15 Best Software For Floor Plans for Architects and Designers

Updated on November 5, 2022  |  Software Reviews 

If you are an architect or designer, you know that designing a floor plan can be time-consuming and tricky.

Thankfully, there are some great software programs out there that make the process much easier.

EdrawMax Icon

EdrawMax

EdrawMax allows you to effortlessly add accessories, including doors, furniture, and other elements, to layout designs with rooms of any size or shape.

SketchUp Icon

SketchUp

SketchUp an user-friendly tool enables users to design spaces, communicate their concepts with others, and even produce 3D models.

Draft it Icon

Draft it

Draft It offers various drafting features, including the capacity to import symbols and AutoCAD files from other programs.

RoomSketcher Icon

RoomSketcher

RoomSketcher is a fantastic tool for creating homes since it makes it simple to construct floor plans with complex perspectives and depth.

In this article, we will highlight the 15 best software programs for floor plans. We hope this article will help you get started on your next design project!

What are the 15 best floor plan software options?

EdrawMax

EdrawMax Logo

EdrawMax is a diagram software that allows you to create professional-looking layouts. You can use it to design layouts with rooms of any shape or size, and you can easily add accessories, such as doors, furniture, and more. The software has built-in scale tools for you to get the perfect layout.

Nick's Take

From my perspective, this cross-platform diagram software is easy to use and provides quick-start templates to help you create just the perfect layout in minutes.

Features:

  1. Includes a range of templates and symbols to help you create visual representations of your ideas.
  2. Lets you easily export and share your diagrams in a variety of formats.
  3. You can print your diagrams and share them with friends.
  4. Allows you to connect different shapes by connecting the appropriate connectors.
  5. A data flow diagram can help stakeholders understand how information flows through a process or system.
  6. The Zoom function allows you to enlarge parts of your diagram.
  7. You can add a local image to make your diagram background stand out more.
EdrawMax Features

Pros:

  • Easy to use and provides quick-start templates
  • You can create layouts of any shape or size
  • There is a free trial available
  • EdrawMax supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and online use

Cons:

  • Limited variety of diagrams
  • Difficulty in getting proportions correct
  • Difficult to print or share
  • Limited support for cross-platform usage

Pricing:

Subscription Plan – $99/Year

Lifetime Plan – $198 One-time payment

Lifetime Bundle Plan – $245 One-time Payment

SketchUp

SketchUp Logo

SketchUp is a software that was created in 1999 and allows users to design rooms, share their ideas with others, and even create 3D models. It’s a user-friendly program that can be used by anyone and is often recommended for people starting in interior design.

Nick's Take

I think that If you just want to sketch out some ideas before arranging your home, the trial version should be all that you need.

Features:

  1. You can use LayOut to create professional presentations of your SketchUp models.
  2. You can generate reports that give stakeholders all the information they need.
  3. There are also productivity extensions that can help with general tasks such as organizing data or creating profiles.
  4. SketchUp uses inferencing to make accuracy and speed easy.
  5. PreDesign helps you get critical site information before you start modeling, which reduces the need for rework during schematic design.
  6. You can turn your 3D model into accurate, detailed 2D construction drawings with LayOut.
  7. With SketchUp’s mixed reality viewing applications, you can let your clients virtually walk through your designs at 1:1 scale.
  8. Trimble Connect allows users to manage multiple files and to-dos from a single platform.
  9. The SketchUp MobileViewer allows you to access your models from different places.
SketchUp Features

Pros:

  • It’s a versatile and powerful 3D design software
  • It’s ideal for drafts and documentation
  • It’s easy to use and intuitive

Cons:

  • Difficult to add plugins
  • Limited export options
  • Limited in features compared to other 3D design software
  • Limited functionality without add-ons

Pricing:

SketchUp Go – $119/year

SketchUp Pro – $299/year

SketchUp Studio – $699/year

Draft it by CAD Logic

Draft it by CAD Logic Logo

Draft It is a powerful 2D CAD drawing tool that can also develop 3D models. The software has many features for drafting, including the ability to import AutoCAD files and symbols from other applications. The software is available at a low price and has a free trial.

Nick's Take

If you ask me, Draft It should be at the top of your list if you’re looking for an affordable and powerful 2D CAD drawing program that’s easy to use.

Features:

  1. Draft It comes with pre-installed templates and a comprehensive object library.
  2. Home renovation apps and software can help you with everything from choosing the right contractor to organizing your paperwork.
  3. Can import AutoCAD files and other external design components and symbols into Draft It
  4. You can easily create horizontal, vertical, angle, tangent, and offset construction lines.
  5. The Properties Explorer displays the settings of the items being drawn or modified.
  6. Powerful drawing tools which allow for accurate and professional drawings
  7. Allows for unrestricted printing and saving of drawings, making it free of any limitations.
Draft it by CAD Logic Features

Pros:

  • Comprehensive object library
  • Import AutoCAD files and other external design components and symbols
  • Comes with dynamic editing functions
  • It includes an AI helper

Cons:

  • Limited edition
  • Limited features
  • Not user-friendly

Pricing:

Draft it Free – $0

Draft it Plus – $23.08 – One-time payment

Draft it Pro – $114.24 – One-time payment

RoomSketcher

RoomSketcher Logo

RoomSketcher is a cloud-based platform that enables users to easily create stunning floor plans, office projects, and real estate designs. RoomSketcher makes it easy to share your designs with others and provides interactive 3D walkthroughs so you can see what your design will look like before you finish it.

Nick's Take

It seems to me that RoomSketcher is a great tool for home designing as it makes it easy to create floor plans with intricate perspectives and depth.

Features:

  1. Customize 3D floor plans to get a personalized look every time
  2. Customize 2D floor plans to get the same consistent look
  3. Add room and wall measurements with one quick click.
  4. Use an existing blueprint as a template – fast and easy to draw over.
  5. Brand your floor plans with your logo, company name, and colors.
  6. Our Mobile Solutions allow you to work on projects anywhere – even if you’re not online.
  7. Easily change materials, colors, and finishes in your designs using our easy-to-use tools.
  8. Embed interactive 3D designs into articles and blog posts for easy viewing.
  9. Create stunning 3D photos of your designs for use on your website or in 360-degree views.
RoomSketcher Features

Pros:

  • Provides easy-to-use architectural design
  • Provides interactive 3D walkthroughs
  • The App works on Windows and Mac computers as well as iPad and Android tablets
  • There is customer service available if needed

Cons:

  • Limited storage space
  • Requires time investment
  • Cannot make larger projects
  • Occasionally produces designs that do not meet the specifications requested.

Pricing:

For Business:

Order from – $38/level

Pro – $99/year

High Volume – Contact RoomSketcher for details

For Personal:

Order from – $38/level

VIP – $49/year

Pro – $99/year

For Education:

Try for Free – $0

VIP – $49/year

Pro – $99/year

Sweet Home 3D

Sweet Home 3D Logo

Sweet Home 3D is an easy-to-use and affordable floor plan creator that has a 2D plan and a 3D preview of the house you are designing. You can export designs as PDFs, videos, bitmaps, or vector graphics images. The software is available in 29 languages and is good for estate agents who have to work in more than one language.

Nick's Take

From my perspective, this application is perfect for newbies looking for an affordable way to access a CAD program without having to spend a lot of money.

Features:

  1. You can export designs as PDFs, videos, bitmaps, or vector graphics images.
  2. It is an open-source option which is a rarity in this segment.
  3. It offers excellent functionalities for the price tag.
  4. You can easily create 2D plans of houses and view their 3D previews, finalize the blueprint of structures and use additional accessories to understand their placements.
  5. It has a blueprint import option that allows you to modify an existing plan and then print or export them in various formats.
  6. You can view all changes simultaneously in the 3D view from any point.
  7. You can change colors, textures, size, and orientation of furniture, walls, floors, and ceilings.
Sweet Home 3D Features

Pros:

  • It helps design and finalize the blueprint of structures and use additional accessories
  • The software is easy to understand for even the most basic users
  • You can annotate your plans with information such as room areas, dimensions, and other details
  • It has a blueprint import option

Cons:

  • Inconsistent appearance of objects in the gallery
  • In addition to creating plans and designs for houses, Sweet Home 3D is limited in its functionality and design options.
  • Limited to drawing up a quick house plan
  • The video rendering quality of Sweet Home 3D is poor.

