One of the reasons SmartDraw tops our list of landscape design software is its intuitive templates for patios, terraces, swimming pools, gardens and more. The interface is easy to navigate and users can modify existing plans or create their designs from scratch. There are thousands of items that can be placed in your template from the object library, including features such as curved paths, irrigation elements such as sprinkler systems, and specific plant species. When choosing landscape design software, feature comparison is an essential step in the process.
Programs like VizTerra and Home Designer Software have extensive 3D libraries and visualization tools, while PRO Landscape's unique multi-device access lets you work from more than one screen. Mobile users will appreciate the functionality of the iScape app, but overall, the best landscape design software is SmartDraw. SmartDraw is optimized enough for beginners, yet sophisticated enough to attract real experts. Multiple users can easily collaborate on projects by using shared folders, and the program is compatible with most operating systems.
It's also one of the most affordable options on the market. Our research team also considered whether someone who buys the software could easily learn how to use the program without previous experience. Finally, we chose SmartDraw as our best overall software because it's easy to use, compatible with mobile and desktop devices, and relatively affordable. By Mark Pickavance, Steve Paris, Steve Clark Last updated 31 May 22nd Whether you're a professional or a passionate enthusiast, there are plenty of 3D landscape design software, apps, and programs that simplify the creative process and help you put all your bright, beautiful and vibrant ideas on the page.
FloorPlan Home & Landscape Deluxe is a complete digital landscape and interior design program. You can create designs in no time. Adjustment and customization is just as easy, and is only marred by a potentially faulty 3D interface where objects are occasionally not selected for the first time. Space Designer 3D is an online service, which means that it will work from a browser and you won't need to install it on every computer you work on.
Read our full review of Space Designer 3D Virtual Architect Ultimate with Landscaping and Decks Design 10 is an all-in-one package for creating stunning indoor and outdoor spaces. Read our full review of Virtual Architect Ultimate with Landscaping and Decks Design 10 Select the Devices You'll Use. Certain landscape design tools are only for Windows or Mac, others are available on all platforms, while Space Designer 3D is a fully browser-based design canvas. Mark is an expert in screens, monitor and television review.
It also covers storage, including SSDs, NAS drives, and portable hard drives. He began writing in 1986 and had contributed to MicroMart, PC Format, 3D World, among others. Free programs can help you visualize the overall design of a landscape, but they may not include a large library of objects to fully customize the space. Most free programs also offer fewer viewing features than paid programs and are generally restricted to 2D viewing.
However, free and inexpensive programs are accessible to the average owner and often provide a beginner-friendly interface. Can provide the basic planning functions needed for a single project. Users can choose between 2D and 3D design options. Landscape design software that includes 2D drawings shows the length, width, and height of a design, while 3D modeling also indicates depth.
In addition to 2D and 3D viewing options, some landscape design programs offer VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) visualization to bring your landscape design to life. While there may be a learning curve when using this software, it is still designed with beginners in mind. The program includes 2D and 3D design modes. Drag-and-drop features and an extensive product library combine to make designing outdoor spaces easier.
Beyond planning a garden, users can model decks, fences and accessories or create any object with the 3D custom workshop. Idea Spectrum Realtime Landscaping Plus Software Brings Garden Ideas to Life in Stunning 3D. This desktop software helps users design gardens, patios, decks, fences, driveways and more in 2D as well. The article library offers 11,000 objects, including 5,300 varieties of plants, to visualize the design of a garden.
Designed for simple planning, this software only offers 2D models, but still decorates garden plans with stylized icons. A library of more than 1,200 plant and object symbols covers the most common garden items. In addition, gardeners will enjoy Vegetable Patch Builder, a grid planner for placing planting beds. For other elements, a drawing tool allows users to sketch designs of pavements, terraces and swimming pools.
