16 Best Rendering Software for SketchUp of 2024

List of the best rendering software for Sketchup: If you do not know the top of the free rendering software for SketchUp, then in this post, I will inform you about the best free rendering software. In order for you to have an excellent render engine installed on your PC, you must have a good graphics processor and a graphics card since some rendering engines are very heavy.

What is Rendering in Sketchup?

SketchUp is a very versatile tool, and it does not manage to include advanced render options. We refer in particular to representation. However, there are several solutions for those who want to give their 3D models a more professional look in SketchUp using external render engines.

A render engine for Sketchup can be a plugin or independent software that allows us to generate a realistic view of a 3D. Each renders engine works differently and at the same time because most of them work based on GI (global illumination).

Render engines calculate the shadows cast by each light source. From that calculation, we can know if an element of the scene (vertices, faces, polygons) is illuminated or not, and to what degree, depending on the number of light sources that affect it.

SketchUp is a very dynamic program that is easy to use, where you can design 3D architectural models. This software works with very intuitive rendering engines that allow us to achieve photorealistic image results.

How to Render

There are many programs where you can do quality renders since SketchUp is a program that is very compatible with any software.

If we are looking for the best rendering software where you can render your 3D projects for free, here, I will share a list of best rendering software for Sketchup. Knowing the rendering software for SketchUp to render free have a quality interface so that you can achieve an image that is photorealistic in just a few minutes.

Since SketchUp does not have a good rendering engine, it uses different rendering software to achieve more realism in its projects. Free rendering programs with 3D programs?

If you are using SketchUp and so far you have not achieved good results in your renders, it is because you do not know about the render engines that you can include in the program to get realistic images.

Top of the Best Rendering Software for Sketchup

Render for free with high-quality programs? In this blog, I will talk about the best free rendering software for SketchUp so you can get quality results in your projects, some programs are free, and others are paid.

Learn how to render free and online in free 3D software.

1. V-Ray

This render engine is very compatible with SketchUp. It is widely used in most of the best 3D design software such as Maya, 3D Max, Nuke, SKP, and among various best rendering software for Sketchup.

Free render with v-ray?

This software was developed by Vladimir Koylazon and Peter Milet from Chaos Software Production Studio in 1997 in Bulgaria. V-ray is a rendering engine that has advanced technology, has global illumination (Path Tracing), photon mapping (irradiation maps, and raw energy maps). When you work with this rendering engine, make your images look more real.

It has lighting effects, and you can do post-production from the program, this means that we no longer have the need to be editing in Photoshop.

It has a multitude of materials where you can edit its reflection and refraction parameters and allows versatility in advanced settings.

This version is the Sketchup version of one of the most famous and powerful render motor, V-Ray. It has direct integration with the program and a spectacular Render quality. With the help of Vray for SketchUp, you can apply the rendering tasks to your 3D modeling projects with simplicity and efficiency.

This fantastic rendering software for architects and designers will give you the best technology for making three-dimensional objects. Through a clear and intuitive interface, it will put at your fingertips, everything you will require to generate and process your composition—price of $ 799.

It has physical V-ray cameras that emulate the exposure setup options. If you are looking for a high-end render engine, this is the ideal since it has all the necessary tools to achieve a first-class result.

2. IDX Renditioner

IDX Renditioner is a tool for creating photorealistic renderings, applying advanced materials and lighting controls in Google SketchUp projects.

This is the free version of IDX Renditoner Express that includes almost all the features of the paid version. It only differs in size, which will result in a maximum of 640×480. The full version rises 16 megapixels in resolution and supports multiple threading, and is available at a price of $ 199.

3. Artlantis

1. Photorealistic Renderings: Creates high-quality, photorealistic renderings in Google SketchUp projects.
2. Advanced Materials and Lighting Controls: Allows the application of advanced materials and precise lighting controls.
3. Free Version Features: Free version (IDX Renditioner Express) includes almost all the paid version features.
4. Resolution Differences:  Free version has a maximum resolution of 640×480, while the full version supports 16 megapixels.
5. Pricing: The full version is available at $199, offering higher resolution and multiple threading support.

