Side by side
Garden Sketchbook vs Hortus Plan
Both stand on 3d landscape design software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Web
Garden Sketchbook combines scaled garden planning, plant selection and seasonal previews in a browser-based workspace. The free demo is time-limited for saved gardens, while Gardener saves up to 10 gardens for $39/yr after a 14-day free trial.
Visit Garden Sketchbook Free trial Web
Hortus Plan combines garden layout tools, 3D viewing, and structured exports in a browser-based editor. Standard covers the core planning tools; Pro adds AI assistance and priority support.
Visit Hortus PlanThe facts
| Garden Sketchbook | Hortus Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Web | Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Gardener: $39 a year | Standard: £49.99 a year |
| Plans published | 3 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | gardensketchbook.com | hortusplan.app |
| On 3d landscape design software | #7 of 22 | #11 of 22 |
Garden Sketchbook: what it does well
- Plans gardens to scale with automatic plant sizing
- Previews designs in 3D across the seasons
- Filters plants by growing conditions and resistance
- Includes hundreds of plants and custom varieties
- 2D planner works on any device
What to know first
- Free demo gardens expire after 24 hours
- 3D seasonal view requires WebGL
- Free demo PDF export costs a one-time $9
- Gardener costs $39/yr after the free trial
Hortus Plan: what it does well
- More than 70 placeable items, including plants and structures
- Live area, perimeter, and weight statistics
- PDF and four-sheet Excel export
- Save multiple plans and boundary templates
- Seven-day trial requires no credit card to start
What to know first
- No free plan
- Web platform only
- Pro AI assistant is limited to 40 queries per day
Alternatives to Garden Sketchbook Alternatives to Hortus Plan The whole list