How Much Does 2020 Design Software Cost?

2020 Design (now part of Cyncly, formerly 2020 Spaces) is the industry-standard kitchen and bath design software used by dealers, showrooms, and designers across North America. But the cost adds up fast:

Annual license: $5,000 - $8,000 per year per seat
Training: $1,000 - $3,000 for initial training courses
Catalog updates: Included with subscription, but require time to install and learn
Hardware: Requires a powerful workstation ($2,000+) for rendering
Designer salary: $45,000 - $65,000 per year for someone who knows the software

Total first-year cost: $53,000 - $78,000 for one design seat with a trained operator. That is a significant investment for a small to mid-size dealership.

What Does 2020 Design Include?

The 2020 Design Flex platform provides:

2D floor plan and elevation drafting
3D rendering and visualization
Manufacturer catalogs (cabinets, countertops, appliances)
Items list generation with pricing
Panoramic and interactive walkthroughs
Order integration with select manufacturers

It is a powerful tool. The question is whether you need to own and operate it yourself, or whether someone else can operate it for you at a fraction of the cost.

The Alternative: Outsource Your 2020 Design Work

A growing number of kitchen dealers and remodelers have found a simpler approach: outsource the design work to a team that already has 2020 Flex, all the catalogs, and 30+ trained designers.

Here is how it compares:

Cost: $100 per room vs $5,000+ per year for the license alone
Turnaround: Next morning vs days or weeks with in-house
Catalogs: 55+ manufacturer catalogs always up to date
Revisions: Unlimited, included at no extra charge
Source files: You get the native .KIT file back to edit or order from
Commitment: No contracts, no minimums — pay per room

When Does Outsourcing Make Sense?

Outsourcing 2020 Design work makes sense when:

You do fewer than 30 rooms per month (below that, the license cost per room is too high)
Your designer is backlogged and you are losing deals to slow turnaround
You need overflow capacity during busy seasons
You want to offer design services but cannot justify the software investment
Your designer left and you need immediate coverage

When Should You Keep 2020 Design In-House?

Keeping the license makes sense when:

You do 50+ rooms per month consistently (cost per room drops significantly)
You need real-time design changes during client meetings
Design is your core competitive advantage and you want full control

Many businesses use a hybrid approach: keep one in-house designer for walk-in clients and outsource overflow work at $100 per room.

How to Switch to Outsourced 2020 Design

Switching is simple because the output is identical — the same .KIT files, the same floor plans, the same 3D renders. Your manufacturers and installers cannot tell the difference.

Create a free account on the design portal
Submit a test project with measurements and your preferred catalog
Receive the complete design package by morning
Open the .KIT file in your own 2020 Design (if you have it) or present the renders and floor plans directly

Most services offer a money-back guarantee on the first project, so there is no risk to try.

Software.

2020 Design Software: Cost, Alternatives, and Why Dealers Are Switching