# Pool Studio Reviews **Vendor:** Structure Studios **Category:** [3D Modeling Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/3d-modeling) **Average Rating:** 1.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 13 ## About Pool Studio Pool Studio is 3D pool design software made easy for everyone, whether you live and breathe AutoCAD or you don’t even like turning on your computer, this professional landscape design software is for you. ## Pool Studio Reviews ### 1. TERRIBLE COMPANY! **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Construction | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 25, 2024 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** Nothing. They have the worst business practices. Because of this, I cannot say good things about them. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** Business Practices and Customer Service! **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** Structure Studios owns Pool Studio. Their horrible business practice is honestly disgusting. My family and I run a small business where we build new custom swimming pools and remodel too. Pool Studio was a vital resource for our company. None of us knew that they require one designer per key. As with many other bad reviews, you'll find Structure Studios will flag your account and even cancel it if they determine multiple people are using the same key. In our case, I was the designated "designer" and my father is the "owner". I had made a call for help with Pool Studio and my father made a separate call for a potential upgrade to VIP3D. They flagged our account, cancelled it and tried to extort our company by forcing us to pay for a second key in order to gain access to our account. Absolutely disgusting business practices! I would suggest staying away from this company. They should be ashamed. We aren't the only people this has happened to. We now have a plethora of projects on hold until we can find a sufficient alternative. Unbelievable! ### 2. Hectic Pool Design Journey **Rating:** 1.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Gabriel W. | Collector, Retail, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 24, 2024 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** Pool Studio provides features feels like stepping into a hell, where I am unable to visualize every detail of my dream pool. The software's lack the ability to customize is not remarkable as it is not allowing me to personalize every aspect from the shape and size of the pool,. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** Whats is worst is how less user friendly it is designing and exploring ideas becomes difficult. It's quite disappointing that Pool Studio lacks customization options. This limitation curbs the creativity and uniqueness of designs making them feel somewhat generic and impersonal. **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** Navigating through the software is sometimes a bit difficult leading to frustration and wasting time. All while Pool Studio offers some benefits it falls short in terms of flexibility and delivering a simple user experience that customers crave. ### 3. The user interface feels steep at times **Rating:** 2.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Gustavo D. | Employment Service Specialist, Chemicals, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 18, 2024 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** The level of attention to detail that Pool Studio provides is not remarkable. The softwares poor collection of materials, textures and water effects does not empower me to bring my visions to life. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** There's room for improvement in terms of customization options.The less user friendly interface makes it difficult to navigate and personalize every aspect of the design. The option to incorporate landscaping and outdoor elements decreases the presentation. **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is difficult to achieve designs due to limited flexibility in this regard. I find that the software lacks features for detailing which needs to be beneficial for more intricate projects. Another aspect worth mentioning is the rendering time, which tends to be on the side and occasionally causes delays in project completion. ### 4. Beware!!! **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Katie E. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 02, 2024 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** The program is good. You can find training videos on Yuotube. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** Everything else! They only wan to make money. If you have more than one employee they will make you pay for multiple users even if you only have one user. If you don't want to pay they cancel your account. They flag accounts for asking too many questions. They just suck as a company. **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** None. ### 5. Program with potential Growth **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rachit J. | Senior Software Developer, Financial Services, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 20, 2023 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** The support team is open, to suggestions for improvements. They are responsive and willing to listen to feedback. Its a program with potential for growth. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** The lack of customer service and support disappointing. They dont prioritize client relations. The software is also quite expensive. **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** Pool Studio offers the solution, for designing pools while simplifying the process. Its user friendly interface allows me to create pool designs that impress my clients. ### 6. Terrible Customer Service **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Scott M. | President, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 24, 2022 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** They're lack of customer service takes away from any pros the program might have. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** In June 2022 our company signed up with Structure Studio. As the business manager I sign our company up with all our programs. We have one designer who uses this program. We called in to find out about adding the program to another computer for the same user. We were told that we would need to add another license to add the program to another computer. With no explanation, this phone call with this one question triggered Structure Studio to evaluate our account. With no further communication, on October 18, 2022 we received an email with the following information: It has been detected that your account is being used by more than one user. Just click here to add the additional membership If you believe someone is using your account without permission, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. Otherwise, your account will be suspended on October 25,2022. Thank you. As the business manager I read this email with some distress. We only have one person accessing this account. At no time were we told about reassigning the user and I didn’t realize we needed to reassign the account to the designer when she started. I have no idea how calling in and asking about using the program on another computer would trigger this response from Structure Studios.After calling in again to find out what this email is about, we were told we could not do anything with our account. We were told it is in review and we were not allowed to reassign to another user at that point. No explanation as to why. No option to correct the issue on our end. We called in again to get more clarity since we couldn’t imagine this was the customer service you were providing. No one has explained to us who the other person is who is accessing our account or why we cannot reassign the account. October 24 we received a call back and were told we were not allowed to reassign access and our account was being cancelled. Our only option is to pay another $2000+ to get another license. We don’t need another license, just need to reassign the account from me, business manager, to our designer. To be clear had I known I needed to do that before I would have. We were also told we can have access to the program on two computers, which was the original question asked. This is extortion. We paid a lot of money to use this program. We have projects that will now be on stand still due to this terrible customer service. There is a step missing in how you process this type of situation. You should be reaching out to say “we noticed some activity on your account that indicates that you may need to reassign or add a new license. You have 5 business days to rectify this situation. Reach out with any questions” In the end you have let us know they would rather not have our business then let us reassign. This is the worst customer service I have ever seen with any company- and I deal with lots of companies. We planned to work with you for many years. To say this is disappointing is an understatement. **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** Great quesiton. They did not help solve anything and did the opposite. They accused without understanding and severed a business relationship that would have benefited them more over time. Idiots ### 7. Business Owners Beware **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Charley H. | Owner of NC Pool Company, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 02, 2022 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** One of the best Pool Design Software available, Unfortunatly. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** 3 Things. 1. This company will stand behind its single-user license until you want to quit. What does this mean? it means, that if you hire/Fire a designer. you will have to purchase another. it means if you have your CEO download and test the software to implement it into a new sales system, then transfer it to an actual designer. you will have to purchase another. There is not an onboarding process that openly teaches you this as it would defer clients and they would rather stick you with this news after you are forced to buy it than during the intake process. so a license is secretly double the price because this information isn't shared and they pull desktop user data, Which is also a Big Red Flag for me. 2. As Stated above. We like several others signed up with this software. transferred the license purchased to the actual Designer, With options to transfer posted on our dashboard, and this started the process of this bad review. The Support Staff are children that proceeded to laugh at me over the phone while I was angrily voicing that my account had been suspended, that I had input a ticket 4 business days prior with no contact, and that they were holding up more than a Million Dollars worth of designs/estimates that needed to go out. Here we are, Running Pool Companies, slinging dirt, taking on the risk, In the trenches of business and these guys think laughing and smirking at that despair with the only option of " ill enter a ticket " after this option was voiced that it had already been done and we were past our response time. The Manager steps in, who is the Muscle, and proceeds to give you the only option of ill keep your money and shut down your account or you can purchase another license. 3. as previously stated, This business is run by children. I can almost find Thousands of reviews of people complaining about being swindled and their response isn't to fix the onboarding, or to Code The restriction into the software to prevent user error, OR EVEN INVESTIGATE TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND right the situation. They would rather laugh at your Business for Failing to produce the money to be able to provide their payment for the subscription and look at their clients like we are idiots. Business Owners Beware - If this much havoc can happen with one designer, Be prepared to pay this company hundreds of thousands of dollars if you're going to use them as a partner to scale your business. **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** They solve the problem of high-end pool sales, they will laugh and swindle you out of users and hold your company hostage if you use them as a partner. ### 8. BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY - DONT WAIST YOUR MONEY AND YOUR HARD WORK! **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Thomas G. