Best Home Design Software (2026): 10 Tools Compared

Moving a wall on screen takes seconds. Moving it once the builder has started takes weeks, and that's exactly why it's worth drawing your plans before you talk to anyone with a cement mixer.

Below are ten home design tools in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from a free open source program to apps built for contractors. Each description comes from the tool's own website, re-checked today. If you're weighing up a bigger project, my guide to which home improvements add value is worth reading before you draw a single wall.

Home design tools side by side

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free plan, free account or free download, Trial only means a time-limited free trial, and No means neither is stated. Free plans here usually limit you to one or a few projects.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
ArcSite	Mobile CAD and estimating	Mobile drawing and estimating for contractors	Trial only
Cedreo	Home design and rendering	Floor plans and 3D visuals for home projects	Yes
Floorplanner	Online floor plan planner	Drawing rooms and floor plans in a browser	Yes
Foyr Neo	Interior design software	Interior design and rendering for professionals	Trial only
Live Home 3D	Home design app	Home design on phone, tablet and desktop	Yes
magicplan	Floor plan app	Floor plans created with a phone app	Yes
Planner 5D	Home and interior planner	2D and 3D home layouts for beginners	Yes
Planoplan	Home planning software	Short free trial for room and home planning	Trial only
RoomSketcher	Floor plan and 3D design	Floor plans and 3D visuals for homes	Yes
Sweet Home 3D	Open source interior design	Free desktop program to plan a house	Yes

Ten home design programs and apps

ArcSite

Best for: Contractors and small design firms who want drawing and estimating in one mobile app, with a free 14 day trial of the full feature set.

Cedreo

Best for: Anyone who wants to start drawing a home floor plan quickly, with a free account that covers one project and the basic drawing tools.

Floorplanner

Best for: Homeowners and casual planners who want to draw rooms online, as the site says it's free for casual use with free projects kept in your account.

Foyr Neo

Best for: Interior designers who need a furniture catalogue and rendering in one tool, with a 14 day free trial offered on each plan.

Live Home 3D

Best for: People planning a home or interior who want one app across iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac and Windows, with a free version in its comparison chart.

magicplan

Best for: Homeowners and contractors who want to create floor plans with an app, starting with two free projects that include full features.

Planner 5D

Best for: Homeowners and beginners who want to build 2D and 3D layouts of a house or room, starting from the free plan on its own site.

Planoplan

Best for: People planning a renovation or new layout who want to try first, as every new user gets a 7 day free trial without a bank card.

RoomSketcher

Best for: Homeowners and small design businesses who want to draw floor plans and see them in 3D, with a free account for a first floor plan.

Sweet Home 3D

Best for: Homeowners who want a free, open source desktop program to draw a house plan, arrange furniture and visit the result in 3D.

The extension limits England's Planning Portal sets out

Here's the bit that saves heartache. In England, the Planning Portal's guidance on house extensions says that under permitted development rules, only half the area of land around the original house can be covered by extensions or other buildings. It also says that where an extension comes within two metres of a boundary, the eaves height can't be more than three metres.

These rules are for houses, not flats or maisonettes, and they don't apply where an Article 4 direction or a planning condition has removed permitted development rights. If you're outside England, check your own nation's rules before you rely on them.

What it means for you: before you fall in love with a layout, measure your plot and mark the boundaries in your design tool. A lovely rear extension that covers more than half the garden, or a tall eaves line right next to the fence, is a planning application waiting to happen, not a weekend project.

Room planner, 3D walkthrough or contractor drawings

• A single room or a quick layout: a browser floor planner is enough to test where the sofa, bed or desk goes.
• A whole house in 3D: look for a tool that lets you walk through the plan, because it's the easiest way to spot a cramped hallway.
• Measuring an existing home: a phone app that builds a floor plan as you go saves a lot of tape-measure scribbling.
• Client work: designers and contractors need rendering, a furniture catalogue or estimating, which is where a trial makes sense.

Seven steps from rough idea to a plan you can share

1. Measure every room, including wall thickness, windows and doors.
2. Mark the plot boundaries and anything fixed, such as drains and trees.
3. Draw the house as it stands today before you change a single wall.
4. Save a copy, then sketch two or three versions of the change you want.
5. Walk through each version in 3D and note what feels tight.
6. Check the version you like against the planning rules for your area.
7. Export the plan as an image or PDF to share with a builder or architect.

What a free home design plan usually leaves out

Free plans are lovely for getting started, but read the small print before you draw the whole house. Most of the free tiers here limit you to one or a handful of projects, and some keep the best rendering or export options for the upgraded versions. A free trial is different: you get everything, but only for a week or two, so have your measurements ready before you start the clock.

And remember that a home design tool isn't an architect. It'll show you whether a kitchen island fits, but it won't tell you whether a wall is load-bearing. If you're designing a brand new house rather than changing an old one, my guide to comparing building with buying walks through the questions to ask first.

Do you make home design software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on home design software

Start free and start small. Draw the room or floor you're changing in a free planner, get the measurements right, and only move to a trial of a more advanced program when you need rendering, estimating or drawings for someone else.

Before you share a plan with anyone, check it against the planning rules where you live, and ask a builder or structural engineer about any wall you want to move. The software makes it easy to dream; the measurements and the rules keep it buildable.

Related: the home renovation page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest home design software for beginners?

A browser floor planner or a simple home planner app is the easiest start. Look for drag and drop furniture and a 3D view so you can see the room, not just the lines.

Is there free home design software?

Yes. Several tools describe a free plan, free account or free download, though most free versions limit how many projects you can save. One option on this list is open source.

Can I design my house on my phone?

Yes. Some apps run on iPhone, iPad and Android, and floor plan apps can help you create a plan of an existing room.

Do I need planning permission for an extension in England?

Not always. The Planning Portal explains which house extensions fall under permitted development, including limits on how much land they cover and on eaves height near a boundary. Flats and some areas have different rules.

Can home design software replace an architect?

No. It's great for testing layouts and explaining what you want, but structural changes, building regulations and planning drawings need a qualified professional.

Which file should I give my builder?

Ask what they prefer. A dimensioned floor plan exported as a PDF or image is usually a good place to start the conversation.