# Design Flex Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Is Design Flex the right Architecture solution for you? Explore 357 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/reviews --- Design Flex 4.3 (357) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 13th, 2026 # Reviews of Design Flex Ease of use 4.2 Customer Service 4.3 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews JD Jodi D Kitchen and Bath DesignerDesign, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “For the manufacturers that offer accurate pricing in their catalogs, it's great that you can get a price without having to enter it into the online portals of each manufacturer.“ April 27, 2026 JD Jodi D Kitchen and Bath DesignerDesign, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Some of these include: difficulty in getting printing/display settings right, strange ceiling lines that shouldn't be there (especially with different ht walls), difficulty in zooming in/out of renderings, limitation of catalogs available and the inability to customize (decorative) objects and appliances.“ April 27, 2026 KG Karly G PresidentDesign, Self-employedUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “What I like most is its flexibility and the ability to quickly build detailed layouts that clients can easily visualize.“ March 19, 2026 KG Karly G PresidentDesign, Self-employedUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Rendering can also be inconsistent, and while it’s good for general visuals, it doesn’t always deliver the level of realism clients expect.“ March 19, 2026 MG Michelle G Kitchen design ManagerRetail, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “Mostly, I like the rendering quality and the ability to plug in full cabinetry manufacture catalogs for quick design and pricing“ August 25, 2025 KG Karly G PresidentDesign, Self-employedUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Some of the features feel less intuitive than they should be, requiring extra steps.“ March 19, 2026 JM Jackie M Project AssistConstruction, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “What Design Flex offers us is the ability to design and order through our manufacturers with ease.“ May 15, 2026 CC Cheryl C Lead DesignerDesign, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “At $2,500 per year, having to pay extra for assistance feels out of step with the investment.“ February 7, 2026 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 357 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use C Michelle M. Designer Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "2020 Live is the Go To for Kitchen and Bath" March 29, 2023 4.0 I have been using 2020 my whole career (30+ years). While all software has a learning curve and it's hiccups, I find that 2020 is one of the most organic to learn and it produces quality results. I cannot see a time when I will not be using some version of 2020 design software. Pros An oldie but a goodie, I love the split screen that lets me draw on both the floor plan and elevation simultaneously. I also make good use of the running line feature to accentuate my drawings. Sometimes, it is less about what wiz bang new feature that you made (i.e. VR goggles) and more about doing something simple and crushing it. Cons The main reason companies still utilize other programs like Mosaik is for the CNC connection. That is the biggest omission in features with 2020. Review Source CW Crystal W. Owner Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Beautiful renderings from anywhere! " June 16, 2025 5.0 I would have given a 6 out of 10 2 months ago because I felt that the rendering software had been the same quality for many years and the long wait times on some files is frustrating, but with the new rendering upgrades and cloud storage I would give it an 8 out of 10. Pros Accessible anywhere and loving the improvement of the rendering engine! I also love the new option for cloud file saving to make projects even easier to access from different locations. Cons The software still has some issues with running slow when a lot of walls or sketchup items are in the file. Alternatives considered [Houzz Pro](https://www.capterra.com/p/199689/Houzz-Pro/) Reason for choosing Design Flex Ease of use and the amount of manufacturers who make catalogs for it. Review Source PM Patrick M. Kitchen Designer, Project Estimator Building Materials Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "It is okay at best." February 26, 2025 2.0 I have been a Kitchen Designer fo more than 20 years. It works okay but it is not my first choice. I truthfully get so angry at the bugs that I am not happy with the purchase. Pros The program has many features. It also has the ability to do a very nice and realistic 3D rendering. Cons I have used the 2020 software for many years and it was great until the new interface. I am not sure what happened but the the new system is vey buggy and the drag feature will often lose contol and the cabinet will disappear or just plain drop off the grid and reappear when doing a renering. Switched from [WPS Office](https://www.capterra.com/p/126794/WPS-Office/) I