16 Best Floor Plan Software Tools for Architects and Designers (2026)

Creating a floor plan is where every great design begins. The best floor plan software for you depends on the job: construction documents, a coordinated BIM model, a quick concept, a plan for a property listing or a survey of an existing home. This guide compares 16 programs, from AutoCAD and Revit to free browser tools, with their platforms, free options and prices as of October 2026.

Quick picks by need:

• CAD documents: AutoCAD with the Architecture toolset.

• BIM: Revit.

• Residential plans with a materials list: Chief Architect Premier.

• Builders and remodelers: Cedreo.

• Real estate listings: RoomSketcher or Floorplanner.

• Measuring on site: magicplan.

• Free: Sweet Home 3D on the desktop, or Floorplanner and Planner 5D in the browser.

• Reading an existing plan with AI: ArchiVinci Floor Plan Maker, our own tool, which turns a plan image, a PDF or a sketch into an editable plan.

Best Floor Plan Software at a Glance

How to Choose the Best Floor Plan Software

Not all floor plan tools are created equal. Start with what the plan is for (construction documents, a client presentation, a property listing or a quick layout test) and which files you have to deliver, then compare the tools on these points:

Accuracy and Scalability

Precision is everything in architecture. The best floor plan software lets you draw walls, doors and windows to exact dimensions, add dimension lines and switch between metric and imperial units, and accurate scaling prevents costly revisions later. When you start from an existing plan or a photo, check that you can set the scale from one known length; to convert between drawing and real sizes, use our architectural scale calculator. For larger projects, check how a program handles several floors and big files.

Ease of Use and Collaboration

Good design tools should be simple enough to learn quickly but powerful enough to handle complex projects. Collaboration differs a lot between tools: BIM programs such as Revit use worksharing for multi-user projects, while many browser planners let you share a link or an interactive 3D view for client feedback. Check what each tool offers before you promise a client real-time teamwork.

CAD Export: DWG and DXF

If the plan goes to an engineer, a contractor or your own CAD drawing, check the file formats first. DWG is AutoCAD's own format, and DXF is an exchange format that AutoCAD and most CAD programs open. AutoCAD saves DWG, Homestyler exports DWG drawings, magicplan and ArchiVinci Floor Plan Maker export DXF, Space Designer 3D exports DXF on its Ultimate plan, and Planner 5D's Professional plan exports to CAD. Chief Architect and Cedreo import DWG and DXF files.

Browser, Desktop or Tablet

Browser tools such as Floorplanner, Cedreo and Space Designer 3D need no installation, and Floor Plan Maker runs in desktop browsers only. Revit and the AutoCAD toolsets run only on Windows, while Chief Architect and Live Home 3D also run on a Mac. For work on site, choose an app for phones and tablets such as magicplan, or the RoomSketcher app on a tablet.

Free Plans and Pricing Models

Pricing models differ: AutoCAD, Chief Architect and SketchUp are subscriptions, magicplan charges per project, Floorplanner sells credits, RoomSketcher combines a subscription with credits, Live Home 3D offers a subscription or a lifetime license, and Sweet Home 3D is free and open source. Free versions usually limit the number of projects, the image quality or the catalog, so check the limits before you start client work.

AI and Automation Features

Modern floor plan software uses AI and automation in three different ways, so check which one a tool offers:

• Reading an existing plan: RoomSketcher's AI Convert, Planner 5D's plan recognition (Premium), Space Designer 3D's floor plan detection and ArchiVinci Floor Plan Maker turn an image of a plan into an editable plan. Check walls and dimensions afterwards, because AI can misread them.

• Generating a layout: Planner 5D's AI floor plan generator and Homestyler's Options to Floorplan propose layouts, and Floor Plan Maker's generator builds a furnished layout from a short brief without AI.

• Rendering: Cedreo, Floorplanner, RoomSketcher and Live Home 3D create photorealistic images of the plan in 3D, and AI tools such as ArchiVinci turn an image of a 2D plan into a presentation image.

