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Looking to update your outdoor space? To design the backyard or garden of your dreams, trade your pen and paper for a landscape design software program to visualize and lay out an outdoor space. The best landscape design software options are user-friendly and functional, making it simple to arrange, edit, and update landscaping plans.
Some landscape design software also assists with planning outdoor fixtures like decks, pools, fountains, and covered outdoor spaces. This guide will explore factors to consider when choosing landscape design software and then review some of the top options on the market.
- BEST OVERALL: Punch! Landscape Design Software
- RUNNER-UP: Idea Spectrum Realtime Landscaping Plus
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Garden Planner
- BEST FREE: Gardena myGarden
- BEST DESKTOP: Chief Architect Home Designer Suite
- BEST IN-BROWSER: Trimble SketchUp for Web
- BEST FOR TABLETS: PRO Landscape
- BEST FOR LAYOUT DESIGN: SmartDraw
- ALSO CONSIDER: Structure Studios VizTerra Landscape Design Software
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Landscape Design Software
With a range of options for every designer, from the new homeowner to the professional contractor, landscape design software makes landscape design accessible to a wider audience. The best landscape design software for you will depend on your needs and skill level. When choosing a software option, consider the price, device compatibility, viewing options, and usability, in addition to the number of features and functions to design your ideal outdoor space.
Free Vs. Paid
Both free and paid landscape design software options are available. Free design software is an attractive option for budget-conscious planners. However, these programs often include fewer features than paid versions.
Free programs can help envision the overall layout of a landscape but may not include a large object library to customize the space entirely. Most free programs also offer fewer viewing features than paid programs and are usually restricted to 2D viewing. However, low-cost and free programs are accessible to the average homeowner and often provide a novice-friendly interface. They can deliver the basic planning features necessary for a one-time project.
Paid landscape design software programs offer the widest array of functions, such as customizable features, a thoughtfully designed interface, and expansive item, material, and plant libraries. Many paid programs allow for a free trial period or a demo version for users to see if it is a good fit for their needs.
Device Compatibility
A design program will have little use without a compatible device on which to perform. Luckily, landscape design software options are available for a range of devices and platforms, including computers, tablets, mobile devices, and web browsers.
As with many software programs, make sure to check the system requirements before buying or downloading any landscape design software. Some options have different programs or apps available for Windows or Mac systems and Android or iOS devices. When choosing a desktop program, also consider system requirements, such as memory space.
Web-based programs run in a browser and are accessible to a broader audience since they don’t require any downloads. However, keep in mind that the majority of landscape design software is optimized for desktop browsers rather than mobile phone browsers.
User-Friendly Interface
Landscape design software is available for every level of designer, from DIY hobbyists to professional contractors. For the average homeowner, a user-friendly interface is an important feature. Choose a software with a balance between easy-to-use functionality and a wide range of design features.
Novice-friendly landscape design software includes intuitive functionality that makes it easier to use, such as premade design templates, click-and-drag options, and drag-and-drop features. An expansive item, material, and plant library also add to the user-friendly experience.
For complicated landscape plans or those with design experience, a more complex software program is a suitable pick. These options typically include more customizable features, allowing creative designers to sketch items from scratch. Since there are more features, these programs also tend to have a steeper learning curve.
2D and 3D Design Features
Users can choose between 2D and 3D design options. Landscape design software that features 2D drafting displays the length, width, and height of a layout, whereas 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) viewing to bring your landscape design to life.
- Software with 2D drafting capability is helpful for planning out an area’s dimensions. These programs tend to use simple shapes and images to present the plan in an easy-to-understand way, like creating an overhead blueprint of an outdoor space. While they are excellent for planning, 2D designs don’t offer the visualization options of 3D models.
- Software with 3D modeling functionality provides a visualization of how the landscape will look in real life. These programs are intended to capture the ambiance of the finished space. Photo-realistic 3D renderings and video walk-throughs are among the best landscape design software options to better visualize your outdoor space.
