Concepts vs SketchUp
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Concepts
This flexible vector-based sketchbook offers an infinite canvas for ideation and design. Easily sketch, take notes, and create detailed designs with editable strokes and powerful tools. Share your work in various formats for seamless collaboration and professional output.
- Infinite canvas
- Vector-based sketching
- Realistic pens, pencils, and brushes
- Editable vector elements
- Unlimited layers
- Scale and measurement tools
- Object libraries
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Think, plan & create – Concepts is a flexible vector-based sketchbook where you can take your ideas from concept to reality. Concepts reimagines the ideation process – offering a safe and dynamic workspace to iterate and explore your ideas, organize your thoughts, and experiment with designs. With our infinite canvas, you can: • Sketch plans and whiteboard ideas • Make notes, doodles, and mindmaps • Draw storyboards, product sketches and designs Concepts is vector-based, making every stroke editable and scalable. With our Nudge, Slice and Select tools, you can easily change any element of your sketch without redrawing it. Talented creators at Disney, Playstation, Philips, HP, Apple, Google, Unity and Illumination Entertainment use Concepts to develop and realize extraordinary ideas. Join us! Concepts has: • An infinite canvas with optional paper types and grids • Realistic pens, pencils and brushes that flow with pressure, tilt and velocity or create your own • A tool wheel or bar you can personalize • HSL, RGB and COPIC color wheels • Editable vector-based sketching – move, organize and edit the tool, color, size, scale, smoothing, opacity; transform or nudge lines to shape them • Unlimited layers • Scale and measurement tools that calculate real-world dimensions With Concepts, you can: • Drag + drop images + PDF files • Create, store and share vector Object libraries • Export images, vector SVG + PDFs to scale for printing or efficient flow between apps (including Procreate, Sketchbook, AutoCAD and Adobe) • Share directly to email, text, Files, cloud, photos, or your favorite social apps and present with AirPlay or a second screen • Store your work safely in your personal iCloud Drive FREE FEATURES • Infinite canvas • A selection of paper, grid types & tools to get you started • The full COPIC color spectrum, RGB and HSL color wheels • Five layers • Unlimited drawings • JPG exports PAID FEATURES Subscription: • 200+ brush and Object libraries, features, and services • Enjoy Team Sharing for smooth collaboration, including live-sharing of object libraries, color palettes & brushes, with new updates arriving all the time • Unlocks everything across platforms • TRY PREMIUM FREE FOR 7 DAYS One-time-purchases: • Buy the Essentials for life and unlock selection & editing tools, infinite layers, shape guides, custom brushes, custom grids, and exports to PNG / PSD / SVG / DXF. • Pay for advanced features as you need them – object packs & professional brushes are sold separately • Limited to the platform you purchase on Terms & Conditions: • Monthly and yearly subscription payments are charged to your iTunes account at the time of purchase. • Your plan will renew automatically at the end of the billing period unless canceled 24 hours before the billing period ends. • You can cancel or make changes to your subscription at any time in your iTunes Account settings. • Unused portions of any free trial period are forfeited if you make changes to your subscription. We’re dedicated to quality and update frequently based on your feedback. Your experience matters to us. Chat with us in-app via Ask Us Anything, email us at concepts@tophatch.com, or find us anywhere with @ConceptsApp. COPIC is the trademark of Too Corporation. Many thanks to Lasse Pekkala and Osama Elfar for the cover art!
SketchUp
This platform offers intuitive 3D modeling tools for design enthusiasts and professionals. Visualize concepts, create photorealistic visuals, and even use AI to generate design ideas. Scan real-world spaces and view your creations in augmented reality.