Pricing:

Free version is available at SourceForge.net

Paid version is available on the Microsoft Store at $14.99

Easy Blue Print

Easy Blue Print Logo

Easy Blue Print is a software program that lets you easily create floor plans. You can customize the resolution of the exported images to produce higher-quality images. The Easy Blue Print software lets you easily create accurate real estate brochures or post them on your website.

Nick's Take

I think that Easy Blue Print can get the job done quickly as it has a range of features to make the layout process easy and efficient without any complications.

Features:

  1. The tracing feature in the floor plan drawing software makes it easy to copy elements and attributes from other floor plans.
  2. It is easy to add dimension lines to a floor plan drawing with Easy Blue Print.
  3. Wall list editor allows users to add dimension lines between different points in a room.
  4. Distance measurements are automatically adjusted according to real-world measurements.
  5. Users can create and use custom objects to enhance floor plans.
  6. Users can export drawings as JPEG or BITMAP images, or PDF files.
Easy Blue Print Features

Pros:

  • Compatible with Windows 11, Windows 10 & Windows 8
  • Easy to use
  • You don’t need to enter any extra information
  • You can easily and quickly pay for your goods

Cons:

  • Limited customizable objects
  • Poor stair design
  • Limited drawing tools

Pricing:

Easy Blue Print Professional – $59.99

You can get a $20 discount on the professional version of Easy Blue Print by using the coupon code “LaborDay20”. The Professional Version comes with a 30-day risk-free guarantee, so you can try it out and see if it works for you.

LucidChart

LucidChart Logo

LucidChart is a software that helps users to create designs collaboratively. It has a floor plan creator, which can be good for simple designs but might not be suitable for more complex designs. LucidChart is one of the cheapest options on our list, and it’s free to use for the first 14 days.

Nick's Take

From my perspective, this software is perfect for design teams who need seamless collaboration. Its elementary level of functionality and integration makes it more suited for designing charts, documents, and visual aids.

Features:

  1. Has a Chrome extension that allows you to work offline
  2. You can export to PDF and use a special presentation mode that strips away the interface
  3. Has an iPad app that allows you to create floor plans on the move
  4. Automated diagramming capabilities help employees work more efficiently
  5. Enables users to easily import their diagrams from MS Visio, Gliffy, and OmniGraffle
  6. Allows for easy editing and feedback with commenting and chat features
  7. Employees can collaborate on documents in real time, regardless of location
  8. Control who has access to documents by migrating all users to a centrally managed account
  9. Enhanced security allows you to protect your intellectual property while using Lucidchart
LucidChart Features

Pros:

  • Convenient for drawing floor plans
  • The LucidChart mobile app is sleek and easy to use.
  • Good for team collaboration
  • Easy to adjust the scale

Cons:

  • Not suitable for serious and professional 3D modelers
  • No automated templates
  • Page layout can be confusing until you get used to how the product handles.
  • Low object limit

Pricing:

Free – $0

Individual – $7.95

Team – $9

Enterprise – Contact Lucidchart for details

Autodesk Civil 3D

Autodesk Civil 3D Logo

Autodesk Civil 3D is a civil engineering software that allows users to design and document tomorrow’s civil infrastructure today. It is a professional-grade floor plan software that is excellent for collaboration, as it provides users with a range of features for bridge, corridor, and site design.

Nick's Take

I think Autodesk Civil 3D undertakes a design-based approach to plan production and works with a model-based environment to make better design decisions.

Features:

  1. Survey workflows include downloading, creating, analyzing, and adjusting survey data.
  2. Terrain modeling can be used for land-use studies, transportation planning, and water flow simulations.
  3. Corridor modeling can be used for highways, roads, and rail tracks.
  4. Intersection design can create dynamic models of 3-way (T-shaped) or 4-way intersections as well as roundabouts.
  5. Pipelines can be designed using pressure network analysis and hydraulic/hydrology analysis.
  6. Construction documents can be quickly generated from drawings, including plan/profile, plan(s)-only, profile(s)-only, and section sheets.
  7. Civil 3D supports import, export, and links with commonly used CAD formats.
  8. Automation can help reduce the time needed to complete tasks, such as electrification and signaling.
  9. Geotechnical modeling allows for the visualization and analysis of subsurface data.
Autodesk Civil 3D Features

