Anyone wanting to design, renovate, or simply visualize a house or apartment needs suitable home design software – and it doesn't have to cost a fortune. Here are the three best home design programs for under €200, ranked by value for money.
The list is headed by a professional solution for ambitious builders, followed by two free programs for simple planning.
Features you need in 2D/3D house planning software
Home design software – what features should good home planning software have? Photo by Amr Taha™ @amr_taha, via Unsplash
Choosing the best home design app for your individual needs is about finding a software solution that provides the right tools for your requirements. From real estate agents to interior designers, these are the essential tools for getting started in design.
The experts at Cedreo have compiled the following list of requirements, which we would like to share with you. They base this on over 20 years of experience working with contractors, designers, and home builders. *
User-friendly interface
Thanks to its user-friendly design, you and your staff can easily get used to home design software, saving you valuable time. Look for apps with simple features that allow you to drag and drop design options, create new floor plans, and make changes to layouts, walls, or furniture without a steep learning curve.
This is extremely useful for building contractors and professional interior designers who work under tight deadlines.
Comprehensive design tools
Such visualizations of interiors can only be created using comprehensive design tools. Visualization by MAHZA D'BRATA @mahza_dbrata, via Unsplash
By 2025, the best design software must both 2D and 3D tools . Clients expect more than just floor plans. Therefore, you need to be able to quickly create 3D floor plans and visualizations to show your clients how their spaces will look in real life. While some 3D design tools may produce high-quality images, using them effectively requires a skilled 3D artist.
If you have limited 3D experience, look for design software that allows you to create realistic images without requiring knowledge of 3D modeling.
Extensive object and material libraries
A well-stocked library of furniture, decorative items, and finishes is essential for creating realistic and appealing designs for a wide range of tastes. With a selection of at least several thousand design elements, you can quickly develop interior design concepts that meet your clients' needs.
Cross-platform compatibility
Flexibility is key. A cross-platform solution enables seamless collaboration across different systems, whether you're using desktop software or mobile devices. That's why more and more professionals are choosing cloud-based web software , which allows them to work from any desktop browser, be it on a PC or Mac.
Advanced features for professionals
Professionals desire advanced features such as terrain modeling, architectural presentation boards, elevations, cross-sections, and high-quality 3D renderings. These tools offer complete control over all aspects of your project.
If you do more than just interior design, make sure you buy more than just interior design software. You need a tool that also offers powerful features for creating the facade and floor plan of a house.
Costs and licensing
The best apps offer a blend of value and usefulness. There are a few free apps, and many offer free trials so you can explore the features before making a decision.
Keep in mind that as a professional, you will have to pay for premium alternatives that include an unlimited number of projects and more powerful design tools.
Customer support and training
Top home design software offers excellent customer service and educational tools such as tutorials or access to a user community. Pay particular attention to customer service.
Consider this: If I need help with something, how easy is it for me to speak to a real person who can meet my needs? Whether you're a seasoned designer or a recent graduate, immediate access to specialists ensures your projects don't stall while you wait for assistance.
These are the most important elements of high-performance home design programs to look out for.
Which programs offer the best mix of these features? In the next section, you will find the on the market for under 200 euros
First place: Plan7Architekt Pro – €149.99 (Top tip for ambitious builders)
Plan7Architect Prois a professional home design software for Windows, specifically developed for private home builders. It enables both simple and complex planning and offers features otherwise only found in expensive architectural software.
Plan7Architect Pro
The most important functions
Planning of floor plans in 2D with simultaneous 3D representation
Site, garden and outdoor area planning including driveway, terrace and garage
Individual design of roof shapes, dormers, windows, doors and stairs
Furnishing rooms with realistic furniture representation
Import of existing building plans (PDF, JPG, PNG) with automatic wall detection
Detailed dimensions and labeling for approval plans
Working to scale and precise area calculation
Plan7Architect Pro – Planning of floor plans in 2D with simultaneous 3D visualization (right half of the image). Copyright: Plan7Architect
Plan7Architect Pro – 3D Exterior View Copyright: Plan7Architect
Plan7Architect Pro – 3D exterior view with carport Copyright: Plan7Architect
Advantages
Very easy to use despite its extensive range of functions
No subscription, but a one-time payment
Suitable for building permit applications and professional visualization
Comprehensive help database and support in German
Notice
This home design software is ideal for anyone who wants to plan their house project independently – whether new construction, extension, or renovation. It's also perfect for modernizations or furniture planning.
Second place: Sweet Home 3D – free (beginner-friendly & open source)
Sweet Home 3Dis a free, open-source program for simple floor plan and interior design. It is particularly suitable for private users who are looking for a quick solution to design rooms or place furniture. The software runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
The most important functions
Creation of 2D floor plans with parallel 3D view
Extensive, yet simple furniture library
Easy room layout via drag-and-drop
Import of custom textures and objects is possible
Export of images and videos
Advantages
Free to use and without registration
Usable across all platforms
Easy-to-understand interface
A good basis for furnishing and renovation plans
restrictions
No detailed roof construction or complex building components
No official building plans available
Limited display options compared to professional software
Tip
Ideal for rental apartments, small renovations or furnishing ideas – but not for complete house plans with static elements.
