Yardzen vs Tilly vs Ratio Landscape: Which Online Design Fits Your Yard?
Yardzen and Tilly are both remote landscape design services for homeowners — Yardzen delivers human-designed plans with contractor matching starting at $995, while Tilly focuses on planting-forward plans starting around $559. Ratio Landscape is a different tool: photorealistic 3D renderings and 2D plans built for homeowners who want to see their yard before they build it, and for contractors who use visuals to close more deals.
What each service actually is
All three services let you design a yard without hiring a local landscape architect in person. But they solve different problems, and understanding the distinction will save you money and frustration.
- Yardzen is a full-service remote landscape design platform. You upload photos and fill out a detailed questionnaire; a team of designers and horticulturists produces a custom plan covering plants, hardscape, outdoor rooms, and even exterior home finishes. After design, Yardzen can connect you with vetted local contractors to build the project. It is not an AI tool — human designers do the work.
- Tilly (now operating under the Bower & Branch design route, with tillydesign.com redirecting there as of October 2026) is a remote, homeowner-focused design service that delivers a scaled color plan, plant list, materials palette, and installation notes. It skews toward planting-forward, DIY-friendly projects. It does not include construction drawings.
- Ratio Landscape produces photorealistic 3D landscape designs, 2D plans, night render sets, and 60-second video walkthroughs — entirely from photos and measurements of your yard. We work with US homeowners who want to visualize a project before committing to it, and with landscape and hardscape contractors who use our renders to win more design-build jobs.
Yardzen vs Tilly vs Ratio Landscape: side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Yardzen | Tilly | Ratio Landscape |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Remote human landscape design + optional contractor matching | Remote planting-and-layout design service | Photorealistic 3D renders, 2D plans, video walkthroughs |
| Best for | Homeowners planning a full-yard renovation who want a build-ready plan and contractor referrals | Homeowners wanting a planting-forward plan for front or back yard, DIY-friendly | Homeowners who want to see a design before building; contractors who need renders to close deals |
| Pricing model | One-time fixed packages: $995 / $1,395 / $1,995 (backyard, as of October 2026) | One-time packages: ~$559–$1,259 depending on scope (as of October 2026; older sources show lower historical prices) | From $200 (2D plan); 3D design from $400 (small) / $560 (medium) / $720 (large); full-yard front+back $1,296 |
| Output | Custom landscape plan, 3D visuals, planting plan, hardscape details, permit-ready docs (higher tiers) | Scaled color plan, plant list, materials palette, inspiration images, care notes; 3D images available as add-on | Photorealistic 3D renders, 2D plans, optional night render set ($100) and 60-second video walkthrough ($100) |
| Turnaround | Not publicly stated; varies by project | Not publicly stated; varies by project | 5–10 days (homeowners); 5–7 days (contractors) |
| What you provide | Photos, videos, property survey, style questionnaire | Photos, yard dimensions, style preferences | Photos and measurements of your yard — fully online |
| Contractor matching | Yes — optional vetted local contractor network | Not a stated feature | Not included; designed to hand off to your contractor or design-build firm |
| Construction drawings | Higher tiers described as permit-ready/build-ready | Not included | 2D plans available; photorealistic renders for visualization and contractor quoting |
| Known limitations | Installation cost is separate and unpublished; not suited for small tweaks or renters; no ongoing editable software | No construction drawings; revision counts and add-on details vary by package; pricing has changed over time | Focused on visualization and planning — not a full design-build firm or contractor-matching service |
Yardzen prices sourced from third-party reviews that verified figures on Yardzen's packages page in October 2026. Tilly prices sourced from a September 2026 review and a separate source noting the Bower & Branch redirect, both as of October 2026. Check each service's current pricing page before purchasing, as prices can change.
When Yardzen is the right choice
Yardzen earns its price point when you are planning a substantial full-yard renovation — patios, outdoor kitchens, pergolas, planting overhauls — and you want a human design team to handle the complexity. The contractor-matching feature is genuinely useful if you don't already have a landscape contractor you trust. If your project is large, your budget is set, and you want a single service to take you from blank yard to build-ready plan and contractor introduction, Yardzen is a strong fit.
It is less suited to smaller projects, renters, or anyone who wants an interactive, editable tool rather than a professionally delivered plan.
