Sketchup alternative for Linux?

[Beechwood Chip]

I'm happy using (and paying for) Sketchup Pro, but I'm getting fed up with Microsoft Windows.  The last time I tried switching to Linux, I gave up because there was no (acceptable) way to run Sketchup.  My research says that Sketchup won't run on Linux: not in Wine, not in a virtual machine.

I spent 3 years as a unix/Linux sysadmin, so I'd have no trouble using Linux.  I just need something that will run the apps I use.

Does anyone have experience using FreeCad for woodworking design?  Any advice for woodworking design software that runs on Linux?

I realize that asking about Linux on WTO is a long shot, but I figure it's worth a shot.

[wtnhighlander]

I am a long time ( as in downling my first Slackware distro over a 1200 baud modem, onto 50 floppy disks long )Linux user.  I have experimented with FreeCAD for woodworking, and think it is a great alternative to Sketchup, but requires a different mind set. Where Sketchup makes it easy to manipulate shapes with push-pull tools, and create a full assembly in one file, FreeCAD has origins in old-school technical drafting. In my limited experience, it seems to work better when creating a single "part" per file, then using an "assembly" to bring everything together. CAD is not my area of expertise, so I'm not the best judge, but FreeCAD seems quite capable, and the price is hard to argue with. It handles parameters well, so a model can be re-sized automagically to fit key dimensions. I understand it exports many file types that facilitate CNC work, also. 

[Mark J]

Well, FreeCAD is free, so you could easily give it a try.  Many years ago I used Sketchup to design my lathe projects, but Sketchup doesn't draw a true circle, and that became a problem.  I switched to Fusion.  I also tried FreeCAD, but after very little effort I gave up trying to learn it.

What I can say is that for designing flatwork Sketchup is much better than Fusion.

[Mark J]

So here's another idea.  If you have a second, older computer you can keep Windows & Sketchup on that machine, which might be dedicated to woodworking.  The rest of your computers could go Linux.  

[Beechwood Chip]

On 1/8/2026 at 8:27 AM, Mark J said:

So here's another idea.  If you have a second, older computer you can keep Windows & Sketchup on that machine, which might be dedicated to woodworking.  The rest of your computers could go Linux.  

That could work with a KVM switch so that I only need one desk, monitor, etc.  

Thanks, everyone!

[Von]

FYI, SketchUp seems to indicate running in a VM is an option but I could easily be missing some nuance.

I've always run the SketchUp web app which presumably doesn't care what OS you have but I'm sure has lots of shortcomings compared to the native client.

[Beechwood Chip]

On 1/8/2026 at 9:15 AM, Von said:

FYI, SketchUp seems to indicate running in a VM is an option but I could easily be missing some nuance.

Thanks! Searching found a bunch of Reddit posts saying that it didn't work without a separate graphics card for the VM , but those could be out of date.  I think next step is to set up my box to dual boot Windows/Linux, set up a Windows VM under Linux, and give it a try.

 

[wtnhighlander]

@Beechwood Chip, look for an open-source application called 'barrier'. Run it on two (or more) PCs on a network, can be linux or windows or a mix. The instance designated as 'server' becomes the keyboard & mouse host, and control slides seamlessly to the 'client' desktops. I use it at work every day to eliminate the need for a kvm switch. Either keep a monitor on both pcs, or plug both pcs into a multi-port monitor. The experience will be far smoother than running a VM or a remote desktop.