The Best Floor Plan Software [Updated For 2024]

Floor plans are a great way to illustrate how a specific space is laid out and how it relates to other aspects of the room, like the walls, fixtures, and furniture — but how can you design and showcase those plans? Architects, builders, and even real estate agents use floor plan software to help build 3D-rendered models that provide a realistic view of what a space would look like after development.

If you’re looking to do the same but aren’t sure which floor planning software is best for your needs, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we provide an overview of the most popular ones so you can compare their capabilities, usability, and cost. 

Best for: An easy-to-use floor plan design software

Famous for its ease of use, SketchUp is an exceptional 3D design tool that allows you to draft floor plans and model 3D versions of a space from different viewpoints. You can also import reference images and documents to create a holistic picture of your space, and incorporate light rendering to demonstrate a more photorealistic feel to your 3D model and image exports.

This floor plan design software comes standard with a 3D object warehouse to develop floor plans and 3D models quickly and easily. It also has cloud storage, integration capabilities, and mobile viewing, making it a versatile tool.

Why we like it: SketchUp is a fully stacked tool suitable for both novice casual users and professionals. If 3D modeling is a must, then this tool is the perfect choice compared to alternatives.

Cost: Start from $119/year

Free trial?: Yes, a free 7-day trial is available for professional use. A basic 3D modeler, SketchUp Free, is available for personal use.

Free trial?: Yes, a free trial can be downloaded from their website.

Best for: Creating realistic floor plans

AutoCAD Architecture is a tool in the AutoCAD suite designed to help architects and other professionals create realistic floor plans that they can render in 3D to determine any space’s spatial composition.

It comes with many features, including documentation and annotation functionalities. This software also boasts an extensive object database that allows users to create realistic renders. There are also different styles and palettes you can use, and Revit grids can be imported to aid in modeling.

Why we like it: AutoCAD’s Architecture software was developed for architects and construction professionals. It also integrates with the rest of the AutoCAD tools.

Cost: Subscriptions start at $255/month. You can also purchase tokens to access their products on a pay-as-you-go basis, starting from 100 tokens for $300, valid for 1 year.

Free trial?: Yes, a free trial can be downloaded from their website.

Best for: Shareable, basic floor plans

SmartDraw is a flow chart tool that doubles as floor planning software. With its ready-to-use templates, you can create shareable, basic floor plans using architectural design symbols. This software operates on a drag-and-drop interface and automatically scales room dimensions. Users can easily export their plans to common software platforms, including Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Visio, and Google Sheets.

Why we like it: SmartDraw is a multi-functional tool. It can handle both floor planning and other diagrams, like flow charts, process maps, and organizational charts. However, it lacks integration capabilities, limiting its functionalities for professionals.

Cost: SmartDraw costs $8.25/month/user for a minimum of 3 users.

Free trial?: Yes, it has a free 7-day trial.

Best for: A free floor plan software

Sweet Home 3D is a free floor plan tool that allows users to develop and render floor plans in 3D for a more realistic spatial representation. You can use it from your browser or download the stand-alone software. The tool isn’t as popular with professionals because of its limited capabilities, but it’s more than enough for a user looking to develop 2D floor plans quickly.

Sweet Home 3D also features a searchable library of objects, including various furniture and floor plan annotations. Colors, textures, and sizes can all be customized. Users can even control the lighting to develop photorealistic images or videos of their 3D-rendered floor plan.

Why we like it: If you don’t need integration with other software, then Sweet Home 3D is worth considering. It’s free and features a wide range of functionalities. The tool does its job well and is a great pick for anyone on a budget looking for a floor plan tool.

Cost: This is a free floor floor plan drawing software.

Free trial?: Yes, the software is free. 

Best for: 60-degree VR walkthroughs

Floorplanner is useful for generating 2D and 3D floor plans online to share with collaborators quickly. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and expansive library of furniture images allow users to build their floor plans easily. The software also has an ‘auto-furnish’ feature to populate floor plans automatically. The tool can also do 360-degree VR walkthroughs while outputting photorealistic renders of the space. It’s like a version of AutoCAD with a much easier learning curve.

This floor plan drawing software has a free version that provides access to all functions. However, it doesn’t allow for sharing and outputs images at a lower resolution. Floorplanner is a great choice for users looking for a free way to develop a basic floor plan.

Why we like it: Built on the cloud, this tool is great for cross-platform use. It’s easy to use and easy to navigate. The one-click furnishing feature and its ability to generate walkthroughs of any space make it a fantastic tool for amateurs and professionals.

Cost: A free, basic version is available. A professional version costs $29/month.

Free trial?: Trial the free version before upgrading to a paid version if needed. 

Best for: Rendering 3D models with supporting 2D blueprints.

Draft It is a powerhouse 2D CAD drawing tool that can also develop 3D models. The software is great for architects looking to draft, detail, and render their 3D models with supporting 2D blueprints.

Draft It has many drawing and editing features, including the ability to import AutoCAD files and other external design components and symbols. This tool boasts a comprehensive object library, while the Plus version comes with pre-installed, regularly updated templates to help speed up your floorplanning process.

Why we like it: Draft It might not fit everyone’s needs but it’s affordable and has a free version suitable for basic floor planning.

Cost: The software is free, but upgrades start from $25.

Free trial?: The basic version is free and can be trialed before purchasing an upgrade. 

Best for: Exporting high-quality renders

RoomSketcher is a home designing and floor plan layout tool. It boasts a large fixture and furniture library that can be used when developing designs. This software comes with measurement tools and you can make annotations.

