Best interior design software 2023: online and for PC, for novices and professionals

Intro

When planning to renovate or build a house, it is essential to have an idea of the result. Designers used to make drawings by hand. It took a lot of time, and as a result, often only the person who made the drawing was able to make it out. With the advancement of technology, interior design software has come along. This made the designer’s job much easier. Professional interior design programs help develop drawings and choose several design options, interact with other programs and people, make changes in real-time, transfer the idea to the 3D dimension, and even create accompanying documentation and estimates.

So, if you’re searching for the best interior design software in 2023, you’re in the right place. Applet3D has collected information about user reviews from various well-known platforms such as Glassdoor, Amazon, G2, GetApp, and others (listened in the table), and derived its overall rating of each software for interior design based on this data. All solutions are placed according to this rating. Let’s find out what software interior designers use. Information is relevant for 2023.

The best software for interior design in 2023

Name	Price	Level	OS/ Platform	Free Trial/ Version	Last version	Rating
Home Design 3D	From $9.99	For beginners and amateurs	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Free for Android and iOS	2022	Overall: 4.5 Capterra – 4.5 Get App – 4.5 Software Advice – 4.50
Space Designer 3D	From $9.99/ project/ month	For professionals and amateurs	Online/ Web- based	–	2022	Overall: 4.5 Capterra – 4.5 Get App – 4.5 Software Advice – 4.48 Trustpilot – 4.5
SketchUp Pro	$299/ year	For professionals, beginners, and amateurs	Windows, macOS	–	2022	Overall: 4.4 Get App – 4.5 Software Advice – 4.50 G2 – 4.2
Chief Architect	$199/ month; $1,995/ year	For professionals	Windows, macOS	Free trial version	2022	Overall: 4.2 Capterra – 4.3 Get App – 4.4 Software Advice – 4.35 G2 – 3.9
Home Designer	From $129	For professionals	Windows, macOS	Free trial version	2022	Overall: 4.0 Capterra – 4.2 Amazon – 3.8
Live Home 3D	$29.99 Standard for macOS	For professionals, beginners, and amateurs	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, iPad	Free for Windows	2023	Overall: 3.6 Capterra – 3.5 Get App – 3.5 Software Advice – 3.50 G2 – 4.1
Coohom	From $14.9/ month	For professionals, beginners, and amateurs	Online/ Web- based	Free Basic plan	2023	Overall: 3.4 G2 – 4.3 Glassdoor – 2.5
Havenly	From $99	For beginners	Online/ Web- based	–	2022	Overall: 3.3 Trustpilot – 3.7 Glassdoor – 3
Punch! Software Home Design	From $99.99	For professionals	Windows, macOS	–	2022	Overall: 2.7 G2 – 2.3 Amazon – 3.2
Interior Design 3D	From $29.99 for the full version	For professionals, beginners, and amateurs	Windows	Free limited version	2022	–

Best programs for interior design in detail

1. Home Design 3D

Home Design 3D is a fast and intuitive tool for designing and remodeling your home. Start by drawing the plot, rooms, and partitions in 2D or 3D. Then add doors and windows, and resize as you like. The program allows you to choose among thousands of pieces of furniture and accessories, which are divided by themes: living room, bedroom, and bathroom. All items can be transformed by changing the size, color, location, and height; you can create duplicates. If you don’t like something, you can immediately use undo/redo and go back. 

After finishing, you can launch the view in 3D and enjoy what you’ve created before. Thanks to its cross-platform compatibility, you can export and continue work on your projects on other devices. Take advantage of the ability to share your projects via email, Dropbox, OneDrive, or other services. Home Design 3D can also be used as an Interior design app for Android and iOS. Follow the link and learn more about our next top.

Pros:

• Ability to change the height or thickness of the walls, form corners
• Undo/Restore function
• Dipstick to find an existing color in the plan.

Cons:

• Limited base of available furniture and finishes without purchase.

2. Space Designer 3D

Space Designer 3D is an online interior home design software for creating apartments, buildings, and offices of any complexity. Space Designer 3D allows you to design any type of room and floor plan both in 2D and 3D. The interior designing tool is ideal for those who are not going to create an interior alone: room plans can be embedded in their blogs, and websites and shown on social networks so that friends and colleagues can make edits in real time. More than 10,000 pieces of furniture and materials can be used in the program. The latter can make table plans that will be updated in real-time on any device and choose from thousands of furniture and decoration options to create an unforgettable customer experience.

