Freedom251 › 3D modeling software
Hew
What Hew is
Hew is a free, open-source, solids-first 3D modeler for people familiar with SketchUp, including woodworkers, builders, makers, and architects. Its tools include Push/Pull, Follow Me, Offset, Move, Rotate, Scale, Tape Measure, Protractor, and Section Plane. Push/pull operations create separate objects rather than merging with neighbors, and Hew reports whether objects are watertight. It imports SketchUp 2017 SKP and COLLADA DAE files, with warnings for non-manifold imported geometry. Exports include glTF, STL, 3MF, and USDZ, while the documented HEW format is open. Users can organize models with nested groups, components, visibility tags, scenes, and an outliner, and add materials, textures, dimensions, leader text, and 3D text. Models can be printed to paper or PDF at exact scale, including tiled sheets, and exported for 3D printing. Hew runs on iOS, Linux, macOS, the web, and Windows; the web app can be self-hosted. The maker describes the project as early-stage, without SketchUp’s long professional development history or established community. A 23-chapter guide and in-app bug-report dialog are provided.
Who it suits
Hew suits SketchUp-familiar woodworkers, builders, makers, and architects who want open-source solids modeling and 3D-print exports. It also fits users needing multiple platforms or a self-hosted web app.
What it does well
- Free and open-source with no paid feature tier
- Imports SKP and COLLADA files
- Exports glTF, STL, 3MF, and USDZ
- Reports watertight and non-manifold geometry
- Prints exact-scale paper or PDF layouts
What to know first
- No sculpting, animation, or parametric modeling tools
- No render engine is listed
- Project lacks SketchUp’s established community
- Desktop versions require specified operating systems
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free and open-source | No subscription, account, expiring trial, or paid feature tier | Free |
As hew3d.com lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Hew provides solids-focused modeling, broad file exchange, organization tools, and exact-scale printing across several platforms. It remains an early-stage project, with no listed sculpting, animation, parametric modeling, or rendering features.
Facts from Hew's own pages
- Animation tools
- No · hew3d.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Desktop requirements
- The download page specifies macOS 11 or later, Windows 10 or later, and WebKitGTK 4.1 for Linux. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- File exports
- Hew exports glTF, STL, 3MF, and USDZ; its native HEW format is documented and open. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- File imports
- Hew imports SketchUp 2017-format SKP files and COLLADA DAE files, and can flag non-manifold imported geometry. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · hew3d.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Limitations
- The maker says Hew is just getting started and does not have SketchUp's 25 years of professional development or its established community. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Modeling tools
- It includes tools such as Push/Pull, Follow Me, Offset, Move, Rotate, Scale, Tape Measure, Protractor, and Section Plane. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Organization and annotation
- The product supports nested groups, components, visibility tags, scenes, an outliner, materials and textures, dimensions, leader text, and 3D text. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Parametric modeling
- No · hew3d.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Platform access
- both · hew3d.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Platforms
- Hew runs as a native app on macOS, Windows, and Linux, in a WebGL2-capable browser, and as a phone PWA in read-only Shop Mode. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- 3D print export
- Yes · hew3d.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Printing
- Hew can print models to paper or PDF at exact scale, including tiled layouts across multiple sheets. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- Hew is a free, open-source, solids-first 3D modeler aimed at people familiar with SketchUp, including woodworkers, builders, makers, and architects. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Render engine
- none · hew3d.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Report contents
- Bug report contents are shown with checkboxes and previews before submission, and the user can untick model files or other included data. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Sculpting tools
- No · hew3d.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Security and bug reports
- Bug reports are only submitted after the user clicks Send, are stored privately in Hew's Cloudflare account, and are automatically deleted after 90 days. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Self-hosting
- The maker says users can self-host the web app locally, from a simple nginx setup to a Proxmox LXC setup. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Solid modeling
- Each push/pull creates a discrete object that does not merge with neighboring objects, and the app reports whether objects are watertight. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Support and learning
- Hew provides a 23-chapter user guide and an in-app bug-report dialog that returns a report ID after submission. · hew3d.com, 9 Oct 2026
Where Hew stands on Freedom251
- 3D modeling software#43 of 147