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General 3D design
DeckSketch vs SketchUp
A powerful, extensible general-purpose 3D modeler that can draw a deck beautifully but has no built-in deck framing, span checks, material takeoff, or pricing.
SketchUp pricing
Free (web); Go $129/yr; Pro $399/yr; Studio $819/yr (USD list, billed annually)
Source (verified 2026-07-19)Feature comparison
| Capability | DeckSketch | SketchUp |
|---|---|---|
| Auto structural framing (joists, beams, posts, footings) | YesGenerated automatically from the outline you draw. | NoNo native deck framing; manual modeling or paid extensions required |
| Code-based span / member sizing | YesMembers sized to span tables with live span diagnostics. | NoNo built-in code span/beam sizing checks |
| Automatic material BOM / takeoff | YesItemized BOM derived from the structural plan, not hand-counted. | NoNo native auto BOM/cut list; needs manual takeoff or add-ons |
| Instant priced estimate | YesPriced from your org's catalog and updates as the design changes. | NoNo integrated cost estimating or pricing |
| Deck-specific (railings, stairs, ledger logic) | YesPurpose-built for residential decks end to end. | NoGeneral 3D modeler, not deck-specific |
| 3D visualization | Yes3D deck view alongside the framing plan. | YesExcellent, flexible 3D modeling — its core strength |
| Contractor workflow (orders, labor, org pricing) | YesMaterial orders, labor estimate, and per-org pricing built in. | PartialLayOut docs and extensions help, but no draw-to-estimate deck flow |
What SketchUp does well
- Best-in-class, intuitive general 3D modeling — fast to learn, flexible for almost any geometry
- Huge ecosystem: Extension Warehouse, 3D Warehouse, and a large community
- Genuine free web tier with no trial timer for basic modeling
- Extensions (e.g. the Medeek suite) can add real framing geometry for those willing to invest
Where DeckSketch wins
- No native deck-specific framing — joists, beams, posts, and footings are modeled by hand or via paid extensions
- No building-code span/joist/beam calculations; it won't tell you if a member is over-spanned
- No automatic material BOM/cut list natively — takeoffs require manual counting or add-ons
- No instant or integrated cost estimating/pricing for a deck project
Pick SketchUp if…
- You want maximum creative freedom to model any structure, not just decks
- You need high-end photoreal renderings or a broad extension ecosystem
- You already own SketchUp and will buy/learn framing extensions
Pick DeckSketch if…
- You want structural framing generated automatically to code span rules, not hand-modeled
- You need an automatic material BOM and instant pricing the moment the design changes
- You're a deck contractor who wants a fast draw-to-estimate workflow, not a general CAD tool
Sources
- SketchUp official plans and pricing (Trimble)
- SketchUp Pricing 2026 breakdown
- Medeek Wall framing extension
Pricing and features can change; figures were human-verified on 2026-07-19. Found something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.