10 Best Free Floor Plan Software for 2024

When all you want is a general idea of how the layout of your house will look once it is complete and furnished, an expensive 3D design software may be excessive for the task. So, it might be best to settle for floor planner software instead. Unlike high-powered architecture software, this type of tool should help you visualize general spatial ideas, without including the elaborate designs, which usually require the help of a professional designer to decipher.

Luckily, there are lots of floor planning applications that you can use at no cost, which is great at this time of pandemic when minimizing costs is a priority for many businesses and professionals. To help you narrow down your options, we’ll be discussing the 10 best free floor planner software on the market. In particular, we’ve paid close attention to the real estate and architectural design functionality of these solutions. This way, once you read our analysis, you’ll have the insights to pick a solution that can help you develop the best floor design.

What should you consider when choosing floor plan software?

When selecting the right floor plan software for your needs, several factors can help determine which tool will provide the most value. While many software options offer similar features, certain aspects can significantly impact your design experience and project outcomes. Here are some key considerations:

• Ease of use: Look for software that has an intuitive user interface and easy-to-understand tools. This is especially important if you are a beginner or don’t have a background in architectural design. Drag-and-drop functionality, templates, and straightforward navigation can make the design process much smoother.
• Design capabilities: Consider what types of plans you need to create. Some software focuses on 2D layouts, while others offer advanced 3D rendering, virtual walkthroughs, and photorealistic images. Choose software that aligns with your project requirements, whether for basic room layouts or detailed 3D models.
• Collaboration features: If you work with a team or share designs with clients, collaboration tools are crucial. Look for features that allow for easy sharing, commenting, and project management. Cloud-based platforms with real-time collaboration can enhance productivity and streamline feedback.
• Customization options: Ensure the software allows for extensive customization, such as adjusting wall dimensions, adding unique materials, and including custom furnishings. The ability to modify elements can help achieve a more personalized and accurate design.
• Device compatibility: Check if the software supports multiple platforms, such as Windows, macOS, or web-based use. Mobile compatibility can be useful for making quick adjustments on the go or presenting designs to clients.
• Cost and licensing: Consider your budget and whether a free version or a trial is available. Some tools offer free basic features with paid upgrades for advanced capabilities, while others require subscriptions or one-time purchases. Evaluate which pricing model fits your budget and design needs.
• Integration with other tools: If you use additional software for project management or architectural design, choose a floor planner that integrates with these tools. Compatibility with popular programs like AutoCAD, SketchUp, or Adobe Suite can save time and improve workflow efficiency.

The real estate market has had several ups and downs in the past few years, but 2020 proved to be extra challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It put the industry on hold for several months and it looked like the market will continue to decline in the near future. In the meantime, lowered interest rates have helped keep the US housing market afloat. While the pandemic affected practically every sector, the residential real estate market exhibited resilience. As such, the future of real estate beginning this 2021 seems bright.

A number of young adults are already considering investing their money in a real estate property. Currently, the majority of home buyers are Millenials making up about 38% of the entire potential buyers. This number is expected to rise rapidly within the next few years.

Because most buyers choose debt financing, they will be more selective before finalizing their decisions to maximize the value of their money. The combination of increasing property market prices and limited financing drives Millenial buyers to scrutinize most, if not all aspects, of a house. This includes the surrounding community, nearby schools, career opportunities in the area, and more.

With new types of clients come new purchasing behaviors. Millennials prefer the web as their primary source of information. With most of them spending more than 3 hours a day on their smartphones and more than 30 minutes using a computer, having a strong online presence is essential. As such, millennial home buyers tend to turn to websites (98%) and mobile device search (84%) when they are browsing for real estate properties. 

Hence, you have to publish compelling content to entice picky clients. Aside from photos and other media, floor plans will not only grab the attention of your leads but also provide them with valuable information that can potentially compel them to buy the properties in your listing. 

