CorelCAD vs. SketchUp

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
CorelCAD
Score 10.0 out of 10
N/A
CorelCAD is CAD software providing 2D drafting and 3D design tools, industry-standard file compatibility with .DWG, .STL, .PDF, and .CDR, as well as project collaboration and sharing with optional automation and customization. CorelCAD is compatible with all major CAD programs and users can onboard quickly with familiar commands and toolbar items.N/A
SketchUp
Score 7.5 out of 10
N/A
SketchUp is 3D modeling software with an emphasis on usability. SketchUp is a Trimble product.
$0
per year
Pricing
CorelCADSketchUp
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Free
$0.00
per year
For Schools (free with G Suite or Microsoft education account)
$0
For Students
$55.00
per year
For Educators
$55.00
per year
Studio for Students / Educators (Desktop version)
$55
per year
Shop
$119.00
per year
Pro
$299.00
per year
Professional
$299.00
per year
Studio (Windows only)
$699
per year
Studio
$1199.00
per year
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
CorelCADSketchUp
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
CorelCADSketchUp
Best Alternatives
CorelCADSketchUp
Small Businesses
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.9 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.9 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.9 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.9 out of 10
Enterprises
Rhino
Rhino
Score 9.1 out of 10
Rhino
Rhino
Score 9.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
CorelCADSketchUp
Likelihood to Recommend
5.0
(0 ratings)
8.0
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
9.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
7.0
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
9.0
(0 ratings)
8.5
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
CorelCADSketchUp
Likelihood to Recommend
CorelCAD is ideally suited for creating mechanical 2D drawings for metal parts and assemblies. It is equally suited for architectural drawings. It is less well suited for creating 3D models. It also works well as an intermediary to convert between different CAD systems. CorelCAD offers a compelling and relatively low-cost solution that covers the vast majority of business needs creating both internal use drawings, drawings for fabricated parts, and creating more elaborate drawings to incorporate within CorelDraw documents.
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Real estate is not really the most likely use for Sketchup, since it has so many choices and possibilities. But, it is an innovative way to differentiate yourself from the competition. The program is very well-suited to the myopic seller or buyer who can't visualize future changes and their effect on value.
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Pros
  • 2D and 3D mechanical drawings
  • Interchange with AutoCAD users and other CAD users.
  • Publish technical data sheets and drawings.
  • Creating PDF documents
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  • Quickly exploring solutions in 3D: We get a lot of "what if" and "what would that look like" questions. While hand-sketching and hand-drafting can be fairly quick, SketchUp allows me to quickly create 3D and 2D views of a detail or solution, change dimensions and materials in a flash, and show a client or installer the plan in minutes.
  • Creating professional design documents in LayOut: Projects of any scale need good documentation. Using a combination of SketchUp and LayOut, I can create a Design Intent Set, plans for permitting, a set for mechanical trades to mark-up, etc. Having clear, appropriately-scaled drawings with dimensions or notations is a must, and we don't always have the time or budget to get an architect involved!
  • Using live files to guide discussions: Not all clients are "visual" people, so opening their model and orbiting around their space in real time has been extremely helpful. Clients and trades enjoy the perspective views so much that we often include them in the full-sized drawing sets to give a good "overall" view of the project intent. For complex or tight spaces, sometimes un-rendered plans and elevations just aren't enough!
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Cons
  • Movement for 3D designs.
  • Some tools could be easier to access.
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  • Exporting/importing files from other programs may not always be compatible.
  • I'm an engineer and I feel SketchUp is more geared towards architects. However, I still find it useful for certain aspects of my job such as creating renderings.
  • Has a tendency to slow down as the file size gets larger. Apparently, it runs on an outdated engine that has trouble with very heavy models.
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Likelihood to Renew
No answers on this topic
We typically wait a few years in between renewing, as even older versions are powerful tools for modeling, and we make sure the amount of feature changes are worth the re-investment.
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Usability
No answers on this topic
It is very user friendly and easy to learn. It's simplicity allows for a low learning curve so more people can learn it faster. The downside is that most schools are no longer teaching it, so many younger professionals come out of school not knowing it and knowing more complex software and they have a hard time "dumbing down" their skillsets
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Support Rating
Corel's support has always been outstanding. Technical support is always available to assist with installation and licensing issues and there is generally additional free assistance for a time period after purchase. Corel also offers online tutorials and other self-help resources. Ongoing and available support is one of the outstanding features Corel has always provided.
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Sketchup is so intuitive; I can't recall ever looking for official support. However, there are many user forums online that can answer more questions. The usefulness of the online forums is, however, tempered by the fact that there have been many versions of the software under different ownership and support regimes, and thus finding the right information for the right version of the software can be a challenge.
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Alternatives Considered
Compared to the big companies like solid works or Solid Edge for 3D modeling, it has most of the basic tools and it is easier to use. It has more tools than some of the smaller companies but still provides the versatility of large brand-name software. CorelCAD offers an attractive alternative for those on a tight budget.
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To me, SketchUp is better to study designs because it is easier to manipulate than Revit. Revit has each part of the model connected so it is great to "keep your design honest" however, in trying to be creative, you are often inhibited. It is not as easy to push/pull and manipulate quickly to see if an idea works. You also have so many people working in a model and each view impacts one another, so if you are in the middle of studying one area, another person cannot work on that same area
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Return on Investment
  • Fast and easy to use
  • Low Memory usage so I can use equipment with not such big technical requirements.
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  • Increased revenue by allowing our customers to see the final products faster, input comments and finalize design decisions.
  • We develop furniture and the rendering capabilities and graphics found in the basic package allow the fabricators a broader understanding of what is being created.
  • We develop all of our work in SketchUp. I initially felt it was a simplistic cadd software. By re-tooling my thinking I have found fantastic results with the program. I must admit that I learn something new every day. There is a wealth of information on how to do and create things on YouTube. It has a very large community of supporters.
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ScreenShots