- 3D modeling tools
- Generative AI designs
- Room planner & space design
- Photorealistic visuals
- Scan-to-design
- Augmented reality (AR) visualization
- DWG compatibility
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Experience the world's leading 3D design platform with a free 7-day Go trial! Without a subscription, you can still view 3D projects for free. Go offers essential 3D design tools, including SketchUp for iPad and SketchUp for Web. Created for design enthusiasts, architects, interior designers, contractors, home remodelers, construction professionals, and set designers, our intuitive tools streamline the creative process, allowing you to effortlessly craft 3D models and visualize concepts. Whether you're planning a home renovation, designing interiors, or creating a detailed architectural model, SketchUp helps bring your visions to life through 3D design. Go Features: - Work seamlessly across devices: Create 3D models on your iPad and computer using SketchUp.com. - Generative AI Designs: Harness the power of AI to create stunning visuals for architectural and home designs. Generate images that inspire your creative process and support your design narrative. - Room Planner & Space Design: Experiment with different layouts and design options to find the perfect fit for your space. Model your space with designer fixtures and furniture. - Real-time, realistic visuals: Create stunning photorealistic visuals by integrating environments and customizable real-world materials. - Scan-to-Design: Use our 3D scanning feature to capture real-world spaces, which AI intelligently transforms and organizes into editable 3D models. - Augmented Reality (AR): Visualize your designs in the real world with our AR capabilities. - DWG Compatibility: Import and export DWG files seamlessly, ensuring compatibility with other CAD software. - Import real-world information: Import images to textures, satellite imagery, 3D terrain, 3D buildings, and location information to power your designs with real-world context. Why Go? - Architects & Contractors: Transform your architectural visions into reality with intuitive 3D modeling tools. Quickly visualize and iterate design concepts and present ideas to clients and stakeholders. - Interior Designers & Home Remodelers: Visualize your ideas in 3D and AR, ensuring your designs meet expectations. Use AI image generation to inspire additional finishes and layouts. - Landscape Designer: Plan and visualize outdoor spaces, from planters to parks, with our 3D landscape tools, like real-time shadow studies, geo-locating satellite imagery, and 3D terrain. - DIYer: Whether you're planning a small remodel or a complete home renovation, SketchUp provides the tools you need to design and execute your projects with confidence. Without a subscription: - Switch between perspective and orthographic camera views. - Control the visibility of parts of your model. - Adjust the look and feel of your model by controlling Edge and Face styles, Shadows, Hidden Geometry, Section Planes, and Section Cuts. - Take measurements and get information about edge lengths, the area of faces, the volume of solids, and component and group definitions. - View models in augmented reality. IMPORT/EXPORT -Import: SKP, SKE, SKM, HDR, EXR, PNG, JPG, PDF, DWG, DXF, STL -Export: Images (PNG), Animations (MP4), SKP, USDz, PDF, DWG, DXF, OBJ, STL, MP4 REQUIREMENTS Requires iOS 17 or higher with a minimum of 1024Mb of RAM. For additional info, please visit help.sketchup.com. The AR model viewing feature uses ARKit and is compatible with iPhone 6s and newer, iPad Pro, or any 2017 iPad or newer. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Create 3D designs with a free 7-day Go trial. Payment will be charged to your Apple Account on confirmation of purchase. Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before your subscription expiration date. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before your subscription expiration date. After completing your initial purchase, you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renew by visiting your Apple Account Settings.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Concepts at 77% against SketchUp's 37%. Concepts also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Concepts sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and SketchUp sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Concepts holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 27K and 18K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Concepts's written reviews are positive against 37% of SketchUp's.
Concepts ships an update fortnightly, SketchUp every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 3, 2026.
| Parameter | Concepts | SketchUp |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (27K ratings) — better | 4.5 (18K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 77.0% of reviews — better | 37.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 27K — better | 18K |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #206 | #129 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 267 MB | 695 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TopHatch, Inc. | Trimble Inc. |
Customer experience
Concepts
SketchUp
User reviews
Concepts
From 27K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Infinite canvas
- 👍 Intuitive and customizable interface
- 🎨 Powerful drawing and sketching tools
- 💡 Versatile for various use cases (architecture, design, note-taking)
- 🔒 Responsive customer support
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Steep learning curve for some users
- 💰 Subscription model can be expensive for casual users
- 🔧 Limited text handling and editing capabilities
- 🔀 Inconsistent behavior of certain tools (e.g., eraser, alignment)
SketchUp
From 18K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great potential
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Powerful and capable
- 👍 Excellent for designers, engineers, and contractors
- 👍 Smooth performance and rendering
Room to improve
- 🔒 Requires paid subscription
- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔒 Limited functionality in free version
- 🔒 Expensive for casual users
- 🔒 Complicated navigation and UI
Bugs and requests
Concepts
Reported bugs
4 issues- Memory issues when working with large, complex drawings
- Inconsistent behavior of the eraser tool
- Inaccuracies in the snap-to-grid and measurement tools
- Exporting issues, such as loss of data or poor quality
Requested features
5 requests- Improved text editing and formatting options
- Better color selection and customization tools
- Collaboration and real-time sharing features
- Seamless integration with other design/productivity apps
- Syncing and backup capabilities across devices
SketchUp
Reported bugs
5 issues- Login and account creation problems
- Crashes and freezes when opening large models
- Inability to hide/unhide components
- Inconsistent behavior with Apple Pencil
- Outdated model not updating properly
Requested features
5 requests- 2D drawing and 3D model integration
- More intuitive navigation and controls
- Improved file management and syncing
- Offline mode and reduced dependency on internet
- Affordable pricing options for casual users
In-app purchases
Concepts
- Everything Monthly$4.991 Month
- Everything Monthly + Trial7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Everything Yearly$29.991 Year
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Everything Yearly + Trial7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Shape Library$1.99
- Pen Brush Pack$1.99
- Body Forms$1.99
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- Make Your Own Objects$3.99
- Essentials (iPhone Only)$4.99
- PDF Essentials$4.99
- Pro Pack [Legacy]$7.99
- 10 Object Packs$14.99
- Essentials$39.99
SketchUp
- SketchUp AI Monthly$11.991 Month
- SketchUp Go Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
- SketchUp Go Yearly7 Days trial$129.001 Year