However, creating floor plans is usually done by artists using the best graphic design software. Fortunately, there are free floor planner software solutions that will perfectly suit your needs without the steep learning curve and the hefty price tag. In this article, we will take a closer look at the most popular floor planner platforms. We have also outlined their key features so you can see how each one can help you and your business.

1. Cedreo

With Cedreo you create 2D & 3D floor plans, it offers photo-realistic rendering capability and import/export with ease. Cedreo’s features cater to interior designers, remodelers, and home builders but even individuals looking for a user-friendly app for their design project can use Cedreo. The software allows for quick and efficient design, with the ability to create complete home models in a short amount of time and with reusable project templates and project sharing.

Users can customize every aspect of the design project—from wall openings to roofing, and furnishings. The platform includes over 7,000 customizable home decorations and materials, so designers will always have references that could spark inspiration and improve their design. 3D rendering is also quite fast in Cedreo. Based on user reviews, 3D renders could be completed in as little as five minutes.

Aside from design aspects, Cedreo also helps users in project management. The software comes with an integrated project manager with a full search function, which allows users to filter results according to client names and track progress on a certain project.

Key Features of Cedreo

1. Allows for a quick and efficient design using templates and a library of pre-designed elements and furniture.
2. Fast photo-realistic 3D rendering.
3. Project tracking and client management capabilities.
4. Collaboration tools that allow designers, clients, and approvers to share files and provide feedback on designs.

2. Floorplanner

Innovative floor planning application Floorplanner is designed primarily for real estate agents and interior designers. The solution helps users to create floor plans that give prospective homeowners how a remodeled room would look. Whether you want a quick or a detailed 2D/3D floor plan, Floorplanner has the tools to help you achieve your goal.

The application features a simple floor plan editor that works seamlessly on any web browser. This, coupled with the innovative cloud rendering capability, allows you to work on architectural visualization and deliver beautiful diagrams for building or marketing purposes. Additionally, the auto-furnish is the most salient Floorplanner’s feature. The tool enables you to quickly furnish your floor plan with just a few clicks.

FloorPlanner is available on three pricing plans, including Pay as you go, Pro plan, and Business plan. The Pay as you go pricing plan is a basic plan that allows users to create as many projects as they want and download 2D/3D floor plan designs in SD quality, for free. The level provides complete access to all Floorplanner’s features and design libraries. However, for better quality images and multiple floor plans, you have to subscribe to a paid plan.

Key Features of Floorplanner

1. Floorplanner has an intuitive editor optimized for easy and fast floor plan creation.
2. It comes with an Auto-furnish.
3. Also, it makes it easy to import and export designs.
4. Furthermore, it provides a space planner and an interactive viewer for easy publishing.

3. SmartDraw

All-in-one drawing tool SmartDraw can serve as a floor plan creator, org chart maker, and flowchart maker software for anyone who needs to create diagrams, from architects and engineers to real estate agents and project managers. It is a robust application that makes it easy to create intricate visuals from the web browser or any device, including Windows, Mac, or tablets. With over 4,500 diagram templates, file sharing, and collaboration features, SmartDraw is one of the most effective tools for creating floor plans.

SmartDraw provides a free and easy-to-use online editor. Also, with the quickstart templates and the intelligent, automatic formatting, it’s a breeze to create stunning layouts. Furthermore, SmartDraw’s floor creator boasts 34,000+ architectural design symbols and CAD-like drawing capabilities that help you create floor plans in minutes.

Key Features of SmartDraw

1. SmartDraw provides 4,500+ templates and 34,000+ architectural symbols.
2. It streamlines designing with its intelligent formatting.
3. The platform has an easy-to-use online editor that is accessible anywhere, anytime.
4. It’s easy to print diagrams to scale.
5. Lastly, it integrates seamlessly with Box, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive.

4. RoomSketcher

Cloud-based software RoomSketcher (formerly known as Home Designer by RoomSketcher) is an easy-to-use-architectural design tool for architects, real estate agents, and interior designers. It is an innovative solution that enables users to create stunning floor plans, office projects, and real estate property designs and visualize them in panoramic, 3D views. One thing you will like about RoomSketcher is that all the floor plans designed on this platform are easy to edit. You just click-and-drag to resize, move, add items, and customize the home design with different colors and textures.

