2020 Design Live
PaidPro kitchen/bath software with real manufacturer catalogs, now sold as Design Flex
Free tier & pricing
No free tier; it's a paid professional license, with legacy 2020 Design Live around $166-$235/month and its successor Design Flex running roughly $1,895-$2,995 per year depending on tier and manufacturer-catalog access.
Last verified Jun 23, 2026. Report a change →
The short answer
2020 Design Live is the long-standing professional kitchen-and-bath design platform, now transitioning to Cyncly's cloud-powered Design Flex. It's the industry standard for dealers, with the largest real manufacturer cabinet catalogs, photorealistic rendering, dimensioned drawings, and integrated quoting. It's firmly pro-priced and pro-targeted, with no free tier for homeowners.
The facts
- Pricing
- $2495/yr · Paid
- Free tier
- No
- Runs in browser
- No
- Platforms
- Windows
- 2D / 3D
- Photorealistic
- Learning curve
- Steep
- Export formats
- PDF, PNG, JPG, DWG
The catch
- Desktop install only — no browser version.
- The paid plan is annual billing only.
- Your projects live in their cloud; you can lose them if you stop paying.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Largest library of real manufacturer cabinet catalogs in the industry
- Photorealistic rendering plus dimensioned elevations and floor plans
- Integrated quoting and electronic ordering for dealers
- Cloud transition (Design Flex) adds collaboration and live catalog updates
Cons
- Pro pricing only: roughly $2,500-$3,000/year per seat for the full tier
- Steep learning curve and demands a high-performance Windows workstation
- Interface feels dated compared to modern consumer apps
- Annual license; access stops if you don't renew
Best for
Kitchen/bath dealers and pros producing high volumes of branded-cabinet designs.
Not for
Homeowners or hobbyists; it's overkill and far too expensive.
Alternatives to 2020 Design Live
ProKitchen
PaidNo free tier, only a 7-day trial; paid licenses run about $1,795/year without manufacturer catalogs or $2,395/year with all branded catalogs (roughly $158-$208/month paid annually).
IKEA Kitchen Planner
Free, brand-lockedCompletely free with no paid tier, but it only contains IKEA's own SEKTION cabinets and products, and you must sign in to an IKEA account to save your design or download/print the PDF plan and item list.
Lowe's Kitchen Planner
Free, brand-lockedFree to use including the visualizer and the designer consultation, but it's oriented around Lowe's own cabinetry and products, and the detailed 3D rendering comes from a complimentary Lowe's designer rather than a full DIY editor.
See all 2020 Design Live alternatives compared →
Head-to-head comparisons
2020 Design Live: questions, answered
Is 2020 Design Live free?
No — 2020 Design Live is a paid tool (from $2495/yr). No free tier; it's a paid professional license, with legacy 2020 Design Live around $166-$235/month and its successor Design Flex running roughly $1,895-$2,995 per year depending on tier and manufacturer-catalog access.
What platforms does 2020 Design Live run on?
2020 Design Live is available on Windows. It is a desktop install with no browser version.
What file formats can you export from 2020 Design Live?
2020 Design Live exports to PDF, PNG, JPG, DWG. That includes CAD formats, so you can hand files to a contractor or open them in AutoCAD.
Does 2020 Design Live do 3D and photorealistic renders?
Yes. 2020 Design Live produces photorealistic 3D renders. Check the free-tier note above, though — several tools watermark or cap free renders.
Is 2020 Design Live easy to learn?
Steep to pick up. Kitchen/bath dealers and pros producing high volumes of branded-cabinet designs.
What are the best alternatives to 2020 Design Live?
Popular 2020 Design Live alternatives include ProKitchen, IKEA Kitchen Planner and Lowe's Kitchen Planner. Compare their free tiers, platforms and export formats on the 2020 Design Live alternatives page.