Whether you’re a seasoned professional crafting dream kitchens for clients, or a homeowner embarking on a personal kitchen makeover, the right software can make all the difference.
This comprehensive guide dives into the 10 best kitchen design software tools of 2024. From free options to professional-grade suites, we’ve got you covered. Discover how these tools can transform your kitchen design process, making it more efficient, creative, and profitable.
Why Pros Use Virtual Kitchen Planner
Professionals in the housing industry are increasingly turning to kitchen design software, and it’s not just about keeping up with technology. These programs revolutionize how they approach design.
Streamlined Efficiency and Unparalleled Accuracy
Imagine cutting down design time while boosting precision. That’s what kitchen design software brings to the table. It’s not just about faster layouts, it’s also about ensuring that every measurement is spot-on. This blend of speed and accuracy is a game-changer for any project.
Bringing Ideas to Life with 3D Visualizations
Clients often struggle to visualize a finished kitchen from 2D blueprints. That’s where kitchen design software comes in. It transforms sketches into realistic 3D models. These vivid renderings help clients see their future kitchen which makes decision-making smoother and more interactive.
Collaboration Made Easy
Design is rarely a solo endeavor. The best kitchen design software fosters a collaborative environment, where sharing ideas and receiving client feedback is seamless. This open line of communication ensures that the final design truly reflects your client’s vision.
Top 10 Kitchen Design Software
Here we’ve detailed the primary use cases, top features, and key information of the best kitchen design tools so you can choose the right one for you and your business.
1. Cedreo
Best for: Professional home builders, remodelers, and interior designers
Cedreo is a powerful, user-friendly kitchen design software crafted specifically for professionals in the home building, remodeling, and design industry. It stands out for its ability to streamline the entire design process, from initial concept to final presentation.
With Cedreo, designers like you can quickly create detailed floor plans, produce photorealistic 3D renderings and efficiently manage projects.
One of its most notable features is its high-quality, rapid 3D rendering capabilities, which help you present realistic visualizations to clients with ease. This feature not only improves communication with your clients but also aids in making faster design decisions. Also, Cedreo offers an extensive library of customizable design elements, catering to a wide range of styles and preferences. This makes it easy to tailor designs to your client’s needs.
Cedreo’s intuitive interface is also designed for quick learning. That means even if you are new to 3D design, you can become proficient at using the software with minimal training.
This ease of use, combined with advanced features like intelligent drawing tools and a comprehensive product library, makes Cedreo a top choice for professionals looking to elevate their kitchen design offerings.
Pros:
- Easy to use too with intuitive interface
- High-quality, fast 3D rendering for realistic visual presentations
- Extensive, customizable product library for diverse design needs
- Full-featured interior design software
Cons:
- No virtual walkthrough feature
Top Features:
- Create a full set of 2D and 3D plans in as little as 2 hours
- Get high-quality 3D renderings in 5 minutes or less
- Access a library of 10,000+ customizable home decorations and materials
- Import blueprints
- Alter light orientation
- Intelligent tools to streamline your workflow
- Create full presentation documents
- Share kitchen design projects within teams
- Get one-to-one training sessions and phone support
Cedreo’s combination of user-friendliness and advanced capabilities makes it an invaluable tool for professionals who want to create impressive, efficient designs faster than ever!Try it for FREE today! Or see all of our pricing options.
2. Foyr
Best For: Professional Interior Designers
Foyr is a cloud-based interior design software that offers a range of tools suitable for both professionals and new users. Its main advantage is the convenience of cloud-based operation, allowing users to access their designs from anywhere and harness the power of Foyr’s servers for fast renderings.
Foyr provides a decent selection of features for kitchen design, including floor plans, 3D visualizations, and a library of design elements. However, while it offers a nice range of interior design features, it stops there. So if you are a builder, remodeler, or designer who tackles landscape designs, patio designs, or home additions, you’ll want to look elsewhere for your software.
Pros:
- Cloud-based for easy access and collaboration
- Suitable for a range of interior design purposes, including basic kitchen design
- Design library with 1,000s of objects, including kitchen islands, and cabinets
Cons:
- Limited to interior design
Top Features:
- Cloud-based software
- Extensive design library
- Smart tools make it easy to accurately place furniture and decorations
3. Planner 5D
Best For: Homeowners & DIY enthusiasts
Planner 5D is a versatile kitchen design tool that caters to casual users, like homeowners DIY enthusiasts, and professionals seeking a straightforward design solution. Its main appeal lies in its simplicity and ease of use which makes it a go-to choice for those who are new to kitchen design.