Our Top Picks
Visualize an upcoming landscaping project with the best landscape design software. The following options assist with the creation of a beautiful outdoor space, helping users plot flower beds, shrubbery, and lawns, as well as plan out walkways, decks, and more. With the above considerations in mind, these software options are among the best programs for their usability and a wide variety of features.
Best Overall
Punch! Landscape Design Software
Pros
- 4 versions available
- Suitable for beginners and professionals
- Drag-and-drop function
- Automatic growth tool
Cons
- Some versions are pricey
- Most versions focus on exterior design and landscaping
Punch! offers a variety of paid Windows and Mac desktop programs for home and landscape design. This software is a versatile program for designing interior and exterior spaces. There are four versions from which users can choose—Essentials, Studio, Professional, and Architectural Series. All four versions include a robust set of landscape design tools and realistic visualization modes.
While there may be a learning curve to using this software, it’s still designed with beginners in mind. The program features 2D and 3D design modes. Drag-and-drop functions and a large product library combine to make outdoor spaces easier to design. Beyond planning a garden, users can model decks, fences, and fixtures or create any object using the 3D custom workshop.
The Punch! software planting library includes a wide selection of trees, flowers, and shrubs, each with detailed information so users can make the best selections for their area. Another handy feature is the automatic growth tool, which helps users envision their landscape over time.
Product Specs
- Compatible Systems: Windows and iOS
- Free/Paid: Paid
- 2D and 3D Design: Yes
Get the Punch! Landscape software at Punch Software.
Runner-Up
Idea Spectrum Realtime Landscaping Plus
Pros
- 11,000 items; 5,300 plant varieties
- Plant Growth tool
- Terrain sculpting tools
- Drag-and-drop function
Cons
- May be hard for new users to navigate
- No versions available for iOS systems
Idea Spectrum’s Realtime Landscaping Plus software brings garden ideas to life in stunning 3D. This desktop software helps users design gardens, yards, decks, fencing, driveways, and more in 2D as well. The item library offers 11,000 objects, including 5,300 plant varieties, to visualize a garden design.
Each plant option includes its common and botanical names, planting zones, and size for users to make suitable plant decisions. The Plant Growth tool allows users to view what their garden design will look like over the coming years and, more importantly, estimate in advance the room each plant will need. Terrain sculpting tools help users visualize realistic topography.
This paid software is designed for beginners with a relatively user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop functions. There may be a learning curve to take advantage of its full suite of features, but most users should find it simple to get started. At this time, this software is only available for desktop computers that run Windows.
Product Specs
- Compatible Systems: Windows
- Free/Paid: Paid
- 2D and 3D Design: Yes
Get the Idea Spectrum Realtime Landscaping software at Idea Spectrum.
Best Bang for the Buck
Garden Planner
Pros
- Drag-and-drop design tools
- 1,200 plants and objects
- Vegetable Patch Builder
- Drawing tool
Cons
- Less objects and plants in the item list than comparable options
- Suitable for simple or small-scale projects
Garden Planner is a basic paid desktop software for the budget-conscious. This affordable software provides drag-and-drop design tools needed to create a garden plan, including planning gardens, pavings, pathways, and fences. The drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to operate; users can arrange plants, fixtures, and buildings with a simple click.
Made for simple planning, this software only offers 2D models but still dresses up garden plans with stylized icons. A library of over 1,200 plants and object symbols covers most common garden items. In addition, gardeners will enjoy the Vegetable Patch Builder, a grid planner for laying out planting beds. For other items, a drawing tool lets users sketch paving, decking, and pool designs. This affordable software is available for both Windows and Mac computers.
Product Specs
- Compatible Systems: Windows and iOS
- Free/Paid: Paid
- 2D and 3D Design: 2D only
Get the Garden Planner software at Small Blue Printer.
Best Free
Gardena myGarden
Pros
- Suitable for basic landscaping planning
- Beginner-friendly
- Compatible with smartphones, tablets, and laptops
Cons
- No 3D design option available
- Limited item library
With no registration process or program fees, the Gardena myGarden website is one of the most easily accessible options on this list. This in-browser free landscape design software is optimized for larger screens, like computers and tablets, but also works on mobile phone browsers. Users can start planning with just one click.
