Home Planner vs. Planner 5D: The Definitive 2026 Comparison

By 2026, consumer-grade interior design software has officially moved past the "hobbyist" stage. Today, these platforms are high-tech ecosystems where mobile LiDAR, generative AI, and cloud-based rendering successfully challenge the desktop dominance of AutoCAD.

The mobile market is currently dominated by two heavyweights: Home Planner and Planner 5D. We’ve analyzed their "under-the-hood" performance to determine which tool truly helps you save on a professional designer and which one might simply consume your time.

1. Tech Stack: Precision vs. Universal Access

The difference in development philosophy is evident in their performance benchmarks.

• Home Planner: This platform has prioritized a native ecosystem, focusing on professional home design software for iOS, Android, and desktop (Mac/Win). By intentionally avoiding a web-based version, Home Planner utilizes the device's hardware (GPU and NPU) directly. This ensures smooth performance even with complex, high-poly projects on older devices.

• Planner 5D: Operates across all platforms, including web browsers. However, their web version is a known memory hog. Users frequently report that mid-range laptops experience significant fan noise and performance throttling within 10 minutes of use, leading to interface freezes in larger projects.

  
  

2. The Floor Plan Battle: Death of the Measuring Tape

Both apps aim to automate the most tedious part of design: the measurements.

3D Space Scanning (LiDAR)

Home Planner currently leads in the LiDAR room scanner app category. Using LiDAR (on iOS) or advanced AR sensors, it creates a 3D digital twin of a room in real-time. It automatically detects doorways, windows, and even the approximate dimensions of existing furniture. A 3–5 minute walk-through results in a fully editable 3D project.

Planner 5D offers a similar "Room Scan" feature. However, user feedback suggests it frequently struggles with complex corners or non-standard geometry. Furniture placement in Planner 5D remains a secondary, manual step via their Automated Furniture Arrangement (AFA) tool.

AI Floor Plan Recognition

Home Planner: The AI floor plan recognition feature (currently in Beta) is selective, requiring high-quality photos, but it delivers superior geometric accuracy. They also offer a premium Order Design service: upload your 2D blueprint, and the system generates a photorealistic 360-degree panorama and a virtual walkthrough.

Order Design by Home Planner

Planner 5D: Their sketch-to-3D tool accepts hand-drawn scribbles. While fast, it often fails at scaling, requiring users to manually adjust wall lengths after the import.

Planner 5D sketch-to-3D

3. AI Room Redesign: From Photo to Reality

The AI room redesign from photo feature is a 2026 must-have.

Home Planner allows users to upload a photo of a real room or a screenshot of a project to instantly generate a new style. The AI respects the room's actual dimensions while proposing new finishes and furniture. It is a functional tool for those looking for executable design ideas.

Planner 5D calls this "Design Generator." While the functionality is similar, users find the interface less streamlined for professional use.

4. AI Assistants: Engineering vs. Aesthetics

• Home Planner Assistant: Functions as an engineering consultant. It focuses on ergonomics and technical standards: "How much clearance is needed for this kitchen island?" or "Which materials are pet-friendly?". It assists in selecting items from a massive 3D furniture catalog of 400,000+ real brands.

• Planner 5D (Bernard): A chatbot focused on aesthetics. It provides color advice and can add generic objects to the project. It is more of a creative companion than a technical advisor.

5. Rendering: The Speed vs. Detail Hybrid

Rendering

Home Planner offers a unique dual-rendering system:

1. Home Planner AI Render: Generates a detailed preview in just 10 seconds. See AI Render example.

2. 

   

   

   Home Planner Cloud-based Interior Rendering: A cloud-based process for final presentations. It offers professional settings for time of day, sun position, and weather effects. Supports high-res 360-degree panoramas.

   

   

   

Planner 5D utilizes standard cloud rendering with AI-upscaling and a VR view mode for headsets. Panoramas are available, though they lack the advanced lighting control found in Home Planner.

360-panoramas

Home Planner

Planner 5D

6. Reality Check: Comparison Summary

Feature	Home Planner	Planner 5D
Platforms	iOS, Android, Win, Mac (Native)	Web, iOS, Android, Win, Mac
Quick Entry	LiDAR Scan / AI Redesign	Sketch recognition (Quick)
AI Innovations	AI Redesign, 10-sec AI Render, Chatbot, AI-recognition	AI Redesign, Bernard Chatbot, Auto-arrangement
Catalog	400,000+ (Real-world brands)	~8,500 (Generic objects)
Visuals	Pro Lighting / 360° / AI Render	Cloud Render + AI Upscale / VR Support
Community	Pro Designer Social Network	User Gallery
Performance	High (Optimized for local hardware)	Average (Web-based lag)
Best For	Real renovations and Pro visuals	Casual conceptual sketching

Verdict

Home Planner is the definitive professional home design software for users planning a real-world renovation who require precise measurements and high-end visualization. Planner 5D remains a viable option for quick, browser-based concepts where millimetric accuracy is not the priority.