16 Best Floor Plan Software Tools in 2026

How we checked: we read each vendor's own pages on 20 October 2026 for platforms, free options and prices. Prices are US prices before tax and change often, so check them before you buy. The list starts with CAD and BIM programs (1–3) and 3D modeling (4), then tools for builders and real estate (5–7), browser and AI planners (8–13), free and desktop apps (14–15) and 2D diagrams (16). Entry 10 is our own tool.

1. AutoCAD with the Architecture Toolset

AutoCAD Architecture is no longer sold on its own: as of October 2026 it is the Architecture toolset included in AutoCAD 2027. It combines familiar CAD drafting with objects for walls, doors, windows, roofs and stairs, room and area tools for space planning and schedules, and xref and sheet set management for large projects, so you can produce accurate 2D floor plans, elevations and sections and exchange DWG files with consultants. To turn a view into a presentation image, export it as a PNG, JPEG or WebP image and try AutoCAD rendering with AI.

• Platforms: the Architecture toolset runs on Windows only; AutoCAD LT runs on Windows and macOS but has no toolsets.

• Free option: a free trial.

• Price (October 2026): AutoCAD with its toolsets $2,095 a year or $260 a month; AutoCAD LT $540 a year or $70 a month.

• Best for: architects and teams who need precise floor plan documentation and DWG-based collaboration from concept to construction sets.

2. Revit

Revit is Autodesk's BIM authoring platform for creating accurate 2D floor plans and coordinated 3D models. Parametric components, schedules and views stay in sync, which makes documentation faster and reduces errors; worksharing supports multi-user projects, and Dynamo automates repetitive tasks and layout studies. If you are weighing other BIM tools, see our Revit alternatives; for presentation images from Revit views, see Revit rendering with AI.

• Platforms: Windows 11, 64-bit only (Revit 2027).

• Free option: a free trial.

• Price (October 2026): $3,005 a year or $380 a month.

• Best for: firms that need construction-grade floor plan documentation from a single coordinated BIM model.

3. Chief Architect Premier

Chief Architect Premier is professional home design software for residential plans: you draw walls, place doors and windows, see the house in 3D and get a Materials List from the same model. It imports DWG, DXF and PDF files, so you can start from an existing drawing.

• Platforms: Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) and macOS on Apple M1 or newer.

• Free option: a trial download.

• Price (October 2026): $1,995 a year or $229 a month.

• Best for: residential design and house plans that need a materials list.

4. SketchUp

SketchUp is a fast 3D modeling tool that makes floor plan iteration visual and intuitive: you draft in 2D, push-pull into 3D and review layouts with sections and scenes. SketchUp Pro adds LayOut for annotated, scaled sheets and more than 1,000 extensions, for example for area takeoffs, sunlight studies and rendering. See how it compares in our list of the best 3D modeling software for architects, and for presentation images, try SketchUp rendering with AI.

• Platforms: SketchUp Free and Go run in the browser, and Go also on iPad; the desktop modeler comes with Pro, and Studio is Windows only.

• Free option: SketchUp Free in the browser, which exports SKP, PNG and STL.

• Price (October 2026): Go $10.75, Pro $33.25 and Studio $71.58 a month, billed annually.

• Best for: designers who want a visual approach to floor plans and rapid concept models for clear client presentations.

5. Cedreo

Cedreo is online home design software for builders, contractors, remodelers and interior designers. You draw 2D and 3D floor plans, generate roofs, sections, elevations and site plans, and create photorealistic interior and exterior renderings, which Cedreo says take a few minutes. Existing plans in JPEG, PNG, PDF, DWG or DXF can be imported as trace layers.

• Platforms: 100 % online, in the browser.

• Free option: a free plan with one project.

• Price (October 2026): Personal (bought per project, with 20 renderings each), Pro and Enterprise; current prices are on Cedreo's pricing page.

• Best for: home builders, contractors and remodelers who present new homes and renovations to clients.

6. RoomSketcher

RoomSketcher is a professional floor plan tool for drawing accurate 2D plans and generating 3D visuals, including 3D Photos, 360 Views and Live 3D walkthroughs. Its AI Convert turns an uploaded blueprint into an editable plan, and you can also order a redraw of a sketch or blueprint and receive 2D and 3D floor plans the next business day.

