Home Building Software, CADD, 3D Design, Shareware, Demos & Free Downloads

One of the better aspects of the Internet is the ability to download & test software before you buy. Since professional level CAD software and 3D design programs can be very expensive, developers often provide free trial versions, full featured working demos, sample software applications and Freeware programs in order to introduce their products to potential customers. The following links will allow you to find, download, and test home design software.

Which software should you consider? Well, that will depend upon your goals, your budget, your computer system, your knowledge of building design, and the amount of time you can devote to learning a new program. Software that costs $50 simply cannot be expected to do everything that $500 software will do. And, $500 software will not have all the capabilities of $5,000 software.

If you want a program that will allow you to quickly visual several options, choose one of the inexpensive home hobbyist products. If you want more options, more detail, and the ability to draw more unique designs, choose a mid-level program. If you are a professional or an owner/builder who wants to draw your own house or project plans with the detail and accuracy needed to create complete working blueprints, then a professional level CAD or home design program would be a more practical choice. So, define your goals, decide how much time and money you can afford to spend in order to achieve those goals, and remember to be realistic in your expectations.

Chief Architect, Inc. (formerly Advanced Relational Technology, Inc. or ART) - is the developer of Chief Architect®, which is considered by many to be the easiest to learn professional level home design software. They also developed the original Broderbund's 3D Home Architect® series (version 4.0 and earlier), Chief Architect Home Edition 5.0, and the recently released Better Homes and Gardens™ Home Designer Suite 6.0™ and Better Homes and Gardens Landscaping and Deck Designer. Unlike "traditional" CAD software, these programs incorporate drag and drop, object oriented technology, which translates into an exceptionally short learning curve for most users.

For professional builders, architects, designers, as well as, owner/builders who wish to draw thier own working drawings, an animated tour and a free demo version of Chief Architect 10 are available for download. Homeowners, hobbyists, and owner/builders may want to start with Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite 6.0, which is a scaled down, but still powerful, consumer version based upon the same user interface as the professional level software. If you are planning a more complicated project, or you want to create a complete set of blueprints, or you just want more power in a consumer level home design program, consider Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Pro 6.0

Note: Better Homes and Gardens™ Home Designer™ is being offered as a compatible upgrade to 3D Home Architect version 4.0 by Broderbund. The new version 5.x of 3D Home Architect is not a direct upgrade. It is a complete rewrite based upon a CAD engine from another company, which is not compatible with drawings created in previous versions of 3D Home Architect.

Artifice, Inc. - developer and publisher of 3D modeling software for Macintosh & Windows including DesignWorkshop Classic and Professional, the Great Buildings Online, and the RenderCity! web-based daylight rendering system. They are offering their DesignWorkshop Lite 3D rendering software as a free download.

Autodesk, Inc. - developers of AutoCAD^®, AutoCAD LT^®, QuickCAD^®, and many other AEC related software programs and desktop modules.

Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite 7 + Highly recommended + A scaled down version of Chief Architect, this is the best consumer level home design software we have tried to date.

AutoCAD LT 2008 Professional level 2-D CAD software

Home Design AS18 Home hobbyist software, which people seem to love or hate, but with 18 integrated design programs it just might be all you need to put your ideas on paper.

Check current prices from other software vendors:

• AutoCAD LT 2005, AutoCAD LT 2005 Upgrade, QuickCAD 8, AutoSketch 8, AutoCAD LT 2004, AutoCAD LT 2004 Upgrade, AutoCAD LT 2002


• Autodesk Symbols 2000


• Broderbund - their products include the well known 3D Home Design Products: 3D Home Architect^®, 3D Home Architect Deluxe, 3D Home Design Suite, 3D Home Design Kit, 3D Home Landscape Designer, and dozens of other software titles for children and adults. Note: Version 5.x of 3D Home Architect is NOT a direct upgrade of previous versions. It is a complete rewrite of the software based upon the Envisioneer CAD engine from CADSoft. The new program has a different interface and it is not compatible with files created in previous versions. Versions 3.x and 4.x were produced by ART using the Chief Architect engine. ART does offer a compatible upgrade to 3D Home Architect version 4 called Chief Architect Home Edition 5.0, which is available through their Web site.

Compare current prices by using the following links:

• 3D Home Architect Professional 5.03D Home Architect Deluxe 5.03D Home Design Suite Professional 53D Home Landscape Design 5 Deluxe


• 3D Home Design Kit


• Cadsoft - developers of Cadsoft Build and Cadsoft APDesign professional level residential design software. The Cadsoft Envisioneer engine is the technology behind the newest version of Broderbund's 3D Home Architect home hobbyist design software, which previously used the Chief Architect engine.


• CadStd - a general purpose 2D CAD program that can be used for mechanical design, architecture, map making, wood working and other vector oriented design projects.


• DataCAD LLC - DataCAD has been around for a long time on a DOS platform. DataCAD 8 was the first Windows® 95/98/NT® version. DataCAD 11 is now shipping. It includes automated 3D modeling, photorealistic rendering tools, animation, a framing utility, a site plan modeler, and an estimator module. A free demo is available for download.


• DataCAD Books


• DeltaCad - This is a shareware CAD program, which can be downloaded as a full featured demo and tested free for 45 days.

Drafix.com - This business was recently purchased back from Autodesk, Inc. by the original developers. Their professional level landscape software, PRO Landscape, allows images of a client's property to be imported into the program in order to create a photorealistic presentation of the new design, a 2D site plan and a written proposal that includes all of the design elements. A free demo CD is available.


• Eagle Point Software - Producers of dozens of professional CAD programs and modules for architects, builders, landscapers, surveyors, civil, structural, and mechanical engineers. Their stand alone residential and light construction application, SolidBuilder, creates 3-D models, framing plans, cut sheets and cost estimates using your choice of wood, logs, steel, concrete, or brick and block.


• Fast Plans - a Windows based 2 dimensional CAD shareware program from Black Mountain Software Propriety Ltd. in Queensland, Australia. The program contains a feature called "Layout Design Rooms", which allows the user to design floorplans by defining and arranging individual living spaces.


• FCAD North America - provides manufacturer level support for FelixCAD and Graphic Developer's Engine (GDE is the developer specific version of FelixCAD) to North American users, distributors, resellers, and developers. Download a full working version of FelixCAD 4 that will run for 30 days.


• Graphisoft - is the developer of ArchiCAD®. It is an integrated architectural CAD program, which means changes made in one view are automatically updated in all views. Available in Mac and Windows formats.


• IMSI Software - offers TurboCAD, FloorPlan 3D Design Suite, Visual CAD, TurboProject Pro, and dozens of other office, graphic design, and consumer products. Use the following link to download a fully functional 15 Day Free Trial of TurboCAD

Check current prices and discounts from IMSI Software:

• TurboCAD® Professional V10 Competitive UpgradeTurboCAD Professional Version 10 TurboCAD Deluxe Version 10


• Floorplan 3D Design Suite 8

Check current prices from other software vendors:

• TurboCAD Professional V10TurboCAD Professional V9TurboCAD Deluxe V9


• Floorplan 3D Design Suite 8


• Insight Development Corp. - developers of printing, plotting, CAD and graphics software. They produce printing drivers and plotter enhancement software, including Squiggle®, which is a program that creates random "squiggled" line effects when printing or plotting from any graphics application that outputs HPGL or HPGL/2 files.


• Nemetschek North America (formerly Diehl Graphsoft) - Developers of VectorWorks, the "best-selling CAD program for the Macintosh", and MiniCAD, a cross platform drafting and design program for Mac or IBM compatible PC's. Their products support commercial, residential, landscape, theatrical, and mechanical design in 2D as well as 3D views. Evaluation versions of their software are available by mail.


• Vectorworks 10 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide by Tom Baer


• Pulsar USA, Inc. - creators of DecoTech™ Professional, DecoTech Designer, and DecoTech Home 3-D Kitchen, Cabinet, Furniture, and Interior design software. You can download full working demo programs for free, which do everything except print and save, in metric or Imperial formats.


• Punch! Software - makers of several hobbyist level home design products, including Professional Home Design-Platinum, Professional Home Design Suite, Master Landscape & Home Design, SUPER Home Suite, 5 in 1 Home Design, Home Design Complete, and Ultimate Deck & Landscape. At the time of this writing (Feb 2005), their FAQ stats that they do not offer demo programs because "...the best demo is the product itself, since it comes with a 90-Day Money-Back Guarantee." However, as of Sept 2004, a 15-Day demo of Punch Super Home Suite is available from Download.com

Compare current prices by using the following link:

• Punch! Software | 5 in 1 Home Design | Super Home Suite | Ultimate Deck and Landscape | Home Design Professional


• Sierra Software - Creators of a wide variety of software titles including Complete Home, 3D Deck, Home Architect, Kitchen & Bath, Visual Home, Complete Land Designer, 3D Landscape, Garden Encyclopedia, and Ortho Home Gardener's Problem Solver.


• SmartDraw Software - SmartDraw is a Windows drawing program similar to Visio, but with a shorter learning curve and a few less bells and whistles. Download a fully functional 30 day trial version here.


• SoftCAD International (www.softcad.com) - The last time we checked this listing, a visit to their site resulted in several pop-under ads being delivered -- for totally non-related products no less. Accordingly, we have removed the direct link to their Web site. If you would like to learn more about SoftCAD, SoftCAD.3D, and/or ArchiTECH.PC you are welcome to copy and paste their URL.


• Volo^TM View Express - An Autodesk viewing and markup tool with more features than the Whip Viewer. In addition to allowing DWF files to be viewed in your browser, Volo View allows you to view DWG and DXF files, as well as, plot, measure and markup drawings. The express version is free.


• Autodesk^®DWF^TM Viewer (Formerly Autodesk Express Viewer) - An Autodesk plug-in for Internet Explorer that allows anyone to view and print CADD drawings in the Design Web Format (DWF). Autodesk DWF Viewer is free, runs inside a Web browser, and allows high-speed dynamic zooming, panning, and navigating.


• Kohler Plumbing CAD Symbols - Download a free collection of 2 dimensional plumbing symbols in DXF format or order the complete 2D and 3D KOHLER Product Library.