Pros:

  • It is highly professional and productivity-focused
  • Excellent value for money
  • The software is compatible with multiple companies
  • Civil3D is customizable and has many shortcuts

Cons:

  • The application has many errors and bugs, which makes it difficult to use.
  • Triangulation of the surface can sometimes be done incorrectly, leading to problems with the drawing.
  • Surface generation can be tricky
  • Cross-sections don’t always make sense

Pricing:

$7,270/paid every three years

$2,550/annually

$320/Monthly

PlanningWiz Floor Planner

PlanningWiz Floor Planner Logo

PlanningWiz Floor Planner is a user-friendly floor planning and modeling application that can be easily integrated into any website. It provides real-time data about its performance and thousands of designs and plans created with it.

Nick's Take

I believe that PlanningWiz Floor Planner is a useful tool for designing floor plans and infrastructures, such as property development or recreational facilities.

Features:

  1. Reporting metrics are extensive and allow you to communicate with customers directly.
  2. Fully customizable, allowing for a high degree of flexibility.
  3. Fully interactive 3D, making it easy to visualize plans realistically.
  4. Integrated with user and shopping cart data, providing insights and statistics on customer behavior.
  5. Customers can view and edit their floor plans online without any downloads.
  6. There is no need to create separate accounts – users can have as many projects as they like and access them anytime.
  7. Has the flexibility to include your logo and identity
PlanningWiz Floor Planner Features

Pros:

  • The tool is accurate and user-friendly
  • The planner has step-by-step instructions
  • You can use the planner for both residential and commercial spaces

Cons:

  • No export or printing of plans
  • Cannot plan out rooms accurately
  • Limited sharing options

Pricing:

Contact PlanningWiz Floor Planner for pricing details.

SmartDraw

SmartDraw Logo

SmartDraw is a diagramming and charting tool that helps businesses create professional-grade infographics, network designs, mind maps, organizational charts, technical drawings, and more. Its design capabilities allow businesses to generate architectural diagrams using automated spacing, sizing, alignment, and color schemes.

Nick's Take

From my perspective, SmartDraw deserves recognition as one of the best flowchart makers available today—its simple design makes it perfect for anyone looking to quickly get what they need from a diagramming tool while being well worth the money spent.

Features:

  1. The template library is extensive, allowing you to start designing right away.
  2. Smart diagram capabilities save you time and help you stay organized.
  3. Automatically adjust designs and measurements, making it a fast and easy way to create floor plans and flowcharts.
  4. It has tools that promote collaboration and ease of sharing projects with coworkers.
  5. Compatible with Microsoft’s Visio services, making it easy to export and import files
  6. The product has integrations with a wide range of third-party software solutions.
  7. It has an annotation layer that automatically resizes to match changes in the diagram, making it easier to work with diagrams.
SmartDraw Features

Pros:

  • Easy to use and understand
  • Provides simple floor plans
  • The cost is reasonable for a powerful tool
  • It’s available in multiple languages

Cons:

  • Not well-suited for heavy usage
  • No page borders
  • Difficult to move desks precisely
  • Hard to find properties or measurements of lines

Pricing:

Individual – $9.95/month, billed annually

Team – $5.95/month, billed annually

Site – $2,995 Billed annually

Planner 5D

Planner 5D Logo

Planner 5D is software that uses virtual reality technology to create realistic designs. It is easy to use and requires no special skills or training. Projects can be created on a laptop or tablet, but they must be viewed in VR using a smartphone app.

Nick's Take

If you ask me, Planner 5D’s immersive and easy-to-use interface is perfect for creating a quick floor plan or designing your entire home from scratch.

Features:

  1. The app allows you to print your plans in a photorealistic format.
  2. You can add furniture and accessories to your home, as well as windows and doors.
  3. You can change the floor shape, size, materials, and colors.
  4. Visualize your project by drawing and rendering it into a photorealistic 3D representation.
  5. Snapshots feature to create realistic visual representations of your designs.
  6. User-generated library has thousands of items for you to explore
  7. You can switch between 2D and 3D views to get a better understanding of your designs
Planner 5D Features

Pros:

  • It’s easy to learn and use
  • It provides realistic visuals
  • The Planner 5D is available on many platforms, including tablets and smartphones.
  • You can expect beautiful renders from the Planner 5D when creating your designs.

