GardenDraft vs Planter
Planter is a polished, well-loved square-foot gardening app on mobile and web, with a one-time lifetime option many gardeners like. The main differences are scheduling depth (GardenDraft computes sow/transplant/harvest dates from NOAA frost data and runs succession logic) and the record-keeping set.
| GardenDraft | Planter | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 1 garden, 3 beds | Yes — limited; full features need Premium |
| Price | $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr | $24.99/yr or $99.99 lifetime |
| Square-foot layout | Yes — SFG cells or mature spacing | Yes — a core strength |
| Frost-aware dates | NOAA normals by postal code, with override | Planting guidance by plant/zone |
| Succession planting | Succession chains | Limited |
| Records (journal/harvest/inventory) | Included free | Notes/events on Premium |
| 3D view | Yes | No |
Where GardenDraft is the stronger pick
- Frost-aware scheduling computed from NOAA data for your exact postal code.
- Succession-planting chains for continuous harvests.
- A deeper record set — journal, harvest log, seed inventory — available on the free garden.
- A 3D view and a no-paywall data promise.
Where Planter might suit you better
- A very polished mobile experience and a strong square-foot-gardening workflow.
- A one-time lifetime purchase option for people who dislike subscriptions.
- Custom backgrounds (mulch, trellises) and a friendly, approachable design.
The bottom line
If you want frost-accurate scheduling and season-over-season records, GardenDraft goes further. If you mainly want a beautiful square-foot layout app — and like the lifetime option — Planter is a great pick.
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: