Mac home design software improves your ability to create beautiful, efficient home designs that reflect the restraints of your budget while incorporating your personal touches into every design. With the emphasis on eco-friendly products available today, the best Mac programs will suggest ways to include “green” elements in your new or updated dwelling.
Mac home design software goes way beyond the simple line drawings contained in floor plan books. Home design software is simply fun to use whether you’re designing a home for yourself or are a seasoned general contractor. In this site, you’ll find articles on home design and comprehensive reviews to help you make an informed decision on which Mac software package is right for you.
These are the points TopTenREVIEWS experts evaluated to rank Mac home design software:
Aesthetic Appeal
The interface of the software should be well-organized and intuitive. The top packages will be able to render your plans in multiple views and provide extensive libraries of elements from color palettes and textures to furniture and plants.
Features & Tools
Mac home design software features should go beyond basic floor plan design; it should offer a variety of tools such as real-time walkthroughs and the ability to incorporate plumbing/electrical/HVAC infrastructure. The design tools should be accessible and easy to use even for an inexperienced designer. The best Mac home design software provides tools that allow creative design and customization including lighting effects and landscape design.
Support & Documentation
With the complex nature of home design, the help and support options for Mac home design software should offer clear, step-by-step instructions. The language in help files and tutorials should be simple to understand and well-organized, so you can find answers fast. The developer should also provide substantial support on their web site where you can contact them via email or phone if necessary.
Ease of Use
A computer novice should be able to install and learn how to use Mac home design software quickly. The control panel and design tools should be powerful, but intuitive.
So whether you’re building your first house or are a pro home contractor, Mac home design software will help you do it faster, easier and greener (and maybe even cheaper!) than ever before.
Read our review of the best Mac home design software including Punch! Home & Landscape Design Studio, SketchUp and Live Interior 3D Pro and check out our other home design software reviews too.
At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™
| Rank | #1 | #2 | #3 | |||||||
|
Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor
|
Punch! Home & Landscape Design Studio | SketchUp | Live Interior 3D Pro | |||||||
|
|
|
||||||||
| Reviewer Comments |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Lowest Price |
$149.99 |
$495.00 |
$129.95 |
|||||||
| Overall Rating | ||||||||||
| Ratings | ||||||||||
| Aesthetic Appeal | ||||||||||
| Features & Tools | ||||||||||
| Ease of Use | ||||||||||
| Support & Documentation | ||||||||||
| Professional-Grade Product | ||||||||||
| Available | NA | |||||||||
| Version | Punch! Home Design Studio Pro | 8 | ||||||||
| Price | $249.99 | $495 | ||||||||
| Features | ||||||||||
| Imperial & Metric Measurements | ||||||||||
| 2D Design | ||||||||||
| 3D Design | ||||||||||
| Enter Precise Dimensions | ||||||||||
| 3D Walkthrough | ||||||||||
| 3D Flyaround (aerial views) | ||||||||||
| 3D Cutaway Slider (dollhouse views) | ||||||||||
| Set Camera View Angles | ||||||||||
| Wireframe Views | ||||||||||
| Create Custom Animations | ||||||||||
| Scan & Trace Pictures, Blueprints | ||||||||||
| Interior Lighting Simulation | ||||||||||
| Exterior Lighting Simulation | ||||||||||
| Object Organizer Database | ||||||||||
| Cost Estimation | ||||||||||
| Automatic Updates | ||||||||||
| Automatic Floorplan Dimensioning | ||||||||||
| Hands-On Real Model | ||||||||||
| Editable Home Plans | ||||||||||
| Editable Standard Room Templates | ||||||||||
| Landscape Module | ||||||||||
| Plant Editor | ||||||||||
| Plant Library | ||||||||||
| Tools | ||||||||||
| Material Paintbrush | ||||||||||
| Roofing Wizard | ||||||||||
| Custom Material Wizard | ||||||||||
| House Builder Wizard | ||||||||||
| Curved Walls | ||||||||||
| Custom Roofs & Pitch | ||||||||||
| Window & Door Designer | ||||||||||
| Cabinet Designer | ||||||||||
| Framing Editor | ||||||||||
| Stair Generator | ||||||||||
| Topography Designer | ||||||||||
| Deck Designer | ||||||||||
| Fence Designer | ||||||||||
| Object Libraries | ||||||||||
| Import 2D Pictures | ||||||||||
| Import 3D Pictures | ||||||||||
| Appliances | ||||||||||
| Interior Furniture | ||||||||||
| Exterior Furniture | ||||||||||
| Plants | ||||||||||
| Doors | ||||||||||
| Windows | ||||||||||
| Cabinets | ||||||||||
| Stairs | ||||||||||
| Railing | ||||||||||
| Ramps | ||||||||||
| Flooring | ||||||||||
| Light Fixtures | ||||||||||
| External Light Fixtures | ||||||||||
| Bathroom Fixtures | ||||||||||
| Roofing Materials | ||||||||||
| Import Options | ||||||||||
| 3D Files | ||||||||||
| DXF (AUTOCAD) | ||||||||||
| DWG (AUTOCAD) | ||||||||||
| 2D Files | ||||||||||
| BMP | ||||||||||
| JPEG | ||||||||||
| PNG | ||||||||||
| TIFF | ||||||||||
| Export Options | ||||||||||
| Print 2D Image | ||||||||||
| Print 3D Image | ||||||||||
| 3D Files | ||||||||||
| DXF (AUTOCAD) | ||||||||||
| DWG (AUTOCAD) | ||||||||||
| WRL (VRML) | ||||||||||
| 2D Files | ||||||||||
| JPEG | ||||||||||
| BMP | ||||||||||
| PNG | ||||||||||
| TIFF | ||||||||||
| WMF | ||||||||||
| EPS | ||||||||||
| PSD | ||||||||||
| Support & Documentation | ||||||||||
| Video Tutorials | ||||||||||
| Paper Manual | ||||||||||
| Online Manual | ||||||||||
| In-Program Manual | ||||||||||
| Online Training/Tutorials | ||||||||||
| FAQ | ||||||||||
| Community Forums | ||||||||||
| Phone Support | ||||||||||
| Email Support | ||||||||||
| Recommended System Specs | ||||||||||
| OS | Mac 10.4.11 or higher | Mac 10.4.11 and 10.5+ | Mac OS X 10.4.8 or higher | |||||||
| Processor (CPU) | G4 or higher | G5/Intel | G5 | |||||||
| Memory (RAM) | 256MB | 2GB | 2 GB | |||||||
| Video Memory | 32MB | 512 MB | 128 MB | |||||||
| Hard Drive Space | 5.3GB | 500 MB | 1 GB | |||||||
| Display Resolution | 1024x768 | 1024x769 | 1024X768 | |||||||
| Display | Millions of colors | Millions of colors | millions of colors | |||||||
| QuickTime | 5 | 7 or higher | ||||||||
| Optical Drive | DVD-ROM | DVD-ROM | ||||||||
| Internet Connection | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||