• Platforms: the RoomSketcher App runs on Windows, macOS, iPad and Android tablets, with a web portal in the browser.

• Free option: Free, with 2 credits and your first AI Convert free.

• Price (October 2026): Pro $24 a month or $144 a year; Team $70 a month or $420 a year; Premium is now a single-project upgrade.

• Best for: designers and real estate teams who need fast, shareable floor plans with 3D views.

7. magicplan

magicplan is a phone and tablet app for capturing existing spaces on site: you measure and sketch rooms, or scan them with LiDAR on Pro iPhones and iPads, and export the plan as PDF, DXF, IFC, OBJ and other formats. For other site and sketching apps, see our best apps for architects.

• Platforms: iOS and Android.

• Free option: 2 free projects to start.

• Price (October 2026): you pay per project: plans start at 10 new projects a month, and each extra project costs $40.

• Best for: measuring and drawing existing homes and rooms on site.

8. Floorplanner

Floorplanner is a browser-based tool for quick 2D floor plans with a real-time 3D view. You draw rooms and walls, furnish them from a library of more than 260,000 3D models, including items from well-known brands, and create renders at up to 8K, with no software to install.

• Platforms: browser.

• Free option: up to 5 free projects (3 floors and 3 designs in total), with SD images and a watermark.

• Price (October 2026): credits from $8.15 for 5 credits; subscriptions for professional use are on Floorplanner's pricing page.

• Best for: teams that need fast layout mockups, plans for property listings and interactive client reviews directly in the browser.

9. Planner 5D

Planner 5D is a web and app-based floor plan tool for quick 2D plans with instant 3D views, drag-and-drop editing and a large furniture catalog. Its AI features include a floor plan generator and, on Premium, plan recognition that turns a photo or blueprint of a plan into an editable 3D project.

• Platforms: web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and visionOS.

• Free option: unlimited projects with 50 % of the furniture catalog.

• Price (October 2026): Premium $19.99 a month or $59.99 a year (with AI plan recognition); Professional $49.99 a month or $399.99 a year (4K renders, 360° walkthroughs and export to CAD).

• Best for: users who want fast planning on any device, with AI help to read existing plans.

10. ArchiVinci Floor Plan Maker (Our Tool)

Floor Plan Maker is ArchiVinci's own floor plan tool, so read this entry knowing it is ours. It runs in desktop browsers and gives you four ways to start:

• A plan image or PDF: upload a JPG, PNG, WebP or PDF, and AI reads it and rebuilds it as an editable plan with walls, doors, windows and rooms with their names and areas; check the result and correct anything it read differently.

• A hand sketch: upload a photo of a sketch and a short brief, and AI turns it into a clean plan that keeps your room layout.

• A short brief: enter the property type, area, floors and room counts, and the generator builds a furnished layout without AI; Try another layout gives a new variation.

• Your own drawing: draw walls and rooms by hand, on a blank page or over a picture, and set the scale from one known length.

Then you edit walls, doors and windows, add dimension lines and floors, work in metric or imperial units, furnish rooms from 153 pieces of furniture and apply finishes. The same plan opens in a 3D view with a sun control and in a first-person walkthrough, and exports as DXF (AutoCAD opens it and can save it as DWG; there is no direct DWG export), SVG, PDF, PNG, GLB or OBJ.

• Platforms: desktop browsers only, with no mobile version; the interface is in English, Spanish and Italian.

• Free to use: drawing, editing, 3D views, the walkthrough, the furniture library, every export and the brief generator.

• Credits (October 2026): AI reading of a plan or sketch costs a free member 1 credit, refunded if the conversion fails, and is unlimited on Premium; renders use ArchiVinci's render credits, and client or other commercial use of a render needs an active plan; plans are on the pricing page. Logged-in members save up to 50 projects.

• Best for: turning an existing plan image, PDF or sketch into an editable plan with DXF export for CAD.