This simple program helps users create a 2D garden layout using a custom drawing feature or by choosing from a handful of templates. Navigating this software is a breeze, thanks to the beginner-friendly interface.
Users can choose from a limited number of materials, plants, garden furniture, and outdoor leisure items. This free landscape design software is easy to use, its main drawback is the limited product library. For this reason, myGarden is better suited for basic layout planning rather than detailed visualizations.
Product Specs
- Compatible Systems: Windows and iOS
- Free/Paid: Free
- 2D and 3D Design: 2D only
Get the Gardena myGarden software at Gardena.
Best Desktop
Chief Architect Home Designer Suite
Pros
- Suitable for interior and exterior designs
- Professional-level software
- Templates available
- 3,6000 plant varieties
Cons
- May be hard for new users to navigate
Consider Chief Architect’s Home Designer Suite software to design landscapes, outdoor fixtures, and interior rooms. This paid software is a robust home design software compatible with both Windows and Mac computers.
This software is designed for DIY enthusiasts. With an intuitive interface, automated building tools, video tutorials, and free customer support, it brings professional-level design software to a more accessible level.
The program includes an array of landscape and deck design options. Users can choose from a template or design their own landscape. Both 2D and 3D viewing options help users visualize their new space, and with up to 3,600 plant varieties, it’s simple to customize the garden. Click, drag, and drop functions make this software easy to use, even when adjusting more complex features like terrain molding.
Product Specs
- Compatible Systems: Windows and iOS
- Free/Paid: Paid
- 2D and 3D Design: Yes
Get the Chief Architect software at Home Designer Software.
Best In-Browser
Trimble SketchUp for Web
Pros
- Free, limited browser version or paid unlimited version
- Excellent 3D modeling software
- Hundreds of thousands of items in the object library
Cons
- May be hard for new users to navigate
Popular among professional designers, Trimble SketchUp is a feature-filled 3D rendering software. Since it’s made with designers in mind, this software can create pretty much any features users call to mind with tools to visualize, model, and render an idea into a detailed plan. There may be a learning curve for some users, but for those who want to undertake creative landscaping plans, the flexibility of this program is well worth it.
Two versions are available: a free in-browser version with limited features and a paid subscription version with full features. The paid version offers both a browser-based and a desktop program.
SketchUp Free includes the core 3D modeling software, which is filled with features for users to design a custom landscape. However, both 2D and 3D viewing options are available, and free users have access to an extensive free 3D Warehouse, which is a vast user-generated item library with hundreds of thousands of objects.
Product Specs
- Compatible Systems: Windows and iOS
- Free/Paid: Free or paid
- 2D and 3D Design: Yes
Get the Trimble SketchUp software at SketchUp.
Best for Tablets
PRO Landscape
Pros
- Suitable for contractors and designers
- Drag-and-drop function
- Real-time landscaping; snap pictures and begin designing
- Compatible with smartphones, tablets, or laptops
- 18,000-plus-item object library
- Monthly subscription optional
Cons
- iOS installation may be tricky for some users
PRO Landscape’s Contractor app is designed with contractors in mind, with a range of features to visualize a dreamy garden. The user-friendly interface puts simple garden design at the designer’s fingertips.
A photo design feature allows users to snap a picture of the current garden and then drag and drop 3D plants and fixtures into the image. For new gardens and more significant renovations, users can create scaled 2D drawings to plan the layout of plant beds, edging, and walkways.
This stand-alone app is compatible with both iOS and Android tablets. Downloading the app is free and offers a limited set of features; to take full advantage of the app and its 18,000-plus-item image library, users can opt in to a monthly subscription.
Product Specs
- Compatible Systems: Android and iOS
- Free/Paid: Free
- 2D and 3D Design: Yes
Get the PRO Landscape software at PRO Landscape.
