One Client Message, and I Panicked First
On Tuesday afternoon, a client messaged me on WeChat asking to change the viewing angle of their living room design. SketchUp wasn't installed on my computer, and I couldn't open the model on my phone. In the past, my options were to buy software on the spot or outsource the edit.
I've been blindsided by surprise work before: the extra fee never came through, but my time was already gone. So I tried KetchUp to see whether a free workflow could let clients rotate the model themselves and reduce the number of revision rounds.
What It Is, and Who's Using It
KetchUp is an open-source 3D design tool built along the SketchUp model: create spatial models, switch viewing angles, and export deliverables. It's built with Rust and WebGPU, so I can open a browser and enter a workspace without installing traditional desktop software.
I know a designer, Xiaozhou, who works from a coworking space in Hangzhou and helps restaurant clients revise their stores. In September 2025, he demonstrated KetchUp to two clients, discussing table and chair placement using browser-based spatial models. People in the HN community have also used it to discuss floor plans and concept models. Still, Xiaozhou's example was an early trial, not proof that KetchUp can replace every commercial workflow.
What It Costs to Replicate Today
The software itself is free and open source, so the direct cost is CNY 0. In my experience, preparing a simple spatial model took 2–4 hours. The technical barrier is knowing how to drag dimensions, change angles, and read the model's units. The first step is to click “New Project” on the web app, create a project, then drag out a wall.
I got this part wrong too: I initially mixed centimeters and meters, so the dimensions looked completely off. When reference material is limited, I can start with a 3–5-square-meter test model and verify the units and export results. Not everyone needs it; if a client only wants a floor plan, paper and a pen or an ordinary drawing tool may be faster. There's no urgency to try it.
How I'd Choose It by Business Stage
If I'm just starting out, I'd use the free version for presentation drafts first, without rushing to migrate every client project, and keep the time investment under half a day. With 1–2 stable clients, I'd pilot one space project that allows browser previews and see whether the number of revision rounds drops. If I'm scaling up, I'd validate export formats, permissions, and multiplayer collaboration before deciding whether to replace my current software.
What kinds of drawings or spatial edits do clients ask you for most often? I'm curious to hear where you get stuck.