thought it was similiar to the old version. Review Source JD Jodi D. Kitchen and Bath Designer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A To The Point Review" April 27, 2026 4.0 Customer service has been very good. The technicians all have different levels of training so you do tend to get slightly different "fixes"/"solutions" when you call back multiple times. Pros I like most of the versatility it offers in designing. The designing part is also user friendly. The renderings are getting much better but take a bit too much time to come up. For the manufacturers that offer accurate pricing in their catalogs, it's great that you can get a price without having to enter it into the online portals of each manufacturer. Cons I don't like the glitches it still has. Some of these include: difficulty in getting printing/display settings right, strange ceiling lines that shouldn't be there (especially with different ht walls), difficulty in zooming in/out of renderings, limitation of catalogs available and the inability to customize (decorative) objects and appliances. Review Source SB Stephanie B. Lead Designer Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "New to home program " February 22, 2025 4.0 Starting it up and running with it. I am very pleased with \[sensitive content hidden\] but don’t want to bother with simple questions. Need a chat bot tutorial Pros Accessories and access ability for endless possibilities. Cons No tutorial on features upon login nor any type quick link box. Alternatives considered [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/) Reason for choosing Design Flex I’m familiar with 2020 design. Just not 2020 design live. Review Source CO CHARLES O. President and Design Consultant Architecture & Planning Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Wow Rendering Factor!" March 11, 2025 5.0 My experience has been fabulous. The entire transition has been seamless. Thank you so much! Pros Realistic rendering that replicates the space as envisioned. I also appreciate the fact that several materials and interior selections are available for me to use in the design. I am practically limited by my imagination. Cons Nothing of significance that I can highlight at this moment. Switched from [Chief Architect](https://www.capterra.com/p/80035/Chief-Architect/) Materials list and pricing are already built into the program. Review Source GL Gabriel L. Owner Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Kitchen designs that make our life easier" March 7, 2025 5.0 its been going well, training is excellent Pros Its rendering quality and how it has the catalogs of the manufactures we sell Cons Cost, its priced higher than prokitchens Switched from [ProKitchen Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/210673/ProKitchen-Online/) quality of the layouts and renderings and file compatibility Review Source KM Ken M. Owner Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Artisan Renovations review of 2020 Spaces" November 30, 2024 5.0 Been using 2020 Spaces for a month now and although still in a learning curve, very satisfied with the program. Pros It is much easier to use than other such programs we have used or tested. It easily allows input of various cabinetry and appliances, and access to manufacturer catalogs for accurate designs. We have found it is the same software used by our cabinet vendors which allows for easy interfacing with their ordering systems. As a contractor it also allows for full home design and room layouts too. We highly recommend 2020 Spaces for all your renovation needs. Cons Still learning the system, but making adjustments to designs can be a little frustrating, and time consuming. We have found it easier to delete areas of the design and re-input. Alternatives considered [Chief Architect](https://www.capterra.com/p/80035/Chief-Architect/) Reason for choosing Design Flex Features and ease of use especially for kitchen and bath design Switched from [Houzz Pro](https://www.capterra.com/p/199689/Houzz-Pro/) Houzz Pro did not have the features or ease of use that 2020 Spaces has Review Source MK Markku K. Director of ops Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Good new features added." November 20, 2024 4.0 I have used the 2020 software for many years and with the addition of the cloud catalogs and sketchup object import we are able to expand what we can do. Pros The software is supported by a wide selection of manufacturer supported catalogs which makes ensuring the proper fit, finish, and textures for the renderings. Cons It has significant resource and hardware requirements, so you have to pay attention to get the proper computers. Alternatives considered [Revit](https://www.capterra.com/p/265023/Revit/)[AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/)[ProKitchen Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/210673/ProKitchen-Online/) Reason for choosing Design Flex Supported catalogs and integration with our manufacturers. Review Source BM Barb M. Kitchen and Bath Designer Building Materials Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Still a work in