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Home Designer
LinkedIn lists the headquarters at 6500 N Mineral Drive, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States.
What it is
Home Designer is desktop software for DIY home design, remodeling, kitchen and bath projects, and cost estimation. It works on Windows and macOS and supports 2D floor plans alongside 3D visualization, realistic views, cross-sections, elevations, and real-time ray-trace rendering. Automatic design tools can generate roofs, floors, foundations, ceilings, and framing. Users can create scaled construction documents and site plans, make materials lists, assign prices for estimates, and add dimensions manually or automatically. Interior tools include customizable smart cabinets, materials takeoffs, and automatic framing for doors and windows. Home Designer can record virtual-tour walkthroughs and export interactive 3D Viewer models to the Chief Architect cloud for mobile sharing. Core, bonus, and manufacturer library items are available; bonus and manufacturer catalogs can be downloaded free. The software is compatible with Chief Architect projects. It is published by Chief Architect, Inc., whose software began in 1992. Plans start at $79 a month, and a free trial is available, though trial use restricts saving, printing, exporting, walkthrough recording, and some library functions.
For and against
For
- 2D floor plans and realistic 3D views
- Automatic tools generate roofs, floors, and framing
- Creates materials lists and cost estimates
- Free trial is available
Against
- No free plan is offered
- Trial blocks saving, printing, and exporting
- License authentication needs internet every 14 days
The verdict
Home Designer combines planning, visualization, and estimating tools for residential projects. Consider the paid subscription and trial restrictions alongside its construction-document and 3D capabilities.
Who it suits
It suits homeowners and designers planning remodels or new spaces who need floor plans, 3D views, construction documents, and cost estimates. It is intended for desktop use on Windows or macOS.
Plans and prices
Home Designer
Software upgrades · Free catalog downloads · Technical support
Read 22 Sep 2026 · homedesignersoftware.com
Home Designer
Software upgrades · Free catalog downloads · Technical support
Read 22 Sep 2026 · homedesignersoftware.com
Home Designer Pro Rent (legacy)
legacy 2025 product
Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Home Designer subscription (monthly)
software upgrades · free catalog downloads · technical support
Read 15 Oct 2026 · homedesignersoftware.com
Home Designer Suite (legacy)
legacy 2025 product
Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Home Designer Architectural (legacy)
legacy 2025 product
Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Home Designer subscription (annual)
software upgrades · free catalog downloads · technical support
Read 15 Oct 2026 · homedesignersoftware.com
Home Designer Pro (legacy)
legacy 2025 product
Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Home Designer (monthly subscription)
Includes software upgrades · free catalog downloads · technical support
Read 7 Oct 2026 · homedesignersoftware.com
On the record
- 3D design
- It provides realistic 3D views, cross-sections, elevations, and real-time ray-trace rendering.homedesignersoftware.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- 3D model formats
- Depending on edition and version, it imports OBJ, 3DS, SKP, DAE, STL, DWG and DXF symbols.homedesignersoftware.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- 3D rendering
- The program provides real-time ray-traced rendering plus artistic rendering modes.homedesignersoftware.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Activation frequency
- Internet is required for installation, activation, deactivation, catalogs and videos, with license authentication required at least every 14 days.homedesignersoftware.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- API and SDK
- The public product pages and documentation describe file import/export and viewer sharing but do not provide a public API or SDK.homedesignersoftware.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Authentication and telemetry
- The EULA says licensing technology and automatic error reporting send installation, system and security information to Chief Architect servers.cloud.chiefarchitect.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Automatic building tools
- Walls, roofs, floors, foundations, ceilings and framing update automatically as the design changes.homedesignersoftware.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Building tools
- Automatic tools generate roofs, floors, foundations, ceilings, and framing as users design.homedesignersoftware.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Cabinet design
- Cabinets snap together, conform to walls and support customizable doors, drawers, counters, woods, paints and stains.homedesignersoftware.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company founding
- LinkedIn states that Chief Architect Software was founded in 1992.linkedin.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists Chief Architect Software as privately held with 51–200 employees.linkedin.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation and support
- Documentation includes a reference manual, illustrated user guide, installation guide, update notes, knowledge-base articles, videos, webinars, phone and online support.homedesignersoftware.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Doors and windows
- Placed doors and windows automatically frame wall openings and provide customizable styles and shapes.homedesignersoftware.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- DWG/DXF integration
- The software imports DWG/DXF drawings and exports current views or all floors as line-based DWG/DXF files.homedesignersoftware.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integration
- Home Designer is compatible with Chief Architect software, allowing homeowners and professional designers to share projects.chiefarchitect.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Interior design
- The software supports 2D floor plans, 3D visualization, materials takeoffs, customizable smart cabinets, and automatic door and window framing.homedesignersoftware.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Internet and system requirements
- The current system requirements specify Windows 10 or 11 64-bit or macOS Sequoia or Tahoe, 16 GB RAM, 5 GB disk space, and internet access; license authentication requires internet access every 14 days.homedesignersoftware.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Libraries
- Core, bonus and manufacturer catalogs are downloadable, with current-version catalogs included at no extra charge.homedesignersoftware.com · read 15 Oct 2026
