Choosing the best interior design software is one of the most important business investments a designer can make. Relying on spreadsheets or jumping between multiple platforms often means chasing down invoices, losing track of orders, and spending late nights reconciling accounts. These inefficiencies cost valuable time and can limit profitability. The right software brings these pieces together, helping you stay organized, manage clients with ease, and scale your business with confidence.
No single platform does it all. Some tools may have great features but lacks the payroll you need for your team. The key is knowing which software covers the bulk of your workflow and where you’ll need to layer in support.
But how does it compare with other popular platforms like Mydoma, DesignFiles, Programa, Design Manager, and Houzz Pro? Below, you’ll find a detailed comparison to help you make the most informed decision.
Studio Designer vs. Design Manager
Though both focus on financial operations, their approaches differ. Studio Designer is a modern, cloud-based platform offering procurement, vendor management, accounting, and reporting with flexibility for team roles and permissions.
Design Manager is a legacy platform that has long focused on accounting and purchasing for interior designers. It delivers reliable financial management, but reporting is limited and workflows can’t easily be adjusted to match how your firm works.
Features
- Studio Designer: Accounting suite, procurement tools, vendor management, proposals, invoicing, Studio Pay, dashboards, advanced reporting.
- Design Manager: Accounting, purchasing, vendor management, templated reporting.
Pricing
- Studio Designer: $72–$109/month per user.
- Design Manager: Starts at $79/month. Training is available separately, starting at $120 per hour.
Which platform should you choose?
Studio Designer: Best if you’re ready to connect proposals, purchasing, and accounting into one system with modern reporting that allows you to adjust data as you please.
Design Manager: Best if you only need standard accounting and purchasing and are comfortable with traditional workflows.
Key Considerations
- Studio Designer: Scalable systems, detailed reporting, modern design.
- Design Manager: Longstanding reliability, limited flexibility, and added training costs for continued support.
Studio Designer vs. Mydoma
Studio Designer and Mydoma have joined forces under the same company, expanding the range of tools available to interior designers. While now part of one family, they remain two distinct products, each built around different priorities.
Studio Designer gives firms a single place to manage their entire business, with accounting tailored for designers at the core. With integrated purchasing, vendor management, invoicing, and financial reporting, it delivers the accuracy and efficiency firms need to scale confidently.
Mydoma allows you to manage projects, clients, and payments in one place. It’s especially strong for firms that prioritize visuals and client communication, offering branded portals, contracts, design boards, and easy payment options. It also integrates with QuickBooks for accounting.
Features
- Studio Designer: Proposals into purchase orders, advanced procurement (vendor tracking, receiving), invoicing, accounting, Studio Pay, payroll integration, team permissions, advanced reporting.
- Mydoma: Branded client portal, mood boards, contracts, Mydoma Pay, design packages, task management, time tracking, QuickBooks integration.
Pricing
- Studio Designer: $72–$109/month per user.
- Mydoma: $64/month per user
Which platform should you choose?
- Studio Designer: Best if your projects involve multiple vendors, procurement steps, and you want to manage operations in one connected workflow. Best for running detailed reports and not relying on 3rd party accounting software
- Mydoma: Best if your focus is on client communication, presentations, project management and quick payments, with accounting handled in QuickBooks.
Key Considerations
- Studio Designer: Advanced reporting, native accounting, vendor management.
- Mydoma: Polished client experience, quick setup, QuickBooks compatible.
Studio Designer vs. DesignFiles
Studio Designer is a business management system for scaling firms, centralizing procurement, vendor relationships, accounting, and reporting. It is designed to give teams visibility across all operations.
DesignFiles, however, is centered on client deliverables. It specializes in mood boards, renderings, and presentations, with light project management features and lighter financial features like invoicing and a QuickBooks sync.
Features
- Studio Designer: Proposals through POs to invoicing, vendor management, Studio Pay, product clipper, accounting built for designers (with proposals and work-in-progress stages), advanced reporting.
- DesignFiles: Mood boards, 3D renderings, floor plans, branded presentations, product clipper, invoices and retainers, QuickBooks sync.
Pricing
- Studio Designer: $72–$109/month per user.
- DesignFiles: $49/month (e-designers) or $69/month (full-service). Extra users $25/month.
Which platform should you choose?
- Studio Designer: Best when project management, procurement, vendor coordination, and accurate reporting matter just as much as visuals.
- DesignFiles: Best if your priority is delivering visuals and client presentations, while managing finances in QuickBooks. You’re ok handling multiple systems for project management, client presentations, procurement, and your financials.
Key Considerations
- Studio Designer: Team collaboration, financial accuracy, operational control.
- DesignFiles: Strong visuals, affordable entry point, easy onboarding.