3rd place: RoomSketcher – free to use (web-based, simple & modern)
RoomSketcheris a modern online tool for floor plan and room design. The free version offers a simple way to visually design rooms. However, users who want to use additional features such as 3D views or scaled printouts must upgrade to paid packages.
RoomSketcher – create high-quality 2D and 3D floor plans as well as professional 3D visualizations.
The most important functions
2D floor plan design with an intuitive interface
3D preview available with a paid upgrade
Drag-and-drop furniture planning
Interior design ideas can be implemented using a library
Access directly in the browser, without installation
Advantages
Quick start through web-based use
Modern, user-friendly interface
Easily share projects with others
No download required
restrictions
The free version does not offer high-quality export
No full access to all functions
Limited technical accuracy for construction projects
Notice
RoomSketcher is particularly suitable for simple floor plan ideas, initial visualizations , and interior design concepts . The software is not intended for structural planning or building permit applications.
What you should consider when choosing home design software under 200 euros
When choosing the right home design software, it's not just the price that matters, but above all the intended use. Someone who wants to design an entire house needs different functions than someone who simply wants to virtually move furniture around in an existing apartment.
Important selection criteria
One-time payment vs. subscription: Only Plan7Architect offers all features permanently without ongoing costs.
2D & 3D combined: For realistic planning and visualization, both should be possible simultaneously.
Complexity of the construction task: Roof extensions, site planning or building applications require more functions.
System requirements: While Plan7Architect runs locally under Windows, Sweet Home 3D and RoomSketcher also work on other platforms or in the browser.
Export options: Anyone who wants to print or share plans should pay attention to high-resolution export functions.
Three powerful programs for different requirements
All three programs presented offer a convincing range of functions – but for different target groups and purposes.
Plan7Architect Pro is clearly aimed at users who want to plan a house project seriously and in detail – for example, for new construction, conversion, or renovation. The house planning software provides a professional foundation for this without sacrificing usability.
Sweet Home 3D, on the other hand, is particularly suitable for private users who want to quickly and easily design rooms or try out furniture arrangements – without high technical requirements.
RoomSketcher offers a modern, web-based approach to room planning and is ideal for initial visualizations and furnishing ideas when no construction-related planning is necessary.
So, anyone who knows what they want to use the home design software for will most likely find the right tool among these three programs – without having to invest over 200 euros.
Sources, technical support and further information:
Plan7Architect® , https://plan7architekt.com/
Cedreo:Best House Design App – 10 Options for 2025 , https://cedreo.com/blog/best-house-design-apps/
Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza. Journalist, editor, and passionate blogger in the field of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Successful completion of a degree in web design as part of a university study (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.
Category for interior design,residential design, object furnishings, product and material innovation.
Here you will find everything that makes an interior designer's heart race. We present to you the latesttrendsand developments in the world of home design, as well as innovative products and materials for unique space design.
Our goal is to provide our readers with inspiration and help them creatively redesign or completely transform their living spaces.
We place great importance on ensuring that our articles are not only esthetically pleasing but also include practical tips.
We also introduce you to successful interior designers – from newcomers to the most well-known names in the industry – so you can be inspired by their projects and get to know their working methods.
Whether it's about making the most of a small space or furnishing your home with new furniture in the trendy industrial style: With us, you will find all the information you need on the topic of interior design!
Freelancing
Regardless of your area of activity as a web designer, graphic designer, game developer, photographer, programmer, product designer, journalist, content creator or influencer , as a self -employed you have to master a variety of tasks.
From customer acquisition to successful project implementation to time management and financial administration - including the often unloved tax matters.
Good information and the right online tools are crucial for a successful career as a freelancer or content creator.
In this section you will find helpful articles and valuable advice with tips especially for freelancers.
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve the browsing experience and to show (non-)personalized ads. If you agree to these technologies, we can process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this website. The refusal or withdrawal of consent may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Always active
Die technische Speicherung oder der Zugang ist unbedingt erforderlich für den rechtmäßigen Zweck, die Nutzung eines bestimmten Dienstes zu ermöglichen, der vom Teilnehmer oder Nutzer ausdrücklich gewünscht wird, oder für den alleinigen Zweck, die Übertragung einer Nachricht über ein elektronisches Kommunikationsnetz durchzuführen.
Vorlieben
Technical storage or access is required for the lawful purpose of storing preferences that have not been requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistiken
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance by your internet service provider, or additional records from third parties, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Die technische Speicherung oder der Zugriff ist erforderlich, um Nutzerprofile zu erstellen, um Werbung zu versenden oder um den Nutzer auf einer Website oder über mehrere Websites hinweg zu ähnlichen Marketingzwecken zu verfolgen.
Minimalist standing relief “Ermelo”, sculptural purism in white metal
52,95 €