progress..." September 18, 2024 3.0 None of our designers have upgraded to the latest version V14.2 because of reports of the instability/ crashing or lack of control over cloud based items. We are all running either V13.6 or V13.8. I would love to take advantage of the newer features, but not at the expense of losing other features. I definitely do not feel they have improved by 25-30% to be worth the accumulative price increase. I have been using this sinve V4.X or earlier. Pros The ability to design and price projects with the actual manufacturer catalogs. The ability to create accurate visuals for both the designer and client to enhance the process and understanding of what they are receiving. Cons Problems with the cloud and cloud base products. The inability to edit size and color and textures of cloud base decorative items. For many of our designers, the system will crash and/or revert setting preferences requiring having to recreate multiple times. Many of the designers have not had optimal quality with the EZ render engine, or it crashes. Alternatives considered [SketchUp](https://www.capterra.com/p/211798/SketchUp/)[Chief Architect](https://www.capterra.com/p/80035/Chief-Architect/)[ProKitchen Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/210673/ProKitchen-Online/) Reason for choosing Design Flex We opted to renew our subscription due to time and training requirements to learn another product at this time. We feel 2020 has not earned the steep price increase. We do use Chief Architect for other projects. Review Source EK Enga K. Showroom sales consultant Building Materials Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Pleased with the program" October 25, 2024 4.0 I am very new to Design Flex. I love tat they provide free online training as well as in person training. Pros being able to covert my design straight to order Cons How complex the program is and I feel like they should provide free in person training. Alternatives considered [ProKitchen Online](https://www.capterra.com/p/210673/ProKitchen-Online/) Reason for choosing Design Flex Because you cannot send order from ProKitchen Review Source RS Rosalyn S. Designer Real Estate Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Software does not crash " August 9, 2024 5.0 runs seamlessly. does not crash when running. Pros everything works. no crashes. Dimensions change when new cabinets are added Cons bit pricey. could be a little cheaper. Switched from [Autokitchen](https://www.capterra.com/p/10012264/Autokitchen/) crashes all the time. dimensions do not change Review Source Response from Cyncly August 27, 2024 Thank you for your review, we are happy you are liking our software RH Robin H. Lead CAD Designer Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Critical, but honest. " March 28, 2023 4.0 Overall, we've customized it to be what we need it to be. The manufacturers that we work with regularly are all supported, so that makes things a little easier for us. I love that you can quote directly from the program for most manufacturers and I love that most manufacturers recognize and will upload a 2020 file into their pricing programs for ease of order. Pros I love the 3D features. It's nice to see the design come to life, and the catalog accessibility is why our company switched to 2020. Cons I don't like that customization is limited. We created and embedded our own title block, and unfortunately, that causes a lag of about 16-18 seconds when loading drawing layout pages. I wish manufacturers would update catalogs more frequently and efficiently (Blanco and Stanisci are two main ones for me) I don't like the frequent crashes, and I wish there were better guidelines set in place for computer needs to adequately run the program. Minimum requirements should not be on the website. Recommended requirements should be what is needed to run the program with lighting, and decorative items added in. Also, when we try to print directly from the program, we've found our lines are not dark enough, so we've had to commit to printing everything as a PDF first. It's a bit of a pain, and requires Adobe Acrobat in addition to 2020,which in my opinion, is an expense we should not have the burden of carrying. It shouldn't be a requirement to make our lives easier. Switched from [SolidWorks Premium](https://www.capterra.com/p/93121/SolidWorks-Premium/) Due to more manufacturers being available through 2020. Review Source BF Barbara F. Administrative Assistant - Designer Architecture & Planning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "2020 Design Live Great To Use" February 19, 2025 5.0 I have been a user for over 30 years and the 2020 Design Live is excellent. Pros The ease of use. I can navigate through a drawing with a lot of ease. Cons The way the color comes out on my screen. Always looks daker than it should. Review Source AH Adam H. Owner Construction Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Time is money" March 28, 2025 5.0 The support and training materials are great and the software has sped up our process by at least 50% Pros They really streamlined the whole process for quick layout building and