Looking for a project management software tool to level up your interior design business? Studio Designer and Design Manager are both popular industry picks for accounting and project management.
But which program is the best fit for your brand and business needs?
Let’s take a look at each tool’s features, pricing, and customer support to help you make the right choice.
Table of Contents
What are the main differences between Studio Designer and Design Manager?
At first glance, Studio Designer and Design Manager may appear similar. However, there are key differences between the two. Notably, Studio Designer offers a plan with built-in design tools (Starter, powered by Mydoma), whereas Design Manager focuses solely on project management and accounting without any design tools.
Studio Designer also has more customer service options and slightly lower monthly costs.
Studio Designer VS Design Manager: Features
Studio Designer is used primarily for accounting and project management. Its main features include:
- Streamlined project management
- Sourcing and procurement tools
- Client portal for payments, document sharing, and approvals
- Accrual accounting and detailed financial reports
- Overhead and expense tracker
- Cash flow and tax calculations
- Accounts receivable and accounts payable
- General ledger with automatic record-keeping
Since Studio Designer merged with Mydoma, the Starter plan also includes:
- Mood boards
- Floor planning
- Photorealistic 3D rendering
Design Manager’s main features include:
- Streamlined project management
- Integrated purchase and order tracking
- Accounts receivable, accounts payable, and general ledger
- In-platform payment processing, payment tracking, and reporting
- Easy-to-use client portal
Studio Designer VS Design Manager: Pricing
Studio Designer is priced per user, with the following plans:
- Starter — $64 per month
- Essentials — $72 per month
- Enterprise — $84 per month
- Premier — $109 per month.
Keep in mind the Starter plan does not include integrated accounting. It does, however, offer access to Mydoma’s design tools.
Design Manager only offers one plan, costing $79 per month. Additional users are billed at $74 each per month. You may be able to save a percentage by purchasing your plan annually. You can also trial all features for free for 30 days before committing.
Studio Designer VS Design Manager: Online Reviews
Both software have lower-than-average ratings. To get a more in-depth look at the pros and cons of each tool, let’s take a look at the available reviews.
Studio Designer has 3.3/5 stars and 3 reviews on Capterra. It has no reviews on G2.
Design Manager has 2.8/5 stars and 2 reviews on G2. It hasn’t been reviewed yet on Capterra.
Studio Designer VS Design Manager: Customer Support
Studio Designer offers several types of online resources, including:
- The Work of Design, a dedicated library filled with articles, guides, and videos for professional interior designers
- Webinars and expert-led courses covering everything from software navigation to broader business strategies
- Email support with timely responses
- Live chat and phone call support (for higher-tier plans only)
Design Manager’s customer support includes:
- A detailed FAQ knowledge base for commonly-asked software questions
- A help center filled with guides and video tutorials that cover account setup, troubleshooting, new features, and more.
- Ticket submission for free, personalized support
- One-on-one training offered at a rate of $150 per hour
Which platform should you choose?
When comparing Studio Designer and Design Manager, we recommend focusing on:
- Pricing (including seat count)
- Access to design tools
- Customer support
Even though the pricing is similar, you may find that your business structure makes one software more affordable than the other. This is especially true if you have a large team since Design Manager provides discounts for additional seats.
Don’t forget to consider the cost of design tools that are required to fill any gaps in features and functionality. This won’t be necessary with the Studio Designer/Mydoma Starter plan. But if you sign up for a standard Studio Designer plan or anything from Design Manager, you’ll need to calculate separate subscription costs into your equations.
Finally, consider customer support costs. If you’re generally adept at mastering new software, you may be fine with FAQ pages and online help centers. If you struggle with software learning curves (which both Studio Designer and Design Manager are said to have), you may want a plan that offers free, individualized support.
If neither Studio Designer nor Design Manager feels like a good fit, DesignFiles might be a great alternative. As an all-in-one business software built specifically for solo designers and small firms, DesignFiles offers design tools, project management features, basic financial reports, Quickbooks integration, and more.
DesignFiles has outstanding reviews, starting with 4.4 stars on Capterra and 4.5 on G2. For customer support, you can expect video tutorials, expert articles, live training and webinars, human-based chat, and an expansive user community to gather advice.
Plans start at just $49 per month for e-designers and $69 per month for full-service business owners.
Frequently asked questions
Studio Designer and Design Manager have similar pricing. Studio Designer has two plans that are slightly less expensive than Design Manager, and two plans that cost significantly more.
Studio Designer and Design Manager are built for larger design firms. With that said, Studio Designer’s Starter plan (powered by Mydoma) is a solid choice for solo designers and small firms, thanks to its affordable pricing and inclusion of design tools.
If you’re running a small business and plan to scale quickly, you may want to start with a tool that can handle growth. In this instance, both Studio Designer and Design Manager could meet your accounting and project management needs.
If you’re a solo designer or small firm looking for software alternatives, check out our guides to finding the best design business software or project management tool.
When it comes to large firms, Studio Designer and Design Manager perform similarly. Both tools handle everything accounting and project management related. Keep an eye on per-seat pricing when you make your choice. You may find Studio Designer to be the more affordable option when you factor in the number of users you’ll need to attach to your account.
Want all the best design and project management tools in one place? Learn more about DesignFiles, the top-rated platform for small and solo firms.