11. Homestyler

Homestyler is a floor plan and interior design tool that runs in the browser and on mobile and desktop. You can upload a picture or a DWG file, or draw in 2D, and it builds the rooms in 3D; Options to Floorplan proposes layouts, cloud rendering creates presentation images, and you can export floor plans and DWG drawings.

• Platforms: browser, iOS, Android and a desktop version.

• Free option: Basic.

• Price (October 2026): Pro+ from $6.8 a month and Master+ from $11.8 a month.

• Best for: designers who want quick online layout tests with 3D previews and DWG export.

12. HomeByMe

HomeByMe is a web and mobile floor plan and interior design tool that lets you create 2D plans, view them in 3D and generate photorealistic images. If you would rather not draw, its experts can draw your 3D plan for you.

• Platforms: browser, iOS and Android.

• Free option: Starter, with 2 projects and 5 Full HD images.

• Price (October 2026): Essentials adds 4K images and Pro+ adds video; prices are on HomeByMe's offers page.

• Best for: homeowners and designers who want quick concept plans in 2D, fast 3D views and realistic images without CAD.

13. Space Designer 3D

Space Designer 3D is a browser-based floor plan tool for 2D and 3D layouts with nothing to install. AI floor plan detection and tracing help you rebuild an existing plan.

• Platforms: browser.

• Free option: no free plan; a 5-day trial that needs a card.

• Price (October 2026): Premium $25, Ultimate $45 (with DXF export) and Team $80 a month; paying yearly saves 17 %.

• Best for: teams that want shareable 2D to 3D planning in the browser with no desktop setup.

14. Sweet Home 3D

Sweet Home 3D is a free, open-source interior design app for drawing 2D floor plans with an instant 3D preview in the same window. You can arrange furniture, import extra furniture libraries and textures, and use Sweet Home 3D Online in a WebGL browser without installing anything.

• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, plus Sweet Home 3D Online in the browser.

• Free option: the desktop app is free and open source (GPL, version 7.5).

• Price (October 2026): paid editions in the Mac App Store and the Microsoft Store bundle about 10,800 pieces of furniture, against 100 to 929 in the free installers.

• Best for: users who want a free and simple 2D to 3D floor plan tool that also works offline.

15. Live Home 3D

Live Home 3D is a multi-platform home design app. You draw 2D floor plans, switch to real-time 3D and export images, videos and 360° panoramas; on iPhone and iPad, AR View places the design in the real world with Apple's ARKit, and a LiDAR scanner can import an existing apartment. AI renders in the cloud use credits.

• Platforms: macOS, Windows, iOS and iPadOS, visionOS and Android (version 5).

• Free option: a free app with up to 2 stories.

• Price (October 2026): Standard and Pro by subscription or as a lifetime license; the Pro lifetime license lists at $149.99.

• Best for: designers who want a polished 2D to 3D workflow on Mac, Windows and mobile devices.

16. SmartDraw

SmartDraw is diagramming software that also makes 2D floor plans; it does not build a 3D model.

• Free option: a free trial.

• Price (October 2026): Individual $7.95 a month billed annually (an introductory price; the regular price is $10.95), and Team $6.95 per user a month with a 3-user minimum.

• Best for: simple 2D floor plans and layouts drawn as diagrams.

Best Free Floor Plan Software

Most floor plan programs have a free option, but the limits differ:

• Sweet Home 3D: free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux, with Sweet Home 3D Online in the browser.

• Floorplanner: up to 5 free projects in the browser, with SD images and a watermark.

• Planner 5D: unlimited projects with half of the furniture catalog.

• SketchUp Free: 3D modeling in the browser, with SKP, PNG and STL export.

• ArchiVinci Floor Plan Maker: our free floor plan creator for desktop browsers; drawing, editing, 3D views, exports and the brief generator cost nothing, and AI plan reading uses 1 credit.

• Limited free versions: RoomSketcher (2 credits and one AI conversion), Cedreo (1 project), HomeByMe (2 projects), magicplan (2 projects) and Homestyler Basic.

• Trials only: AutoCAD, Revit, Chief Architect, SmartDraw and Space Designer 3D, whose 5-day trial needs a card.