inserting textures. Cons Right after buying it, I watched the first video recommended to me and it was about the flex platform, but after reaching out to support, I found out I didn’t have access to it. Review Source JG Juliana G. Designer Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Realistic 3D Designs" January 17, 2025 5.0 I like that the interface is similar to other design software (CAD, ChiefArchitect) so it was easier to learn how to use. Pros I have been using 2020 since 2019 and I really like how the renderings are looking more realistic. Cons I do not like how the new cloud library works. I think the previous version was a lot easier to navigate, especially when looking for specific products. Review Source VK Valerie K. Kitchen - Bathroom Designer Design Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "New to 2020 Design Live" November 5, 2024 5.0 It is pretty easy to learn the program. I like how I can share my designs with my client's! Pros I like that I can add Sketch Up items into my designs and the various features that have been added! Cons New to the Design Live version so far, I haven't found anything I don't like. Review Source VF Vince F. VP General Manager Architecture & Planning Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "2020 Design Live Review" December 12, 2024 5.0 Pros I really like the ease of use and rendering qualities. Cons We really haven't experienced anything negative at this point. Review Source IM Isha M. Accountant Accounting Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Accountant" July 11, 2024 5.0 My overall experience with 2020 Design Live has been positive. The intuitive interface and extensive catalog library made designing accurate and realistic projects straightforward. The high-quality 3D rendering capabilities were impressive and beneficial for client presentations. Although there were occasional performance issues and a steep learning curve for advanced features, the software's flexibility, cloud-based access, and regular updates enhanced my workflow significantly. Despite the higher subscription cost and occasional integration challenges, the robust support system and continuous improvements made it a valuable tool for my design needs. Pros I appreciated the user-friendly interface and the extensive library of manufacturer catalogs, which ensured accurate and realistic designs. The high-quality 3D rendering made visualizing concepts easy and impressive. Additionally, the software's flexibility, seamless integration with other tools, and cloud-based access significantly improved my workflow. The strong support system and regular updates were also major advantages, keeping the software up-to-date and reliable. Cons I found the software occasionally slow, especially with complex designs, which affected productivity. The learning curve for advanced features was steep, and more in-depth tutorials could be beneficial. Additionally, the subscription cost felt high, particularly for small businesses. Sometimes, integration with other software had compatibility issues, and customer support response times could be improved. Review Source Response from Cyncly July 31, 2024 Thank you for your feedback! We're delighted to hear that you appreciate our user-friendly interface, extensive library of manufacturer catalogs, and high-quality 3D rendering capabilities. We also value your constructive feedback. We understand that occasional slowdowns, especially with complex designs, can impact productivity, and we're continuously working on performance enhancements to address this. MS Mahmoud S. Sales designer Architecture & Planning Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Want to purchase the last version. " August 11, 2024 5.0 I'm using 2020 as 12 years. Using it with kitchens and closets Pros Easy to use Very helpful Make the price easy Cons I want to purchase the last version But i don't know how? Review Source Response from Cyncly August 27, 2024 Hey Mahmoud, You can contact sales@2020spaces.com and they can point you in the right direction! OT Owen T. Owner Design Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "2020 Design Live Review" July 24, 2024 5.0 Pros Ease of use, catalogue support & tech support Cons Cost of license lighting for 3D renderings. Reason for choosing Design Flex Because we tried Pro Kitchens and did not like it. We have been using 2020 since version 5. Review Source JS Janine S. Kitchen and Bath Designer Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "My experience" March 28, 2023 3.0 I don't have very many positive things to say about 2020 Design Live. I do hear the same complaints from colleges. My drawings need to be detailed. There are times when I have more than 1 room on a plan. I never use the virtual 3d color rendering. I need the working drawings and camera perspectives in hidden lines and hidden lines elevations. I always have to manually add height dimensions for base cabinetry height and wall cabinetry height in elevations even thought I have them set already to show. Pros I like how there are more cataloges to choose from. If only the cloud configurator would work to:change