List of the Top 7 Free Urban Planning Software in 2025

You can enhance your ability to scale efficiently by conducting real-time analysis of your site alongside your design elements. This method enables you to focus on what truly matters: creating a significant impact within your communities. Gain a comprehensive perspective on your concept by assessing it from various viewpoints. Trust your instincts, sketch your vision, and let Giraffe handle the rest by layering data, performing queries, and automatically generating your proof-of-concept calculations. The data discovery feature provides access to the latest local mapping information relevant to your site. Giraffe is capable of integrating maps from diverse sources, treating them as layered components. This functionality allows for sorting, grouping, and detailed analysis of the data. Involve your stakeholders by offering them a complete 360-degree perspective of the site’s potential. To foster greater community involvement, grant viewers access to the plan, which includes essential context and visuals. Giraffe empowers you to develop something you believe in and present it when it is fully prepared. You can efficiently review and collaborate on plans within a shared environment, ensuring everyone is on the same page. Ultimately, this collaborative approach not only strengthens your project but also builds trust with your audience.

Snaptrude transforms the architectural design landscape by facilitating collaboration among project teams, which speeds up the construction process while simultaneously improving quality. Designers from leading global firms leverage Snaptrude to transition projects seamlessly from initial concepts to completed constructions. With features such as real-time model sharing and thorough communication documentation, collaboration is significantly enhanced. Whether the project encompasses a single home or an expansive urban development, the application of intelligent automation and parametric modeling optimizes workflows without stifling creativity. Increased speed does not come at the expense of quality or innovation; instead, it encourages sustainable design practices and efficient cost management through the effective use of BIM data. Users gain valuable insights from automated Bill of Quantities (BoQs), site topography, and daylight simulations, among other functionalities. The platform supports imports from widely-used software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, Rhino, or Revit and ensures seamless exports to Revit, preserving all parametric family data without the risk of data loss. By enabling collaborative brainstorming sessions, teams can quickly convert their creative ideas into detailed and precise BIM models, guaranteeing that the final architectural output meets client expectations flawlessly. This not only boosts efficiency but also nurtures a culture of creativity and innovation in the design process, ultimately leading to more dynamic and engaging architectural solutions.

VU.CITY is transforming urban planning by improving comprehension, encouraging teamwork, and establishing trust to turn concepts into concrete results. With the capability to quickly test ideas and visualize plans within an accurate, up-to-date context, its features and data allow for prompt and informed decision-making. Collaboration among project teams is enhanced, enabling a faster decision-making process and effective communication of proposals to engage stakeholders. By adopting a cohesive strategy, VU.CITY allows architects, developers, planning consultants, and local authorities to work together in shaping the future of urban environments. This collaborative framework empowers all participants to contribute to the development of a city that serves the needs of its residents. Additionally, VU.CITY offers clear and efficient tools for data visualization, organization, and analysis, which helps ensure that everyone involved can make faster, more informed decisions. Users are able to quickly identify and assess potential sites, while the platform's powerful visualization capabilities and planning data support the refinement and enhancement of design projects. Beyond merely assisting in planning, VU.CITY fosters a collective vision for urban development that resonates with all stakeholders and encourages long-term sustainable growth. Ultimately, this innovative platform not only streamlines the planning process but also inspires a shared commitment to creating vibrant and livable urban spaces.

Modelur equips architects, urban designers, and planners with an extensive suite of tools that facilitate the seamless exploration of diverse urban massing options within their chosen 3D modeling applications. This innovative approach eliminates the cumbersome process of recalculating areas and metrics using Excel spreadsheets! By entering zoning parameters like maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR), site coverage, green space requirements, and maximum building height, users can develop customized land-use categories, enhancing both flexibility and precision in their analyses. The urban massing generator empowers users to visualize the interplay of zoning regulations within a designated area, while also allowing them to impose constraints on geometric building specifications, making it straightforward to initiate new designs or import existing DWG floor plans. Leverage the advantages of parametric modeling and automated data computations to enhance and transform your design ideas. Say goodbye to the inconvenience of manually transferring model data to spreadsheets; our Excel LiveSync functionality guarantees that all your model information is synchronized in real-time with your Excel documents, significantly optimizing your workflow. With Modelur, you can achieve unprecedented efficiency and effectiveness in the realms of urban planning and design. Additionally, this innovative platform fosters collaboration among team members, allowing for a more integrated and cohesive design process.

ENVI-met is an advanced three-dimensional simulation tool that assists in microclimate analysis, catering to various domains such as urban planning, architectural innovation, and energy efficiency enhancement by considering a multitude of climatic factors instead of limiting itself to a single aspect. This powerful software can simulate a variety of climate conditions, accounting for both day and night temperature fluctuations, humidity, wind speeds, and solar exposure in urban settings. Moreover, it offers insights into the effects of different building materials, such as glass and stone, on the surrounding microclimate. By assessing how changes in urban design impact both the microclimate and the comfort levels of city residents, ENVI-met proves to be an essential asset for municipalities worldwide. As the urgency to address climate change intensifies, the creation of healthier and more resilient urban spaces has become a critical pursuit. Consequently, ENVI-met plays a pivotal role in analyzing the potential effects of new developments, green areas, and urban planning projects, empowering stakeholders to make informed choices that encourage sustainability and enhance community health. This multifaceted approach highlights the software's significance in driving forward-thinking solutions for the pressing challenges faced by modern cities. In doing so, ENVI-met not only supports environmental objectives but also fosters a deeper understanding of urban dynamics.

Hektar is a cutting-edge, cloud-based platform focused on generative design, tailored specifically for the foundational phases of urban planning, pre-design, and schematic design initiatives. Developed by Parametric, this software equips architects and urban planners with the tools necessary to navigate the complexities inherent in pivotal design stages, ultimately enhancing their projects. By utilizing advanced evolutionary algorithms and artificial generative intelligence, Hektar converts broad user inputs into detailed, feasible designs along with precise cost estimates. Its comprehensive tools integrate both geometrical and geographical intelligence, allowing users to define critical features such as access points, construction exclusions, and personalized street configurations. Additionally, Hektar provides numerical controls for meticulous adjustments concerning various project aspects like building depth, the incorporation of greenery, and parking layouts. The platform initiates the analysis of complex factors such as lighting and sun exposure early in the design process, resulting in well-informed proposals that can adapt to diverse conditions. Through these capabilities, Hektar not only streamlines the design workflow but also promotes collaborative efforts among all stakeholders engaged in urban development projects, ultimately leading to more cohesive and innovative outcomes. This collaborative aspect is vital for ensuring that diverse perspectives are integrated into the planning process.

SimWalk's suite of simulation products and services has garnered success across numerous authorities and consultancy firms around the globe. Over the past decade since our founding, we have relentlessly advanced innovation by integrating state-of-the-art technology to support the transportation, aviation, sports, and construction industries in effectively managing crowds. Whether preparing a rail station, airport, or stadium, our solutions are designed to address the rising demands of the future. We provide an in-depth impact analysis of various design proposals on crowd behavior and safety, ensuring that our clients are well-informed. The everyday management of public transport and aviation facilities can be daunting, and we facilitate effective oversight through extensive data analysis, simulation techniques, and crowd dynamics strategies. In our current landscape, public transport hubs and facilities are increasingly vulnerable to diverse threats. Our deep knowledge allows us to support authorities in raising awareness about security risks while delivering customized practical solutions. By focusing on both safety and operational efficiency, we are dedicated to fostering environments that are safer for all users, ultimately enhancing the overall experience for everyone involved.