Gardenly vs Neighborbrite: AI Garden Design Tools Compared (2026)
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.
Quick Answer
Gardenly is better than Neighborbrite when you want a buildable AI garden design with a photorealistic render, climate-adapted species list, shopping list, care guidance, and contractor-friendly output. Neighborbrite is better when you want a free, no-signup visual preview and do not need plant names or climate filtering.
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
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.