It can also develop 3D renders and output 360-degree photos and interactive 3D tours for presentation purposes. RoomSketcher allows users to export their designs and plans to various formats, and you can even add your business branding.

Why we like it: RoomSketcher is a great floor plan software, thanks to its ease of use and multiple features. It’s a well-rounded tool and caters to nearly all personal use cases. It’s a perfect solution for users needing a tool that can export high-quality renders.

Cost: A basic free version is available. The pro version costs $120/year.

Free trial?: A free version is available. 

Best for: Creating aesthetically appealing floor plan designs

Roomle’s software covers various digital and 3D rendering applications. Its 2D and 3D floor planning solutions are great for delivering high-quality floor plans and photorealistic 3D renders. Interior designers and real estate agents love this tool’s high-quality output.

The software has an extensive product image database that users can draw from when building interior rooms. It also offers AR and VR walkthroughs. This software has both mobile and desktop support and allows easy sharing and collaboration. Users can also create custom online portals for clients to access and view 3D renders and floor plans.

Why we like it: When it comes to creating aesthetically appealing floor plan designs, Roomle’s solution takes the cake. The software is perfect for any sales setting like those employed by interior designers and real estate agents looking to close a deal.

Cost: Subscriptions start from $170/month

Free trial?: Yes, a 14-day free trial is available.

Best for: Industry-specific templates

PlanningWiz offers a 2D-floor planning tool with pre-built templates and features for various industries. This means it includes a large database of objects specific to niche industries. It also comes with an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface to import photos and objects.

Why we like it: PlanningWiz is a great tool for rapid design development and a perfect solution for users looking for industry-specific templates. This software may not be as polished as others, but it’s worth using if you need blueprints developed for a specific floor plan.

Cost: A free, limited version is available. A pro subscription upgrade is available.

Free trial?: Yes, you can use the free version to save up to 5 projects. 

Best for: Fun-to-use floor plan drawing software

Live Home 3D for iOS/iPadOS, macOS, and Windows was developed to get the most out of your operating system to access the latest native platform technologies. The Live Home 3D app makes it easy to create detailed floor plans and furnish a room or entire house from an easily navigable iPhone or computer app.

Why we like it: Live Home 3D is incredibly accessible to the average non-professional and packaged in an easy-to-use app. However, the software is powerful enough to be used in a professional capacity as well. The app offers detailed interior design tools to customize your layout with countless furniture items and an extensive color palette to get each room just how you want it. Designing with Live Home 3D is fun and less of a chore than more austere programs.

Cost: A free, limited version with watermarks is available. The standard features start at $4.99/month.

Free trial?: The free version can be used as a trial.

Best for: An immersive experience

Homestyler features 4k graphic design tools to visualize your 2D or 3D floor plan in all its glory. Do a virtual walkthrough to experience your design in photorealistic renders for an immersive experience. The platform also includes an enormous furniture library to help you get an excellent feel for the space you create. Every aspect of the room, from the paint on the walls, the type of windows, and the color of the furniture, is customizable.

Why we like it: Many professionals consider Homestyler the most user-friendly interior design app on the market today. Most features on the app are free, including the Ultra HD photorealistic renders. It's easy to use and chock-full of cool features to help users make their designs their own.

Cost: A free version is available. Pro versions start at $4.90/month.

Free trial?: There is a free-to-use version of the software. 

Best for: Architect-specific floor planning software

Vectorworks is a BIM and CAD software that works in 2D and 3D. It’s available for Mac and Windows-based platforms. This software is extremely fast and features a massive library of tools for floor plan conversion and design in 2D and 3D. You can use Vectorworks to sketch models in fully integrated BIM workflows and make landscape designs, industrial plans, and floor plans.

Why we like it: Vectorworks is popular among architects. However, it requires technical knowledge of BIM and isn’t ideal for users without comprehensive education in BIM and architecture—it’s not a tool built for first-timers.

Cost: Pricing options start at $198.

Free trial?: A free trial can be requested on their website. 

Best for: Collaborative projects

LucidChart is a design-creating collaborative software featuring a floor plan creator. With this software, you can create and share designs with your clients and colleagues. If you need seamless collaboration, it’s one of the best floor plan creators.

However, this software operates on a more elementary level than other tools on our list, and designers or architects with years of CAD and BIM knowledge might want to look elsewhere. The software’s attraction is in its ability to create floor plans using any shape and export them in various files for processing with other software.

Why we like it: LucidChart is great for design teams that need collaboration, but the functionalities and integrations aren’t advanced enough for serious and professional 3D modelers. It’s more useful for designing charts, planning documents, and visual aids.

Cost: Pricing options start at $9.

Free trial?: Yes, a free trial can be requested via the website. 

Best for: Drawing floor plans from scratch

If you’ve worked in any interior design setting, you likely know of Foyr’s Neo software . It allows designers to create and calculate room settings automatically to make impeccable floor plan designs. Its features are effortless to use, and you can also draw floor plans from scratch.

Neo is compatible with other sketch apps, allowing you to import values and laser meters to other devices. All you need to do for Neo to work is add the details and descriptions of windows, walls, and doors. Then, the 3D button will present your clients with a digital tour to show off your new floor plan.

Why we like it : With Neo, you can start with a 14-day free trial to learn how the features work and make the most of them. Once you see the value it brings to professional site planners, the basic package is affordable and more than enough for most users.

Cost: $49/month

Free trial?: Yes, a free 14-day trial is available.