Top 10 Best Barndominium Design Software: 2024 (Free & Paid) (2024)

Barndominiums, a blend of traditional barn architecture and modern home features, have gained popularity as a unique and versatile housing option.

Generally, when combining barns’ rustic charm with modern homes’ amenities, barndominiums offer a spacious and functional living space that can accommodate various lifestyles.

Designing your dream barndo can be exciting, but having the right tools to bring your vision to life is essential. Moreover, barndominium design software can help create detailed floor plans, visualize your home in 3D, and personalize every aspect of your design.

This article discusses some of the best available barndominium design software options, both free and paid. Then, we’ll compare and contrast the features of each and provide links to their websites so you can learn more.

Finally, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each software so you can decide which is right for you.

Whether a DIYer or a professional, choosing barndominium design software can help you create the perfect home. So, let’s get started with some of the best!

1. Cactus Interior: User-Friendly Interface for Easy Design

Cactus Interior is a user-friendly and intuitive barndominium design software that stands out for its drag-and-drop approach to building floor plans. It features a comprehensive library of 3D models, real-time collaboration tools, and cross-platform compatibility.

Overall, Cactus Interior is an innovative tool to help you create a stylish and functional home, office, or business space. Specifically, it’s powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and offers many design options. Also, you can input your preferences, such as your favorite colors and styles, and Cactus AI will generate designs from which to choose.

Overall, the user-friendly software makes it accessible to users of all levels of expertise.

Pros

• Easy-to-navigate drag-and-drop interface.
• There is a vast library of 3D models.
• Real-time collaboration tools for teamwork.
• Cross-platform compatibility for flexibility.
• There’s a mobile app for on-the-go design.

Cons

• Free plan with limited features.
• It has limited 3D rendering capabilities.
• SketchUp file compatibility.

Price

• Plus plan starts at $29/month.

2. Planner 5D: A Comprehensive Suite for All Skill Levels

Planner 5D is a user-friendly barndominium interior design software that transforms your space into a visually stunning 3D virtual environment. Generally, it’ll help create a personalized design reflecting your unique style with its vast 3D furniture, décor, and accessories collection.

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned designer, Planner 5D’s simple drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create and edit designs with a few clicks. Furthermore, its intuitive tools and seamless workflow help to visualize, experiment, and bring your design dreams to life.

Pros

• It has a user-friendly interface.
• There’s an extensive design elements library.
• Realistic 3D renderings assist visualization.
• Floor plans with accurate measurements.
• There’s a mobile app for on-the-go editing.

Cons

• The free plan has limited storage and project options.
• Some premium features can be expensive.
• Complex designs have little support.

Price

• Free basic plan.
• Pro plan starts at $24/year.

3. RoomSketcher: Realistic 3D Floor Plans for Enhanced Visualization

RoomSketcher is a comprehensive barndominium home design software that simplifies creating floor plans, visualizing 3D spaces, and selecting furniture.

Firstly, its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes navigating and editing your designs easy, regardless of your expertise. Therefore, you can create new, accurate floor plans or import existing ones using RoomSketcher to streamline designing your dream home.

The software’s extensive library of 3D furniture models lets you furnish your virtual spaces with realistic pieces, ensuring you can visualize your design accurately.

So, whether planning a home renovation or simply experimenting with different design ideas, RoomSketcher is a valuable tool for bringing your vision to life.

Pros

• The software has an easy-to-use interface for creating 3D floor plans.
• It has high-quality 3D renderings for clear visualization.
• The user can access extensive furniture and décor collections.
• There’s a variety of templates and styles for a quick start.
• Share your design by exporting 2D visualizations.

Cons

• Limited ability to customize floor plans for complex designs.
• Mobile app limitations.

Price

• Free basic plan.
• Premium plans start at $9.99/month.

4. SmartDraw: A Versatile Suite for Diverse Design Needs

SmartDraw is a versatile diagramming and flowchart software that empowers users to create a wide range of visual representations, including designing floor plans for their new barndominium.

Therefore, whether you’re a business professional, educator, or individual seeking to enhance your communication skills, SmartDraw offers a comprehensive toolkit to convey complex information effectively.

Moreover, its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, vast library of shapes and symbols, and extensive templates make it easy to create professional-looking diagrams in minutes.

Additionally, SmartDraw’s collaboration features facilitate teamwork and streamline workflows, allowing multiple users to work simultaneously on the same project.

Pros

• Versatile design capabilities for diverse design needs.
• Designers can use an extensive library of templates and symbols.
• Customizable design options and styles.
• Export drawings to various file formats.
• Collaboration tools for multiple users.
• Data linking and automation.
• Suitable for businesses and professionals.

Cons

• There’s a steep learning curve for non-experienced users.
• Limited support for collaborative projects.

Price

• Free trial.
• Business plans start at $11.99/month.

5. SketchUp: A Powerful Tool for 3D Modeling

SketchUp is a powerful and user-friendly 3D modeling software that has gained widespread popularity among designers and hobbyists alike.

Generally, its intuitive interface, coupled with its ability to create complex models easily, makes it an ideal software tool for a wide range of applications, such as home renovations or barndominium architectural design.

Also, the software’s vast library of 3D models and textures allows users to quickly populate their designs with real-world objects, enhancing the visual appeal of their projects.

SketchUp integrates seamlessly as well with various rendering and animation software, enabling users to create professional-grade visuals to showcase their designs.

