Home renovation projects can be daunting, but the right apps can make the process smoother and more manageable. With the proliferation of smartphones and tablets, there are now hundreds of apps designed specifically for home renovation and improvement projects. These apps serve many purposes – from design and planning, to project management, budget tracking, and more.
Choosing the best home renovation apps depends on your needs and the scope of your project. Below we have compiled some of the top-rated and most useful home renovation apps on the market today. These apps can assist you whether you are doing a simple cosmetic upgrade or a major remodel.
Design and Planning Apps
Careful planning is crucial before starting any home renovation project. Design and planning apps allow you to conceptualize your project visually, create floorplans, design mood boards, and make material selections. Here are some of the best apps for the design phase:
Home Design 3D
Home Design 3D is one of the most fully-featured home design apps available. It provides sophisticated 3D rendering and visualization tools to help you design your remodel or new construction project.
With Home Design 3D you can:
- Create detailed 2D and 3D floorplans with accurate dimensions
- Design interior and exterior spaces
- Add furniture, fixtures, appliances, and décor from a catalog of over 1,000 items
- Customize furniture with a built-in editor
- Choose from various materials like flooring, countertops, paint colors, etc.
- View designs in real-time 3D walkthroughs and fly-throughs
- Save and share designs as images or PDFs
The app offers an extensive library of pre-designed rooms and objects. Advanced features like the ability to import floorplans and assign custom materials make this one of the most capable home design apps.
Hutch
Hutch is an intuitive home design app tailored for iPad and iPhone. It makes the design process easy and enjoyable, with drag and drop features and smart recommendations.
Key features of Hutch:
- Build 2D and 3D floorplans by dragging walls and adding doors/windows
- Choose from over 1,500 pieces of furniture and décor
- Let the app recommend furniture sizes and styles for each room
- Customize furniture finishes, fabrics, and colors
- View designs in 3D walkthroughs
- Save room images and shopping lists
- Works online and offline after initial download
Hutch is free to use with an optional premium subscription that provides more furniture choices and design ideas. It’s best for basic renovations and visualizing furniture arrangements.
Magicplan
For quick and easy floorplan creation, Magicplan is a top choice. This app uses your phone’s camera and AR technology to instantaneously generate measured floorplans.
To use Magicplan:
- Walk around the interior space while filming with the camera
- The app automatically maps out floor dimensions
- Edit the floorplan and add doors, windows, walls, and labels
- Export the finished floorplan as a PDF, JPG, or SVG file
Magicplan is faster than manually measuring and drawing a new space. It’s great for smaller renovation jobs like kitchens, bathrooms, and single rooms. The free version provides basic floorplan creation while a premium subscription unlocks advanced options.
Houzz
The Houzz app gives you access to a wealth of design inspiration and planning tools. Browse over 19 million photos to find your perfect renovation style. Save your favorite images to ideabooks and mood boards.
Other key features:
- Over 2 million pieces of furniture and décor to browse
- View products from local suppliers
- Get free expert advice from the Houzz community
- Find experienced home professionals and read reviews
- Create floorplans with Houzz Room Planner
- Access Houzz AR to preview furniture in your room
Whether you want design inspiration or help planning renovations, Houzz provides an invaluable library of ideas. Available free for Apple and Android devices.
Project Management Apps
Renovations involve coordinating contractors, managing budgets, scheduling tasks, and keeping everything on track. These project management apps help streamline the process.
Remodelmate
Remodelmate helps you manage your home renovation from start to finish. Designed exclusively for remodeling projects, it includes numerous features to keep you organized.
Remodelmate assists you to:
- Create project task lists and schedule timelines
- Assign tasks to contractors and suppliers
- Track project documents like contracts and invoices
- Maintain a budget with detailed spend tracking
- Share project updates and photos with stakeholders
- Identify and resolve issues and delays
- Store all project data in a central hub
This app simplifies coordination, budgeting, and communication for remodeling projects. Available as a free mobile app or paid web version.
Plangrid
Plangrid is a robust project management platform made for construction. It excels at collaboration and documentation, with specialty features for renovations.
Notable Plangrid features:
- Upload CAD files, PDF plans, and photos
- Share plan markups and task lists with your team
- Track project milestones, checklists, and daily logs
- Capture on-site progress with photos and videos
- Generate punch lists and project close-out reports
- Store all project documents in one secure platform
While Plangrid offers more advanced functionality than most renovation apps, it comes at a steep price. Subscriptions start at $99/month with discounts for annual plans. Free trials are available.
Buildertrend
Buildertrend takes a streamlined approach to managing home renovation projects. It provides a centralized dashboard to coordinate everything from schedules to change orders.
Main features include:
- Schedule projects with Gantt chart timelines
- Distribute information via email and text messaging
- Track budget vs. actuals down to the task level
- Log daily construction progress
- Generate customized reports and documents
- Communicate with team members and clients
Buildertrend pricing starts at $69/month for their Pro package. Discounts are offered for annual subscriptions.
Budgeting and Finance Apps
Keeping your renovation on budget is critical. These apps allow you to track spending, manage invoices, and monitor financials during your project.
Buildy
Buildy offers budget management tools designed for home renovation projects. It links invoices, payments, and change orders to your budget tracking.
With Buildy you can:
- Create a master budget with line items
- Import invoices and match to budget
- Upload receipts via mobile and track spending
- Log payments made to contractors
- Track budget vs. actual costs in real-time
- Run financial reports showing cash flow and more
The ability to match invoices and payments to budget line items makes Buildy a standout for remodeling financials. Subscription plans start at $12/month.
Wave
For managing income, expenses, and accounting, Wave provides a full-featured free option. This easy-to-use financial platform is great for home renovation budgets and financing.
Wave lets you:
- Create budgets and forecasts
- Send professional invoices
- Scan receipts to track expenses
- Reconcile bank & credit card accounts
- Generate income and expense reports
- Import data from Excel, Dropbox, etc.
- Track payments received
- Set up automated reminders and notifications
With free unlimited invoicing and accounting, Wave appeals to most renovators. Paid subscriptions provide credit card processing and payroll options.
HomeKeepr
HomeKeepr combines finance tracking with general home management tools. For renovations, it offers handy budgeting and expense features.
Notable functions include:
- Create a renovation budget
- Log expenses with photos of receipts
- Match expenses to budget categories
- Generate handy expense reports
- Track mortgage, insurance, utilities, and other household expenses
- Maintain home inventory with photos
- Store appliance specs, warranties, manuals
While not as robust for accounting as some alternatives, HomeKeepr provides a wallet-friendly option starting at $3.99/month.
Home Monitoring and Security
When renovating a home, monitoring job sites remotely and securing your property are likely priorities. These apps provide live views and enhanced security for peace of mind.
Alfred
Alfred is an award-winning home monitoring system that integrates with your existing home security setup. It adds features like live video feeds, smart notifications, and remote access.
Key features for renovations:
- View live and recorded security camera feeds
- Get alerts for activity like doors opening
- Talk through cameras via two-way audio
- Control security system remotely
- Share access with contractors if needed
- Monitor deliveries and service providers
- Ensure workers are on-site at scheduled times
Alfred starts at $19.99/month for basic connectivity features.
Ring Alarm
For affordable smart security, the Ring Alarm system connects wirelessly to your mobile devices. It’s DIY-friendly and integrates with Ring’s video doorbells and cameras.
Main features:
- Professional monitoring available for $10/month
- Customizable alarm with optional 24/7 monitoring
- Live views from Ring cameras around property
- Notifications if sensors detect activity
- Allows remote arming, disarming, and more
- Works with or without Wi-Fi/cellular
- Add-on options like smoke, CO monitors and flood sensors
Ring Alarm starter kits start at about $200. Sensors, cameras, etc. range from $30-$250 each.
Canary
The Canary system offers flexible home security with advanced monitoring capabilities. It features live streaming, smart notifications to detect activity, and automation options.
Canary lets you:
- View live feeds from Canary cameras
- Get push notifications if movement or sound detected
- Integrate door, window, motion and temperature sensors
- Record 30-second video clips triggered by activity
- Remotely control security system and other smart devices
- Works via Wi-Fi so no landline required
Canary hardware starts at $99. The most affordable monitoring plan is $4.99/month.
AR-Driven Apps
Augmented reality (AR) apps use your mobile device’s camera to visualize your space. See how paint colors, countertops, flooring, and more would look in your actual room before purchasing.
Lowe’s
The Lowe’s app features an augmented reality toolkit designed with renovations in mind. You can digitally view products to scale in your home.
AR features let you:
- Try different cabinet styles in your kitchen
- See countertop and backsplash samples applied to your counters
- Visualize appliances in your actual layout
- Preview paint colors, carpet swatches, and tile on your walls/floors
- View patio furniture on your deck or plants in your garden
- Measure distances to get accurate dimensions
Lowe’s AR tool is free to use for inspiration or making final product selections.
Home Depot
Similar to Lowe’s, Home Depot’s mobile app offers an augmented reality component. You can digitally preview products in your rooms, measure spaces, and experience finishes.
Key features:
- Virtually place furniture like sofas or beds in your room
- Try cabinetry, countertops, flooring, and tile samples
- Visualize paint colors on your walls before painting
- Use floor planner to arrange furniture digitally
- Take measurements with AR powers
- Access design ideas and inspiration
The Home Depot app is available for free. It provides robust project planning features alongside AR functionality.
Wayfair
Through their View in Room tool, Wayfair lets you see 3D models of furnishings in your actual room. You can adjust sizing and move items around to create your ideal layout.
Ways to use it:
- Add virtual models of chairs, sofas, beds, and tables
- Play with arrangements until space feels right
- View multiple color and fabric options for furniture
- See how lighting fixtures would look installed
- Get a sense of sizing – is that rug too small?
- Plan furniture for new room additions and renovations
The Wayfair app is free and has a massive furniture catalog. View in Room brings your designs to life.
