GardenDraft vs SmartGardener
SmartGardener offers personalized planting plans and weekly task emails based on your location and the crops you choose. The biggest differences are how you start (SmartGardener is subscription-only at $40 a year; GardenDraft starts with one free garden) and the planning experience (GardenDraft adds a visual, mobile-first bed designer and a 3D view).
| GardenDraft | SmartGardener | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 1 garden, 3 beds, no card | No standing free tier (subscription) |
| Price | $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr | $40/yr or $15 per 90 days (discounted from $50 and $20) |
| Visual bed designer | Drag-and-drop, snap-to-grid, 3D view | Plan/list-oriented, limited visual layout |
| Mobile-first editor | Built for touch | Web app, desktop-oriented |
| Frost-aware dates | NOAA climate normals for your ZIP, station named, with override | Location-based planting plan + reminders |
| Weekly task guidance | Task list + daily/weekly email digest | Weekly to-do emails |
| 3D view | Yes | No 3D view |
Where GardenDraft is the stronger pick
- A free first garden — no subscription required to start.
- A visual, mobile-first bed designer with a 3D view.
- Frost-aware scheduling from the NOAA station nearest your ZIP, named on the card so you can check it.
- A lower price ($29.99/yr vs $40/yr) and a no-paywall data promise.
The bottom line
GardenDraft lets you design beds visually and try everything free first. SmartGardener is a $40-a-year task planner with no free tier and limited visual layout.
Free on one garden — no credit card. Comparison last reviewed 2026-09-25.
New to planning a garden?
Free GardenDraft guides for your first season: