Best Free 3d Home Design Software For Mac



Sweet Home 3D - Interior Design Planner with an additional 1100 3D models and a printed manual, ideal for architects and planners - for Windows 10-8-7-Vista-XP & MAC Markt + Technik 3.8 out of 5 stars 230. Home Design Studio Complete for Mac v20 New Home Design Studio Complete Version 20 from Punch!The premiere home and landscape design software.Home Design Studio is an updated, professionally-driven tool set that gives you complete control. If you're new to 3D design and you want to try a CAD program to design an entire house or just part of it, then search no more. You've found the best free option. Sweet Home 3D is a great alternative for those expensive CAD programs out there.

Whenever we talk about 3D CAD software, the only term that clouds our minds is AutoCAD. CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design. It’s a program that helps you frame designs with the help of a computer. If you want to know more then let’s dive into this topic and learn about it.

What is CAD Software?

CAD is a useful way to create mechanical or industrial plans and blueprints. It assists you with designing 3D objects and preparing a blueprint in an orderly fashion.

CAD software is used in different industries including aerospace, architecture, 3D modeling, mechanical designs, automobile industry and many more spaces.

Several tools help you render various functions like creating, contouring, applying textures and many more. If you want to enhance your 3D design skills.

In this guide, we have compiled some of the best CAD software for 3D printing and modeling for both beginners and advanced users.

What is the Best 3D CAD Software For Beginners & Professionals?

1. Nano Cad

If you are looking for CAD tools that come with the complete “.dwg” support, then Nano CAD is what you are looking for.

You can enjoy the premium features including SNAP, ONSAP, precision tools along with Command Line Tool. Whether you are new to 3D CAD software or are a professional architect, you would find NanoCAD extremely useful.

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The free version comes with several features and provides a good base for the new users thereby making it an excellent 3D CAD software for beginners. But if you are a professional then you need to pay to unlock the professional features.

Nano CAD supports Windows.

2. 3D Crafter

3D Crafter is a real animation and 3D modeling tool that allows you to plan out your 3D models on the computer. The easy to use drag and drop option is something that makes it a must-have tool.

It comes with built-in 3D shape crafting tools and primitive utilities that help you create complex designs and models easily.

This software also allows you to apply animation and effects on the models and shapes. You just need to place the object at each point thereby, making sure that the animations are smooth.

3D Crafter is compatible with Windows.

3. Adobe Dimension CC

Adobe Dimension CC is a part of the Creative Cloud Suite that brings new dimensions into your project and design.

The features such as lighting and high-quality models allow you to build and craft some engaging 3D models easily within seconds. The navigation options along with the drag and drop features make this app, one of the best CAD software for 3D printing.

You can easily craft superfine 3D prints using an image or vector graphics onto a model. Adobe Dimension CC delivers unbeatable performance by helping you create realistic three-dimensional images with perfect texture, contour and lighting effects.

Adobe Dimension CC is fully compatible with macOS and Windows 10.

4. Daz Studio

Daz Studio is a free-to-use 3D CAD software that is full of features and is geared more towards professionals.

Besides these features such as morphing, animation after-effects and posing, the software also enables you to enhance your skills with a list of in-app interactive tutorials and learning modules.

Daz Studio runs seamlessly well on Windows and Mac OS X platforms.

5. KiCAD

If you are looking for ways to design your next Printed Circuit Board (PCB) then KiCAD will do the job. It is one of the best free CAD software systems that is loved by engineers and electricians around the world.

It is an open-source PCB design software that comes with a built-in project manager and four powerful utilities including a printed circuit board editor, schematic editor, footprint selecting tool and the GERBER file viewer/editor.

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There are a few additional features that include:

  • Two library component editors that allow you to create and edit the schematic components.
  • A 3D viewer and editor to render your PCB in 3D space.

KiCAD performs smoothly on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Ubuntu.

6. Autodesk 3ds Max

It is a function rendering and modeling program that offers tons and tons of 3D modeling options and tools. You can create, design and animate 3D characters and models for HD games.

This is one of the best 3D CAD software that comes with some features that help you in:

  • Modeling hard surfaces.
  • Applying contour.
  • Creating animations for 3D effects.
  • Applying after effects.
  • Texturing to create superfine designs.