Cons:

  • Room boxes cannot be renamed
  • Lack of customer service
  • Limited functionality
  • Difficult to scale with the existing inventory

Pricing:

Please contact Planner 5D directly for pricing details.

Foyr Neo

Foyr Neo Logo

Foyr Neo is a comprehensive design solution that helps you take care of everything from layout to graphics to final presentation. It offers a lot of features that are unavailable with other brands’ solutions at this price point, including the ability to schedule a call with a tutor.

Nick's Take

From my perspective, it is an excellent choice for professionals or rookies who want to have thorough and easy access to design capabilities.

Features:

  1. You can design any room in your house or office in 3D.
  2. You can make edits to your designs online without having to go to a physical location.
  3. Allows users to create accurate floor plans in minutes, with no prior CAD experience required.
  4. Offers a range of customization options, including the ability to drag-drop or DIY 3D models
  5. Photorealistic renders and walkthroughs in minutes, compared to hours or days with other software.
Foyr Neo Features

Pros:

  • It offers great value for money
  • Excellent customer service
  • The software is easy to use
  • The software provides detailed reporting

Cons:

  • Does not allow for the design of exterior spaces
  • It is difficult to cancel the software and even more challenging to get a refund
  • Some of the features of the Foyr Neo are limited

Pricing:

Basic – $59/month

Standard – $89/month

Premium – $159/month

Roomle

Roomle Logo

Roomle is a 3D design tool that helps users easily modify objects to create a customized design. It is cross-platform and appeals aesthetically to both 2D and 3D formats. Roomle was originally aimed at business users but now has been expanded to include laymen users as well.

Nick's Take

I think that Roomle is a great way to create and redesign a home with minimal effort as it has an extensive catalog of furniture and objects, which you can use in your designs.

Features:

  1. It has a 3D catalog that helps users easily modify objects to create a customized design
  2. Has an extensive catalog of furniture and objects, which you can use in your designs
  3. You can plan in 2D or 3D and use the 3D orbit view to get a realistic view of how your design would look
  4. Augmented reality can be used to organize buyer rooms and serve as a marketing tool
  5. Offers an API that lets businesses customize interfaces and scenes for different buyers
  6. Allows store owners to track inventory and sales and speed up sales cycles
  7. Product configuration and AR functions make it possible for shoppers to see products in any variation they buy
Roomle Features

Pros:

  • Produces high-quality output
  • Has impressive VR walkthroughs
  • Simple and clean interface
  • Allows you to integrate with IKEA’s catalog

Cons:

  • Limited functionality
  • Interface is minimalistic and challenging to use
  • Limited material and furniture catalog

Pricing:

3D Viewer – Level 1 – $147/month

Material Configurator – Level 2 – $295/month

Product Configurator – Level 3 – $1179/month

Enterprise Integration – Level 4 – Contact Roomle for details

Floorplanner

Floorplanner Logo

Floorplanner is a great online floor plan software that’s popular with Real Estate professionals. It’s easy to use and makes designing floors easy. Floorplanner can use your phone or iPad to capture rooms and then aggregate a floor plan thanks to integration with Magicplan.

Nick's Take

My personal view is that if you’re new to floor planning or need something more comprehensive than simple spreadsheet tools, Floorplanner is an excellent choice that won’t break the bank.

Features:

  1. It has convex tools to make complex shapes easily.
  2. Can render your designs in 3D
  3. Specialized tools for Real Estate Professionals which make creating floor plans and decorating them easier than ever before
  4. Can be used to design any type of building, from homes to businesses
  5. Integration of Magicplan makes it easy to snap items and objects into place, keeping your designs both geometrically correct and tidy.
  6. Library includes over 150,000 3D items.
  7. Provides helpful tips and advice when creating a room plan
Floorplanner Features

Pros:

  • Perfect for professionals
  • Can quickly capture rooms
  • You can easily visualize your plans before they’re actually made
  • Floorplanner makes it easy to collaborate with others

Cons:

  • Complex wall and dividers creation
  • The Floorplanner has a steep learning curve, which may be difficult for some users.
  • Limited design options

Pricing:

For Individuals

Basic – $0

Plus – $5/month

Pro – $29

For Companies

Team – $59/month

Business – $179/month

Enterprise – $599/month

HomeByMe

HomeByMe Logo

HomeByMe is an online interior design application that lets you visualize your designs in 3D. It has a thriving community of users who can provide feedback and help you develop your designs. HomeByMe’s catalog of products is real and includes furniture and decorations.

