This is a totally free piece of software that you can either download or use on their site. It requires Adobe Shockwave to run it. While this is a basic program, it’s actually pretty good for visualizing and is very easy to use. This program is a drag and drop that lets you design from a top view and view in a perspective 3d mode. You’re not actually able to draw with this or any of the software named on this page. That’s o.k. for now since we’re trying to visualize and get ideas and not trying to complicate things by having to learn a program.

For free, this actually is a very easy piece of software to use. They try to get you to subscribe and pay for additional features, but you don't have to and can get away with the basics. This one allows you to import a picture of your yard and drag and drop elements and plants into it. And the whole process was very easy to understand and do. Resizing pictures to proportion and changing angles was also very easy.

Very dissapointed with this program and wouldn't waste your time. You could do close by creating a bubble graph in microsoft paint. It’s a simple drag and drop program that doesn’t have much functionality.  Still o.k. for visualizing and it doesn’t cost anything.

Free 30 day

$220 after

I’ve had this software for a while. To me it was a good investment because I use it for other things. I’ve designed with it a few times but generally rely on my professional software for landscaping plans. They offer a free 30 day trial version. I see the free trial version like this. If you can design your yard in less than 30 days, You don’t need to buy it.

I found this to be the closest rival to the professional design software that I currently use which cost me over $700.00. In fact, rather than buying my secondary designer a license of my own design program, this is what he's using now. Much cheaper. The engine behind this program is from Chief Architect, who, from what I understand, are developers of professional CAD software. It shows in this program. While this program has one of the best 3D walk around and capabilities, I tend to judge this and others by the drawing tools that it possesses. And this one has some good usable tools.

This software doesn't even have what I would consider to be design drawing tools. To create a unique design for your own property with this software seems almost impossible to me. There's an animated demo at the site.