Which Interior Design Software is Best?

You’ll waste 45 thousand rubles. That’s exactly how much an annual subscription to 3ds Max costs — a program that 73% of buyers never master beyond basic functions. They look at professionals’ portfolios, see renders in 3ds Max and think: “I need the same program.” Two months later, they realize they’ve spent money on a tool that requires 8 months of constant learning. But the task was simple — visualize an apartment renovation.

I’ve seen this dozens of times. A person buys a professional tool because “everyone does it,” then returns to free Sweet Home 3D. The question isn’t which program is objectively better. The question is which program is better for you — considering your skills, tasks, and the time you’re willing to spend learning.

Let’s figure this out honestly, without advertising and “top-10” lists.

Why Choosing Software Isn’t About Features

Most reviews compare the number of tools, export formats, and subscription prices. This is all important, but it doesn’t determine your choice. The reality is: if you’re a beginner, in 3ds Max with its 237 tools, you’ll use the same 15-20 as in SketchUp. The difference isn’t in the program’s capabilities, but in how much time it takes to find those 15 tools among the other 220.

The hidden cost of learning — that’s what all comparison articles stay silent about. A 3ds Max license costs 45,000₽ per year, and training takes a minimum of 6 months at 10-15 hours per week. That’s another 240-360 hours of your time. Convert that to money, even if you’re learning on your own through YouTube. SketchUp Pro for 35,000₽ can be mastered in 2-4 weeks. Sweet Home 3D is completely free, and after 3 days, you’re already making decent layouts.

The second point: the task determines the tool, not the other way around. If you need to show a client three options for furniture arrangement in a living room, why learn the V-Ray material system? If you’re doing a turnkey design project with drawings — yes, you’ll need something more serious. But specifically for the task, not “just in case.”

Choice Navigator: Task and Skill Matrix

Here’s how it works in practice. I’ve divided all situations into nine combinations: three skill levels × three types of tasks. Find your cell — there will be a specific recommendation, not an abstract “depends on your needs.”

Personal Project (apartment layout, dacha, renovation)

Beginner Level You’ve never worked with 3D and want to visualize your apartment.

→ Sweet Home 3D (free)

Why: in 2-3 hours, you’ll already draw a plan and arrange furniture. Russian interface, catalog of real furniture from IKEA, Leroy Merlin. Basic render quality, but sufficient for personal needs.

Cons: primitive material work, can’t create complex shapes.

Learning time: 1 day for basics, 1 week for confident work.

Advanced Level You understand what layers are, PDF export, and have worked with graphic editors.

→ SketchUp Free (free, browser) or SketchUp Pro (35,000₽/year)

Why: more flexible than Sweet Home 3D, but still intuitive. You can create non-standard shapes, work with plugins, make quality renders through add-ons like V-Ray.

Free/Pro difference: the free version has limited export (only .skp and .stl), no AutoCAD integration. For a personal project, Free is enough.

Learning time: 2-3 weeks to confident mastery.

Professional Level You know 3D modeling basics or want magazine-level results.

→ Blender (free, open-source)

Why: professional render for free. Cycles engine gives photorealism almost like V-Ray. Huge community, tutorials in Russian.

Cons: originally for animation, not architecture. Unfamiliar interface, steep learning curve.

Learning time: 2-3 months for architectural visualization.

Alternative: 3ds Max with V-Ray, if you’re ready to pay 45,000₽/year and study for 6+ months. But for a personal project, this is excessive.

Client Work (freelance, small business, designers)

Beginner Level You’re starting to take first orders, clients ask to “just show how it will look.”

→ Planner 5D (freemium: free + paid elements)

Why: quickly create visualizations that look presentable. 2D and 3D simultaneously. Clients understand at first glance.

Cons: limited customization, watermark in free version. Pro subscription ~1,500₽/month.

When to move forward: when clients start demanding drawings or non-standard solutions.

Advanced Level You have 10+ projects, need drawings and quality visualization.

→ SketchUp Pro (35,000₽/year) + LayOut for drawings

Why: golden mean of price and functionality. LayOut inside SketchUp Pro allows making proper drawings for builders. Plugins like V-Ray give professional render.

Economics: one project for ~30,000₽ pays back the annual subscription. Further — pure profit.

Learning time: 1-2 months to professional level.

Professional Level You do dozens of projects, clients from premium segment, need complete technical documentation.

→ Autodesk Revit (100,000₽+/year) + 3ds Max (45,000₽/year) for visualization

Why: Revit is BIM (Building Information Modeling). You create not just a picture, but a full model with all data: materials, volumes, specifications. 3ds Max — for final high-quality render.

This is an investment that pays off on projects from 500,000₽. Less — doesn’t make sense.

Budget alternative: ArchiCAD (~90,000₽/year) — simpler than Revit, but also BIM.

Team/Office Work (architectural studio, construction company)

Beginner Level You’re a junior in a studio, performing technical work under seniors’ guidance.

→ Whatever the entire team uses (usually AutoCAD + 3ds Max or ArchiCAD)

Why: compatibility. You don’t choose the tool, you learn what the employer requires.