Another great thing is that RoomSketcher provides interactive 3D walkthroughs. Regardless of your skill level, the walkthroughs can be of great help, especially when you want to create detailed floor plans with intricate perspectives and depth. The most exciting part is that, if you don’t have time to create your floor plan, you can request the vendor to create one for you.

Key Features of RoomSketcher

1. RoomSketcher makes it easy to create 2D, 3D, and even Live 3D floor plans.
2. It provides tools to create stunning 3D photos.
3. Moreover, it makes it easy to view your home designs and real estate projects in panoramic 360-degree views.

5. SketchUp

3D design software SketchUp is built by Trimble to streamline 3D designing on the web. The solution provides a comprehensive suite of robust drafting and modeling features. Meaning, it can be used for interior, architectural, landscape, film, and civil engineering designs. SketchUp is easy to use, and it can be utilized by builders, designers, architects, and engineers at any phase of the design process.

What makes SketchUp unique is its basic version, which, despite being available for free, offers all the essential tools you need to create 3D models quickly. Moreover, SketchUp Free is a web-based application that comes with a core 3D modeler that can be accessed anywhere, anytime. Even better, SketchUp Free allows you to visualize your ideas on paper, and turn them into real projects with unprecedented expediency.

The solution combines 10GB cloud storage, 3D models library, mobile viewing, and the powerful 3D modeler to facilitate floor plan creation. Factor its interoperability in, and you’ll have the peace of mind knowing you can collaborate, store, access, and illustrate 3D models anywhere, anytime.

Key Features of SketchUp Free

1. SketchUp Free supports different import and export file formats.
2. It has a robust 3D modeler.
3. In addition, it offers a 10GB cloud storage space.
4. It also provides numerous user-generated 3D models.
5. Lastly, it supports 3D model viewing on mobile phones.

6. Civil 3D

Another product on our list is AutoDesk Civil 3D. This powerful, on-premise civil infrastructure design software is built for construction companies, architects, and civil engineers. The application is primarily designed to support Building Information Modelling (BIM). However, it comes with innovative features that enhance workflow efficiencies and collaboration, from infrastructure design to production phase. Besides, the solution provides a suite of integrated features that enable architects to improve construction and design documentation.

What you’ll notice from the first impression is that Civil 3D has a compelling suite of civil engineering tools, and its quite capable when used to support intricate civil infrastructure projects like roads, rails, lang development, and airport structures. However, upon in-depth scrutiny, you will realize that the solution offers some lightweight technical features to support the creation of floors and 3D house plans.

The only quibble is that as powerful as it is, Civil 3D is not capable of creating detailed floor plans, and it may not be the best solution for enterprise design companies. Additionally, Autodesk Civil 3D provides a 3year free version for students. If you are a professional architect or house designer, you have to subscribe to a paid plan to get access to advanced features.

Key Features of Civil 3D

1. Civil 3D has a traverse editor
2. It comes with a corridor overlap resolution tool.
3. Furthermore, it supports plan sheet generation.
4. It also features property labeling tools.
5. It has dynamic offset profiles

7. Sweet Home 3D

Sweet Home 3D is a free interior design software built to help architects and interior designers create house plans and arrange furniture more effectively. With the solution, you can draw your plan and fiddle with aspects such as the size and thickness of the walls, the color & texture of the floor/ceiling, and even the location & orientation of the furniture. That’s not all. Sweet Home 3D allows you to easily annotate the plan, control the sunlight effect, and customize lights to create photorealistic images.

Unlike other programs on our list, Sweet Home 3D is open-source software. This means the vendor gives you access to the software’s source code, and you can modify it to suit the way you work. Moreover, you can extend Sweet Home 3D functionality using plugins. The best part is that the solution if free, whether you are using it for commercial or personal use. Lastly, it runs smoothly on Mac, Solaris, Windows, and Linux devices, and its online version works seamlessly on any browser.