This affordable software is available for both Windows and Mac computers. This simple program helps users create a 2D garden design using a custom drawing feature or choosing from a handful of templates. Navigating this software is very simple, thanks to the easy-to-use interface for beginners. A photo design feature allows users to take a picture of the current garden and then drag and drop 3D plants and accessories onto the image.
For new gardens and major renovations, users can create 2D scale drawings to plan the design of plant beds, borders and walkways. This standalone application is compatible with iOS and Android tablets. The app is free to download and offers a limited set of features; to get the most out of the app and its image library of over 18,000 items, users can opt for a monthly subscription. Created to create diagrams, designs and 2D designs, SmartDraw is used by both individuals and companies to create detailed diagrams and plans.
The versatile 2D diagramming software can generate everything from flowcharts and schedules to mockups and floor plans, users can draw almost anything through the easy-to-use interface. We researched the most requested landscape design programs in their respective categories and found that the best options are determined by their compatibility with their devices, ease of use, price, list of objects, 2D and 3D functionality and other special features included by top designers and brands. SketchUp is a popular tool among designers and architects, and as such, a favorite among novice users. This web-based platform allows you to work with models and includes multiple features and functionalities that guarantee real results.
If you want to upgrade, you can subscribe to SketchUpPro; however, this is a great place to start. Many architects and landscape designers use landscape design software to transform drawings into 3D views, helping their customers get a real picture of design suggestions. This type of software also promotes customer engagement. Start with the free version or free trials to test your specific needs and find out how they can help your business grow.
Plan-a-Garden creates design plans to visualize and structure your garden. Its drag-and-drop feature lets you choose plants and add them to your design so you can see how their shapes and colors work together. The application supports your experimentation with multiple trees, shrubs and perennials for the landscape. You can also filter according to plant type, size, and sunlight needs.
LMN Increases Efficiency and Profits with Effective Job Planning, Time Management, and Labor Costing Capabilities. Designers can automate the entire landscape business with complete processes and procedures covered in their training material. The free version of LMN offers features such as budgeting, customer relationship management, estimation and time tracking. Idea Spectrum's RealTime Landscaping offers 2D and 3D design features that help landscape designers visualize their ideas.
Users create engaging presentations and videos with powerful, easy-to-use design tools. Idea Spectrum offers a free trial version of RealTime Landscaping. PRO landscape design software provides architects with photographic images, CAD, 3D rendering and client proposal writing tools that meet the requirements of landscape design projects. Its free version, PRO Landscape Home, offers similar functions to the paid version, except the possibility to edit hardscapes or create 3D files and customer proposals.
GCADplus is a CAD tool for professional landscapers and architects. Software boosts productivity with features such as custom landscape templates, site-specific plant databases, and personalized online training. A free trial version is available for this software. Images can be transported directly to create a 3D landscape.
There is also an online user guide available free of charge. They have a free trial available that can help the user evaluate if they want the software or not. Know exactly what your requirements are. Once you identify those “must-haves”, “good to have” and “not needed” items, you'll be in a perfect position to narrow down the available bids and select the best free landscape design software for your needs.
Sagar Joshi is a content marketer at G2 in India. He is an engineer with a keen interest in data analysis and cybersecurity. Write about topics related to them. You can find him reading books, learning a new language or playing pool in his spare time.
Consumers prefer video content and 5G improves delivery. While not explicitly designed for landscape professionals, Cedreo offers a number of features that meet the needs of this group, such as outdoor 3D renderings and 2D drawing tools that can be used to design patios, terraces, swimming pools and the perfect garden. Landscape professionals can also use Cedreo to collaborate with clients and colleagues, as well as to promote their business online or in person, through personalized visual presentations. It's also worth noting that while VizTerra is designed for landscape professionals, it doesn't replace traditional CAD tools, but rather complements them, offering an easy-to-use platform that helps designers customize plans, collaborate with customers, and sell their services.
iScape's visualization and planning features help landscape designers show customers what the final project will look like, before it starts. It is a powerful sales tool that allows users to generate AR presentations, detailed proposals, and even manage incoming leads. That said, the app is only available on iOS devices and you can't export your designs to share them on other devices. A 30-day free trial is available, but you'll need to contact the company directly to access the demo.