This software comes with many learning modules you can use if you want to learn the basics of 3D modeling.

Auto Desk 3ds Max supports Windows, Linux, and iOS.

7. Solid Works

Solid Works is a 3D CAD software that comes with tons and tons of powerful features making it one of the best 3D modeling software.

It is a program that is developed by Dassault Systemes and runs on Windows. If you are new to three-dimensional modeling and design crafting, this software is not for you. A huge collection of tools and tons of features makes it a perfect choice for professional artists and architects.

This program is easy to use if you know the depths of designing and modeling. The PDF guides and essential options help you modify the quality of your designs and models.

Solid Works runs smoothly on Windows.

8. Blender

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Blender is a free-to-use open-source CAD software that assists you with 3D designing, shaping and modeling and rendering functions, thus making it a versatile program.

You can do much more than just handling projects, animations, applying after-effects, three-dimensional printing and whatnot. This is undoubtedly an excellent CAD software for 3D printing.

You can also install certain add-ons to unlock several functions, options and features depending on your assignment.

Blender is highly Windows macOS and Linux.

9. FreeCAD

FreeCad is a 3D CAD program that allows you to design real objects of any size in 3D space. It is a dynamic parametric modeling program and you can easily change the dimensions and parameters of your models or designs using its model history menu.

You can use this software to create:

  • Fantastic 3D characters, locations and areas for game projects.
  • Architectural models and designs.
  • Animations and after-effects.
  • Industrial designs.

There are some primitive options and features that make FreeCAD one of the best CAD software tools for professionals:

  • Sphere
  • Cone
  • Box
  • Cylinder
  • Torus
Design

It is a multiplatform performer and can process multiple file-formats including DAE, STEP, IFC, OBJ, DXF, STL and many more.

FreeCAD syncs well with Windows, macOS and Linux devices.

Software

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10. Mesh Mixer

MeshMixer is a top-notch 3D CAD program that you can use for shaping and modeling excellent 3D designs. It is geared more towards handling professional models in 3D space, thereby making it a good choice for artists and architects.

You can also use it to build, edit and modify models from scratch as the program provides all the necessary tools.

If your assignment is all about 3D modeling, crafting and printing then this program will assist you in your projects. All this makes Mesh Mixer one of the best CAD software for 3D printing.

These are some features it offers:

  • Tools for brushing.
  • Tools for measuring thickness and stability.
  • Mesh smoothing tools.

MeshMixer works well on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

So these are some best 3D CAD software systems to get if you are a civil engineer, architect, graphic designer or a 3D artist.

Bonus 3D CAD Software

Based on the recommendations and user ratings from our study we are also revealing an excellent CAD software for 3D printing.

3DReshaper

3DReshaper is a wonderful 3D CAD program that helps you in processing the models. If you are a professional artist with years of experience in modeling, after-effects and three-dimensional printing then this is the program you are looking for.

It is a flexible app that caters to several industries including shipbuilding, automobile, civil engineering, arts, gaming and many more sectors. It packs a punch of features and supports several scripts for hassle-free modeling.

If you are interested in getting an app that can save your time and assist you in your complex projects, then this is one of the best CAD software for 3D printing

This is a unique program that easily processes 3D point clouds from various sources including:

  • Digital devices.
  • Laser scanning.
  • 3D scanners.
  • Other sources such as UAVs.

Since point-cloud processing is the most difficult step to manage and handle, the software offers powerful tools and functions such as Automatic Segmentation to manage and process point clouds and Fusion to simplify your tasks.

3DReshaper works perfectly fine on Windows 10.

Conclusion

This brings an end to our guide and concludes the list of best CAD software. It is difficult to answer which CAD software is the best as each of the above-mentioned programs comes with its own set of advantages and useful features.

It is worth suggesting that running animation and 3D effects on your computer require powerful hardware. Most of the apps discussed in this guide are free and are undoubtedly the best CAD software tools for professionals that will assist you in your assignments and projects. We hope that you select the program that suits your needs and works the best for you.

