Best Free Landscape Design Software and Apps

Drawing a garden plan on graph paper is effective and costs nothing, but digital garden design tools add valuable capabilities: the ability to undo and revise, to visualize planting at mature sizes, to see a 3D representation of the design from multiple angles, and to share plans easily with family members or contractors. Several capable tools are available free or at low cost.

What to Look for in Garden Design Software

The most useful features for homeowners planning a garden redesign are an accurate plan-view drawing environment, a plant library with mature sizes and seasonal interest, 3D visualization, and the ability to import satellite or aerial photos of the existing garden as a base layer.

Ease of use matters more for homeowners than for professionals. Software that requires days of learning before producing a useful result tends not to be used. The best tools for home garden planning are relatively intuitive, browser-based or available without complex installation, and produce a clear, usable output within one to two sessions.

Browser-Based Options

Garden Planner (from the Old Farmer’s Almanac) is a browser-based tool specifically designed for vegetable garden and kitchen garden planning. It includes a useful companion planting guide linked to the plant library, and the interface is straightforward and quick to learn. The free version is limited in plan size; a subscription unlocks full functionality.

iScape is an augmented reality app for iOS and Android that allows you to photograph your garden or outdoor space and overlay plant images at scale within the photo. It is particularly useful for visualizing how specimen plants, trees, and shrubs will look in a specific position before purchasing.

Planner 5D is a more comprehensive design tool with both 2D plan and 3D visualization capability. The free tier is useful for basic planning; the paid tiers add a more extensive plant and material library.

Desktop Options

SketchUp Free is a 3D modeling program with a learning curve but significantly more power than dedicated garden apps. It is appropriate for homeowners planning significant hard landscaping or structural garden work where accurate 3D visualization of levels, walls, and structures is important. The free browser-based version is capable enough for most residential projects.

AutoCAD LT and similar professional drafting packages are overkill for most homeowners but are what professional garden designers use for detailed planting plans and construction drawings.

Working from Aerial Images

Many homeowners find it easiest to start with an aerial photograph of their property from Google Maps or a similar service, printed and used as a base for hand-drawing plans. Measuring key distances on the ground and translating to scale on the printed aerial view is often faster and more accurate than starting from a blank plan, and the existing vegetation and features are already in their correct positions.