Opening SketchUp offers two possibilities: the splash screen loads, then forces you to either sign in or create account. Either way you go, SketchUp just crashes and closes. The other possibility is the splash screen doesn’t even load all the way before it crashes. SketchUp does nothing but crash. You can’t even click the help button to alert the developer.

by Connierick7

This is just another overly complicated app. All I want to do is sketch out a simple two-story garage concept that I can manipulate to determine where I want the doors and windows. I have been trying to figure out how to do that for an hour and cannot do it. This is not intuitive and if there are directions, I cannot easily find them. I just want a blank page that I can draw on to make a simple a box and a few other lines. FRUSTRATING!!! I will get out my board, T-square and triangle and do it old school.

by Foxes Are Way Cool

I actually paid $10 for SketchUp and you refused to give me my money back even though you made it free to the public a few weeks after I bought it. I installed the update yesterday unknowingly that SketchUp would now require that I give you my personal information and create an account so that you can collect info on me and others. That’s not our agreement upon purchase. You do not have the right the change the terms of our original agreement without a meeting of the minds. Unethical business practices.

by WordViking

Wow. Now I can’t work offline - need to login? Ok, go online, set up new account. Nothing: app does not go forward to wherever it’s supposed to for login. This does not work. First was MyMeasures, now this app for iPad. I will not waste time anymore with the dreams of utilizing tablet-based versions of sophisticated programs. It is now a world of high-end, cloud-based BIM programs with expensive subscriptions. No more of this nonsense for me, it’s back to printouts, plans, pencil and paper.

by Jkg4

I’ve been hoping since the release of iOS 11 that this app would update their iOS app to support ARKit so models could be inserted into the real world. So far this feature seems to work well, but only supports horizontal surfaces for placing objects. ARKit in iOS 11 now supports vertical surfaces so I’m hoping they quickly add that as an option in this app for iOS!

by 1gnikniht

The improvements made to this version of this app Viewer are great! With much improved stability, I can review my projects from my phone with great clarity and with the same options as if I were working from my PC, including measuring. The developers truly deserve to be congratulated on putting out a product worthy of the Trimble brand!

by RB0226

I more or less stumbled on SketchUp after a Google search for “this app iPad.” I got it from SketchUp Store and I was able to use it with no trouble. I had previously put my drawings in PDF files so I could look at them without my MacBook. Needless to say, that didn’t work too well! Now I can access my models in several ways. I don’t need to edit files on my iPad, so SketchUp does everything I need. Draw me happy 😊

by AlasCat

I often sketch parts on my desktop and then fabricate them in my shop. I don’t want to carry a computer in my shop for reference due to dust, etc. This is perfect. Sketch it up on the computer then carry the iPad into the shop for referencing dimensions and shapes and perspectives. Perfect. I love this app.