Best for Layout Design
SmartDraw
Pros
- Suitable for designers, industry professionals, as well as DIY enthusiasts
- Includes flow charts, schedules, mock-ups, and floor plans
- Drag-and-drop function
- Compatible with smartphones, tablets, and laptops
- Free browser version or paid subscription
Cons
- No 3D design options
Made for creating 2D diagrams, layouts, and designs, SmartDraw is used by individuals and businesses alike to create detailed diagrams and blueprints. The versatile 2D diagramming software can generate everything from flow charts and schedules to mock-ups and floor plans—users can draw almost anything via the user-friendly interface.
The software features editable landscape design templates, or users can create a design from scratch. An extensive landscape symbol library makes it easy to drag and drop features into the plan. With thousands of symbols and shapes, users can add features like grasses, shrubs, sprinkler systems, and photo-realistic textures to plan out walkways.
Users can try SmartDraw for free, then update to a paid subscription to take advantage of its full features. The program is accessible from any web browser, including on mobile devices, so users can design from anywhere. Finished plans are easy to share with family, friends, or contractors through integrations with Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, and OneDrive.
Product Specs
- Compatible Systems: Windows and iOS
- Free/Paid: Free or paid
- 2D and 3D Design: 2D only
Get the SmartDraw software at SmartDraw.
Also Consider
Structure Studios VizTerra Landscape Design Software
Pros
- Drag-and-drop function
- Thousands of plant varieties, decorations, and objects
- Compatible with Oculus Rift headsets
Cons
- Not iOS compatible
- May not be compatible with smartphones and tablets
VizTerra from Structure Studios can help bring your best landscape designs to life via striking 3D renderings. Made for beginners and expert designers alike, this software boasts an intuitive interface and a range of customizable design tools.
Users can create a topographic landscape, gardens, pathways, fences, pools, decks, and other outdoor fixtures. To add greenery to the design, access the drag-and-drop plant library, which features thousands of lifelike trees, flowers, and ground cover. The library also includes thousands of decorations and objects to fully flesh out the finished outdoor space.
Users can design in 2D or 3D mode. To make it easier to visualize a design, simply transform 2D project drawings into interactive 3D presentations with just one click. For the most immersive experience, this software is compatible with Oculus Rift headsets for a virtual reality experience. It is only available for Windows computer systems.
Product Specs
- Compatible Systems: Windows
- Free/Paid: Paid
- 2D and 3D Design: Yes
Get the Structure Studios software at Structure Studios.
Our Verdict
The Punch! Landscape Design Software offers multiple versions for specific project types and is easy enough for beginners to use while providing features that professionals know and love. Alternatively, for a budget-friendly option, the free Garden Planner software is made for simple landscaping projects with its 2D design function, drawing tool, and vegetable patch builder.
How We Chose the Best Landscape Design Software
We researched the most sought-after landscape design programs in their respective categories and discovered that the best options are determined by their compatibility with your devices, ease of use, price point, object list, 2D and 3D functionality, and other special features included by top designers and brands.
While searching for the best landscaping design software available, we selected options that were available with Windows and/or iOS devices including computers, smartphones, and tablets. Though each software differs slightly in features and tools, each is easy to use for beginners as well as seasoned designers and contractors for the best landscape designs. While many of these options need to be paid for, some options are free to use in a browser or by download.
These landscape design tools also come with 2D and/or 3D design options with thousands of objects, plants, and items to choose from. Plus, many of the above options come with a drag-and-drop feature, Vegetable Patch Builder or Plant Growth Tool, Terrain Sculpting tools, and/or templates for creating a unique and ideal landscape.
FAQs
The best landscape design software programs work to visualize your new outdoor space. These programs make it simple to create, arrange, and edit a detailed landscaping plan. Before choosing your landscape design software, consider the frequently asked questions and answers below.
Q: How do I use landscape design software?
Follow the directions to start a browser-based program, or download and install a desktop program. Once you’ve opened the program, begin by exploring the different features and functions to start designing.
Q: What is the best free landscape design software?
Gardena myGarden is the best free, in-browser landscape design software on this list for novice designers. This basic program requires no design experience and no registration or email sign-up to start the design process.
Q: How do I download landscape design software?
On the program website or once you’ve purchased the software, follow the displayed instructions on how to download and install the landscape design software on either a Windows or Mac platform.
