Side by side
| TimberLab | SketchUp | |
|---|---|---|
| How you design | Upload a photo, describe it, or pick a catalog plan; change it by asking | Draw and push-pull every part yourself |
| Cut list | Built in, in actual lumber sizes | Desktop Pro with an extension such as OpenCutList |
| Shopping list | Built in: standard boards to buy, with room for saw cuts | From an extension’s cutting diagrams, or by hand |
| Assembly steps | Step-by-step 3D guide, plus Timbo, an AI build helper | Not included; you plan the order yourself |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad (iOS 15+); existing accounts can sign in on the web | Web, iPad, Windows, Mac, depending on plan |
| Price (US) | Free download; some features need a subscription | Free (web, non-commercial); Go about $129/year; Pro about $399/year |
| Learning curve | Minutes: no drawing tools to learn | Days to weeks to get fluent |
| Control | Edits by request; less fine control over individual joints | Full control over every line and joint |
SketchUp prices are US list prices as of October 2026; check SketchUp’s site for current pricing.
Designing: describe it vs. draw it
In SketchUp, you build the model yourself with drawing, push-pull, and component tools. That gives complete freedom, but each part takes time, and getting the dimensions right is on you. In TimberLab, you start from a photo, a sentence, or a catalog plan, and the app builds the piece from real lumber parts. Changes are requests: “make it 6 inches wider”, “add a shelf”. You trade some fine control for speed.
Cut lists and shopping lists
This is the biggest practical difference. SketchUp has no built-in cut list. On SketchUp Pro for the desktop you can add an extension such as OpenCutList, an open-source extension that generates cut lists and cutting diagrams; extensions don’t run in SketchUp Free or Go. TimberLab generates the cut list from the model in actual lumber sizes (a 1x4 is ¾″ × 3½″) and fits the cuts onto standard boards to make a shopping list. When you change the design, both lists update.
Building it
SketchUp stops at the model: you work out the assembly order. TimberLab includes a step-by-step 3D assembly guide that shows which parts go on at each step, and Timbo, an AI build helper that answers questions about the step you’re on and can look at a photo of your build. If a measurement isn’t in your plan, Timbo tells you to check it rather than guessing.
When SketchUp is the better choice
- You want to design something original down to every joint, or produce shop drawings.
- You work on a computer and want desktop extensions, from cut lists to rendering.
- You already know SketchUp well; its community and 3D Warehouse are huge.
When TimberLab is the better choice
- You saw a piece you like and want a plan you can build this weekend.
- You want the cut list, shopping list, and steps without drawing anything.
- You want to resize a design to fit your space and have every list follow.
Not sure? Look at a real TimberLab plan first: the bunk bed and raised garden bed plans are complete, and our SketchUp alternatives comparison covers Fusion, Shapr3D, and SketchList 3D too.
Questions
Is TimberLab easier than SketchUp?
For getting a buildable plan, yes: you describe the piece or upload a photo instead of drawing it, and the cut list, shopping list, and assembly steps are generated for you. SketchUp gives you more control but takes time to learn.
Can SketchUp make a cut list?
Not on its own. Desktop SketchUp Pro can run extensions such as OpenCutList to generate cut lists. Extensions do not run in SketchUp Free or SketchUp Go.
Does TimberLab work on a computer?
TimberLab runs on iPhone and iPad. People with an existing account can also sign in on a computer to open their projects. New accounts are created in the iPhone app.
Can I use TimberLab and SketchUp together?
Yes. You can use TimberLab to get from an idea to a sized model and cut list quickly, and SketchUp when you want to detail joinery or produce drawings.