Garden & Planting Planners
Easy Garden Planner
Truly freeFully free browser planner with no account; layouts auto-save to your browser and export to JSON or print.
Gardener Planner
Truly freeEntire app is free with no sign-up, no feature limits, and works offline as a PWA.
Gardener's Supply Garden Planner
Truly freeFree online square-foot planner with 26 pre-planned garden templates; drag-and-drop crops onto a grid that auto-fills plant counts.
Allotment Planner
Free, with limitsFree to start designing with drag-and-drop beds, spacing guides, and planting calendar; account-gated saving and location features.
From Seed to Spoon
Free, with limitsAlways-free plan includes 150+ plant guides, location-based planting dates, companion info, and a visual layout with 10 plants; premium adds unlimited tracking.
Fryd
Free, with limitsFree bed planner with companion planting, seasonal calendar, and community; deeper features and templates sit behind a subscription.
Garden Bed Planner
Free, with limitsDesigning and visualizing beds is free; you only need to sign in to save or share layouts.
Gardenize
Free, with limitsFree tier logs unlimited plants, areas (incl. raised beds), and events with one photo each; web app, drawing, exports, and advanced planning need a paid plan.
Gardroid
Free, with limitsFree (ad-supported) with vegetable beds, sowing/harvest periods, spacing, and reminders; premium removes ads and adds herbs.
Hortisketch
Free, with limitsFree plan lets you plan with plant icons and tutorials; saving unlimited plans, the growing calendar, and inventory manager need premium (~$44.99/yr).
Planter
Free, with limitsFree with one garden, planting calendar, seed box, square-foot grid, and custom plants; premium unlocks unlimited spaces and web sync.
Seedtime
Free, with limitsFree-forever plan covers one planting calendar, unlimited schedules, tasks, and journal; visual garden layout and companion planting require a paid plan.
Vercro
Free, with limitsFree tier (no card) gives daily task plans, crop tracking, bed management, and a growing calendar; AI PlantCheck and pro features are paid.
Bonnie Edible Garden Designer
Free, brand-lockedFree to use and gives a 3D preview, but it matches you to Bonnie's pre-designed collections to sell you their starter plants.
Smart Gardener
Free trial onlySelf-serve sign-up with a trial, but ongoing use requires a paid subscription (about $19.99/quarter or $39.99/year).
What to look for in garden & planting planners
The best garden planner software in 2026 lets you map beds and rows to scale, drop in plants with correct spacing, and get planting and harvest dates for your climate. Free planners handle simple bed layouts and basic plant lists, which is enough for a first vegetable garden. Paid tools add detailed plant databases, companion-planting guidance, crop rotation tracking, and season-by-season reminders. Many run in the browser with no install. Below we compare each planner by its plant database, layout tools, planting calendar, free limits, and price so you can plan your plot with confidence.
To-scale bed and row layout. A good planner uses a grid so plants get correct spacing and beds fit your real plot. This prevents overcrowding and wasted space.
Plant database and spacing data. Look for a large plant library with built-in spacing, sun, and growth information. Accurate data turns a layout into a working garden plan.
Planting calendar for your zone. The most useful planners tailor sowing, transplanting, and harvest dates to your climate or hardiness zone. This keeps your schedule realistic.
Companion planting and rotation. Advanced tools flag good and bad plant neighbors and help rotate crops across seasons. These features improve yields and reduce pests over time.
Ease of use and access. Browser-based, drag-and-drop planners are quick to start and need no install. Check whether plans save to an account so you can revisit them each season.
Free tier vs subscription. Some planners are fully free; others offer a trial then charge yearly. Compare what the free version includes against the planting-calendar and database features behind a paywall.
Questions, answered
Is there a free garden planner?
Yes. Several garden planners offer free versions or free tiers for laying out beds and choosing plants. Free tools cover the basics, while paid plans add detailed plant databases, planting calendars, and rotation tracking. Compare the free limits in the table above.
What is the best vegetable garden planner?
The best vegetable garden planner gives you to-scale bed layouts, a plant database with spacing, and planting dates for your zone. For a first garden, a free planner is often enough. For multi-season planning and crop rotation, a paid tool is worth it.
Can a garden planner tell me when to plant?
Many can. The better planners use your location or hardiness zone to suggest sowing, transplanting, and harvest dates. This planting-calendar feature is often part of the paid tier, so check each tool's details.
Do I need to install garden planning software?
Usually not. Most modern garden planners run in a web browser, so you can plan from any device without installing anything. Some also offer mobile apps. Check whether your plans save to an account for next season.