Estimating and Materials Apps
Calculating an accurate renovation estimate yourself can be challenging. These apps provide DIY estimating tools and price guides for common home improvement projects.
HomeAdvisor True Cost Guide
HomeAdvisor’s True Cost Guide offers a database of cost estimates for hundreds of home projects. All estimates are localized based on zip code.
Features include:
- Cost guides for 400+ remodeling projects
- Adjust costs higher or lower based on quality
- Factor in your location for accurate estimates
- Add details like size, materials, finish level
- Get total costs and per unit pricing
- Save customized projects to track actual spend
- Access average hourly rates for trades
While not as comprehensive as pro estimation tools, the HomeAdvisor True Cost Guide provides homeowners with solid starting estimates.
UCalc Home Improvement Estimator
For DIYers, UCalc provides a handy mobile estimating app. Input your project details to get estimated costs, required tools, and materials lists.
UCalc offers estimators for:
- Kitchen and bathroom remodels
- Additions, garages, and accessory dwellings
- Decks, fences, retaining walls
- Flooring installation
- Interior and exterior paint
- Windows, doors, siding, roofing
- Electrical, plumbing, concrete projects
- Many more common home upgrades
Pricing estimates factor in your location. The app is free with premium estimators available.
RSMeans Data Online
RSMeans Data Online is the leading professional cost estimating tool. It details construction costs for nearly any residential or commercial renovation project imaginable.
Features of RSMeans Data:
- Granular cost data for thousands of renovation tasks
- Localized estimates using zip code-level adjustment factors
- Generate detailed project estimates with materials and labor
- Compare costs for alternative materials and finishes
- View live cost trends with quarterly data updates
- Get accurate crew size requirements
- Export estimates to Excel or PDF
RSMeans Data offers the most robust estimates but requires an expensive annual subscription starting around $600/year.
Inspiration Apps
If you need a spark of inspiration for your remodeling project, these apps offer a wealth of ideas and visual examples. Browse through millions of home design photos and connect with top designers in your area.
Pinterest provides endless inspiration for home renovations, interior design, landscaping, and more. Browse pins or search for specific styles, rooms, projects, etc.
Ideal for:
- Finding style inspiration from saved idea boards
- Discovering DIY project tutorials and instructions
- Searching for decor and furnishings by type or color
- Exploring thematic concepts like “small bathrooms”
- Gaining insights from other’s remodeling successes and trials
The Pinterest app is free, easy to navigate, and offers more home inspiration than any other platform.
On Instagram, follow hashtags like #renovation, #remodel, #beforeandafter, and #interiordesign to discover photos from real renovators.
Use Instagram to:
- Get a peek inside renovated homes for inspiration
- Find accounts focused on your preferred style
- See how real people undertake DIY projects
- Discover talented designers and contractors
- Ask for recommendations in local area hashtags
- Share your own project photos and videos
Instagram homes in on visual inspiration from both pros and amateurs. The app is free.
Houzz
Mentioned previously, the Houzz app features over 19 million photos of beautifully designed and renovated spaces. Ideal for:
- Browsing photos in your preferred style
- Finding inspiration by room or project type
- Getting ideas for furniture layouts and use of space
- Downloading inspirational images to an ideabook
- Connecting with Houzz-certified architects and builders
- Following the Houzz blog about home topics
Houzz brings professional and DIY ideas together in their robust ideabook library and renovator community. Download the app for free.
Shopping Apps
Once your renovation plans are underway, you’ll need to purchase materials, fixtures, furniture and more. These shopping apps make finding renovation products and deals more convenient.
Amazon
The Amazon shopping app grants access to a vast array of home improvement products, all with fast free shipping for Prime members.
Amazon offers:
- Brand name tools, building materials, hardware, etc.
- In-house home furnishings and decor from brands like Stone & Beam
- Products in all styles from modern to farmhouse
- Designer lighting, fixtures, sinks, faucets, and more
- Smart home electronics and security devices
- Amazon Home Services for contractor hiring
Amazon’s everyday low prices and fast shipping make it a go-to for renovators. The mobile app makes browsing, comparing, and buying a breeze.
eBay
Discount deals abound on eBay, making it a top resource for buying on a budget. Many sellers offer new and used home renovation products.
Find on eBay:
- Lighting, plumbing fixtures, appliances marked down significantly
- Budget-friendly flooring, tile, doors, windows
- Cheaper new kitchen cabinets and hardware
- Overstock tools, materials, decor at a fraction of retail
- Unique vintage items like salvaged furniture
- Brand name supplies discounted in bulk quantities
eBay takes hunting for bargains to the next level. Download the app to search deals and get notifications when desired items go on sale.
OfferUp
OfferUp connects local buyers and sellers for secondhand sales. It’s perfect for finding discount home renovation items nearby.
Use OfferUp to:
- Save on barely used tools, ladders, and hardware
- Buy appliances, sinks, lights, fans from remodeling upgrades
- Find doors, windows, flooring leftover from projects
- Negotiate deals for furniture and decor
- Search by keyword or browse local listings