You can start from scratch or choose templates to kickstart your kitchen projects. Planner 5D operates on a drag-and-drop interface so it’s easy to manipulate and place design elements. The software also supports basic 3D rendering, helping users visualize their kitchen layouts in a more tangible way.
It has a surprising amount of features for the price, but if you’re doing anything more than simple DIY products, you may find it’s missing some of the essential features you need.
Pros:
- Highly intuitive and user-friendly, good for beginners
- Cross-platform availability enhances accessibility
- Library of design elements for creative freedom
Cons:
- Limited advanced features for complex, professional-grade design
- The free version has restrictions, meaning you’ll need to upgrade for full functionality
Top Features:
- HD visualizations
- User-generated design catalog with 3,000+ items
- 2D and 3D design modes
- Automated furniture arrangement
4. Homestyler
Best For: Casual users and professional designers in the early stages of design exploration
Homestyler offers a generous amount of features ranging from 2D layouts to 3D visualizations. Its primary draw is the ability to create layouts quickly with easy-to-use tools.
It has a varied design library which includes some pieces from real brands that you can add to your designs. Homestyler also offers the ability to do virtual project walkthroughs.
While it is relatively easy to use, it would be nice if they had some more options for personalized support and learning, instead of relying on forums and generic contact forms.
Pros:
- Intuitive interface, good for beginners and casual users
- Basic tools for initial layout and design visualization
- Virtual project walkthroughs
- Use furniture from real brands
Cons:
- Limited personalized support options
Top Features:
- Supports both 2D and 3D floor plans
- Vast furniture library that includes thousands of furniture products from world-famous brands
- Immersive visualizations for walking through your design
5. SmartDraw
Best For: Businesses needing quick schematic diagrams and basic 2D layouts
SmartDraw is a diagramming tool with capabilities that extend to basic kitchen design. It’s best suited for businesses that require quick schematic diagrams rather than detailed, 3D kitchen designs.
SmartDraw offers a variety of templates, which can be useful for creating simple layouts swiftly. However, it lacks the specialized features and 3D rendering capabilities of dedicated kitchen remodeling software like Cedreo.
While it’s a great choice for creating basic floor plans and organizational charts, when it comes to creating visually detailed and client-ready 3D kitchen designs, SmartDraw may not be the best choice.
Pros:
- Easy to use for basic diagramming and layout needs
- Useful for quick schematic drawings and organizational charts
Cons:
- Lacks specialized features for detailed kitchen design
- No 3D renderings
Top Features:
- Detailed and accurate 2D designs
- 4,500+ templates and 34,000+ symbols
- Simple, easy-to-use interface
6. ProKitchen Software
Best For: Designers and showrooms specializing in kitchens
ProKitchen Software is a niche tool, tailored specifically for professional kitchen designers and showrooms. It offers a range of targeted features, including an extensive product catalog linked to real cabinet and appliance manufacturers. Just keep in mind that you may have to pay extra for the full catalog.
It also has some unique tools that let you give clients a virtual tour of your kitchen project using the virtual reality headset.
It also has a nice variety of tutorial videos to get you started as well as a PK University with online training (at the time of writing the trainings cost $625).
Pros:
- Extensive product catalog for detailed planning
- Specialized features suited for professional kitchen design
- VR showroom using Oculus Quest virtual reality
Cons:
- Full catalog of products to use in your designs only available with the most expensive plan
- Slower rendering speeds and lower quality compared to leading software
- Not useful if you design more than just kitchens
Top Features:
- Detailed product and materials library for customization
- Specific tools tailored for kitchen design professionals
- Compatible with both MacOS and PC
- Design with products and appliances from real brands
7. HGTV Kitchen Design Software
Best For: Individual consumers
HGTV Kitchen Design Software is geared towards homeowners and DIY enthusiasts, particularly those who are fans of HGTV’s design shows. The software offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for beginners to create basic kitchen designs.