Which Tool for Which Job

Try it in ArchiVinci

Upload a 2D floor plan image, pick one of four styles (3D view, Marker, Solid color or Drawing) and add a sentence if you like: ArchiVinci generates a colored, rendered version that follows your plan. A new account starts with 3 free credits.

• For a 2D floor plan: AI floor plan rendering

• For a floor plan: Furnish 2D floor plans with AI

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free floor plan software?

It depends on what you need for free. Sweet Home 3D is free, open source and works offline on Windows, macOS and Linux; Floorplanner (5 free projects) and Planner 5D (unlimited projects) are free starts in the browser; and ArchiVinci Floor Plan Maker lets you draw, view in 3D and export DXF at no cost in a desktop browser.

Which floor plan software is best for beginners?

Tools like Floorplanner, RoomSketcher, and Planner 5D are user-friendly and ideal for quick layouts without CAD experience.

Is AutoCAD the best software for floor plans?

AutoCAD with its Architecture toolset suits precise 2D documentation and DWG exchange, but it is neither the easiest nor the cheapest option: in October 2026 AutoCAD cost $2,095 a year, and the toolsets run only on Windows. For a quick layout, a client presentation or a listing plan, a browser tool such as Floorplanner or RoomSketcher is faster to learn.

Floor plan or BIM: what is the difference?

Floor plan tools focus on space planning and visualization, while BIM software such as Revit and Vectorworks Architect manages full building data, materials and construction workflows: plans, sections and schedules all come from one model. For the main BIM programs, see our guide to BIM software for architects.

Which of these programs export DWG or DXF files?

AutoCAD saves DWG natively and Homestyler exports DWG drawings. magicplan and ArchiVinci Floor Plan Maker export DXF, which AutoCAD opens and can save as DWG, and Space Designer 3D exports DXF on its Ultimate plan. Chief Architect and Cedreo import DWG and DXF files, and Planner 5D's Professional plan exports to CAD.

Do the best floor plan programs need AI?

No. AI features speed up some steps, such as reading an existing plan, proposing a layout or rendering it in 3D, but they are not mandatory. Many professionals use hybrid workflows that combine traditional CAD tools with AI render engines.

Can AI completely replace traditional drafting?

Not yet. AI can read an existing plan, propose layouts and create visualizations, but detailed architectural drawings still require human precision and decision-making. A plan drawn or read with AI is not checked against building codes, so construction and permit drawings should be prepared or reviewed by a qualified professional.

Can ChatGPT replace the best floor plan software?

Not for a plan you will build from. As of October 2026, ChatGPT's image tool creates and edits images, and a picture of a floor plan is not a scaled, editable plan: it has no walls, dimensions or layers you can change and nothing to export to CAD. Use it for ideas, and draw the plan itself in floor plan software.

Which tools generate a layout for free?

ArchiVinci Floor Plan Maker's generator builds a furnished layout from a short brief (property type, area, floors and room counts) at no cost and without AI, and Try another layout gives a new variation. RoomSketcher's free account includes one AI conversion, which redraws an existing blueprint rather than designing a new layout. Treat any generated layout as a starting point and check it before you rely on it.

Can these tools be used for both interior and architectural planning?

Yes. Most modern floor plan tools support both, though some focus on interiors while others specialize in structural or site planning.

Which of these programs suit real estate listings?

RoomSketcher and Floorplanner both name real estate as a use: they make 2D and 3D floor plans for listings, and RoomSketcher can also redraw a sketch or blueprint for you by the next business day. magicplan measures and draws an existing home on site with a phone or tablet. Cedreo, by contrast, is built for builders and remodelers who present new homes and renovations to clients.

Can I integrate these tools with rendering software like ArchiVinci or Twinmotion?

Yes, in two different ways. Twinmotion imports the 3D model itself through Direct Link. ArchiVinci works from an image instead: export a view or take a screenshot (JPG, PNG or WebP, up to 5 MB) and upload it for AI rendering; in SketchUp, ArchiVinci's free plugin uploads a capture of the view for you. Each run generates a new image that follows your view, so check the details against your plan.