With Space Designer 3D, you can both visualize and modify your 3D projects in real-time and create photorealistic 4K images to visualize your projects. That software for interior design provides a drag-and-drop interface that lets you click on any part of the layout and place it in a new location. You can dimension different areas, such as the bedroom, parking lot, reading space, bathroom, living room, and garden area. Space Designer 3D software for interior design also offers many layout and design options for stairs, windows, doors, sofas, tables, pantries, laundry rooms, playrooms, sitting areas, and kitchens.

Space Designer 3D even allows you to integrate your furniture catalog. You can create your catalog of items with all sorts of variations in size, color, and shape, and then use the 3D planner to visualize furniture in your living space. The interior design tool also allows architects to add background images to the floor plan and scale it to the desired size using the built-in drawing tools. Projects can be downloaded in DXF and PDF format. It is a great solution for architects, designers, builders, constructors, furniture vendors, and even event designers. 

Pros:

• The ability to work together worldwide
• Annotation tools, group selection, background loading, multiple textures, and moving elements in 3D mode
• Placing projects in the cloud
• Does not require the installation of a plugin to access projects on any device
• You can integrate your logo, add preferences, and choose a color palette and shapes from the built-in catalog
• You can embed your floor plan into your blog, website, or social media platform.

Cons:

• Sometimes due to server bugs, it doesn’t save items.

3. SketchUp Pro

The next in our list of the best interior design software programs is the well-known SketchUp. In our article about the Best free interior design programs, we talked about the features and benefits of the free version of SketchUp. 

SketchUp is one of the most convenient and understandable tools for creating the interior of an apartment or house in 3D. The working principle of the home interior design software is based on direct modeling geometry. The user, using the tools, first creates a flat image and then pulls it to the desired 3D volumes with the mouse and Push/Pull function. 

There are some versions of the interior design computer program: paid SketchUp Go – $119/year, Pro – $299/year, Studio – $699/year, and Free, which contains quite a sufficient number of all the necessary tools to create high-quality 3D projects. As the name suggests, SketchUp Pro is a premium version of the software designed for advanced users and offers more features available. It contains additional features such as the ability to import and export files in various formats, access to 2D documentation software, layout tools, and a style builder that allows you to create edge styles for your models. In addition, unlimited access to the 3D Warehouse library containing 3D models is provided. You can upload your elements to the library of existing components, and then use them in other projects if necessary. 

Like the free version, the SketchUp Pro interface is straightforward. Even a novice user can quickly create the simplest shapes and give them the desired volume and size. In the interior design program, you can upload various ready-made projects in obj, png, BMP, PSD, 3ds, ddf, jpg, and dwg formats. SketchUp supports all sorts of plug-ins that will make the work even more enjoyable and interesting. With SketchUp Pro, you can qualitatively and quickly create almost any construction with a given level of presentation from conceptual sketch to a working design. Works perfectly with ArchiCAD and 3ds Max. A house, an interior, an industrial structure, a car, etc. can be designed within minutes.

SketchUp interior design 3D software works on different operating systems (Windows, macOS) and has many interface languages. Our specialists prefer SketchUp when working on photorealistic images of interiors of various types and complexity. Take advantage of our 3D interior rendering services and get unsurpassed visualizations of your project.

Pros:

• Fully customizable workspace
• Unlimited cloud storage with all subscription plans
• Generous free 30-day trial
• Live instructors available for learning support
• iPad and desktop software available with all subscription plans
• Free browser-compatible software.

Cons:

• No templates or premade object renderings included.

4. Chief Architect

Chief Architect is a comprehensive architectural home design package that offers many features. In Chief Architect Interiors you will find everything you need to create your interior design, including 2D and 3D design of kitchens, bathrooms, and interiors. Professional interior design software allows you to create drawings of plans and building structures, define materials, and visualize in 3D. Here you can realistically design every detail in 2D or 3D perspective views. The program’s 3D library has catalogs with thousands of cabinets, appliances, doors, furniture, colors, and textures. You can choose a specific manufacturer and structure the design details to your liking. In addition, the program for interior design has automatic wall height detection according to National Kitchen and Bath Association standards.