Studio Designer vs. Programa
Studio Designer helps firms manage the business side of design in one place, bringing together procurement, vendor management, and detailed reporting. It’s built for teams that want a clear view of their projects from start to finish.
Programa is more lightweight, prioritizing visuals and sourcing in a clean, modern interface. It includes mood boards and proposals but doesn’t offer the same depth in procurement or reporting.
Features
- Studio Designer: Procurement management (POs, vendor deposits, receiving), invoicing, Studio Pay, accounting, dashboards, payroll integration, reporting.
- Programa: Mood boards, sourcing, proposals, shipment tracking, and light procurement. You can track time within the platform, though it doesn’t support direct invoicing.
Pricing
- Studio Designer: $72–$109/month per user.
- Programa: $59/month per user ($47 billed annually).
Which platform should you choose?
- Studio Designer: Best when your projects require structured procurement workflows, vendor oversight, and reporting to track profitability. Best for team collaboration and billing for every member of your firm.
- Programa: Best if you value a sleek design interface for visuals and sourcing, without the need for complex back-office features.
Key Considerations
- Studio Designer: Robust procurement, reporting, team-focused.
- Programa: Design-forward, easy to use, lighter operations.
Studio Designer vs. Houzz Pro
Studio Designer is built for operational clarity, supporting procurement, vendor management, accounting, and advanced reporting. It ensures firms can track profitability and manage business operations efficiently.
Houzz Pro is feature-rich, but its standout and unique features are its marketing and client acquisition tools. It offers visuals such as mood boards, 3D floor plans, and AR tours, along with CRM and advertising tools. However, it lacks depth in procurement and financial reporting.
Features
- Studio Designer: Proposals, POs, vendor tracking, invoicing, accounting, Studio Pay, dashboards, reporting.
- Houzz Pro: Mood boards, 3D floor plans, AR tours, CRM, client dashboards, advertising.
Pricing
- Studio Designer: $72–$109/month per user.
- Houzz Pro: Plans begin at $149/month, with higher costs to access advertising features.
Which platform should you choose?
- Studio Designer: Best when operational efficiency, vendor coordination, and reporting are critical. Comparatively lower price point, especially when considering the price of a QuickBooks subscription to pair with Houzz Pro.
- Houzz Pro: Best when your priority is marketing and client-facing visuals, with other systems handling operations.
Key Considerations
- Studio Designer: Procurement workflows, vendor management, reporting.
- Houzz Pro: Marketing, lead generation, visuals-first. However, while Houzz Pro’s advertising packages can generate leads, there’s no guarantee the quality will match the investment, and some designers note that pricing can feel unclear depending on the package.
When to Consider Mydoma
If what you’re looking for is simplicity, polished client-facing tools, and smooth integrations — without needing to dive deep into complex reporting — Mydoma is an excellent choice.
- Easy and fast and faster onboarding
- Polished client experience
- mood boards, contracts, branded client portal that centralizes all communication and documents, easy payments
- Works seamlessly with QuickBooks or Stripe
For firms that prioritize ease of use and client presentation, Mydoma is often the better fit. If your studio later finds it needs procurement, vendor management, or advanced reporting, Studio Designer can address those requirements.
Closing Summary
When evaluating the best interior design software, the choice comes down to your firm’s size, workflows, and goals:
- Studio Designer: Best for growing firms that need advanced procurement, vendor management, online payments, payroll, accounting, and reporting in one software
- Mydoma: Best for studios focused on client-facing tools, project management, payments.
- DesignFiles: Best for firms prioritizing visuals and presentations over operations.
- Programa: Best for firms seeking a simple interface.
- Design Manager: Best for firms that only need standard accounting and purchasing, without modern workflows.
- Houzz Pro: Best for firms focused on marketing, lead generation, and client visuals.
If your challenges include vendor management, procurement, or tracking profitability, Studio Designer stands out as the most future-proof choice. If instead you’re focused on client-facing visuals and getting up and running quickly, lighter tools like Mydoma may be the better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Interior Design Software
What is the best interior design software for larger firms?
Studio Designer offers advanced procurement, vendor management, accounting, and reporting for teams.
What is the best interior design software for solo designers?
Mydoma or DesignFiles, as they emphasize client-facing tools and ease of use.
Do I need QuickBooks if I use Studio Designer?
No — Studio Designer includes its own accounting system.
Do I need QuickBooks if I use Mydoma?
Yes, if you need full accounting. Mydoma handles the top half of your P&L focusing on proposals and payments but relies on QuickBooks for accounting.
Studio Designer is the leading digital platform for interior designers managing and growing their design businesses, featuring fully integrated project management, time billing, product sourcing, and accounting solutions.
Want to learn how Studio Designer can work for your design firm? Schedule a call with our team: https://www.studiodesigner.com/get-a-demo/
We can’t wait to connect.