Both Studio Designer and DesignFiles are popular tools for interior designers, but their capabilities cater to different business needs. Studio Designer focuses on managing the back end of a design business, offering robust tools for accounting, invoicing, and procurement. However, it lacks comprehensive design tools, offering only limited features like a PowerPoint integration for presentations.
DesignFiles, on the other hand, is built for small to medium-sized firms looking for an all-in-one solution that supports both front-of-house (designing, client communication, sourcing) and back-of-house (project management, invoicing, and basic reporting) tasks. While it doesn’t provide built-in accounting features, it does integrate with QuickBooks making it easy for designers to manage their bookkeeping and accounting needs. DesignFiles also simplifies team and client communication, making it an efficient tool for managing projects from start to finish.
All that said, let’s dive even deeper into the various features, pricing models, user reviews, and key differences between these two tools to see which would best support your interior design business.
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What are the main differences between Studio Designer and DesignFiles?
Studio Designer and DesignFiles fulfill very different roles for interior designers. Studio Designer is best understood as a back-of-house platform designed to handle invoicing, procurement, accounting, and financial reporting. Its tools are most valuable to large firms with advanced accounting needs, but it requires pairing with a separate design tool for floor planning, rendering, or client presentations.
DesignFiles, on the other hand, is an all-in-one platform that serves both front and back-of-house needs. It includes robust design tools like mood boards, floor planning, and 3D rendering, as well as project management and basic financial features like invoicing and QuickBooks integration. This makes DesignFiles a better fit for small to medium-sized firms looking to streamline their workflow without adding multiple tools.
When we look at pricing, DesignFiles is more affordable than Studio Designer. DesignFiles also offers free, human-based support via chat and phone calls, unlike Studio Designer.
Studio Designer also comes with a learning curve. One of the biggest pain points among Studio Designer users is how challenging the software is to learn and use, while DesignFiles is known for being easy to pick up without support.
Studio Designer VS DesignFiles: Features
Studio Designer’s features focus on operational and financial management:
- Clipping items and materials
- Sending proposals, invoices, and retainers
- Tracking project time
- Payment processing
- Procurement management
- Inventory management
- Built-in accounting tools
- Robust financial reporting
While these tools are powerful for managing finances, Studio Designer does not provide task management, mood boards, floor planning, or client communication tools.
In contrast, DesignFiles offers a wider range of tools for managing projects from start to finish:
Design Tools
- Moodboards
- Floor Plans
- 3D Renderings
- Presentation Slide Decks
- Design Board Templates
Billing and Payments
- Quotes
- Invoices
- Retainers
- RFQs
- Purchase Orders
- Design Packages
- Financial Reporting
Project Management
- Personal Product Library
- Product Clipper
- Customizable Questionnaires
- Branded Presentations
- Client Portal
- Client / Team Communication
- Digital Contracts & E-Sign
- Project Calendar
- Time Tracking
- Task Management
- Order Tracker
- Spec Sheets
- Activity Logs
- Shoppable Product Lists
- Client/Vendor Contact Book
Integrations
- Stripe
- SideDoor
- QuickBooks Online
These comprehensive tools make DesignFiles a powerful choice for firms looking to create, present, and manage projects holistically, without needing additional software.
Studio Designer VS DesignFiles: Pricing
Studio Designer is priced per user, with the following plans: Starter for $64 per month, Essentials for $69 per month, Enterprise for $79 per month, and Premier for $99 per month.
DesignFiles costs $49 per month for e-designers and $69 per month for full-service designers. These prices are for the first user on the account, with each additional user costing $25 more per month. An enterprise plan is available to help larger teams scale and grow.
Studio Designer VS DesignFiles: Online Reviews
When we compare online reviews, DesignFiles stands out in both number and average ratings.
Studio Designer has 3.3/5 stars on Capterra and no reviews on G2.
DesignFiles has 535 reviews and 4.6/5 stars on Capterra. On G2, it has 4 reviews and 4.4 stars. DesignFiles also has an impressive Net promoter score of 69 and a likelihood to recommend rating of 90%.
One common theme in reviews is how easy DesignFiles is to use compared to Studio Designer. Many users report struggling with Studio Designer’s steep learning curve and complex interface, while DesignFiles is frequently praised for its intuitive design and smooth onboarding experience.
Studio Designer VS DesignFiles: Customer Support
Studio Designer offers online resources, including articles, guides, and videos, to help users master their software. In addition to these resources, Studio Designer users have access to The Work of Design, a dedicated library for interior designers. This library includes articles, webinars, and expert-led courses that cover everything from software navigation to broader business strategies for design professionals. These tools help Studio Designer users maximize the platform’s potential while building skills in other key areas of their businesses.
However, support for live chat and phone calls is limited to users on higher-tier plans.
DesignFiles offers extensive customer support, including free human-based support via chat or phone for all users. Its active design community, with nearly 11,000 members, also provides a wealth of peer-to-peer advice and insights.
They also have an extensive online help center filled with how-to articles and videos, blog posts, and e-books. Additionally, you can chat with the DesignFiles team or request a free 1-on-1 training call if you could benefit from additional support. Human chat and phone calls are always available at no cost — no matter the plan you sign up for.
To support customers further, DesignFiles hosts regular webinars with experts from the interior design field to provide advice in every industry area. Past webinar topics have covered everything from wholesaling to lead generating.
Which platform should you choose?
If your firm requires advanced financial tools and detailed reporting, Studio Designer may be the better fit. Its back-of-house focus on accounting and procurement makes it ideal for larger firms. However, Studio Designer does not offer task management, floor planning, or design-specific tools, so you’ll need to integrate it with additional software.
For small to medium-sized firms, DesignFiles is a more versatile choice. Its combination of design, project management, and client communication tools supports every stage of the design process. It’s also easier to learn and more cost-effective, especially for growing teams.
If you’re still not sure which tool will best fit you and your business, check out additional options using our list of the best interior design project management tools or our guide to finding the best interior design business software.
Frequently asked questions
DesignFiles is more affordable than Studio Designer. The base plans are cheaper, and if you have a large team, the discounted additional seats ($25 each instead of the regular plan price per person) will save you significantly as time goes on.
DesignFiles is a better fit for most solo and small design firms. Since DesignFiles includes design and business management features, it allows you to keep most, if not all, of your tasks (and costs) in the same place. The financial savings also make it easier on small business’s wallets.
Studio Designer may be a better fit for larger firms who are looking for high-level project management and a full accounting tool. Studio Designer’s robust financial and project management capabilities make it a natural choice for larger firms that handle complex financial needs or require detailed reporting. However, it’s important to note that Studio Designer lacks the design-specific tools offered by competitors like DesignFiles. To fill in these gaps, users may need to pair Studio Designer with a dedicated design platform.
Get the top-rated platform for small firms and solo designers. Check out DesignFiles.