What is the best free landscape design software?
The best free landscape design software is SketchUp Free. This lite version of SketchUp comes with the essential tools for creating stunning landscape designs. It has a 3D modeling tool you can use straight from your browser. Apart from that, it can also import and export different types of image files that you can manipulate on the interface.

If landscape design has to be done manually every time, the world would be filled with plain-looking yards. Gorgeous lawns would be a rare sight to see. Can you imagine having to create a diorama of a garden with miniature ponds, trees, and plants or worse, actually constructing fences, plots, and sheds just to see how they would look in your outdoor space? Don’t bother. This is why in this field, planning is of utmost importance. And on that note, landscape design software is your best friend.

In this article, we have compiled 12 of the best free landscape design software we could find on the market to cut time off your search for one. They’re different types of free: completely free, a free version with pro upgrades, free trial, and separate tool from the main premium product and thus is free. Whether you’re a homeowner, professional, hobbyist, or a business looking for a decent way to test the waters before possibly committing to a purchase, the ones on this list allow you to do just that.

What are the 12 best free landscape design software solutions?

Landscaping isn’t new. It is, in fact, an art that dates way back in human history, although it’s worth noting that the term landscape architecture wasn’t used until the 18th century. In the Roman Era, houses of notably rich and powerful families have manicured gardens and lawns and Japanese estates have their famous Zen garden. During the Renaissance period, the scope of art has extended beyond painting and literature. It also spread into the field of architecture, extending into lawns and gardens. Thus, landscaping as we know it was born. This practice had endured until the very day.

But unlike before, landscaping can be observed in most houses today and not just in luxurious celebrity homes either. In fact, it is a lot more common for modern households to have landscaped yards instead of plain ones. One reason for that is how beneficial this practice is. Landscaping has many ways of improving the overall appearance of a place. And in practical terms, homes with good landscape design enjoy a 5.5% to 12.7% higher selling rate than otherwise. If the property costs $300,000, this means that homeowners would be able to enjoy a bump of up to $38,100 in value.

There are other practical benefits to doing landscaping as well. For example, having plenty of trees, plants, and other vegetation in your home can help control flooding. On top of that, you can have plants surrounding you that release oxygen and curbs greenhouse gases. To enjoy these benefits and more, you need a proper landscape design, which you can achieve with the right software.

12 Best Free Landscape Design Software

1. SketchUp Free

Our pick for the best free landscape design software is SketchUp Free, the lite version of SketchUp solution perfect for personal use. This 3D modeling tool will run straight from your browser–no download is necessary and there are no strings attached. It’s available on the Trimble website. Here, landscape designers are given a room where they can draw their ideas and bring them to life.

Upon registration, you are granted access to your own repository on Trimble Connect, a building information management software or BIM software. This storage can hold up to 10 GB of images, plans, and any files that you need to keep. This means that your progress is safe and backed up. This is especially useful when creating a design that needs more than one session to finish. Not to mention that since the app is browser-based, you can access everything from anywhere; creating from one device and finishing it on the other entails no problem.

One of the most notable features of this app is being able to access Trimble’s 3D Warehouse. This is a huge library of shared 3D models from both vendors and users. Aside from that, SketchUp Free has a basic, but mostly sufficient, interoperability support. It’s capable of importing PNG, JPG, SKP and STL files and can export SKP, PNG and STL files as well. Finally, this version supports the use of SketchUp Viewer which allows you to view your design right from your iOS and Android devices.

Key Features of SketchUp Free

1. It runs straight from your web browser; no need for download nor credit card, just an internet connection.
2. It offers cloud storage capable of holding up to 10 GB of data.
3. It provides a degree of interoperability by being able to import PNG, JPG, SKP and STL files and export SKP, PNG and STL files.
4. It can connect with Trimble’s 3D Warehouse which is one of the biggest 3D model libraries in the world.
5. It can, through the SketchUp Viewer, display the created models on Android and iOS devices.

2. DreamPlan

Another great free landscape design software worth looking into is DreamPlan. Because of its ease of use and handy design tools, novices can comfortably utilize this in no time at all. It’s not only good for designing landscapes and gardens, but it is also capable of interior, room, home, and floor plan design and remodeling. It can be used for building models of pools and decks, as well as gardens, backyard, and more.

When dealing with outdoor landscaping areas, DreamPlan can do more than just place objects on them. It can actually reshape the terrain itself. You can level, raise, or depress the land as your design see fit. Aside from that, this landscape design tool also displays grid lines while in 3D view. This is mostly useful for easily determining whether something (walls, objects, rooms, etc.) can fit into the space available.

Do you already have a floor plan for your dream house? Great! Simply import the image/s into the system and wait for it to convert it into a 3D model. The converted model, of course, can be updated in the system if necessary. Moreover, expansion packages can be downloaded to gain additional content that could be used to improve outdoor living space.

If you are a homeowner or a hobbyist, DreamPlan has a free version that’s offered for non-commercial use.

Key Features of DreamPlan

1. It is an easy-to-use tool that both professionals and beginners in the field of landscaping can truly enjoy.
2. It is capable of changing the shape of the terrain of outdoor areas to landscape.
3. It can show gridlines not only in 2D but in 3D mode as well.
4. It sports trace mode which converts imported images of house plans into working 3D models.
5. It offers additional content by downloading expansion packages.

Best Free 3d Home Design Software For Mac

3. Plan-a-Garden

Plan-a-Garden of BHG (Better Homes & Gardens) allows the creation of any type of garden design, whether it’s as big as your whole yard or just a small patio-side plot. It’s easy to utilize as well because you can simply drag and drop elements around. It has dozens of structures to choose from such as decks, fences, sheds, buildings, gazebos, ceramic pots, basketball hoops, and even ponds. There are pre-made templates where you can pick the background scene you can use for enhanced visualization. This app also provides a selection of textures like gravel walkways, meadow sceneries, and red brick patios.

There are over 150 flowers, shrubs, and trees to fill your garden with. And of course, it has no shortage of plants you can select from. With over 900 types available, your garden landscaping possibilities are practically endless. You can also choose the lighting for an area and Plan-a-Garden features a search filter where you can find the right size, type, and light of objects you’re looking for.

Progress is saved online so all your efforts and ideas won’t be lost. When satisfied with the outcome, an image of the garden can be saved and a list of all the plants included within can be exported as well.

BHG offers a browser-based app that you can try just by signing in with Facebook or filling up a short form. Oh, and it’s free.

Key Features of Plan-a-Garden

1. It utilizes convenient drag-and-drop functionality to move things around.
2. It provides background sceneries to choose from that can improve the overall visualization of your garden.
3. It has 900+ plants available for use including shrubs, perennials, and trees.
4. It features a series of textures, such as bright-blue water ponds, gravel walkways, and red brick patios, which upgrades the quality of the landscape being developed.
5. It allows the addition of structures like gazebos, fences, basketball hoops, and sheds to spruce things up.

4. Garden Planner

Garden Planner is a simple and easy-to-use landscaping and garden design tool which employs a drag-and-drop interface for arranging objects, buildings, plants, and trees. This app has a library of more than 1,200 objects and plant symbols to choose from. These are customizable so you can easily change their style, color, and size. Thanks to this, you can represent virtually any objects or plants for your landscape. With this tool, you can create the garden layout you want in minutes.

The app’s most recent version now includes the capability to view plans in 3D as well, instead of just an overhead 2D view. Also, Garden Planner has a new feature where you can stroll around your garden in 3D. Another feature worth mentioning is the Vegetable Patch Builder that uses a simple grid to easily create a layout of planting beds for your vegetables and herbs.

When done, you can print the plan, including a list of all the objects used in your garden. It also uses a coded system that can match the items in the list with the objects shown on the plan. This way, you’ll easily know where each item in the list is placed in your layout.

Garden Planner has a free browser-based application that you can try. Take note, however, that this online demo is an older version of the app (Garden Planner 3.0). Also, while you can still design your garden and print it out here, changes aren’t saved so all your progress is lost when the browser closes. There’s a trial version offered, too and a free license is given to charities/non-profit organizations, pre-school/primary school, or a community group. When you choose to buy the software, however, it would just be a one-time payment and all future updates are free.

