RealTime Landscaping. This first free landscape design software tool is a professional landscaping. The primary feature that helps Live Interior 3D Pro stand out as one of the most effectivefree landscape design software for Macis that it provides the ability to transform designs into real-life images and render them as videos in 3D format and walkthrough the same, for personal or professional developments.
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At my college, I teach a course named “Computers in Landscape Design” where I train landscape design students in AutoCad and Adobe Suite Programs, among others. These programs are tremendous for landscape designers who wish to use industry-standard software like regular landscape architects; however, they can be very expensive.
Students often do have access to free trials of the software, but for anyone interested in continually using them for the purposes of their professional business, eventually they will need to pay for the programs. To provide some perspective, currently the subscription for AutoCad software is around $200 per month. Unfortunately, this is just too expensive for many new business owners.
Students often ask me if there are any free landscape design apps that work well for professionals. Over the past several years, I tested many free landscape design apps on various projects. In this article, I will review the pros and cons of the market’s five main free landscape design applications.
First, I won’t keep you guessing – my recommendation for the best free app is iScapes. The iScapes app is by far the best free landscape design app among its peers, having quality graphics, a solid user-interface, and a good plant library. In the table below, I provided a breakdown of some of my ratings for each of the five design apps. In case the image is too small, click here to download the pdf version. I will provide some helpful insights of each app in the sections that follow, along with some common issues that may influence your decision before downloading. But before you head off and just download the iScapes or PROLandscape app, I want to give you a little piece of wisdom I’ve accrued over my years of design. There is no substitute for a poor knowledge of landscape plants or design. If you are new to gardening or landscape design, before you purchase any app, I would highly suggest picking up a copy of The Essential Garden Design Workbook along with some essential drafting supplies and learn the old-fashioned way. Not only will it be fun, but you will be a better designer by doing this.
Okay, that’s my word of warning – now onto the reviews
Finally – before I diveinto each application – I must state that noneof these free programs compare to the professional industry standards ofAutoCad, Vectorworks, PROLandscape, or Dynascape. Although these programs dohave some good features – they just simply cannot match the quality of theprofessional software. But for those designers that are looking for a cheapoption that can get the job done, some are worth checking out.
iScapes (Rating: 16/20 )
The iScapes software offers a free and paid premium subscription service. The paid service offers a larger plant library, along with additional image downloads, and project archives; however, the free version is very useful for a beginner landscaper or do-it-yourselfer. The biggest disadvantage of the app is that it is currently only available for iPhone or iPads. For Android users, they will need to find a substitute. To try iScapes, click here.
Pros: The biggest advantage of this app is the graphic quality of the three dimensional landscape elements. The drag and drop interface, along with the visual characteristics of the app make it very useful to professionals doing quick designs for clients on-site.
Cons: As with most of the apps you will see on the list, the major disadvantage is that if you want additional quality add-ons, you will need to pay. A more extensive plant library, along with additional project storage is available with payment.
Home Outside (Rating: 10/20)
I originally had high hopes for the Home Outside app, as the average app review was 3.8/5.0 with many positive comments. After having used the app in many different types of projects, I was disappointed in the lack of three-dimensional perspectives and the limited plant library. To test out the software, click here.
Pros: For plan graphics, the renderings are quite nice and the app allows for the importing of google maps of your customer’s property.
Cons: The biggest downside to the app is the lack of any real plant library. The plants are categorized by “tree” or “shrubs” with no indication or availability to specify the planting in the free version. The paid version does offer some extra features.
Home Design 3D (Rating: 5/20)
Home Design 3D was an intriguing app that had very distinctive reviews when I originally had downloaded it. People seemed to either love it, or hate it. Unfortunately, I was one of the latter. The app is very useful for interior planning and design, but falls short for any realistic landscape design applications. To try the app, click here.
Pros: The only thing the app has working for it is the 3D aspect. The three-dimensional rendering capabilities are better than I would have expected for a free app.
Cons: The user-interface is very poor and the app itself is not intuitive. This combination makes for a very difficult experience for a designer, especially when there are other options available. I would hope that future updates provide pop-ups or a tutorial at the beginning to help designers navigate the platform prior to starting a design.
PROLandscape Home (Rating: 5/20)
I will start off with a disclaimer. In one of my classes, I train designers on the PROLandscape Professional Softwares (Planner, ImageEditor, and Proposal). These are good (but expensive) programs that are very useful for design. I believe it is a great marketing strategy by the developer Drafix to provide this free app to showcase some of the basic features of their paid programs.
With that being said, I found it difficult to provide an honest review of the free version because I kept remembering the full functionality of the paid programs. In any case, I did my best to realistically provide good feedback on the user-interface. Overall, there are many elements that can be improved. To test this out app, click here.
Pros: The free software has many similarities with the overlay perspectives of Home Outside, but with a greater plant library. The biggest drawback of the software is that most of the plant database is only offered for the paid version.
Cons: The app is not very intuitive and there is very little within the program to provide help or support. Also, there is a limited availability of plants, with poor customization, and relatively no ability to modify the existing library.
