2020 Design vs. Cabinet Vision vs. ProKitchen: Kitchen Design Software Compared
For cabinet dealers, 2020 Design and ProKitchen are the usual choices because they are built for designing and selling kitchens with real manufacturer catalogs; Cabinet Vision is mainly for cabinet shops and manufacturers that need engineering and CNC output. The right choice depends on which cabinet lines you sell and whether you design in-house at all.
Features and pricing change frequently. Check each vendor’s current offering, catalog list and licensing before you buy.
Kitchen design software at a glance
| 2020 Design | ProKitchen | Cabinet Vision | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Kitchen & bath design and sales | Kitchen & bath design and sales | Cabinet engineering and manufacturing |
| Typical user | Dealers, showrooms, designers | Dealers, remodelers, designers | Cabinet shops, millwork, manufacturers |
| Manufacturer catalogs | Yes, widely supported | Yes | Builds your own construction standards |
| Renderings for homeowners | Yes | Yes | Possible, not the main focus |
| Pricing / cabinet list | Yes, from catalogs | Yes, from catalogs | Detailed parts, cut lists and costs |
| CNC / shop output | No | No | Yes — its key strength |
| Learning curve | Moderate | Moderate | Steep |
What is 2020 Design?
2020 Design is kitchen and bath design software used by many dealers and showrooms. Designers place cabinets from manufacturer catalogs, generate floor plans, elevations and renderings, and produce a priced cabinet list. Its files (commonly .KIT) are a common format for sharing designs between dealers and designers.
What is ProKitchen?
ProKitchen is kitchen design software aimed at dealers, remodelers and designers, with manufacturer catalogs, layout tools, renderings and pricing. Dealers often compare it with 2020 Design on catalog availability, ease of use and cost.
What is Cabinet Vision?
Cabinet Vision is software for cabinet and millwork manufacturing. It turns designs into engineered parts, cut lists, material optimization and machine code for CNC equipment. It suits businesses that build cabinets; most dealers who resell manufactured lines don’t need it.
Which kitchen design software should a dealer choose?
- Choose 2020 Design if the cabinet lines you sell publish catalogs for it and you want a widely used file format.
- Choose ProKitchen if it covers your catalogs and its workflow and pricing suit your team better.
- Choose Cabinet Vision only if you build cabinets yourself and need shop drawings or CNC output.
What about Chief Architect and SketchUp?
- Chief Architect is residential design software used by builders and remodelers. It handles whole houses — walls, roofs, electrical — and includes cabinet tools, which makes it popular for remodels that go beyond the kitchen.
- SketchUp is general-purpose 3D modeling software. It is flexible and widely known, but cabinet catalogs, SKU lists and pricing generally depend on add-ons or manual work, so it is less common for day-to-day dealer quoting.
What does kitchen design software cost?
Most kitchen design software is sold as a subscription per user, and some catalogs or rendering features cost extra. The real cost of ownership also includes catalog maintenance, a capable computer and the time it takes a designer to become fast. Before you buy, ask each vendor for a written quote for your number of seats and the exact catalogs you need, and compare it with the per-design cost of outsourcing for a typical month.
Questions to ask before choosing kitchen design software
- Are the cabinet lines I sell available as catalogs, and how quickly are they updated?
- Can it produce a priced cabinet list in my format?
- How realistic are the renderings, and how long does one take to produce?
- Which file formats can it open and export?
- What training and support are included?
- What does a second or third seat cost when we grow?
Software vs. a kitchen design service
Owning software also means paying for licenses, keeping catalogs updated and training designers. A kitchen design service delivers finished designs — including the native design file — without any of that. Many dealers keep one software seat for quick edits and send volume work out. See in-house vs. outsourced kitchen design.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2020 Design better than ProKitchen?
Neither is better for everyone. Compare them on which manufacturer catalogs you need, ease of use for your team and total licensing cost.
Do cabinet dealers need Cabinet Vision?
Usually not. Cabinet Vision is built for cabinet manufacturing and CNC output; dealers who resell manufactured cabinet lines typically use sales-focused design software instead.
Can I get a 2020 Design file without owning the software?
Yes. Some kitchen design services include the native design file with each design so your team can open and price it.
What software do kitchen designers use?
Dealer and showroom designers commonly use sales-focused kitchen design software such as 2020 Design or ProKitchen. Remodelers often use Chief Architect, cabinet manufacturers use engineering software such as Cabinet Vision, and SketchUp is used for general 3D modeling.
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