Yardcast vs Planner 5D
Planner 5D is an interior floor plan app with limited outdoor support. Yardcast is purpose-built for outdoor landscaping — AI photo transformation, plant lists, cost estimates, and contractor PDFs from $29.
3 free transforms · No credit card required
Why Planner 5D Falls Short for Outdoor Design
Planner 5D started as a floor plan and furniture placement app for interior spaces. While it's added some outdoor features over time, landscaping isn't its core use case — and it shows.
You won't find a plant database, scientific plant names, quantity lists, or cost estimates. You won't get AI that transforms a real photo of your yard into a photorealistic design. And you definitely won't get a 44-page contractor PDF ready to hand to your landscaper.
Planner 5D is great if you want to drag and drop furniture into a room. It's the wrong tool if you want to redesign your front or backyard.
Yardcast was built from day one for one thing: helping homeowners visualize, plan, and build better outdoor spaces.
Upload a photo. Choose a style. Get 3 photorealistic AI designs in ~40 seconds. Then download a full plant list, cost estimate, and contractor PDF — or share a link with your landscaper.
Yardcast also shows your yard across all 4 seasons — spring bloom, summer lushness, fall color, winter interest — so you know what you're actually planting year-round.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Yardcast$29 one-time | Planner 5D$9.99–$29/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free preview + $29 one-time | Free / $9.99–$29/mo |
| One-Time Purchase | ✅ $29 Design Pack | ❌ Subscription model |
| AI Photo Transformation | ✅ Real yard → AI design | ❌ Manual drag-drop only |
| Built for Outdoor Yards | ✅ 100% outdoor-focused | ❌ Interior + exterior mix |
| Speed | ✅ Results in ~40 seconds | ❌ Manual design = hours |
| No Design Skill Required | ✅ Upload photo → done | ⚠️ Moderate learning curve |
| All 4 Seasons View | ✅ Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter | ❌ Not available |
| Contractor-Ready PDF | ✅ 44-page professional PDF | ❌ Basic floor plans only |
| Full Plant Lists | ✅ Scientific names + costs | ❌ No plant database |
| Cost Estimates | ✅ Per-plant + total budget | ❌ Not included |
| 4K Upscaling | ✅ Real-ESRGAN AI upscaling | ⚠️ Export quality only |
| Video Export | ✅ Before→after video | ❌ Not for landscapes |
| Shareable Link | ✅ Public URL | ✅ Share project link |
| Mobile Friendly | ✅ Full phone support | ✅ iOS + Android apps |
| 3D Room/Floor View | ❌ Photo-realistic only | ✅ Full 3D floor plan |
| Plant Quantity Lists | ✅ Per-species quantities | ❌ Not available |
| Irrigation Zone Map | ✅ Included in PDF | ❌ Not available |
| Phase Implementation Plan | ✅ Year 1/3/5 breakdown | ❌ Not available |
| Free Tier | ✅ 3 free transforms | ✅ Free plan available |
| Cancel Anytime | ✅ No contracts | ✅ Optional upgrade billing |
| Score | 15 | 5 |
Comparison based on publicly available pricing and features as of March 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Planner 5D design outdoor landscapes?
Planner 5D can create basic outdoor floor plans — decks, patios, and garden areas — but it is primarily built for interior design and room planning. It doesn't include AI photo transformation, plant databases, landscape-specific PDFs, cost estimates for landscaping, or features like All 4 Seasons view that Yardcast provides.
How is Yardcast different from Planner 5D?
Yardcast is built exclusively for outdoor landscape design. You upload a real photo of your yard, and AI generates photorealistic landscape designs in approximately 40 seconds — no design skills needed. Yardcast also generates a full plant list with scientific names and quantities, cost estimates, irrigation zone maps, and a 44-page contractor-ready PDF. Planner 5D offers none of these outdoor-specific features.
Is Planner 5D free?
Planner 5D has a limited free tier, but most useful features (high-res rendering, unlimited rooms, etc.) require a paid subscription ranging from $9.99 to $29/month. Yardcast offers 3 completely free AI transforms with no credit card required — and a $29 one-time option for a full design pack.
Does Planner 5D include plant lists?
No. Planner 5D does not include a plant database or plant recommendations. Yardcast's Design Pack includes a full plant list with scientific names, common names, quantities, per-plant cost estimates, and companion planting notes — everything your landscaper needs.
Which is better for curb appeal projects?
Yardcast is significantly better for curb appeal and front/backyard landscaping projects. You upload a photo of your actual yard, choose a style, and get photorealistic designs showing exactly what your property could look like — with real plant recommendations for your climate zone.
The Right Tool for Outdoor Landscaping
Stop trying to fit a floor plan tool into a landscaping workflow. Yardcast is built for yards — upload a photo and get professional designs in seconds.
Try Yardcast Free — Upload Your Photo3 free transforms · No credit card · Results in 40 seconds