It is a program where you can do renders in a professional way that is mostly used by Interior Designers, Architects, and 3D fans, with this software you can create virtual animations in 3D with a high resolution. The way this program works is very simple: the work you can achieve with this render engine is of realistic quality.

Artlantis is a software that allows you to have high-quality presentations and resolution in presentations. You can get full HD animations.

With this program, you will be able to transform basic 3D into an image that has perfect lighting and exclusive textures, and you can also add pre-designed objects.

It is a professional 3D rendering software that is useful for architects and designers who need to create high-resolution 3D animations and renderings quickly. It is widely used for its quality and ease of use.

Available in two versions, Artlantis offers a product line adapted to different needs and practices. Artlantis Render designed for those professionals who are looking for a very good rendering quality (architects, decorators, urban planners, landscapers, exhibition organizers, exhibitors, etc.).

And Artlantis Studio, an ideal tool for anyone who requires high resolution in their presentations, not only at the image level, also when animating objects. The problem of Artlantis does not have the export tool, and this makes restricting the use of other Architectural branches.

4. Kerkythea

It supports HDRI, real depth of field, camera projection models (flat, cylindrical or spherical), import of 3DS and OBJ files, filters for textures, light sources, shading, chromatic dispersion, and a large etcetera.

5. Shapespark

• Real-Time Visualization:  Allows real-time visualization of projects, popular among SketchUp users.
• User-Friendly: Simple to use, with a manual available at the time of download.
• Integration with SketchUp: Works seamlessly with SketchUp, supporting collaborative design efforts.
• Model Compatibility: Supports importing 3D models in various formats (COLLADA, FBX, SKP, OBJ).
• Flexible Design Options: Enables adding materials, reflections, and lights to enhance designs.
• Pricing and Trial: Paid program with a 30-day trial version for users to explore its features.

With this application, you can see your projects in real-time; it is one of the most used by users who use SketchUp. The way this best rendering software for sketchup works is very simple since, at the time of download, you can see a manual about the application.

SketchUp supports this program working hand in hand to create phenomenal works. It is a paid program, but it also has a 30-day trial version.

Shapespark allows importing 3D models such as COLLADA, FBX, SKP, and OBJ formats; when importing the SketchUp model into shape spark, it does not make any changes in the project.

You can add materials to your design, and not only that, but you can also add reflection and lights, but these are also one of the many things that this application can do.

6. LuxCoreRender

• Free and Open Source: LuxCoreRender is free for both personal and commercial use under a GPL license.
• Compatibility:  Works on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
• SKP Export: Requires the SU2LUX plugin (processor still in development) for exporting SKP files.
• Plugin Availability: SU2LUX plugin can be downloaded from the official LuxCoreRender website.
• License: Operates under the GPL license.

The LuxCoreRender is free for personal and commercial use with a GPL license and works on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. To export SKP, you need this plugin for the processor still in development called SU2LUX, which you can download from their official website.

7. Enscape

• Real-Time Rendering: Enables real-time rendering and virtual reality experiences.
• Compatibility: Coordinates seamlessly with SketchUp and is compatible with RHINO, REVIT, and ARCHICAD.
• User-Friendly: Easy to use with a simple interface, requiring no prior knowledge.
• Efficiency: Operates with a single click, automatically integrating changes without exporting to other programs.
• Dynamic Updates: Allows quick changes in SketchUp, instantly loading updates in seconds.

It is a real-time and virtual reality renderer, you can do real-time tours in coordination with SketchUp. It is a virtual reality plugin that is compatible with RHINO, REVIT, ARCHICAD, and SKETCHUP. This extension is very easy to use; you don’t need previous knowledge.

Enscape only works with a single click, and it will be working automatically without the need to be exporting to other programs. If you want to make a change in SketchUp, you can do it, and it will load the changes in seconds.