Sketchup Viewer (Rating: 5/20)
I had originally downloaded the Sketchup Viewer because I had received a recommendation about the app from another designer. I already have extensive knowledge in Sketchup, along with a variety of other 3D Software programs including three-dimensional CAD, Rhino, and Revitt, so I figured the Sketchup Viewer was worth a try. In general, it was a big disappointment as the viewer does not really offer anything valuable for a designer that does not have access to the base-program of Sketchup. To test out the viewer, click here.
Pros: If you have the ability to work on a regular computer to complete a great 3D model in Sketchup, the Viewer is useful -essentially just a tool to view the model and show it to your client on site. Other than that, the viewer does little else.
Cons: It is not a design software and offers no specific landscape capabilities. The app is obsolete without actually using Sketchup to generate the landscape model.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for the best free landscape design apps that also offer some assistance in designing and showcasing designs to clients in a professional manner, then I would recommend iScapes. If you do not have an iPhone or iPad, use Home Outside.
None of the free apps have great functionality when compared to their paid counterparts. If you are starting out in the design profession, the free apps might be worth exploring but you will quickly find better value from some of the other paid alternatives.
If you haven’t already – check out my article on Gift Ideas for Landscape Designers – you can use the money you’ve saved on some nice things for a fellow gardener, or yourself.
For more articles on Landscape Design, please be sure to check out our Design resources and landscape Business articles.
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Blue prints and sketches aren't enough when asking clients to visualize what the final project will look like. GreenScapes is faster and more realistic than 3D software.
GreenScapes is a program that allows landscape contractors to design landscaping, interlocking pavers, lawns, hardscape, pools, even night lighting creating a photo realistic rendering depicting the proposed landscape project as if it were completed.
GreenScapes is a surefire way close the deal sooner!
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Mark Campbell
Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson, South Carolina
I enjoy using the GreenScapes program as it helps many of my customers visualize their landscaping. Especially those whom have a hard time visualizing what the different plants really look like. I'm sure you hear this comment all the time. Again, thank you.
Lang Landscape, Inc.
Andy Lang
NH
NH
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We wanted to reach out to let you know what great customer service we received from Michele at Greenscape Landscape Design Imagining Software. We needed some technical support with the software and Michele was available to answer any questions that we had. Highly recommend this company.
We wanted to reach out to let you know what great customer service we received from Michele at Greenscape Landscape Design Imagining Software. We needed some technical support with the software and Michele was available to answer any questions that we had. Highly recommend this company.
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Robert Richter
Monroe, Ohio 45050
Monroe, Ohio 45050
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VisionScapes Land design, Inc.
Shawn Anderson
Chesapeake, VA
Chesapeake, VA
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Landscaper
Franklinville, NJ
Franklinville, NJ
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DeJohn Landscaping - Dave DeJohn
New Hampshire Landscape Association Member
Concord NH, 03301
Concord NH, 03301
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Doug Williams, Account Manager
Gibsone Landscape
Alpharetta, GA
Alpharetta, GA
I love Greenscapes! It is amazing how real it really makes things. I am excited to show it to my clients. They are always so excited! Thanks for all your help.
Melinda Jones
Hedge Fun Gardens
Gilbert, AZ
Gilbert, AZ
As a Home Owners Association GreenScapes has taken the boards vision and made it easy for us to have landscapers give us bids. GreenScapes is easy to use with a low learning curve and I am not a professional landscaper. I give GreenScapes a 10. Thank you again.
Howard Darish
Monarch Country Club
Palm City, Florida 34990
Palm City, Florida 34990
Michele, Your program GreenScapes and your customer service are both excellent. As you keep adding new objects it only gets better.
Renee Delahunty
Felice Giuliani Hardscape and Landscape
Jensen Beach, Florida 34957
Jensen Beach, Florida 34957
The GreenScapes program actually helps get me every landscape job I go for since the customer could actually see what their house would look like completed. It is an invaluable tool.
Mindi Arcoleo
Mindi Arcoleo Landscape Designer
Neptune, NJ
Neptune, NJ
I have installed GreenScapes and everything is operating successfully. The software is much more beautiful than the old DesignWare that I use for about 20 years. Thank you for bringing photo imaging back. Yours Sincerely - Alfredo from Italy.
Alfredo Pelizzari (Cesare)
Kart Gruppo Tessile - Kart Textile Group
Brescia, Italy
Brescia, Italy
Luv the GreenScapes Landscape Design program. I'm familiar with the older version DesignWare from Design Imaging Group. I like all the new features in GreenScapes and it's so easy to use. Thank you again,
Greg Ent
Hunterdon County Engineering
Flemington, NJ
Flemington, NJ
I use GreenScapes- it's fast, has a large library and a short learning curve. I promote my GreenScapes Program directly on my website. Designing and planning a new landscaping project is now easy. That's why we are now offering the service!
Land Art DBA Brightview Landscape
Mark Beitler
White Lake, MI
White Lake, MI
The new GreenScapes Landscape Design Software works great. It has better features than any other imaging I have used. The videos make it easy to learn. Thank you so much!
GardenScapes
Barb Canne
Irma, WI
Irma, WI
Landscape Design Software Free Mac
We have had the Landscape Design Program GreenScapes for 4 days and we have our first landscape design looking good-we are so happy to have gotten this software! Thank you so much for all of the help.
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