Gardenly vs Neighborbrite
Disclosure: Gardenly is the tool I built. This comparison is based on Gardenly’s documented features and Neighborbrite’s public marketing pages. Where Neighborbrite is the better fit for a use case, I say so.
Gardenly and Neighborbrite are two of the most-cited AI garden design apps in 2026. Both let you upload a photo of your yard and get an AI-generated redesign back. Their pricing models are very different, the depth of what each one returns is very different, and which one you should pick depends on what you actually want to do with the output.
Short answer:
- Use Gardenly if you want a photorealistic redesign plus a climate-adapted plant list with species names you can buy and plant.
- Use Neighborbrite if you want a free quick-look at your yard restyled, with no signup, no plant list and no commitment.
At a Glance
| Feature | Gardenly | Neighborbrite |
|---|---|---|
| Photo-to-design workflow | ✅ | ✅ |
| Photorealistic render | ✅ | ✅ |
| Climate-adapted plant list with species | ✅ (USDA + international climate adaptation) | Not documented |
| Shopping list | ✅ | Not documented |
| Sketch-to-render conversion | ✅ | Not documented |
| AI video generation | ✅ | Not documented |
| Number of styles | 27+ | A handful |
| Mobile | Web (mobile-friendly) | Web (mobile-friendly) |
| Free option | None — paid tool | Free, no signup needed |
| Paid pricing | $4.50–$7/mo (annual) | — |
| Best for | Buildable, climate-adapted designs | Free quick-look style browsing |
What Each Tool Returns
Gardenly is built around a complete design output. Every render comes paired with a plant list (species names + quantities), a shopping list to take to a garden centre, and the option to generate an AI video walkthrough of the design. It also supports sketch-to-render conversion, so you can iterate from a hand drawing instead of a photo. Plant suggestions are filtered by USDA hardiness zone, sun exposure and rainfall, and adapt to international climates as well — so they match your local growing conditions, not a generic temperate baseline.
Neighborbrite focuses on the visual. You upload a photo, pick a style, get a redesign. The output is the render itself — Neighborbrite’s marketing pages do not advertise a structured species-level plant list, climate-zone filtering or a shopping list. If you want to know what’s in the picture, you have to identify the rendered plants yourself.
This single difference is the core of the comparison. If you only need inspiration, the render alone is enough. If you actually plan to plant from the design, you need the plant list.
Pricing
Gardenly: Paid only. Starter $4.50/mo (billed annually at $54/yr) or $9/mo monthly. Pro $7/mo annually or $14/mo monthly. 7-day money-back guarantee for new purchases.
Neighborbrite: Free. No signup required for basic use.
If price is your only deciding factor and you don’t need a plant list, Neighborbrite wins. If you’ll spend any time at a garden centre or with a contractor, the plant list alone is worth Gardenly’s entry price.
Style Range
Gardenly: 27+ curated styles. The full set includes Modern Minimalist, Cottage, Japanese, Mediterranean, Native Pollinator, Edible Kitchen, Coastal Nautical, Xeriscaping, Forest Woodland, Prairie Meadow, English Traditional, French Formal, Spanish Courtyard, Desert Oasis, Rustic Country, Urban Rooftop, Scandinavian, Bohemian Naturalistic, Industrial Modern, Victorian, plus more.
Neighborbrite: Smaller set, focused on the most popular styles (modern, cottage, tropical, etc.). Exact count varies as the tool updates.
If you want range or a more specialised aesthetic, Gardenly has more options. If you want the mainstream styles only, both will cover them.
International / Climate Use
Gardenly: Plant recommendations adapt to international climates and regional growing conditions. The model accounts for hardiness zone (or the regional equivalent), sun exposure and rainfall, so suggested species are actually plantable where you live.
Neighborbrite: US-first product. Outputs assume a temperate North American context, with no documented climate-zone filtering on plant suggestions.
If you garden outside the US, Gardenly’s regional adaptation is the more useful default.
When to Pick Neighborbrite Over Gardenly
- You want a 5-minute free preview of one or two styles with zero friction.
- You’re at the inspiration stage and don’t yet care which plants would actually go in.
- You don’t want to create an account or enter any payment details.
When to Pick Gardenly Over Neighborbrite
- You’re going to actually plant from the design — you need a real species list.
- You’re outside the US and want a tool that adapts to your climate.
- You want stylistic range beyond the mainstream.
- You want to share the design with a contractor or landscaper (a contractor needs the plant list).
- You want a shopping list and care guidance for the recommended species.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Gardenly have a free tier? No. Gardenly is paid-only, starting at $4.50/mo billed annually. There’s a 7-day money-back guarantee for new purchases. If you want to try AI garden design free first, Neighborbrite is the right starting point.
Does Neighborbrite’s output include a plant list? Neighborbrite’s public marketing pages don’t advertise a structured plant list with species names. If you need one, the better fit is a tool built around plant-list output, like Gardenly.
Does either one work outside the US? Gardenly adapts plant recommendations for international climates. Neighborbrite is US-focused — you can use it from anywhere but the plant suggestions in the rendered image assume a temperate North American climate.
Can I use both? Yes. A common workflow is to use Neighborbrite to browse a couple of styles for free, then move to Gardenly when you want a final design with a plant list and shopping list in the style you picked.
Bottom Line
Both tools work, and they solve overlapping but different problems. Neighborbrite is the easiest free way to see your yard restyled. Gardenly is the better fit if you want to build from the design, because it’s built around a climate-adapted plant list and shopping list rather than the render alone.
For a broader comparison across all AI garden design apps in 2026, see our full ranking: Best AI Garden Design Apps in 2026.