8. POV-Ray

• Open-Source Rendering: POV-Ray is an open-source rendering software.
• Text-Based Modeling: Unlike other programs, POV-Ray uses a structured language similar to C for modeling and scenario creation.
• No Graphical Environment: POV-Ray does not rely on a graphical environment; it interprets instructions in a structured language.
• Export Plugin for SketchUp: Requires a plugin for exporting models from SketchUp to POV-Ray.

POV-Ray is an open-source render. Unlike other programs, POV-Ray does not use a graphical environment for creating models and scenarios but rather interprets instructions in a structured language similar to C, through which objects, textures, light sources, and other parameters are described. A plugin needs to be exported to export the model from Sketchup.

9. Maxwell Render

It is a widely used render engine since it has physical laws of real light, it is based on mathematical algorithms that simulate the behavior of real light in elements such as the light source, real materials, and reflex beds.

• Physical Accuracy: Widely used for its adherence to physical laws of real light.
• Mathematical Algorithms:  Based on mathematical algorithms simulating real light behavior.
• Integrated Rendering: Standalone program with a render engine fully integrated into SketchUp.
• User-Friendly: Easy-to-use with no need for extensive render parameter configuration.
• Immediate Update: Provides an immediate update of renders with high-quality, realistic lighting.
• Cost: Available for free or as a licensed version for $95.

This is a render engine based on the physical laws of real light. Algorithms and equations reproduce the behavior of light in a completely exact way. All of Maxwell’s elements, such as lighting systems, hardware, and cameras, are entirely based on physically accurate models.

Maxwell Render for SketchUp offers users the benefits of advanced rendering in an easy-to-use, custom-made package. It is a standalone program that contains its own render engine designed and fully integrated into SketchUp. No other application starts when rendering your scene, nor does it require export to any external application. So, in addition to the ease of using the features of the plugin itself, there are no new interfaces to learn!

It is a simple render engine to use since you do not need to configure its render parameters to achieve a high-quality photorealistic image. Its way of working is autonomous and how many plugins for 3D modeling software.

Maxwell Render offers an immediate update of render; the lighting it offers is quite real in quality. SketchUp Maxwell is available for free or as a licensed version for just $95.

10. YafaRay

• Purpose: Designed for creating high-quality images, focusing on light direction and quality.
• User-Friendly: Simple interface, making it easy to use without extensive learning processes.
• Compatibility: Requires the SU2yafaray plugin for integration with SketchUp.
• Ease of Learning: Quick learning curve for users.
• Free and Open-Source: YafaRay is a free and open-source program.

YafaRay (Yet Another Free RAY tracer) is a program designed for all those who must create high-quality images, taking into account the direction and quality of the light.

The program is not difficult to use and has a fairly simple interface, so it will not take long learning processes to use it. For Sketchup, you need the SU2yafaray plugin.

Commercial Rendering Software for SketchUp

11. Render Octane

1. Feature-rich: Offers a full set of modern render processor features.
2. Wide Compatibility: Free exporters for Rhino, 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage, Blender, Cinema 4D, SketchUp, and Modo.
3. Affordability: Octane is the most affordable non-free rendering software, priced at $99.

The software has the usual range of features of a modern render processor and comes with free exporters for users of Rhino, 3ds Max, Maya, Softimage, Blender, Cinema 4D, SketchUp, and Modo. On the list of non-free rendering software, Octane is the cheapest, priced at $ 99.

 12.  Thea Render

• Development Heritage: Developed by the creators of Kerkythea, offering a more powerful version.
• Rendering Methods: Supports both unbiased and biased rendering methods.
• Real-Time Rendering: Incorporates real-time rendering for material preview without rendering.
• Interface Complexity:  The interface is slightly more complicated than Kerkythea’s but remains simple and easy to understand.

Thea Render belongs to the creators of Kerkythea. It is a more powerful version of the same software.

It allows the use of different rendering methods (unbiased and biased), also incorporating real-time rendering, which is very useful to see how the materials are without the need to render. The interface of this program is a little more complicated than Kerkythea’s, but it is also simple and easy to understand.