Nick's Take

From my perspective, HomeByMe is the best choice if you are looking for an easy way to design and furnish your home without having to go through a traditional builder.

Features:

  1. You can easily switch between 2D and 3D after you’ve finished designing, giving you an excellent overview of your space before making any final decisions.
  2. The app enables you to share design ideas online with others to get feedback or help from fellow users.
  3. Comes with a free trial version so that you can try out all the features before committing to a subscription
  4. Provides you with easy-to-use and customizable templates
  5. You can import plans or use an existing project to create new designs.
  6. Actual products from brands to furnish and decorate your home
  7. The space layout features allow you to create realistic interior layouts in 3D.
  8. Making HD or 4K images is easy to do for an accurate idea of how the final product will look in real life.
HomeByMe Features

Pros:

  • It offers excellent functionality
  • You can save your designs as PDFs
  • Excellent Customer Support
  • You can buy extra HD renders if you need them

Cons:

  • Slow and crashes frequently
  • It can be difficult to switch between the 2D and 3D views once you have finished designing your space.
  • Limited storage space
  • Difficult to share designs

Pricing:

Starter plan – $0

Premium – $29/month

Unlimited Plus – $65/month

What is floor plan software?

What is floor plan software

Floor plan software is a type of computer-aided design (CAD) program that enables users to create two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) floor plans. Floor plan software is used by architects, interior designers, and homeowners to plan and design houses, apartments, offices, and other buildings. Floor plan software can also be used to create virtual models of spaces or houses.

How does floor plan software work?

How does floor plan software work

Software for floor plans makes it easy to develop detailed and realistic floor plans. It has a massive library of furniture images that can help you create realistic designs. The free version of the software doesn’t allow for collaboration, but the full version offers higher-resolution output images that are easier to understand.

This software typically works by allowing the user to create a 2D sketch of their floor plan. This can be done by hand or with certain tools within the software. Once the sketch is complete, the software will then convert it into a 3D model. The workflow of 2D to 3D produces high-quality renders that can help architects and designers communicate their ideas more effectively.

What factors should you consider when choosing floor plan software?

What factors should you consider when choosing floor plan software

Budget

One of the key factors to consider is budget. The different pricing options available will depend on the services included, so be sure to think about this before making your choice. An important point to consider is the length of commitment: does the software you are interested in require an annual commitment, or can you pay a smaller monthly subscription fee and cancel at any time? However, be careful, as an annual commitment is generally much more beneficial and will eventually cost you less. Depending on the different pricing options, be sure to add this information to your budget as it can significantly impact pricing.

Features

It is important to consider what you need the software for and what features are important to you. There are a variety of floor plan software options available, so compare them to find the best fit for your business.

Compatibility

Compatibility is important when choosing floor plan software because it lets you quickly create a house plan and decide where furniture should go. With compatibility, you can also annotate and add dimensions to your house plan, making it perfect for remodeling projects.

Free trial

A free trial allows you to test a product before making a purchase, and the free version of the software often has many features that are not available in the paid versions. The software is also available on desktop, mobile, and Steam platforms.

User reviews

User reviews for floor plan software can be extremely helpful in making a decision about which product to purchase. They can give you an idea of the quality of the software, if there are any frequent bugs, and how quickly the company responds to customer issues. Checking out independent feedback sources can help ensure you’re getting accurate information. Customer reviews are also a valuable source of information when choosing software for interior design.

Conclusion

There is a lot of great software available for floor plans. However, it is important to choose the right one for you. This guide has helped you narrow down the best software for architects, beginners, and professionals. So, what are you waiting for? Signup with the best floor plan software now!

About the Author

Nick Patrocky writes SaaS and Business Software reviews. He's also the head of design at a rapidly growing fintech company. Nick's worked with hundreds of software companies and startups over the last 10 years. Reach out if you have any questions or if you'd like to collab.

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