When Tilly is the right choice
Tilly works well for homeowners who want a polished planting-and-layout plan — especially for front yards or backyards where plants and softscape are the main focus — and who are comfortable managing installation themselves or with a local crew. The lower price point (relative to Yardzen) makes it accessible for mid-sized projects. If you don't need construction drawings and you're comfortable DIY-ing or directing a crew from a scaled plan, Tilly delivers solid value.
Its limitation is real: without construction drawings, a Tilly plan is not a permit-ready document, and it may not give a contractor everything they need to bid a complex hardscape job precisely.
When Ratio Landscape is the right choice
Ratio Landscape fills a specific and important gap: seeing the design before you commit to building it. From our experience producing hundreds of photorealistic 3D landscape designs for US contractors and homeowners, the single biggest hesitation we hear is "I can't picture it." A scaled 2D plan answers the question of what goes where. A photorealistic 3D render answers the question of what it will actually look like — the light, the materials, the depth, the feel of the space at different times of day.
For homeowners, our fully online design process starts with photos and measurements of your yard. We cover backyard, front-yard, pool, hardscape, and planting design across US climate zones. Our pricing starts at $200 for a 2D landscape plan and $400 for a small-yard 3D design, with a full-yard front-and-back 3D design at $1,296. Add a Night Render Set or a 60-second Video Walkthrough for $100 each — useful for outdoor lighting decisions or for sharing the concept with a partner or family member who struggles to read a flat plan.
For landscape and hardscape contractors, our renders are built to be shown to clients. In our day-to-day work with design-build firms, a photorealistic render of a proposed patio, pool surround, or outdoor kitchen consistently helps contractors get a faster "yes" from homeowners who would otherwise stall. See how contractors use our work on our contractor page.
Ratio Landscape is not a contractor-matching service and does not produce permit-ready construction documents. If you need a full design-build firm to manage your project end to end, Yardzen's model is closer to that. If you need to visualize a design — for your own decision-making or to present to a client — that is exactly what we do.
How to choose: a quick decision guide
- Planning a large renovation and want one service to design it and find a contractor? → Yardzen.
- Want a planting-forward plan for a front or back yard at a lower price, comfortable managing installation yourself? → Tilly.
- Want to see your yard in photorealistic 3D before you build — or need renders to present to a client? → Ratio Landscape.
- Contractor who needs visuals that win jobs? → Ratio Landscape. See our portfolio for examples of what we deliver.
- Not sure what you need? → Take our quick quiz and we'll point you in the right direction.
What drives the cost of online landscape design?
Across all three services, the main cost drivers are the same: yard size (square footage), scope (plants only vs. full hardscape), number of views or design zones, complexity of the space (slopes, existing structures, pools), and whether you need construction-grade documentation or photorealistic visualization. Turnaround speed and revision rounds also affect price at some services. Understanding these drivers helps you compare quotes fairly — a $559 plan and a $1,995 plan are not the same product.
Frequently asked questions
Is Yardzen worth the price compared to Tilly?
It depends on scope. Yardzen's higher price reflects more comprehensive deliverables — permit-ready plans on higher tiers, contractor matching, and coverage of hardscape and outdoor structures. Tilly is a better fit for planting-focused projects where construction drawings aren't needed. For a full outdoor renovation, Yardzen's package may be the more complete solution; for a simpler yard refresh, Tilly's lower price point can make more sense.
Does Tilly still exist in 2026?
As of October 2026, tillydesign.com appears to redirect to Bower & Branch's design service. Current packages are reported at $559–$1,259 depending on scope. If you're researching Tilly, check the current site directly, as the service has changed since older reviews were written and some published prices are now outdated.
Can I use Ratio Landscape instead of Yardzen or Tilly?
Ratio Landscape is a complement or alternative depending on your goal. If you want to visualize a design before committing — or if you're a contractor presenting a concept to a client — Ratio Landscape delivers photorealistic 3D renders and 2D plans faster and at a transparent price. It does not include contractor matching or permit-ready construction documents.
How long does online landscape design take?
Yardzen and Tilly do not publish specific turnaround times publicly. Ratio Landscape delivers in 5–10 days for homeowners and 5–7 days for contractors. For any service, turnaround depends on project complexity, how quickly you submit your photos and measurements, and current demand.
What do I need to provide to get an online landscape design?
All three services work from photos and measurements of your yard, plus a questionnaire about your style, goals, and how you use the space. Good photos — taken from multiple angles in good light — and accurate dimensions of your yard are the most important inputs. The more clearly you can describe what you want (and don't want), the better the design output will be.
Last updated: October 2026