13. YOUR Podium

• Direct Integration:  Integrated directly into SketchUp for seamless use.
• User-Friendly: Known for being easy to use, reducing the learning curve.
• Photorealistic Rendering: Capable of creating beautiful photorealistic images within SketchUp.
• In-Program Operation: Operates entirely within SketchUp from start to finish.
• Cost-Effective: Priced at $178, providing an affordable rendering solution.

YOUR Podium is perhaps the best known, with direct integration into SketchUp, and it is quite easy to use. This render engine can create beautiful photorealistic images of your model in SketchUp without the tedium and frustration of learning a complex program.

YOUR Podium runs entirely within SketchUp from start to finish. Use SketchUp features such as textures and shadows to achieve impressive results. Plus, its simple interface reduces the learning curve to minutes, rather than months as for the cost price, $178.

14. Indigo Renderer

• Unbiased Rendering: Indigo Renderer is an unbiased render engine that prioritizes physics and photographic realism.
• Physics-Based Approach:  Simulates the physics of light, aiming for near-perfect image realism.
• Advanced Camera Model: Utilizes an advanced physical camera model for precise rendering.
• Realistic Material System: Incorporates a super-realistic material system to enhance visual authenticity.
• Complex Lighting Simulation: Can simulate complex lighting scenarios through Metropolis Light Transport.
• Ideal for Visualization: Particularly well-suited for architectural and product visualization, achieving high levels of realism.

Indigo Renderer is an unbiased render engine, based on physics and photographic realism that simulates the physics of light to achieve near-perfect image realism.

With an advanced physical camera model, a super-realistic material system, and the ability to simulate complex lighting situations through Metropolis Light Transport, Indigo Renderer is capable of producing the highest levels of realism required for architectural and product visualization.

15. Vue

• 3D Landscape Creation: Vue specializes in creating highly realistic 3D landscapes.
• Diverse Natural Elements: Enables the reproduction of various natural elements, including beaches, valleys, mountains, and jungles.
• Versatile Tools: Offers tools for deforming surfaces, generating terrains randomly, working with particles for clouds or fog, and texturizing models.
• Dynamic Environments: Goes beyond static modeling by incorporating dynamic weather elements like wind, rain, snow, and storms.
• Realistic Rendering Engine: Features a render engine capable of generating scenes with a high level of realism, satisfying demanding projects.
• Cost and Accessibility: Priced at $695, making it an accessible choice for advanced landscape modeling and rendering.

Vue is a software that allows you to create landscapes in 3D. With Vue, you can create an environment of natural landscapes with a very high level of reality. You can reproduce all kinds of natural elements such as beaches, coasts, valleys, meadows, cliffs, rock formations, mountains, forests, and even jungles.

It has tools to deform and modify surfaces, generate terrains randomly, work with particles to emulate all kinds of gaseous forms such as clouds or fog, texturize models, customize different sources of natural light, etc.

Vue is not limited to modeling, texturing, and lighting landscapes, but also allows you to bring it to life by applying all kinds of weather elements such as wind, rain, snow, or storms. Its render engine can generate scenes, both static and dynamic, with a level of reality capable of satisfying the most demanding projects. It costs $695.

16. Fryrender

• Physics-Based Rendering: Fryrender is based on real physics, ensuring realistic outcomes.
• Ease of Learning: Easy to learn due to logical and straightforward parameters.
• User-Friendly Configuration: Parameters are easy to configure, allowing for quick productivity.
• Simplicity for Creativity: Requires fewer parameters, freeing up time for creative work.
• Quick Productivity: Enables rapid productivity with a short learning curve.

Fryrender is based on Real Physics. For this reason, it is very easy to learn how to use it since all its parameters are logical and easy to configure. In a short time, we can be productive. Fryrender does not need hundreds of parameters to configure, thus leaving us time for our creativity.

Conclusion

Render free in SketchUp with the best software or plugins that exist to obtain quality and realistic images. The following extensions that I am going to mention are free and commercial. If you have any questions about the topic, leave your comments, and if it helped you, share the page on your social networks.