Comparison

DeckSketch 3D vs Decks Builder

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DeckSketch 3D

Design, plan, and estimate the cost of your outdoor deck projects in 2D and 3D. Generate professional plans, material lists, and cut lists with building code compliance. Compare prices from local hardware stores.

Highlights
  • 2D deck drawing with complex shapes and multiple levels
  • Realistic 3D visualization with material and framing views
  • Customizable surface materials, railings, and foundations
  • Smart stair calculator with cut diagrams and code compliance
  • Complete materials and optimized cut lists
  • Price estimates from major hardware stores
  • Professional PDF plan generation
Features
Read full description

DeckSketch 3D is the most complete tool to design, plan and estimate the cost of your balcony, patio or wood deck. Whether you're a passionate DIYer or a contractor, this app guides you from the first sketch to the job site. DRAW YOUR DECK IN 2D Trace the outline of your deck directly on your screen. Create complex shapes, add multiple levels at different heights and attach the structure to your house. Add elements like a hot tub, round or rectangular pool, stairs, pergolas and guardrails with gates. View the framing in real time with joists, beams and posts. VISUALIZE IN REALISTIC 3D Instantly switch from your 2D drawing to an interactive 3D view. Explore your project from three angles: the finished rendering with colors and materials, the framing structure with posts, beams and joists, and the underside view to check structural integrity. Rotate, zoom and pan the view with smooth touch gestures. CUSTOMIZE EVERY DETAIL Choose from multiple surface materials: pressure-treated wood, natural cedar or composite in 10 trending shades (charcoal grey, walnut, driftwood, mahogany and more). Select the railing style (aluminum, tempered glass, treated wood or composite) and foundation type (sonotubes, pad footings or helical piles). Add a pergola with 5 roofing options: open rafters, polycarbonate, retractable shade, solid roof or metal roofing. SMART STAIR CALCULATOR Simply enter the total height and desired width. The app automatically calculates the number of steps, the rise and run of each step, the stringer length and the number of stringers required. A detailed cut diagram guides you to cut your stringers with precision. Automatic building code compliance check (IRC R311.7). COMPLETE MATERIALS AND CUT LIST Get a detailed list of everything you need: foundations, posts, beams, joists, decking boards, stringers, treads, railings, hardware, bolts and screws. The optimized cut list shows each piece with its exact dimensions and purpose. Minimize waste with the cut plan that organizes your cuts on standard-length boards. PRICE ESTIMATES BY STORE Compare estimated prices at hardware stores near you: Home Depot, Lowe's, Rona and other retailers. Use the built-in GPS to find the nearest store or sort by price to save money. Available in Canada, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium. Prices are adjusted monthly based on the materials inflation index. PROFESSIONAL PDF PLANS Generate a complete multi-page PDF package ready for the job site or permit application: floor plan with dimensions, framing plan, foundation plan, side elevation, stair detail, railing detail, pergola detail, materials list, cut list, optimized cut plan, step-by-step assembly guide and code compliance tips. Print or share directly from the app. BUILDING CODE COMPLIANT All calculations follow IRC R507 (beam sizing, post spacing) and IRC R311.7 (stairs) standards. Compatible with North American and European standards. Choose between North American lumber sizes (2x6, 2x8, 2x10) or European sizes (45x95 mm, 45x145 mm). Imperial or metric system based on your preference. FREE TO START Full 2D drawing, 3D view and stair calculator are free. Upgrade to Pro to unlock precise measurements, the complete cut list, price comparison, PDF plans and unlimited saves. Conditions d'utilisation / Terms of Use: https://www.atikdesign.ca/terms-decksketch Politique de confidentialité / Privacy Policy: https://www.atikdesign.ca/privacy-decksketch

About

Decks Builder

Design and plan custom decks with a framing-first approach. Visualize your projects in 3D, generate material estimates, and export plans in various formats. Ideal for contractors and serious DIYers.

Highlights
  • Framing-first deck workflow
  • 3D project review
  • Material takeoffs and cost estimates
  • Multiple export formats (PDF, CSV, DXF, SVG)
  • Support for various deck types
  • Live 2D deck plans
Features
Read full description

Design decks with a workflow built for real projects. Decks Builder is a framing-first deck planning app for contractors, remodelers, deck builders, designers, and serious DIY users. Create deck layouts, review framing, inspect the design in 3D, and generate the export files you need while keeping projects stored on your device. Build from simple to advanced deck types: - Straight decks - L-shaped and U-shaped decks - Freestanding layouts - Wraparound and custom workflows - Gazebo, multi-level, and roof-over-deck planning Plan with build-focused tools: - Framing-first deck workflow - Joist, beam, post, and perimeter review - Validation notes while you work - Material takeoffs and cost estimates - Imperial and metric input Review and export with confidence: - Live 2D deck plans - 3D project review - PDF, CSV, PNG, DXF, and SVG exports - Portable project bundles for local import/export - Saved versions and project history Free includes straight deck planning and limited saved projects. Premium unlocks advanced deck types, deeper exports, 3D workflows, and more saved project capacity. Decks Builder is designed to help you plan faster and communicate more clearly before building. Always verify dimensions, spans, loads, code requirements, and site conditions before construction. Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

DeckSketch 3D4 screens
Decks Builder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Decks Builder at 2.0 against DeckSketch 3D's 1.0. DeckSketch 3D's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. DeckSketch 3D sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month and Decks Builder sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Decks Builder holds the better App Store score, 2.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
DeckSketch 3D versus Decks Builder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDeckSketch 3DDecks Builder
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)2.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAtik Design S.E.N.CJalsaa

Customer experience

DeckSketch 3D

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Decks Builder

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

DeckSketch 3D

Subscriptions1
  • DeckSketch Pro3 Days trial$9.991 Month
2 purchases

Decks Builder

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$69.991 Year

Questions

Is DeckSketch 3D free?
DeckSketch 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Decks Builder free?
Decks Builder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, DeckSketch 3D or Decks Builder?
Decks Builder is rated higher. DeckSketch 3D averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Decks Builder averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.
Do DeckSketch 3D or Decks Builder have ads?
Neither DeckSketch 3D nor Decks Builder shows ads.

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