Key Features of Garden Planner

Best Free 3d Home Design Software For Mac Software

1. It has a library which contains 1,200+ object and plant symbols to choose from.
2. It allows each of the created symbols to be customized in color, style, and size, which enables them to represent a vast range of objects in the real world.
3. It is capable of easily creating a layout for herb beds and veggie patches.
4. It provides a virtual tour where you can walk around the garden in 3D.
5. It has a simplistic approach and tools that enable the creation of solid landscape and garden design within minutes.

5. Marshalls Garden Visualiser

Marshalls Garden Visualiser performs a sophisticated task in a simple way. It’s a free visualization software that allows the creation of garden designs in 3D and then taking a walk around it, just like in video games. The virtual tour can be done during the building process which is helpful in making better decisions along the way.

With Garden Visualiser, you can specify the size of your garden as well as change the ground’s shape to ensure a more accurate design and layout. You can add an image of your house which is helpful in making sure that your garden looks good at your place. This free landscape design software also allows the creation of your own custom features such as garden paths and garden walls with pillars. And to further spruce up your design, the tool offers a vast selection of items that you can add such as walling, paving, summerhouses, edgings, paths, block paving, and planting.

Your design can be saved on your account online so your progress won’t be lost. When you’re done and satisfied with the design, you are also given the option of requesting information from Marshalls to help you order the products used in your layout. Thus, you can build the actual garden yourself, or hire a professional to do so.

You can find and run the tool straight from your web browser. However, Marshalls Garden Visualiser requires Unity Web Player to run so if you can’t get it to open, then try using a different browser such as Firefox or Opera.

Key Features of Marshalls Garden Visualiser

1. It allows 3D visualization and a virtual tour of your garden design while building it.
2. It can set the garden size for more accurate design.
3. It provides themes to choose from in case you don’t want to start from scratch.
4. It allows you to request Marshall for information about the products used in the design to help you in ordering them.
5. It offers a lot of objects and products to choose from.

6. Terragen

3d Design Software For Mac

Terragen from Planetside is a comprehensive design tool that enables the creation, animation, and rendering of natural environments in a photo-realistic and high-quality fashion. The terrain can easily be created and manipulated with highly realistic aspects. In fact, real-world terrain can be replicated and altered through the third-party terrain editor. Digital elevation data can also be georeferenced in a snap. This software is not only good for designing your landscape but it can also greatly enhance the visuals through flexible lighting, gorgeous shading models, and complex atmosphere control.

One of the most useful aspects of Terragen when it comes to landscaping is its powerful functionalities for creating and manipulating objects. Fully-textured and complex objects? Not a problem. It’s easy to add life to your design by placing models of trees, houses, rocks, and others. You can use whatever object you had rendered and populate the environment with it by placing thousands or millions of them in the scenery. It has many advanced object manipulation capabilities as well such as instancing, granular-level customization, and procedural shading.

Terragen has a free version available for non-commercial purposes or as a 30-day trial for commercial evaluation.

Key Features of Terragen

1. It can create and alter the terrain to make it look exactly like what you had in mind, or better.
2. It features advanced rendering capabilities on atmosphere, clouds, objects, etc.
3. It has lots of sophisticated shaders that can be applied to many items in the design.
4. It can build, render and manipulate any type of object to make a detailed environment.
5. It can render natural environment or landscape in realistic quality.

7. Kerkythea

Kerkythea is a freeware solution capable of producing high-quality renders by using physically accurate lights and materials for the best quality outcome within an efficient timeframe. The software simplifies rendering by giving users every essential tool for automating the scene setup, such as material editor, GL real-time viewer and general render settings in one common interface.

Kerkythea is a powerful engine for Global Illumination rendering that follows real-world physics to accurately represent the design when it is actually realized. It also uses a real-life scale model, which means you should think of the actual size in making your design.

The software holds the effect of material on the rendered image in high regard which is why it features Material Editor System. This gives you great control over many aspects of the materials created. The materials produced in Kerkythea are very accurate because they’re based on the physical laws of the real world.

While it was created as a plugin for SketchUp, it is a standalone application and can be downloaded for free after filling out a form.

