Design My Lights vs ReluxDesktop: Which Should You Use?
The verdict
Design My Lights and ReluxDesktop are both home & construction design tools, compared here side by side. Design My Lights is truly free (Free) and runs in any web browser with nothing to install; ReluxDesktop is free, with limits (Paid) and is a desktop install with no browser version. The biggest difference is cost: Design My Lights is truly free, while ReluxDesktop is free, with limits (from Paid).
Free tiers & pricing last verified Jun 23, 2026.
Pick Design My Lights if…
Truly freeHomeowners previewing holiday lights
Pick ReluxDesktop if…
Free, with limitsLighting designers who also plan sensors
Side by side

Design My Lights
Truly freeCompletely free with no account; upload a house photo, drag lights along the roofline and get a photorealistic nighttime preview.

ReluxDesktop
Free, with limitsFree for personal, educational and commercial use with member luminaires; using non-member products needs a paid ReluxThirdParty license.
Read the full reviews
Design My Lights
Completely free with no account; upload a house photo, drag lights along the roofline and get a photorealistic nighttime preview.
ReluxDesktop
Free for personal, educational and commercial use with member luminaires; using non-member products needs a paid ReluxThirdParty license.
Design My Lights vs ReluxDesktop: questions, answered
What is the main difference between Design My Lights and ReluxDesktop?
The biggest difference is cost: Design My Lights is truly free, while ReluxDesktop is free, with limits (from Paid).
Is Design My Lights or ReluxDesktop free?
Design My Lights is truly free and ReluxDesktop is free, with limits. Design My Lights: Completely free with no account; upload a house photo, drag lights along the roofline and get a photorealistic nighttime preview. ReluxDesktop: Free for personal, educational and commercial use with member luminaires; using non-member products needs a paid ReluxThirdParty license.