Key Features of Sweet Home 3D

1. Sweet Home 3D makes it easy to draw sloping, rounds, or straight walls.
2. It allows you to insert windows and doors with ease.
3. You can add and rearrange the furniture.
4. Furthermore, it comes with a compass rose to aid plan annotation.
5. It is accessible in 27 languages.

8. AutoCAD Architecture

AutoCAD Architecture is yet another software on our list that is designed by Autodesk. This is a unique version of AutoCAD software that is stripped-down to suit the way architects work. It is an industry-specific solution exclusively designed to streamline and accelerate architectural design and drafting.

With over 8,000 architecture, engineering, and construction objects, AutoCAD Architecture enables architects and designers to create stunning designs without a struggle. When used to design floor plans, AutoCAD Architecture delivers realistic, 3D floor plans. However, like other Autodesk products, this solution provides a student version that is free for 3 years.

Key Features of AutoCAD Architecture

1. AutoCAD Architecture supports architectural renovation.
2. This has a Roombook feature for useful room documentation.
3. Moreover, it provides powerful keynoting and detail components.
4. It also makes it easy to define walls, windows, and doors.

9. Roomle

Are you looking to create interactive floor designs, but don’t want to spend on the task? Here is the kicker, Roomle can help you achieve that and even enable you to share your designs with prospective clients.

Roomle is an innovative 3D configurator primarily designed to help furniture designers to create beautiful product displays. However, Roomle comes with a floor planner with excellent floor plan designing capability. You can also use the floor planner online or on your iOS devices to create stunning floor plans and share them with ease. The ability to share floor plans can be an indispensable feature to real estate agents and project managers.

One thing you’ll like is Roomle’s Virtual Reality (VR) Functionality. The VR feature utilizes innovative technology to deliver interactive, virtual walkthroughs. Moreover, the walkthroughs inspire creativity and simplify floor plan creation.

Key Features of Roomle

1. Roomle has a VR functionality for virtual walkthroughs.
2. This application lets you share designs with family, teams, and prospective clients.
3. It easy to white-label your design before sharing them online.
4. Lastly, it allows you to embed design into your website.

10. AutoCAD LT

AutoCAD LT is a reliable 2 dimension (2D) drawing and documentation CAD software built by Autodesk. Architects, designers, and engineers trust this platform for all sorts of projects. Looking at this solution from an expert perspective, you’ll notice that it is a stripped-down version of AutoCAD. That aspect aside, AutoCAD LT is still a capable solution so you can easily use it to create detailed floor plans and other technical diagrams

The application features a simple, intuitive interface, and a suite of advanced annotation, design, and editing tools. This makes it one of the best tools for creating detailed technical drawings and documentation. Besides, AutoCAD LT relies on the innovative TrustedDWG technology to facilitate the storage and sharing of drawings. The best part is that with AutoCAD LT, you can create, edit, and view drawings on any device -web, desktop, or mobile. However, like Civil 3D, AutoCAD LT is free for three years for students.

Key Features of AutoCAD LT

1. AutoCAD LT provides powerful 2D, annotation, and documentation tools.
2. The platform works seamlessly with the AutoCAD suite of solutions.
3. Moreover, it supports web and mobile use.
4. It offers advanced features such as enhanced DWG compare, purge redesign, and block palette.

Which is the Best Free Floor Planner Software for You?

There is no clear-cut answer to this. After all, each company has a different set of needs, which also change over time depending on the industry climate. Hopefully, with our analysis of the 10 best free floor planner software, you were able to get the data you need to help you choose the solution that can best help boost your career or business during the pandemic and beyond. 

If you are still undecided about which free floor planning tool to pick, we recommend trying out Cedreo. This platform is easy to use and has a free version that gives you access to all its floor-planning features. Plus, it comes with advanced features like the auto-furnish tool and the cloud rendering capability that lets you create stunning, photorealistic images and share them online with ease.

In case you feel that this still isn’t the right fit for you, check out architecture software instead. To help you get started, here’s our list of top architecture solutions.

