GardenDraft vs GrowVeg
GrowVeg is the established name in vegetable garden planning — it also powers the Old Farmer's Almanac Garden Planner — and its frost-aware planner is genuinely good. The biggest differences today are how you start (GrowVeg is trial-only, then $35/year recurring or $50 for a one-year subscription; GardenDraft starts with one free garden) and where you plan (GardenDraft's editor was built for phones first).
| GardenDraft | GrowVeg | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes — 1 garden, 3 beds, no card | No — 7-day trial, then paid |
| Price | $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr for unlimited | $35/yr recurring · $50 one-year |
| Mobile-first editor | Built for touch; same canvas on phone and desktop | Desktop-oriented layout tool |
| 3D view | Yes — beds colored by growth phase | No |
| Frost-aware dates | NOAA normals by postal code, with override | Yes, frost-aware |
| Succession planting | Succession chains | Yes (rotation guidance) |
| Data after you stop paying | Stays viewable + exportable after cancellation | Access ends with the subscription |
Where GardenDraft is the stronger pick
- A free first garden before paying anything.
- A touch-first editor that works on a phone in the garden.
- A 3D view and a journal/harvest/inventory record set.
- A no-paywall data promise: cancel and your plans, photos, and history stay readable.
Where GrowVeg might suit you better
- A long track record and a large, established plant database and community.
- A mature, well-tested planner that many gardeners have used for years.
- Brand familiarity through the Old Farmer's Almanac partnership.
The bottom line
If you want to try a full-featured planner for free and plan from your phone, GardenDraft is the easier place to start. If you value a long-established tool and community, GrowVeg remains a solid choice.
Free on one garden — no credit card. Comparison last reviewed 2026-06-21.
New to planning a garden?
Whichever planner you pick, these free GardenDraft resources help you get started: