Mortar vs Houzz Pro for interior design projects
Both tools help interior designers run projects — but they're built for different priorities. Houzz Pro leans on its marketplace and broad business suite; Mortar focuses on a calm, visual workflow for budgets, selections, and the client experience.
Written by Darren Clark — Founder of Mortar — 25+ years building software
Last updated July 14, 2026
Quick verdict
Choose Houzz Pro if lead generation from the marketplace is your priority. Choose Mortar if you want a visual, client-friendly workflow that keeps projects on budget.
Side by side
How they stack up
Mortar
$59/user/mo
One plan — unlimited projects
Best for: Visual budgeting, selections, and client experience
- Visual, real-time budget tracking
- Per-room selections and approvals
- Branded client portals
- Built-in product sourcing
Houzz Pro
$85/mo
Starter plan, billed annually
Best for: Lead generation and all-in-one business management
- Lead generation from the Houzz marketplace
- Marketing and website tools
- Estimates and invoicing
- Project management
Feature by feature
Mortar vs Houzz Pro: feature comparison
Feature | Mortar | Houzz Pro |
|---|---|---|
Visual budget tracking | ✓ | — |
Per-room selections & approvals | ✓ | — |
Branded client portals | ✓ | ✓ |
Marketplace lead generation | — | ✓ |
Product web scraping | ✓ | — |
Estimates & invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
A closer look at Houzz Pro
Houzz Pro is a broad all-in-one platform built around the Houzz marketplace, covering lead generation, marketing, and project management for home-pros.
What are our strengths?
Mortar
- Purpose-built for the way designers think
- Transparent, client-friendly budgets
- Simpler, calmer day-to-day workflow
Houzz Pro
- Large built-in marketplace audience
- Established brand recognition
Which one is for you?
When to choose each tool
When to choose Mortar
- You want budgets your clients can actually read
- Selections and approvals should live in one place
- You care about a calm, branded client experience
When to choose Houzz Pro
- Marketplace lead generation is your top priority
- You want marketing and website tools bundled in
- You already run your business on Houzz
The verdict
Both tools can run an interior design studio
Houzz Pro is a strong all-rounder if you live in the Houzz ecosystem. Mortar is the calmer, more visual choice when budgets, selections, and the client experience matter most — and it costs less than half as much to start.
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