Pros

• Powerful 3D modeling capabilities.
• There’s a wide range of tools and features.
• Realistic renderings.
• The software can create detailed floor plans.

Cons

• Steep learning curve for beginners.
• It’s not as user-friendly as some other options.
• Prices can be expensive.

Price

• Free trial.
• SketchUp Pro plans start at $120/year.

6. Floorplanner: A Simple and Easy-To-Use Option

Floorplanner is an easy-to-use, web-based barndominium design software that allows you to create professional-looking floor plans, 3D renders, and virtual tours in minutes.

Generally, its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, extensive library of 2D and 3D furniture and décor templates, and real-time collaboration features make it a powerful tool for home design enthusiasts, interior designers, and businesses of all sizes.

So, whether you’re planning a barndo build, home renovation, designing an office space, or showcasing your product designs, Floorplanner simplifies the process of creating visually compelling and functional spaces.

Pros

• Simple and easy-to-use interface.
• There’s a library of 2D and 3D templates.
• Free plan with limited features.

Cons

• The software has limited customization options.
• It’s not as powerful as some other options.
• Limited support for complex designs.

Price

• Free basic plan.
• The Pro plans start at $12/month.

7. AutoCAD Architecture: A Cad Software for Professional Designers

AutoCAD Architecture is a powerful and versatile computer-aided design (CAD) software often used by professional barndominium designers. Generally, it’s widely used by architects, engineers, and construction professionals to create detailed building plans, elevations, 3D models, and visualizations.

AutoCAD Architecture offers a comprehensive suite of tools for creating accurate and realistic drawings, including intelligent objects, parametric modeling, and advanced rendering capabilities.

Furthermore, it integrates seamlessly with other Autodesk software, such as AutoCAD and Revit, enabling users to collaborate effectively on complex projects.

Pros

• It’s a powerful CAD software tool for professional barndo designers.
• Wide range of tools and features.
• You can create detailed floor plans, 3D models, and technical drawings.

Cons

• There’s a steep learning curve.
• It’s not as user-friendly as some other options.
• It can be expensive.

Price

• Free trial.
• AutoCAD Architecture 2023 plans start at $162/year.

8. BIMx: A Free App for Viewing 3D Models

BIMx, produced by Graphisoft, is an immersive 3D viewer that allows you to view, navigate, analyze, and share your BIM data. Overall, it’s an excellent software for visualizing your barndominium design on different devices.

Also, it’s built on a BIM (Building Information Modeling) data model, which provides a single truth source for your project information. Therefore, it’s easy to identify and resolve design conflicts and make informed decisions about your projects.

Pros

• Free app for viewing and sharing 3D models.
• It works with a variety of 3D modeling software.
• It’s simple to use, with an intuitive interface.

Cons

• It’s not a full-featured 3D modeling software.
• It has limited editing capabilities.

Price

• Free.

9. Archicad: A Powerful BIM Software for Professionals

Archicad, produced by Graphisoft, is a powerful and versatile BIM software widely used by architects and designers worldwide to design barndos and other buildings.

Generally, it’s known for its user-friendly interface, powerful modeling capabilities, and support for a wide range of architectural and design workflows.

Furthermore, its features include:

• Parametric modeling so you can easily create and modify designs.
• Integrated design so all the design elements are linked together.
• Visualization tools allow realistic renderings of the design.
• Collaboration with multiple designers working on the project simultaneously.

Pros

• Powerful BIM software designed for professionals, not DIY.
• Wide range of tools and features.
• It can create detailed floor plans, 3D models, and technical drawings.

Cons

• Steep learning curve.
• It’s not as user-friendly as some other options.
• It can be expensive.

Price

• Free trial and free version
• Archicad 24 Ultimate plans start at $2,695/year. However, there are monthly subscriptions too.

10. Twinmotion: A Powerful Real-Time Renderer

Twinmotion is a powerful real-time 3D architectural visualization software that allows you to create stunning visuals of your barndominium design project quickly and easily.

Generally, it’s known for its ease of use, powerful rendering engine, and wide range of features.

Furthermore, its main features include:

• Easy to use drag and drop interface.
• The powerful rendering engine provides stunning game-quality visuals.
• Real-time collaboration for multi-person teams to work simultaneously on the project.

Pros

• The software is a powerful real-time renderer for creating stunning visuals.
• It can create photorealistic images, animations, and virtual reality experiences.
• It includes a wide range of materials and textures in its library.

Cons

• Steep learning curve.
• It’s not as user-friendly as some other options.
• It can be expensive.

Price

• Free trial.
• Twinmotion 2023 Individual paid plans start at $99/year.

Summary

Here is a table summarizing the software:

Note: Prices mentioned in this guide were correct at the time of writing (December 2023) and may change at the discretion of the software company. Use them as an example and to assist with your research.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the best barndominium design software will depend on your needs and preferences.

If you are a DIYer looking for a user-friendly and affordable option, RoomSketcher or Floorplanner may be a good choice. Alternatively, if you’re a professional who needs a more powerful and versatile software, SketchUp or AutoCAD Architecture 2023 may be a better fit.

Moreover, if you need to create photorealistic visuals, consider Twinmotion. Ultimately, Cactus Interior AI may be the right option if you’re looking for a unique and AI-powered platform.

However, regardless of your chosen software, take advantage of many companies’ free trials. Then, you can try out the software before you commit to a paid subscription.

Indeed, with the right barndominium design software, you can create the perfect home for your family’s needs and budget. So, start exploring your options today and get building!

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