Tip: if there’s no choice, ask the team what plugins they use. Master them — that’s your competitive advantage.

Advanced Level You manage projects independently or lead part of the team.

→ Revit or ArchiCAD (BIM systems) + 3ds Max/Blender for visualization

Why: modern studios are transitioning to BIM. This isn’t just a program, it’s a methodology. Everyone works in one model, changes automatically synchronize.

Key BIM advantage: designer changed window location → drawings automatically updated dimensions → estimate changed cost. Without BIM, that’s three people and an hour of work.

Professional Level You’re a project manager, working with developers or large clients.

→ Revit as foundation + Enscape/Lumion for real-time visualization

Why: Enscape (30,000₽/year) is integrated with Revit and allows clients to walk through the project in VR right at the meeting. Lumion — for final cinematic videos.

This is the level where tools aren’t expenses, but part of the product you’re selling.

Four Questions for Precise Choice

If the matrix didn’t give a definitive answer, take a quick questionnaire:

Question 1: How many hours per week are you ready to study in the first month?

Less than 5 hours → Sweet Home 3D, Planner 5D
5-15 hours → SketchUp, Blender
More than 15 hours → 3ds Max, Revit

Question 2: Will you make money from this in the next 3 months?

No → free or cheap options (Sweet Home, SketchUp Free, Blender)
Yes, 1-3 projects → SketchUp Pro
Yes, regularly → 3ds Max, Revit

Question 3: Do you need drawings and technical documentation?

No, only pictures → any 3D editor
Yes, basic → SketchUp Pro + LayOut
Yes, full set → Revit, ArchiCAD

Question 4: Do you work alone or in a team?

Alone → freedom of choice
In a team → what the team uses
I hire people → BIM system mandatory (Revit/ArchiCAD)

Real Cost of Program Ownership

Let’s calculate honestly. It’s not just the license price.

Example 1: Beginner chooses 3ds Max

License: 45,000₽/year
Training courses: 15,000-40,000₽ (optional, but usually needed)
Learning time: 300 hours × conditional cost of your time
First decent project: after 6-8 months
Total: 60,000₽+ and six months without return

Example 2: Beginner chooses SketchUp Free + then Pro

Free license: 0₽
Training: free YouTube tutorials
Learning time: 40 hours
First project: after 2-3 weeks
Transition to Pro (when clients appear): 35,000₽/year
Total: 0₽ at start, pay when you earn

Example 3: Professional in studio (BIM)

Revit: 100,000₽/year (usually company pays)
Additional plugins: 20,000-50,000₽/year
Enscape for visualization: 30,000₽/year
Team training: 100,000₽+ one-time
Total: 150,000-200,000₽/year per workstation
Payback: 2-3 large projects

Calculate by formula: license cost + training + mastery time ÷ expected profit in first year. If the number is adequate — take it. If not — look simpler.

Typical Selection Mistakes

Mistake 1: “I’ll buy professional right away to avoid relearning”

You’re not relearning, you’re developing. Starting with a simple tool, understanding 3D modeling logic, then moving to complex — this is the normal path. 90% of professional designers started with SketchUp or even Sweet Home 3D.

Transitioning from SketchUp to 3ds Max takes 2-3 months if you already have basics. Starting directly with 3ds Max — 6-8 months to first acceptable result.

Mistake 2: “Free program = poor quality”

Blender is free. It’s used for movies (“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” partially made in Blender). Sweet Home 3D for an apartment gives results no worse than paid alternatives. Quality depends on your skills, not license price.

Mistake 3: “I’ll listen to what professionals advise”

Professionals work in 3ds Max, Revit because they do 20-50 projects per year and need technical depth. They have different tasks. For you, their tool might be as excessive as a surgical scalpel for slicing bread.

Mistake 4: “I’ll choose the program with more YouTube tutorials”

There are more tutorials where there are more users. But that doesn’t mean the program is better for you. Sweet Home 3D has fewer tutorials because it’s simple — they’re not needed. You’ll figure it out in a day.

Mistake 5: “I’ll take pirated, then buy a license”

Legal risk — your business. But pirated versions often have cut functionality, no updates, no tech support. If you learn 3ds Max on pirated, then buy — you might find half the familiar plugins don’t work in the legal version.

Better: legally free Blender, SketchUp Free, Sweet Home 3D. When you earn — buy paid.

Quick Start: What to Do Right Now

You’ve read the article but still haven’t decided? Here’s a concrete plan for the next 3 days:

Day 1: Testing (2 hours)

Download Sweet Home 3D (sweetHome3d.com)
Find your apartment plan or take any layout image from the internet
Try to draw walls, arrange furniture
If after 2 hours you made something resembling a result — this is your level of simplicity

Day 2: Checking the next level (3-4 hours)

Register in SketchUp Free (app.sketchup.com/app)
Complete the built-in tutorial (30 minutes)
Try to draw the same room, but add something non-standard (bay window, complex furniture)
If it worked and the process clicked — SketchUp is your option

Day 3: Decision (1 hour) Compare feelings:

Sweet Home 3D is simpler, but you lack flexibility? → SketchUp Pro in a month or two
SketchUp clicked, have ambitions to grow? → study it deeper, connect plugins
Both seemed like toys, want a serious tool? → look towards Blender (free) or 3ds Max (if ready to pay and study)

Main rule: don’t postpone. Choose something and start today. Better to start simple and in a month make three real projects than study complex for three months and quit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you work professionally on free programs?