Key Insights

• Cedreo: An intuitive tool suitable for interior designers, property managers, and real estate agents, offering 2D & 3D floor plans with fast, photo-realistic rendering and comprehensive project management capabilities.
• Floorplanner: Ideal for real estate agents and interior designers, this tool features a simple editor and innovative cloud rendering for quick and detailed floor plans.
• SmartDraw: A versatile drawing tool with a vast library of templates and symbols, supporting various diagram types including floor plans, accessible from multiple devices.
• RoomSketcher: A cloud-based tool offering easy-to-edit floor plans and interactive 3D walkthroughs, suitable for architects, real estate agents, and interior designers.
• SketchUp: A robust 3D design software that supports various design needs, from interior to civil engineering, with a comprehensive suite of drafting and modeling features.
• Civil 3D: Designed for civil infrastructure projects, this software supports Building Information Modelling (BIM) and offers some floor plan creation capabilities.
• Sweet Home 3D: An open-source interior design software that allows detailed customization of home plans and furniture arrangements, supporting multiple platforms.
• AutoCAD Architecture: A version of AutoCAD tailored for architects, providing industry-specific features for architectural design and drafting.
• Roomle: An innovative tool with a strong focus on furniture design, offering VR functionality and easy sharing of interactive floor plans.
• AutoCAD LT: A reliable 2D CAD software with advanced annotation and documentation tools, suitable for detailed technical drawings and accessible across various devices.

FAQ

1. What is Cedreo best used for? Cedreo is best used for creating 2D and 3D floor plans, offering quick design capabilities with photo-realistic rendering and comprehensive project management features. It’s ideal for interior designers, remodelers, and home builders.
2. How does Floorplanner simplify the design process? Floorplanner simplifies the design process with its intuitive editor, auto-furnish feature, and innovative cloud rendering capability. It allows users to quickly create and furnish floor plans from any web browser.
3. What makes SmartDraw a versatile drawing tool? SmartDraw is versatile due to its extensive library of over 4,500 templates and 34,000 architectural symbols, along with intelligent formatting and easy integration with popular cloud storage services.
4. What are the unique features of RoomSketcher? RoomSketcher offers interactive 3D walkthroughs, easy-to-edit floor plans, and panoramic 360-degree views. It also provides an option for vendor-created floor plans if users are short on time.
5. Why is SketchUp suitable for various design needs? SketchUp is suitable for various design needs because of its robust drafting and modeling features, 10GB cloud storage, user-generated 3D models, and support for different import/export formats. It is accessible as a web-based application.
6. Who benefits most from using Civil 3D? Civil engineers, architects, and construction companies benefit most from using Civil 3D due to its powerful suite of civil engineering tools and support for Building Information Modelling (BIM).
7. What customization options does Sweet Home 3D offer? Sweet Home 3D offers customization options such as drawing sloping, round, or straight walls, inserting and arranging furniture, annotating plans, and controlling sunlight effects to create photorealistic images.
8. How is AutoCAD Architecture tailored for architects? AutoCAD Architecture is tailored for architects with over 8,000 architecture-specific objects, features for architectural renovation, room documentation, and easy definition of walls, windows, and doors.
9. What interactive capabilities does Roomle provide? Roomle provides interactive capabilities like VR walkthroughs, easy design sharing with clients and teams, and embedding designs into websites for better visualization and engagement.
10. What makes AutoCAD LT reliable for technical drawings? AutoCAD LT is reliable for technical drawings due to its advanced 2D annotation and documentation tools, TrustedDWG technology for secure storage and sharing, and cross-platform accessibility.

By Allan Jay

Allan Jay is FinancesOnline’s resident B2B expert with over a decade of experience in the SaaS space. He has worked with vendors primarily as a consultant in the UX analysis and design stages, lending to his reviews a strong user-centric angle. A management professional by training, he adds the business perspective to software development. He likes validating a product against workflows and business goals, two metrics, he believes, by which software is ultimately measured.