Hi, I’m new to the community (just signed up 10 minutes ago). The reason I’m here is I have a small home project I’d like to model. Years ago, I used (fully free) Google SketchUp to model my kitchen remodel and it was very helpful. Returning to it, I was surprised how much things have changed.
I’m old school and like to work on my own computer (a Mac book Pro currently). I downloaded Sketchup Make a few days ago, and it comes with a 30 day Pro trial that is running out fast. It’s a small project, so I have no intention to purchase/subscribed to the paid version.
My questions are:
After 30 days, will I still be able to use Sketchup Make on my computer (but with features only available to Sketchup Free)?
I remember reading that among the many differences, Pro offers a much larger module library than Free. If I used modules downloaded from the Pro library that are not available to Free, after 30 days, will my model be full of holes because those modules would just disappear?
If I must migrate to Sketchup Free (web version), will I be able to continue to work on the same model I already worked on in Make, or do I have to duplicate all the work from fresh in Free?
You will still be able to use all the features of Make, including the ability to install plugins (not possible on the web-based SU Free). You lose only a few SketchUp Pro-only features - notably, Solid Tools - and Layout (for 2D renderings of SU models). Make has very limited import and export formats available compared with Pro.
By ‘modules’ do you mean ‘component libraries’? They are all available (AFAIK) from the 3D Warehouse, and if you have already downloaded them via your Pro trial they won’t disappear.
There is no need for you to migrate to the web-based Free, and in general, I would advise you not to, if Make works well on your own computer. However, IF you want to do that, you can upload your existing model and use it in the Free version.
SketchUp 2018 and 2019 only has a Pro version. When the trial expires it cannot be started unless you buy a license. SketchUp 2017 was the last desktop version to have a free version (SketchUp 2017 Make) and is still available for download. Save down to version 2017 by using the version option in the save dialog while you still have the trial, and you can keep open your models.
One interesting thing about the Make and Pro 2017 installers, they install exactly the same application, but Make is set up so that it could become Pro if you entered a Pro license, but Pro will fail to work after the trial period. Make just drops the Pro features after the trial period.
Thank you all for the helpful tips and information. I’m glad that I was still able to download SketchUp Make. I hope they don’t take that away from people.
Usually 2 major versions back are available at SketchUp’s own website. I don’t know if an exception will be made given this is the last free version for hobby use, but to be safe I’ve made sure to have copies of it.