Thanks to the style palette in this interior design application, you can create different designs for doors, windows, cabinets, and room colors, and save the style palettes in your library for future use or share with other designers. The final version can be rendered in 3D by selecting from several rendering options (photorealistic, artistic, and 360°). You can buy Chief Architect for $199 per month, or pay $1,995 for the year of use. Chief Architect is an excellent solution among computer programs for interior design.

Pros:

• A professional set of tools for designing almost everything 
• Great tutorials for beginners.

Cons:

• High price.

5. Home Designer

Home Designer is a powerful interior design professional software that successfully combines a user-friendly interface, ease of use, and a rich library. Each element placed in the plan is usually used by default to make the design process efficient and productive. When creating design elements, the interior design software program automatically creates a 3D model and generates a list of materials. It also includes tools for creating photorealistic renderings, artistic renderings, and virtual tours to help you visualize designs to show clients.

That software for interior designers comes in several versions: Professional, Architectural, and Suite. The advanced home design tools will allow you to create not only a unique interior design but also a full construction drawing of the future house, apartment, or room. In general, with the home decorating software you can create architectural frameworks of different materials, create drawings and construction plans; place appliances, furniture, and decor switch between 2D and 3D plans; reproduce 3D visualizations of the room; install and customize walls, partitions, and frameworks, and more.

Pros:

• Possibility to design the exterior
• 9000+ decor elements in the collection
• Compatible with Windows and macOS
• Professional interior design tool
• Built-in set of materials for modeling and decorating
• Watermark your design
• Manually create 2D and CAD terrain and features.

Cons:

• Not the easiest package to use
• High price.

6. Live Home 3D

Live Home 3D is a full-featured software for interior decorating and home design that allows you to draw room plans, place the necessary objects, furniture, and appliances on them, and assign the objects to the desired materials, properties and dimensions. Finished projects can be exported to image files or 3D scenes of popular formats. The simple and intuitive Live Home 3D interface does not require any special design or modeling skills and the official website has several basic video tutorials. 

The interior designer software supports the viewing of created plans in 3D mode with the ability to conduct a virtual tour at any time of day under various clouds and lighting conditions. Live Home 3D interior design program comes with a fairly large collection of models and textures, which is easy to navigate with the ability to maintain favorites. Each object on the plan can be annotated with a textual annotation, a useful feature when putting together complex projects or fixing ideas for the future.

In addition to having advanced interior designing tools, Live Home 3D Pro has a remarkable export quality and view mode. Live Home 3D is distributed free, but with a limited set of features –  you need to pay for additional content.

Pros:

• Detailed room drawings
• Real-time 3D rendering
• Scanning rooms with RoomScanner and adding them to the project
• Immerse yourself in the world of augmented reality (AR)
• Ability to build two floors (unlimited with the purchase of Pro functionality)
• A collection of built-in video tutorials
• Gallery of house and room designs
• Installation of several cameras to show the interior from different angles
• Export 3D images to JPEG, TIFF, PNG, and BMP
• Capability to automatically adjust natural light by setting time and geographic location.

Cons:

• Free Windows-only version
• Paid additional features.

7. Coohom

Coohom is a modern and innovative computer program for interior design. In addition to high-quality 3D visualization and a modern planner, there are complex sweeps for exclusive wall and floor design, the ability to plan multi-level ceilings, a large catalog of furniture, and the ability to upload your 3D furniture models and textures. 

For Pro, Premium, or Enterprise plans, Coohom also provides 100+ extra brands in the library. There is round-the-clock user support. There is also automatic conversion to CAD-compatible drawings. The paid version of the interior design software program has a stunning level of 4K format visualizations, and in the free version – visualizations are of standard small size, but without the limit. Even a beginner can create a professional-level design with this house interior design software.  If you’re looking for versatile computer interior design programs, Coohom is the one for you.

Pros:

• There are all the features you need, including wall finishes and various architectural elements
• Options for missing furniture and textures can be downloaded
• More than 300,000 furniture, lighting, and decor models
• Built-in AI decorating assistant
• Creation of HD tours of the room in 10 seconds
• 24/7 user support
• Instant 4K rendering.

