The core Sweet Home 3D application has been free and open-source (GPL licensed) since its first release, so 'free download' here isn't marketing language, it's simply accurate. What sometimes causes confusion is that eTeks also sells optional extra furniture catalogs and offers a browser-based version at sweethome3d.com; neither is required, and the downloadable desktop app includes a solid default furniture library on its own.
2D Plan on Top, Live 3D View Below, At the Same Time
Sweet Home 3D's main window is split between a 2D floor-plan editor, where you draw walls, doors, and windows by dragging, and a 3D preview beneath it that updates in real time as you place furniture. Dragging a sofa or dropping a rug in the 2D view instantly repositions it in the 3D scene, so you don't need to switch modes to see how a layout actually looks.
It ships with a categorized catalog of furniture, and you can import additional 3D models in standard formats if the built-in library doesn't have what you need, then export the finished plan as an image or a walkthrough for sharing.
Who ends up using Sweet Home 3D
Sweet Home 3D is used by homeowners and hobbyists planning a room layout or renovation without paying for professional CAD software.
- Homeowners planning furniture layout before a move or renovation
- Renters testing whether furniture will fit a room before buying it
- Hobbyist designers sketching small interior spaces for personal projects
Before you install
A couple of things worth knowing about Sweet Home 3D before you request the link: it covers Windows, macOS and Linux, so pick the right build for the machine you're setting up. And on pricing, Sweet Home 3D is open source, so the installer is free with no trial timer, feature lock, or upsell screen to click past. It's developed and maintained by eTeks.
System requirements
- WindowsWindows 10 or 11 (64-bit); older 7/8.1 builds usually still run but no longer get official support
- macOSa recent macOS release — check the download page for the current minimum version, since Apple Silicon vs Intel builds sometimes differ
- Linuxmost current 64-bit distributions; look for a native .deb/.rpm/AppImage or a package in your distro's own repository
Heavier workloads (large files, high-res media, big projects) will naturally want more RAM and a faster CPU/GPU than the bare minimum.
Quick steps
- Download the installer for Windows, macOS, or Linux
- Install and launch, no account or activation needed
- Draw your floor plan in 2D and watch the 3D view build itself
Sweet Home 3D: the honest trade-offs
- Live 3D view updates instantly as you edit the 2D floor plan
- Free and open source with a usable default furniture catalog included
- Simple drag-and-drop editing needs no CAD experience to get started
- Can't open native project files from professional CAD or design software
- Furniture catalog and rendering quality lag behind paid interior-design tools
This links to the official release from eTeks, the same open-source build distributed through sweethome3d.com and its SourceForge project page.
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Keeping Sweet Home 3D up to date
Since Sweet Home 3D is open source, most Linux distributions keep it current through their own package manager. On Windows/macOS, re-running the installer from the official site (or an updater built into the app, if it has one) gets you the latest release. Sticking to the developer's own distribution channel — which is what this page links to — means you're never stuck on an old build with unpatched bugs just because a mirror site stopped updating its copy.
Features, install steps, alternatives and more detail live on the main Sweet Home 3D page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy extra furniture packs to use Sweet Home 3D?
No, the free download includes a usable default furniture catalog. Additional catalogs sold by eTeks are optional extras, not required for the app to function.
Can Sweet Home 3D open floor plans from other design software?
It can import background images, like a scanned blueprint, to trace over, and supports common 3D model formats for furniture, but it doesn't directly open project files from other CAD or design programs.
