Your yard is an extension of your home. You want it to look beautiful, but you also want it to be functional. A landscape designer can help you maximize the functionality of your space while making sure your yard stays visually appealing and not too busy. The only problem is that hiring a professional landscape designer can be costly and out of your budget. The good news is that you can still make your yard look beautiful with the help of online landscape design services. Here’s the best ones to work with:
1. BACQYARD — Our Top Pick
BACQYARD tops our list this year, and it’s not close. The one-on-one time you get with a dedicated designer is the best in the online landscape design space, and the photorealistic 3-D renderings (day and night) mean you can actually see the transformation before anyone breaks ground. Everything is scaled to your budget, from a quick single-space refresh to a full property overhaul.
Pricing is flat-fee and tiered by project size. A Mini package (for spaces up to 500 sq ft) starts at $495, and a planting-only Botanical plan runs $545. For a single yard (front, back, or side), the Lite Package starts at $995, Full at $1,455, and Plus at $2,155. Designing your entire property costs a bit more — Lite at $1,395, Full at $1,755, and Plus at $2,655 — and homeowners who want the full white-glove experience can go with the Luxe Package at $3,850, which includes a dedicated senior designer, unlimited revisions for 90 days, and exterior home redesign. Every package includes contractor-ready CAD plans and a hand-selected plant and materials list, and the Full and Plus tiers add a 360° virtual tour, a lighting plan with nighttime renders, and cost planning support.
BACQYARD also runs frequent sitewide sales, so it’s worth checking for a current promo before you buy — and we’ve got you covered there.
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2. Shrubhub
Shrubhub is a popular online landscape design service loved throughout the home and lifestyle industry. It remains the most budget-friendly option on this list, with promotional pricing that typically lands around $197 for a front yard, $237 for a backyard, or $297 for both, and premium full-property packages topping out near $997. With Shrubhub, you’ll get a design consultation, a designer e-book, frequently used designs, patented technology, and planting consultation. You’ll also get a 3-D landscape and hardscape design, a product shopping list, and a contractor quote.
Once you’ve provided the details of your yard and what you’re looking for, you’ll be instantly assigned a professional designer. The design team at Shrubhub is made of some of the best designers in the industry. They are known for taking yards from drab to fab, adding value to the property with a simple yet beautiful design.
With a phone consult, your designer will learn more about your personal style and what you want to get out of your yard. They will then provide you with a design plan that you can easily implement. The comprehensive product legend will ensure you get exactly what you need to finish your project quickly. All you have to do is select a contractor from the list provided by Shrubhub and watch your yard get transformed before your eyes.
If cost is your primary concern, Shrubhub is still the most affordable full-service option out there.
3. Tilly (now Bower & Branch Design Studio)
Tilly built its name with feature coverage in outlets like the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, and a straightforward three-step process: share your project details and inspiration, get matched with a designer for a virtual consultation, then finalize your design before moving to installation. Since our last update, Tilly was acquired by tree-and-plant retailer Bower & Branch, and its design service now operates as the Bower & Branch Design Studio, with the same core team and design process homeowners liked about Tilly.
The core design package still includes a full planting plan, a hardscape design for patios, decking, and walkways, a plant schedule, materials images, and designer notes to help you get started. Optional add-ons let you get 3-D renderings, a side-yard plan, a lighting and fixture plan, and an irrigation plan for a more complete package.
Go with this service if you value a personal design approach without losing expertise — and now with the added benefit of Bower & Branch’s plant fulfillment network to source what your design calls for.
4. Yardzen
Yardzen is on the pricier side, but the customized options make the extra expense worth it for a lot of homeowners. The focus is on customization around your theme and style, playing up the uniqueness of your property. Yardzen’s process starts with understanding your vision, where you also reconcile your budget, share media, and all of your inspiration.
Once you start the process, the first two weeks will entail Yardzen’s professional designers crafting a custom design for your yard. Then you get to review and revise before approving your design. Finally, Yardzen puts you in touch with a vetted Pro Network contractor to make your design a reality.
Yardzen offers a variety of fixed-rate packages. Current pricing runs from around $295 for a small single-space design up to roughly $3,495 for a full backyard package, with most single-area (front, back, or side yard) projects landing between $995 and $2,655 depending on scope. Most of these plans include the Yardzen team of landscape designers and horticulturists, a planting plan, contractor-matching and build support. The most expensive plans include hardscaping, lighting design, and shoppable, custom decor and furniture selections.
Worried Yardzen isn’t the right option for you? The company offers a free consult call to get a better idea if this online landscape design service meets your needs and which package is best for your project.
5. Home Outside
Home Outside stood out for its personality. This online landscape design service appears to be taking genuine interest and joy in client outcomes. The landscape design process is similar to the other design services on our list. A landscape design session gets you a designer perspective on your outdoor living space design, including walkways, side yards, fencing, shading, locations for water features and fire pits, and other aspects of space planning.
To get started, you’ll fill out an inquiry form, send them the site photos, your inspiration, etc. Once you are connected to a designer, you’ll join them for a screen-share session. In this session, you can discuss your goals, priorities, and ideas with some oversight. The result is a cost estimate for your design, finalized with your design professional.
Home Outside remains one of the costlier options available, with custom landscape design pricing typically ranging between $800 and $5,000 depending on project size and complexity. The larger packages include advanced functions such as 3-D rendering.
Unlike others on our list, Home Outside also offers a service dedicated to just garden design. Garden design sessions are devoted to the flair and personality of the shrubbery, plants, and trees. You can also discuss whether you want an edible garden or a privacy hedge. The price of a simple garden design session is a bit more affordable, typically costing between $500 and $1,000+ depending on the complexity and size of your garden.
How Is Online Landscape Design So Affordable?
Online landscape platforms use real life landscape designers to create a custom design just for your yard. They factor in your style and your property’s unique characteristics to create a yard plan you will love.
They are able to work more affordably by using software to help automate a lot of the common design tasks. They also earn revenue through installation packages and selling trees and plants.