While Garden Planner is not cloud-based, all updates are free for anyone who purchases the full version of the software. You're not required to get a monthly subscription, and you won't have to pay for in-app purchases to unlock “premium features”. At the same time, you get what you pay for. If you're looking for a simple tool to help you map out a community garden or garden, Garden Planner is a solid choice.
We might consider this a useful tool for homeowners, as it could help them communicate their vision to a professional landscape designer and ensure they get the results they expected. But it is also worth noting that it probably will not meet the needs of a professional landscape designer. All planning is in 2D, there is no photorealistic rendering functionality and you cannot automatically calculate dimensions or elevations. The graphics also look dated, so Garden Planner is probably not a good choice for anyone who needs to host customer presentations.
Individual owners or even some small businesses may find that Total 3D Landscape & Deck Deluxe provides the basic functionality they need to undertake simple projects. While the interface is somewhat outdated, Total 3D helps users avoid the learning curve that comes with CAD tools or even some of the more feature-rich drag-and-drop options. Professional landscape designers or architects may want to look for another solution that offers more sophisticated features and better graphics. The Windows 95 aesthetics of the platform are unlikely to help you close deals.
It also lacks key professional features such as 3D rendering, cost estimates, collaboration tools, and quick start templates. The application includes an extensive library of plants and offers recommendations on when to plant, how often to water and when to prune. You'll also find thousands of 3D graphics, garden design tools, and even a feature that lets you visualize how plants will mature up to 50 years in the future. Virtual Architect offers a robust set of features designed specifically for landscaping.
However, it is a local solution with many requirements, including 8 GB of RAM, 10 GB of hard disk space, and a Windows-compatible mouse. Unless you are working with a relatively new PC, you may need to invest in additional storage space to run this program. In addition to helping professionals create outdoor plans, our software allows home builders, interior designers and architects to generate floor plans, create attractive 3D presentations, and customize building materials and décor. Some of us aren't familiar with freehand drawing or 3D modeling, but that doesn't mean you can't play around with a design tool.
Another distinctive feature that makes iScape the best free landscape design software is the world of augmented reality, which allows you to make designs together in real time. Its detail management system keeps data consistent and organized within CAD, making it easy to customize, store, call and edit designs. Whether you're designing a garden, a large-scale commercial landscaping facility, or something in between, it's not hard to find an application or program that fits your needs. From complete options like Vectorworks Landmark to iPhone-ready landscape design apps like iScape, there's something for everyone.
One of the main complaints of users, apart from the limited functions of the free version, is the inability of the program to work well with curved designs. Even so, PRO Landscape has some impressive features (plant growth simulations, 3D rendering, proposal generation, etc. This is ideal for budding landscape designers who want to see their visions come to life on 3D screens, making it easy to turn them into a real garden space for you or your customers to enjoy. Once you select an image, you can enhance it by adding plants, flowers, shrubs and other landscape elements.
SketchUp is also available as a free web-based 3D modeling tool to help you visualize your landscape design ideas. With that in mind, here are nine landscape design software solutions worth checking out, each designed for a specific set of needs. Alternatively, you can hand over the prints to your hired landscape designer to make sure he understands exactly what you want out of your new garden. With an intuitive interface, automated construction tools, video tutorials and free customer support, it takes professional-grade design software to a more accessible level.
Landscape design is an art that is not limited to professionals, but also interests DIY enthusiasts and amateur artists who enjoy the creation process. While in this list you will find some software that can be used to design a garden or small outdoor seating area, most of these options are best suited for professionals, not homeowners. This program will be ideal for anyone who wants to get a rough idea of what they could do with their landscape and an idea of what the finished design will look like. .
.