Key Features of Kerkythea

1. It features a powerful material editor that provides great control over the quality of the final material.
2. It contains all the necessary tools needed for automating scene set up in a single interface.
3. It provides a physically accurate scaling of materials.
4. It applies the physics of the real world for global illumination rendering.
5. It is capable of rendering your 3D models in photo-realistic quality.

8. PRO Landscape Home

PRO Landscape Home is the lite and free version of PRO Landscape. It can be used on mobile devices like phones and tablets to give your place a beautiful landscape makeover in a quick and easy way. You can start by taking a picture of your house with your device. From there, you can go ahead add objects such as plants, mulch, grass, furniture, pavers and many more to complete your design. To see how much you have improved (or worsen) your place, you can use the “before and after” view. You’re able to save the design you created and edit it later if you like. When everything looks good, you can share your work with your friends and families, or to strangers, on social media platforms. The design can also be printed or emailed.

The app contains a library of images that you can use for your design. There are plenty of items available but it’s easy to find something because they’re categorized and there’s a search function if needed. The images are also organized through climate zones which is helpful so that you only get to select the plants that would actually grow in your area. And to top it off, each plant has corresponding detailed information about it, such as description, mature height & width, botanical & common names, climate zones, and color. So if anything else, you learn more about nature.

One of PRO Landscape Home’s most notable features is its capability to find a nearby professional who can transform your design idea into reality. These are landscape contractors whom you can ask to bid for your work. If you, however, fancy on doing it by yourself, then you can consult the local garden center for helpful advice in picking out the needed landscape materials.

PRO Landscape Home is available for download on iPhone & iPad, Android phone & tablet, and Amazon Kindle Fire phone & tablet.

Key Features of PRO Landscape Home

1. It is available for your Android, iOS, and even Amazon Kindle devices.
2. It allows the creation of stunning landscape design in a matter of minutes.
3. It enables you to share your design ideas on social media sites.
4. It helps turn your designs into reality by finding a landscape contractor for you or aiding you in building it yourself.
5. It features a customizable library with loads of images for you to choose from.

9. iScape App

iScape App is a tool for iOS devices used for designing outdoor living space through the help of augmented reality. This app aims to let you have a solid visualization of your project before spending actual money for bringing it to life. It has a series of design tools, which are all easy to use so that you can quickly create a solid design even if you’re not well-versed in this kind of activity. Examples of these tools include cut-out & clone, duplicate, textures, favorites and spin/rotate.

There are no shortages of design elements in the system as well. In iScape App, you can find all the essentials such as plants, trees, fences, and bricks as well as the unique enhancements like fire pits, water features, and brick pavers. And the amazing part is that all the items used in your design are in the iScape inventory. This means that if you want to buy them, you can simply order from the app.

Moreover, you can share your design ideas with others where you can collaborate on a project for a better outcome. The app also empowers you to hire a professional landscape designer if you want to take your project to the next level.

You can download iScape on your iOS device from the App Store. The tool is free and there are in-app purchases you can avail if you want to upgrade your designing capabilities.

Key Features of iScape App

1. It is a simple tool with powerful features that are easy to use even for novices.
2. It features thousands of design elements you can incorporate into your project.
3. It has an inventory of all products in the system which allows a smooth and easy order process if you choose to.
4. It allows the sharing of ideas, images and projects, useful when collaborating with someone.
5. It provides you with an avenue for hiring professional landscapers in case you decide to take your design very seriously.

10. Lands Design

Lands Design is an all-inclusive landscape design software that covers all the phases involved in the development of landscaping projects. From generating technical plans in 2D, to realistic production of images in 3D, to the virtual walks throughout the green area design. It’s a handy tool capable of streamlining many of the tedious processes involved in CAD design such as generating terrain, creating 3D elements, designing planting layouts, preparing dimension plans, etc.

It has a huge database of objects that can be used for landscape design such as the 1,800+ plant species, civil work elements, vegetation, and urban furniture blocks. There are also about 500 drawings of 2D and 3D plants that are available in DWG format. It includes extensive features for terrain modeling and watering system. And another impressive functionality is the rich documentation feature which automatically updates when adding or deleting elements.

Lands Design has a free 30-day trial edition. It has the same functionality as the commercial edition except for the absence of nXt Plants, which are essentially the species of plants included in the “favorites” group, and the full access to the objects in ModelCAD, a vast library of design elements.