Yes. Blender is a fully professional tool, used in studios and freelance. SketchUp Free is suitable for initial freelance if clients don’t need drawings. The limitation isn’t in the program, but in your skills and client requirements.

As soon as you start earning from 50,000₽ per month on interior design — the sense of buying Pro version appears by itself. Until that moment, free options don’t hinder development.

How much time does it take to learn a program to take first orders?

Depends on the program:

Sweet Home 3D: 1-2 weeks for simple layouts
Planner 5D: 1-2 weeks for presentable visualizations
SketchUp: 3-4 weeks for basic freelance, 2-3 months for confident work
Blender: 2-3 months minimum for interior visualization
3ds Max: 4-6 months to first acceptable portfolio

But honestly: you take first orders not when you know the program 100%, but when you can do 3-4 typical tasks well. Focus on them, not on studying all functions in a row.

What’s better: one universal tool or several specialized ones?

For beginner and freelancer: one universal. SketchUp Pro covers 90% of tasks: layouts, visualization, basic drawings. Don’t spread yourself thin.

For studio: combination of specialized. Revit for design + 3ds Max/Enscape for visualization. Each tool does its task better than universal.

Universal programs are a compromise. They do a lot, but nothing perfectly. Specialized — deeper, but more expensive and complex.

Do you need to know English to work with these programs?

Sweet Home 3D, Planner 5D: completely in Russian, not needed.

SketchUp: interface in Russian, but most good tutorials in English. Basic technical English is useful.

3ds Max, Revit, Blender: officially have Russian interface. But advanced lessons, plugins, forums — 80% in English. If you want to grow to professional level, English is mandatory at least for reading technical documentation.

What to do if you bought expensive software and can’t master it?

Short-term: don’t quit immediately. Give yourself a month of structured learning (course or clear plan with lessons). If after a month of daily practice for an hour, nothing is still clear — the program doesn’t suit you.

Medium-term: switch to simpler. This isn’t defeat, it’s adequate assessment of current level. Many professionals started with SketchUp, transitioned to 3ds Max after a year or two. This is the normal path.

Long-term: don’t renew subscription if not using. Annual subscription to 3ds Max is 45,000₽. For this money, you can buy SketchUp Pro + Enscape and have an excellent working tool.

Which program to choose if planning to work with builders?

Builders need drawings, not pretty pictures. Options:

Minimum level: SketchUp Pro + LayOut. Allows making plans, sections, details with dimensions. For low-rise construction and renovations — sufficient.

Professional level: Revit or ArchiCAD. Builders get full set of working documentation: plans, sections, elevations, specifications, details. Automatic synchronization — changed door, size updated on all drawings.

If builders require .dwg format (AutoCAD) — SketchUp Pro and ArchiCAD export to it. Revit too, but more complex.

Can you start with pirated version, then buy license?

Technically: yes, your files will open in legal version.

Legally: using pirated software commercially violates the law. Autodesk and other large companies actively search for illegal users, especially those who publish work in portfolios.

Practically: if you’re learning for yourself — risk is minimal. If taking orders — risk grows. Fines in Russia can reach 5 times the cost of legal license.

Alternative: legally free Blender and SketchUp Free. No legal risk, yet powerful enough to start a career.

Are there programs that work on weak computers?

Yes, work comfortably:

Sweet Home 3D — minimal requirements, even on 5-year-old laptops
SketchUp — relatively light, but render with plugins may lag
Planner 5D — web version works in browser, minimal load

Require powerful hardware:

3ds Max — especially with V-Ray render
Revit — large projects lag on weak PCs
Blender — Cycles render requires good graphics card

Life hack: if computer is weak, use cloud render. Model on your PC, render final image in cloud for money (from 100₽ per image).

Conclusions: Your Personal Action Plan

There is no “best interior design program.” There is the best program for your situation. Key criteria:

Your current level — beginner doesn’t need to struggle with 3ds Max
Your goals — personal project or commercial
Learning time — 40 hours or 400 hours
Budget — not just license, but cost of your time
Result requirements — visualization or full documentation set

If after reading you’re still doubting — start with SketchUp Free. It’s free, simple, and in a week you’ll understand whether 3D suits you at all or not. If it clicks — move to Pro (35,000₽/year) or study Blender (free, but harder). If not — you’ve lost nothing.

Main mistake — postponing choice, waiting for perfect solution. There’s no perfect. There’s suitable for start. Choose something, give yourself a month of daily practice. In a month it’ll become clear: this is yours or need to try another.

Start today. Not tomorrow, not “when I figure it out finally.” Download Sweet Home 3D or go to SketchUp Free — and make the first room. Even crooked, even unpresentable. Main thing — start.