Cons:

• No technical drawings and communications diagrams.

8. Havenly

The special and most interesting home decor software on our list. The program is designed to work with a professional interior designer on your project. You can choose the designer you want to work with or take a quiz to find someone who reflects your style. Experts will give advice and provide a carefully selected list of products for your particular interior and on your budget. On the site, you can also find a shop and pick up what you need immediately after the consultation. 

In the software, you can work online through registration on the website. The package starts with a Mini kit, which includes a design concept and custom styling of the chosen room, the cost is $99. This interior decorating program is ideal for those who are looking for an opportunity to work with a professional and control the process at the same time.

Pros:

• Ability to choose a designer you will work with
• Direct work with professionals
• Affordable price for such service
• Build-in shop.

Cons:

• You need to wait for a response, and not work on the design at any time when it is convenient.

9. Punch! Software Home Design

Punch Home Design is an excellent tool for visualizing interiors, building facades, and modeling the design of buildings and grounds. The interior decorator software has many templates and customizable modules. It can work with photos of real objects and display them in a virtual 3D space. After you download and install Punch Home Design, we recommend that you don’t start a project from scratch, but try working with the built-in templates to get acquainted with the program quickly. After downloading a ready-made solution, you can master its menu, play with shadows, and move and add objects and your models.

There is a library of various models with the ability to change their parameters. An interesting function of a virtual walk-through project allows you to be in your future home, examine in detail the color scheme of each item, and determine the quality of the work. The interior decor software also allows you to see the result from a bird’s eye view.

Punch! Software packages exist in several modifications and differ in the number of included programs. All programs have a similar interface and are easy to integrate. Naturally, depending on the purpose of the Punch! Software package, not only does the number of programs included vary, but also the price of the package (from $99.99 to $199.99 on the developer’s website).

Pros:

• Ability to create a detailed residential house
• Large model library
• User-friendly structured interface
• Ability to create drawings according to the project
• Creation of three-dimensional visualization and virtual walk-through function
• Free modeling.

Cons:

• Users report inconvenient drawing processes in the floor plan.

10. Interior design 3D

Among other interior designing programs, Interior Design 3D is not the newest one, but is still popular among users. This intuitive interior decorating software allows you to create accurate floor plans of houses and apartments, rooms, and offices in a short time. Here you can build a drawing of the apartment to the exact size, add windows and doors, arrange furniture, appliances, and decor, and choose finishing materials. 

The editor has a built-in furniture catalog from which you can choose any model: 700+ items of customizable furniture, all kinds of doors, windows, and stairs, as well as decorative materials such as wallpaper, tiles, laminate, etc. With this 3D interior design software, you can customize their colors and arrange them in the rooms. You can download your textures. The final result can be visually assessed on the 3D view, in Virtual Visit mode, or with a photorealistic image. The finished project can be saved in the program’s format for further editing, as JPG and PDF images. You can also print the layout on a printer.

Depending on what you are planning – to create or redesign a room, an apartment, or a house – here you will find all the tools you need to do it. This 3D program for interior design is suitable for novice interior designers as well as experienced professionals. A simple, intuitive interface will make it easy to learn and further work in the interior designing software. 

Pros:

• Easy-to-understand interface
• Many finishing materials for floors, walls, and ceilings
• 700+ furniture models
•  Ability to add your textures 
•  Easy printing of finished projects
• A virtual tour option is available.

Cons:

• The accessible test mode has a small selection of items and finishing materials.

Conclusion

As an experienced interior design 3D rendering company, we understand how important the right tools are for developing an idea. Therefore, we have conducted in-depth research, and based on this we have chosen the best interior design software that can be useful for you in 2023. When compiling this list, we took into account such factors as price, features, and complexity of a particular program. We also deduced our rating of each application based on user review scores on various platforms such as G2, Trustpilot, Software Advice, and others. Look through and find your best program for interior design.

If you need high-quality 3D rendering services for your project, we’ve got you covered. We will help you turn your idea into reality!

Write what interior decorating programs you used and what you think about our list. Share your opinion or questions with us in the comments.