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 15, 2021 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** Not the customer service. The designs look cartoonish and its hard to learn. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** We have been a good client of structure studios for 3 years and to show their appreciation and the thousands of dollars we've spent, they now have locked us out of our account so we can not export HOURS of work we have put into multiple jobs. 1 year ago I tried to switch my client key to my laptop from my desktop and they flagged it as our company trying to use a second user after I talked to them on the phone to clear things up. Last week we hired a new designer to take over so I used the 'switch user key' feature to give him access and they locked our account saying we were trying to pirate their system! I spoke to the "manager" and he said there was nothing he could do and that we HAD to buy a second user key to unlock the account. We charge a premium price for our designs so I would have been happy to pay if we HAD 2 users. He proceeded to say that we weren't the right fit for their company after I agreed to purchase the second user and denying us access to export our work after we tried to reason with them. I've NEVER seen customer service this bad before in my life. You might as well be talking to a robot. If I were their owner, I would be ashamed of this company's morals and holding small businesses designs hostage. What goes around comes around. **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** Nothing at this moment, only stealing hard work that we've put into the software for the past 3 years. ### 9. BEWARE! FIND OTHER SOFTWARE **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Monique A. | Designer **Reviewed Date:** August 16, 2022 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** The graphics and training available to users. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** Customer service is non-existent and their ability to completly lock you out of their software at their whim. BEWARE they can shut your business down at a keystroke. **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** Their lack of service has led me to research other user friendly design programs. I have spoken with a few companies that have provided real encouragement to me as a new pool builder. ### 10. Terrible Customer Service and abuse of clients relation company **Rating:** 0.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Construction | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 16, 2021 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** I would hope to get a professional, reasonable person to communicate with and receive an apology from the company. Reinstate my account and unfreeze my key to allow me to get to my work. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** The unprofessional, arm twisting, blackmailing approach by the company representative "James" . He froze my account for no reason and requested me to subscribe and pay for a second account, Or he will not allow me to use the software! All I did is ask him to transfer my subscibtion to our new desinger, or if I should cancel my subscribtion as i will not use since I will start work as a project manager and have her subsribe for a new one. And I discovered that it could've been done online when I looked for it after this insident happened. He was not reasonable or offer a solution or support. He just abused his power over my situation and locked me out of my account! am not able to access my work and this has created problems with my clients. **Recommendations to others considering Pool Studio:** The Management doesn't care about clients relations. That's what they made me feel! The company manager who handled my issue, named "James," asked me to find other companies and use different software. At first, I was distraught, but when I searched, I was able to find other software that works just as well, if not better, and for a better price. and I would encourage all designers and salespeople to search for a company that will not treat you the same was i was treated by Pool Studio. **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is a faster way to design and present clients with a 3D view of the design. ### 11. Brilliant and multifaceted **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Architecture & Planning | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 30, 2021 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** The ease of learning how to use the program despite there being various levels of skills after gaining experience using the program. Great visuals, easy to market. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** It's a new program, age-wise so there's bound to be some glitches and some areas that can utilize some improvements but these are quite minor and the support team is very open to suggestions. **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** Marketing designed projects to the client - we can show them multiple plan views of what they'd get (which is what they'll normally get from other companies) but we show them in 3D and help bring it to life for them. ### 12. A huge gotcha. A terrible software! No chance of a refund. Buyer beware! **Rating:** 0.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Civil Engineering | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 31, 2020 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** The software is not a quality product and the business is not a reputable business. I did not like anything best about this company or the software it peddles. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** Don't be fooled by these pretty pictures to purchase this company's pool and landscape design software called Pool Studio ! The software platform is hard to learn and difficult to manipulate. Once you purchase the their overpriced package, you quickly realize the game; they make you sign an agreement that gives you zero chance for a refund no matter how the software performs. They offer very little tech support, they leave you hanging with junior-level tutorials, they frustrate you for hours trying to get the results you want, and then they offer no refunds under any circumstances. The pretty pictures are nice and all, but the designs to recreate what they show in tutorials would take dozens of hours. The software is not as easy to manipulate as you think. Please make sure you read all the reviews before you purchase the software. Additionally, the company does not share last names of employees, they offer up very little information online about their company, and they don't ever let you talk with any representative that can provide you with a refund. They do all they can to make it difficult to let other people know that their software program is not quality; they try their best to give you no recourse. It's frustrating to pay $290 hoping it can do what you want and then to be left without the product you were hoping to get. I'm no an amateur to design software. As a Professional Engineer that has worked in all types of architectures and design software, its very frustrating to see people spending money on a software that doesn't do what they claim. In my work, I try to be as ethical, moral, trustworthy, and upfront as possible, so it's disgusting that this kind of business can get away with their scam. They don't care about you, and their representatives are well trained in how you tell you go pound sand. Buyer beware! Do you research first! **Recommendations to others considering Pool Studio:** Don't be fooled by these pretty pictures to purchase this company's pool and landscape design software called Pool Studio ! The software platform is hard to learn and difficult to manipulate. Once you purchase the their overpriced package, you quickly realize the game; they make you sign an agreement that gives you zero chance for a refund no matter how the software performs. They offer very little tech support, they leave you hanging with junior-level tutorials, they frustrate you for hours trying to get the results you want, and then they offer no refunds under any circumstances. The pretty pictures are nice and all, but the designs to recreate what they show in tutorials would take dozens of hours. The software is not as easy to manipulate as you think. Please make sure you read all the reviews before you purchase the software. Additionally, the company does not share last names of employees, they offer up very little information online about their company, and they don't ever let you talk with any representative that can provide you with a refund. They do all they can to make it difficult to let other people know that their software program is not quality; they try their best to give you no recourse. It's frustrating to pay $290 hoping it can do what you want and then to be left without the product you were hoping to get. I'm no an amateur to design software. As a Professional Engineer that has worked in all types of architectures and design software, its very frustrating to see people spending money on a software that doesn't do what they claim. In my work, I try to be as ethical, moral, trustworthy, and upfront as possible, so it's disgusting that this kind of business can get away with their scam. They don't care about you, and their representatives are well trained in how you tell you go pound sand. Buyer beware! Do you research first! **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** None. I have solved zero problems and it cost me $290 for nothing. ### 13. Easy and fun designing tool for pools! **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Tony F. | Manager, Digital Sales Development, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 12, 2019 **What do you like best about Pool Studio?** Having familiarity with Autocad, Pool Studio is an easier way to design and build without worrying about the exhaustive minute details. **What do you dislike about Pool Studio?** While simplicity is key, it does lack a few robust details to really customize layers, lighting and effects as you would like. **Recommendations to others considering Pool Studio:** Overall it is a quick, easy tool to use that the average cad tech could implement **What problems is Pool Studio solving and how is that benefiting you?** Easy wuick design to provide a fast view to your insight and vision. ## Pool Studio Discussions - [How do you use a pool studio?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-you-use-a-pool-studio) - [Is Pool Studio easy to learn?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-pool-studio-easy-to-learn) - [What program do pool designers use?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-program-do-pool-designers-use) - [Do you use Pool Studio, Or Terra Vista..?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/do-you-use-pool-studio-or-terra-vista) - 2 upvotes - [View Pool Studio pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/pool-studio/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-05-15+05%3A58%3A13+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=2306f225-f503-47b6-b8c0-c3107d499168&secure%5Btoken%5D=2581450512ed725ffe58f6ce71f8acadc9a9cab11148ec4729672d05217bdb4e&format=llm_user) ## Pool Studio Features **Design** - Sculpting - Topology - Drawing - Brush Variety - Effects **Move** - Animate - Render - Views **Store & Manage** - Pipeline - Controls - Template library **Generative AI** - AI Text-to-Image - AI Text-to-3D ## Top Pool Studio Alternatives - [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (1,296 reviews) - [Unity](https://www.g2.com/products/unity/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (353 reviews) - [Meshy](https://www.g2.com/products/meshy/reviews) - 4.7/5.0 (2,555 reviews)