Key Features of Lands Design

1. It is a complete software solution for landscaping projects and landscape design.
2. It streamlines the laborious CAD design processes like producing documentation tables, designing auto sprinkler systems, and many others.
3. It has a vast database of design elements. (1,800 plant species, 500 2D and 3D plant drawings, urban furniture blocks, civil work objects, etc.)
4. It features walk mode, which allows you to walk around the rendered field to check how the 3D models in your design would look when implemented.
5. It can render photorealistic images for enhanced visualization through the nXtRender plugin.

11. Arborgold

Arborgold itself is a comprehensive CRM software that caters particularly to the needs of businesses involved in the green industry. But what you’d be more interested in is that Arborgold has released a free, online CAD tool for making stunning landscape drawings. It was initially made for businesses so that they could win more projects by first showing their work on clients but this tool is completely suited for homeowners wanting to design their outdoor space as well.

It has several unique features such as its capability to import some geo-satellite photographs of job sites and the freehand tool, which can be used to draw shapes without the usual restriction. There are also several fill patterns available ranging from grass, wood, to patio. Moreover, Arborgold’s free landscape design software can use images from your gallery or you can take photographs with your device. It also involves a layering process for images so that you can choose which image is on top and which are beneath it.

It must be noted that this is a separate tool from the Arborgold suite and thus, is free. You can try it by requesting a free account from them via sales@arborgold.com.

However, if Arborgold does not provide you with the powerful CAD tools you need, you can look at the best CAD software that professionals favor.

Key Features of Arborgold

1. It has a vast collection of hardscapes, lightening, houses, plants, irrigation, etc.
2. It can import images of geo satellite shots which can be used for the markup of job sites.
3. It has a variety of fill patterns such as mulch, grass, wood, brick, patio, and more.
4. It is capable of making shapes using freehand drawing tool and filling them up with patterns or color.
5. It utilizes layering concepts for images so they can be moved up and down in stacks.

12. Showoff.com the Visualizer

Showoff.com the Visualizer is an application that assists you in your home projects by helping you design and remodel the interior of your house and aiding you in embellishing your outdoor living space. You can upload a photo of your house, or of anything else, to be able to visualize how the completed project would be like even before starting the actual job. The design idea can then be offered to the community in Showoff.com for feedback, comments, and consultation.

The design process is pretty straightforward as well. First, you only have to upload a picture (your house, not your house, just a blank image, etc.) and then you can start adding the design elements of your choosing. The user interface is mostly dominated by a big screen for editing with buttons on the edges. There is a catalog of images that are organized into seven main categories and various subcategories that contain all the objects you can choose to place and arrange on the image you uploaded. Several options are available for manipulating each picture, including resize, flip and rotate.

Showoff.com the Visualizer is a free landscape design software for Windows and it can be downloaded from the site.

Key Features of Showoff.com the Visualizer

1. It allows you to submit your design to the Showoff.com community for tips and consultation.
2. It is an easy and straightforward tool to use.
3. It features a wide variety of plants as well as non-plant objects.
4. It is good for visualizing how a project would look like before starting the actual job.
5. It can help enhance your design by reading the design and layout tips on the Showoff.com website.

Start with Free then Move Up to Premium with a Landscape Design Software

And that concludes the list of the best free landscape design software we have chosen for you. Hopefully, you found the right one that can help you create the landscape of your dreams and bring it to reality.

If you weren’t able to pick one then we highly recommend trying the top product on our list, SketchUp Free. There’s no risk involved since it’s completely free and doesn’t require a download because it runs directly from your web browser. You even get big storage for your designs and other documents. Plus, you’re granted access to a database that houses a vast amount of design elements to choose from. There’s also no credit card involved in the registration so you can be sure that there are no payment commitments. Of course, if you want to take your landscape design to the next level, you can go for their premium edition.

Likewise, if you want to render and import image files to enhance the landscape design, you have plenty of top graphic design software that can work hand in hand with these free landscape design solutions. Taking it one step further for freebies, if you’re a landscape provider and want to showcase your designs on the internet, there are free website builders, too, that let you create a gallery of your work.