The Best IKEA Home Planner Alternative
IKEA's free planner only contains IKEA furniture — useful if you're committed to IKEA, useless for anything else. Room Sketch 3D handles any furniture from any retailer at any price point.
Tested and updated April 2026
Quick Summary
- •IKEA Home Planner: free, IKEA-only furniture library, dated UI
- •Room Sketch 3D: paid one-time, 350+ universal furniture pieces, modern UI
- •Best for IKEA-only shoppers: stick with IKEA's planner
- •Best for anyone shopping multiple retailers: Room Sketch 3D
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Room Sketch 3D | IKEA Home Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 one-time | Free |
| Subscription | Never | Free, no subscription |
| Web access | Yes | Yes |
| iOS app | Yes | Limited |
| Android app | Yes | No |
| 2D floor plan | Yes, snap-to-grid | Yes |
| 3D view | Yes, instant toggle | Yes, slower rendering |
| Furniture library | 350+ universal | IKEA only |
| AR scanning | Yes (iOS) | No |
| Offline mode | Yes | No |
| Export options | PNG, PDF with dimensions | PNG, basic |
| Learning curve | Easy | Medium (dated UI) |
What Is IKEA Home Planner?
IKEA Home Planner is a free web tool from IKEA designed to help shoppers configure IKEA-specific layouts — kitchens, wardrobes, and full rooms using IKEA pieces. It's been around since the 2000s and looks it.
The planner is genuinely useful if you're committed to IKEA. The pieces are dimensionally accurate, the kitchen planner integrates with IKEA's purchase flow, and prices update with IKEA's catalog. The downside: any non-IKEA item is invisible to the planner. If you're combining IKEA pieces with West Elm, Crate & Barrel, or anything else, IKEA's planner can't show you the result.
The UI feels dated — it's a Java-era web app updated incrementally over the years. Functional but not friendly.
What Is Room Sketch 3D?
Room Sketch 3D is a universal room planner with 350+ pre-measured furniture pieces from across the category — sofas, beds, dining sets, dressers, kitchen appliances, and more. The library is generic-but-accurate; for specific brand pieces, the custom-size feature handles any retailer's exact dimensions.
The app works on web, iPhone, iPad, and Android — one purchase covers every device. Modern UI, fast 3D rendering, and snap-to-grid drawing make it dramatically faster than the IKEA planner for any non-IKEA-specific job.
It's not free, but the breadth of furniture coverage is what you're paying for.
How They Compare on What Matters
Furniture coverage
IKEA Home Planner: only IKEA pieces. Room Sketch 3D: 350+ generic-but-accurate pieces plus custom sizing for any retailer. If you're shopping at multiple retailers (most people are), Room Sketch 3D wins decisively.
Pricing
IKEA Home Planner is free. Room Sketch 3D costs once. Free wins if you're committed to IKEA only; the paid model wins for everyone else because the alternative (using IKEA's planner plus a different tool for non-IKEA pieces) is more friction than the price.
Modern features
Room Sketch 3D has AR scanning (iOS), instant 3D toggle, cloud sync between devices, and offline mode. IKEA's planner has none of these. For anyone planning on the move (apartment viewings, in-store shopping), Room Sketch 3D's mobile and AR support is a meaningful advantage.
Output quality
Both produce reasonable 2D plans. Room Sketch 3D's 3D rendering is faster and more accurate; IKEA's 3D feels older and slower. Export quality is similar; Room Sketch 3D's PNG with dimensions is more contractor- and landlord-friendly.
Which One Is Right for You?
Choose IKEA Home Planner if
- You're committed to furnishing entirely from IKEA
- You're planning a kitchen with IKEA cabinets specifically
- You don't want to pay anything
- You don't need mobile or AR features
Choose Room Sketch 3D if
- You're shopping at multiple retailers (not just IKEA)
- You want mobile and AR support
- You want modern UI and fast 3D
- You'd rather pay once than fight a dated free tool
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a non-IKEA alternative to IKEA Home Planner?
Room Sketch 3D is the most direct alternative — universal furniture coverage, modern UI, mobile and AR support. $9.99 one-time, no subscription, on web, iPhone, iPad, and Android.
Why does IKEA Home Planner only show IKEA furniture?
It's a sales tool — the planner exists to help you configure IKEA purchases. Non-IKEA pieces would compete with IKEA sales, so they're not included. This is reasonable from IKEA's perspective; it just makes the tool unsuitable for shoppers who are mixing brands.
Can I plan a kitchen with non-IKEA cabinets in Room Sketch 3D?
Yes — Room Sketch 3D's custom-size feature handles cabinets from any manufacturer. Enter exact dimensions (width × depth × height) and the cabinets appear correctly scaled in your kitchen plan.
Which is better for a quick floor plan: IKEA Home Planner or Room Sketch 3D?
Room Sketch 3D — modern UI is faster, snap-to-grid handles dimensions automatically, and the 350+ furniture library means you'll find pieces matching what you actually own or want. IKEA's planner is slower for general floor planning.
How much does Room Sketch 3D cost?
$9.99 one-time. No subscription, no recurring fees. Compared to subscription competitors, the savings over a typical use case (one home or apartment renovation) are significant.