dimensions, add accessories (i.e. a shower arm on a shower head) without having to piece things together. Cons Tedious, redundant, crashes. There are quite a few issues with this product. I always have to reset countertop thickness, no global for it. I always have to manually add or hide dimensions even though I have them set to what I want. The program crashes every other day, hopefully I've saved it prior to the surprise of it. I use it almost everyday and I often dread going through the time comsuming task of getting working drawings with correct dimensions that I can confidentally give to my installers. Why are the lighting fixtures and furniture on the decorative items/cloud seen as boxes/squares on the floor plan? I can't use that and don't. The appliances in the could, i..e. Sub Zero, Thermador, won't allow me to change anything, why?If I use a tub plumbing trim set (all on one) from Kohler bath, the spout, the showerhead, the valve cannot be adjusted in heights. Which makes it tedious to grab one thing at a time and then it gets precariously close to causing a crash. Sketch up really whacks it out but Sketch up has better visuals for lighting and bar stools etc and I can adjust the dimensions of those.Frankly, when I call for customer service, which has been a handful of times, they come onto my screen help me out but then all my categories of cabinetry has to be re-organized so I tend to not call. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Interior Designer - Kitchen and Bath Design Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "2020 Review " March 28, 2023 5.0 We use this everyday for cabinetry design, proposals, and presentations. It is very nice and pretty user friendly. I like that it is almost like a one stop shop program. Pros The features that we use the most is the ability to use the catalogs to our actual cabinet providers. We also draw and quote various times a day along with presenting. The ability to print of floor plans and elevations with ease is a great feature. It is a very easy program to learn and integrate. Cons Features that could be improved is being able to dimension elevations that could be in hidden view before printing. Also being able to make an elevation without a wall. Review Source JT Joy T. Lead Designer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Needs Improvement" March 29, 2023 3.0 I have been using 2020 Design for more than 20 years and I know the program extremely well. I feel that it is a useful product, but I also feel that there is a lot of room for improvement. Since day 1 of using 2020 Design I have HATED the dimensions. They are sloppy and when moving dimensions to the placement that you want them on your design is time consuming since it is required to then move every extension line individually to make then look right. The multiline dimensioning also does not work correctly since the leader lines do not go in the direction that they are needed. I have spoke to the 2020 customer service about this in the past. It would be nice to be able to change the size of the architectural tick, arrow or dot for the dimensions also. Pros I like that 2020 Design Live has a design cloud. This allows the ability to pull other manufactures products into your design. This helps with giving to most realistic presentation. Cons 2020 Design Live cloud does not have enough plumbing choices especially when it come to sinks and faucets. I find to using to Kohler catalogs is horrible because the only way to find what you are looking for is by collection name. I do not want to have to continually go to the Kohler website to find the product that I am wanting and then find it in 2020. The 2020 generic plumbing catalog has very little items that are useful.It would also be useful if the 2020 Decorative Items catalog needs to be expanded. I know that has gotten more items that are useful but that needs to continue to get more items added. Review Source AB Adrian B. Project Manager/Kitchen & Bath Design Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "2020 Design Review" March 28, 2023 4.0 Without having used other design programs, my experience is based solely on just this product. Bugs and glitches in software are my biggest headache, material choices for designs are limited and confusing. After using this product for 5 years, I have learned how to manipulate things and use work-arounds to get my designs to where they are to an acceptable standard for our business. Pros Overall a very good product, like all design programs it has its quirks, but I find it easy to use and has been effective for my role as a sales/design/project manager Cons Program crashes 1-2 times a week, renderings for small areas are dark and hard to see, lighting options are confusing and don't work great, bugs in software that generate different textures in floor and ceiling. Not enough flooring/countertop material colors to reflect todays designs Reason for choosing Design Flex Never tried Pro Kitchen, may look into it in the future though Review Source Similar Products Featured ## Related categories [Architecture](https://www.capterra.com/architecture-software/)