You can draw inspiration from various HGTV-style templates and apply them to your projects. It also offers a nice range of creative tools and a wide selection of materials, paint and fabrics, countertops, cabinets, appliances, flooring, and more.
However, when it comes to professional-level design and detailed customization, HGTV Kitchen Design Software has its limitations. It lacks the advanced tools and high-quality rendering capabilities that are essential for professional users.
Pros:
- Simple and intuitive, great for beginners and HGTV enthusiasts
- Offers inspiration through HGTV-style design templates
Cons:
- Limited in professional-grade tools and customization
- Lower-quality renderings, not ideal for detailed presentations
Top Features:
- Supports 2D and 3D design
- Technical support and how-to tips included
- Simple, drag-and-drop software
8. IKEA 3D Kitchen Planner
Best For: Individual consumers planning a kitchen with IKEA products
The IKEA 3D Kitchen Planner is a tool specifically designed for individuals planning to purchase and install IKEA kitchen products. It’s an ideal solution for customers who already have a preference for IKEA’s product range and style.
The software lets you select and place IKEA products into your kitchen layout and then provides a basic visualization of how IKEA items will fit into your space. While it serves as a helpful tool for planning out IKEA kitchens, its utility is limited outside of this specific purpose.
Pros:
- Tailored for planning kitchens with IKEA products
- Straightforward and easy for IKEA customers to use
Cons:
- Limited to IKEA product range
- Basic rendering and design tools
Top Features:
- Modern products make it easy to design
- Generate a shopping list so you know exactly what you’ll need to buy and how much the final project will cost
- Option to hire a kitchen designer from IKEA to help (for a fee)
9. SketchUp
Best For: Professional designers and architects who need a versatile 3D modeling tool
SketchUp is popular for its versatility and is widely used by professionals in architecture and design, including kitchen design. Its strength lies in its detailed 3D modeling platform for creating intricate and precise designs.
However, its broad scope means it’s not exclusively focused on kitchen design (or interior design for that matter), which can be a drawback for those seeking specialized home building and remodeling design features. The learning curve for SketchUp can be steep for beginners, particularly for those who have not used 3D modeling software before.
However, if you’ve got some 3D experience or are willing to commit to learning it, SketchUp gives you one of the largest ranges of capabilities short of full-on 3D CAD software.
Pros:
- Powerful 3D modeling capabilities let advanced users create detailed, high-quality designs
- Highly versatile, suitable for a range of professional design needs
- Expandable with additional plug-ins and extensions (most are for purchase)
Cons:
- Steep learning curve, especially for beginners
- Not exclusively focused on kitchen design, which can be overwhelming
Top Features:
- Advanced 3D modeling tools
- Extensive functionality for various design applications
- Large library of user-generated 3D models
10. 2020 Kitchen Design
Best For: Professional designer looking for comprehensive planning tools.
2020 Kitchen Design is a comprehensive software aimed at professional kitchen designers. It offers a wide array of features, including an extensive product catalog and sophisticated design tools. The software is known for its detailed planning capabilities and is often used for creating intricate kitchen designs.
However, the complexity of 2020 Kitchen Design can also be its drawback, as it can be difficult to learn and feel overwhelming for beginners or those looking for a more straightforward tool.
Pros:
- Extensive feature set for detailed kitchen planning
- Comprehensive product catalog for customization
- High-quality renderings
Cons:
- Steep learning curve and complex interface
- Expensive
- Desktop software (not cloud-based)
Top Features:
- Advanced design and planning tools
- Detailed product and material library
Start Creating Better Kitchen Designs Today
Choosing the right kitchen design software is critical. As a starting point, we recommend checking out companies that stood out the most from this list. Chances are, they offer a free trial or demo option so you can take it for a test drive before deciding to invest your money. If you are looking for something more simple, like simply virtual staging, there are programs for that as well.
For those who seek a balance of ease-of-use and professional capabilities, Cedreo stands out. Its benefits for kitchen design and remodeling professionals include:
- Quick and efficient design process with user-friendly tools
- Detailed, professional floor plan software
- High-quality 3D renderings that bring your ideas to life
- Extensive customizable library to suit any style or requirement
Want to see how Cedreo can help you create and sell more kitchen design projects? Get started now or get in touch with our sales team today.
