Google continued the tradition of offering both a and Pro version of the software. While the free version included most modeling tools and integration with Google Earth and the 3D Warehouse , the Pro version (priced at $495) offered advanced exporters for CAD programs and the new LayOut application.
This laid the groundwork for the massive extension warehouses we see today. Version 6 proved that SketchUp could be a platform, not just a program. sketchup version 6
: Users gained the ability to create custom, hand-drawn "styles" for their lines, giving digital models an artistic, sketched look rather than a rigid CAD appearance. Why Version 6 Matters Today Google continued the tradition of offering both a
With Version 6, Google split the software into two distinct flavors: Version 6 proved that SketchUp could be a
| Aspect | SketchUp 6 (2007) | Modern SketchUp (2025) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 400Mhz G4 processor (minimum), 1Ghz recommended for optimal performance. | 2.1+ GHz processor or Apple M1 series. | | RAM | Not explicitly stated, but likely 512MB - 1GB was the practical standard for 3D modeling at the time. | 8GB minimum, 16GB+ recommended for complex models. | | Hard Disk | Roughly 70-100MB for the software. | 6GB+ of available hard-disk space. | | Graphics Card | OpenGL capable graphics card; integrated graphics often sufficed for basic models. | Modern GPU with at least 1GB of memory; 4GB+ recommended. Requires OpenGL 3.1 or higher. | | Operating System | Windows 2000/XP, Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) and later. | Windows 10/11, macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) and later. |
However, not everyone was uncritical. Some professionals noted that while SketchUp was excellent for conceptual design, it lacked the precision and documentation capabilities of traditional CAD systems. Others pointed out that the program's approach could be "very exacting but highly unintuitive" for some tasks, requiring adjustment before its power became apparent. The consensus, though, was that these were minor complaints about a tool that was, remarkably, available for free.