Pool design software sells jobs. A homeowner who sees the pool, the deck and the water features in 3D signs faster than one squinting at a plan view. Structure Studios, the maker of Pool Studio, publishes a case study of a contractor that sells 95 percent of its 3D presentations. The design is only half the job though, and that is where these tools split apart.
How we compared
We looked at five things a pool builder lives on: how fast a design starts, whether it builds from a real survey or engineering, what the homeowner sees, whether it produces the estimate and material list, and whether it runs the customer and the crew after the sale.
The top 5
1Pool Span Pro Best for design plus estimate plus CRM
Upload the survey, layout or engineering and get the 3D design, material list, estimate from your own price book, work orders and a homeowner 3D link. Pool shells in seven shapes with steps, sun ledge, tile and coping, decks and turf at true scale, and screen enclosures for builders who do both. Built in CRM, calendar and voice entry. $299 per seat per month, unlimited, 3 days free.
2Pool Studio by Structure Studios Best known pool presentations
Pool Studio is the long standing 3D pool design product for pool builders, sold as a yearly membership. Structure Studios also sells Vip3D and VizTerra for landscape and outdoor design.
3SketchUp Best for custom modeling
A general 3D modeler many designers use for pools. Total freedom, and everything from the estimate on is a separate tool.
4Houzz Pro Best for marketplace leads
Houzz Pro markets pool estimating software and an app for pool builders alongside its homeowner marketplace.
5canibuild Best for site plans
canibuild offers site plans for pool builders, useful for permits and fit checks on the lot.
Side by side
| Tool | 3D design | Builds from survey or engineering | Estimate and material list | CRM and work orders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pool Span Pro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pool Studio | Yes | Check with vendor | Check with vendor | Check with vendor |
| SketchUp | Yes | Manual | No | No |
| Houzz Pro | Check with vendor | Check with vendor | Estimating | Check with vendor |
| canibuild | Site plans | Site plans | Check with vendor | Check with vendor |
How to pick
- You only need presentations. Any of the design tools will do.
- You lose time between the yes and the dig. Pick a tool that turns the design into the estimate, the material list and the work order.
- You build enclosures too. Make sure the tool reads the enclosure engineering, not just the pool.
- Your team is in the field. Test it on a phone, with voice entry and a homeowner link that needs no login.
Questions
What is the best pool design software?
It depends on what you need after the design. For presentations alone, Pool Studio and SketchUp are common. For design plus the estimate, material list, work orders and CRM in one seat, Pool Span Pro is built for that.
What are alternatives to Pool Studio?
Builders compare Pool Span Pro, SketchUp, Houzz Pro and canibuild, depending on whether they need design only or the whole job.
Can I try pool design software free?
Pool Span Pro has a 3 day free trial with every tool unlocked.
See your own job in 3D
Upload a survey or layout and get the 3D model, material list, work order and estimate in one place. Every tool unlocked for 3 days.