Honest comparisonPricing checked
SofaBrain vs PadStyler (2026): Virtual Staging Pricing Compared
PadStyler: AI staging plans plus bespoke designer staging and 3D rendering
Verdict
Choose SofaBrain for AI staging at $0.50–$0.59 a photo on monthly billing, with listing videos and every other photo edit on the same plan. PadStyler’s designer staging, at $23–$34 a photo, fits when a designer should stage the hero photos.
- 3 free credits, no card
- 1 credit per staged photo
- 5 staging styles to pick from
- Studio is $59/mo for 100 credits
Prices side by side
| Plan | SofaBrain | PadStyler |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | SofaBrain3 free credits, no credit card | PadStylerNo free plan; a promo code for one free staged photo was shown on 7 Oct 2026 |
| AI staging plans | SofaBrain$59/mo (Studio, 100 credits) · $0.59/photo | PadStyler$16, $19 (20 photos) or $39 (60 photos) per month, billed yearlyPadStyler Enterprise is custom pricing with API access. |
| Per photo with AI | SofaBrain$0.50–$0.59 monthly, $0.42–$0.49 yearly | PadStyler$0.65–$2.65 on yearly AI plans |
| Bespoke designer staging | SofaBrainNot offered | PadStyler$34 for 1 photo, $31 for 2+, $27 for 5+, $23 for 8+ |
| 3D floor plans | SofaBrainNot offered | PadStylerFrom $99 per floor |
PadStyler pricing checked at www.padstyler.com on . SofaBrain prices are the current plans.
Features side by side
| Feature | SofaBrain | PadStyler | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnaround | SofaBrainUsually under a minute | PadStylerAI: seconds; bespoke: 24 hours or less (12-hour rush) | |
| Per photo with AISofaBrain wins | SofaBrain$0.50–$0.59 (monthly billing) | PadStyler$0.65–$2.65 (yearly billing) | SofaBrain wins |
| Re-renders | SofaBrain1 credit each; failed renders refunded | PadStylerUnlimited on AI plans | |
| Unused allowanceSofaBrain wins | SofaBrainRolls over, up to one month’s allowance | PadStylerResets every month | SofaBrain wins |
| Human designers | SofaBrainNo | PadStylerBespoke staging with unlimited design revisions | |
| Multi-view stagingTie | SofaBrainEvery plan; 6 credits per extra matching view | PadStylerBedrooms and living rooms on AI plans | Tie |
| Listing videos on the same planSofaBrain wins | SofaBrainYes, 30 credits per video | PadStylerAI staging, remodeling and backyard design | SofaBrain wins |
| 3D rendering and floor plans | SofaBrainNo | PadStylerBespoke 3D rendering; 3D floor plans from $99 per floor | |
| Disclosure labelSofaBrain wins | SofaBrainLabeled download option (disclosure plus original) | PadStylerRecommends disclosure; no label option listed | SofaBrain wins |
When to choose which
Choose SofaBrain when
Most listings, staged yourself in minutes
Self-serve AI at $0.50–$0.59 a photo on monthly billing, with no wait for a designer.
You also need a listing video
The same credits make a listing video (30 credits) with narration, captions, music and the unbranded MLS version.
Anyone testing multiple styles per room
Style variants come out of your monthly credit allocation — A/B test modern vs farmhouse vs minimalist without per-style charges.
Choose PadStyler when
Hero photos of a luxury listing
A professional designer stages the photo for $23–$34, with unlimited design revisions and a money-back guarantee.
You redo AI renders many times
PadStyler’s AI plans include unlimited renders.
You need 3D renders or floor plans
PadStyler offers bespoke 3D rendering and 3D floor plans from $99 per floor. On SofaBrain you get still photos and videos — including furniture-matched multi-angle sets — but not 3D models.
Try virtual staging on your own photo
Pick from 5 staging styles. New accounts get 3 free credits, no credit card. After that a staged photo is 1 credit, and the same plan makes listing videos.
FAQ
How much does PadStyler cost?
On 7 Oct 2026 its order page listed AI plans at $16, $19 (20 photos a month) and $39 (60 photos a month) per month billed yearly, custom Enterprise pricing, and bespoke designer staging at $34 for one photo down to $23 a photo for 8 or more.
Is PadStyler’s bespoke staging worth the premium?
On a high-end listing where the hero photo carries the marketing, a designer’s eye and unlimited revisions are worth $23–$34 a photo. For routine rooms, AI staging at well under a dollar a photo is usually enough.
Can I use both?
Common pattern: SofaBrain for the bulk of the listing and the listing video, PadStyler bespoke staging for one or two hero photos.
Can the same SofaBrain plan make listing videos?
Yes. A listing video is 30 credits from the same balance and includes narration, captions, music, your brand kit, every export format, the unbranded MLS version, thumbnails and the listing page.
How each one works
PadStyler sells two products. Its AI plans (staging, remodeling and backyard design) cost $16, $19 and $39 a month billed yearly — the $19 and $39 plans cover 20 and 60 photos a month — with unlimited renders, furniture removal and multi-view staging for bedrooms and living rooms; unused photos do not roll over, and Enterprise is custom with API access. Its bespoke staging is done by professional designers at $34 for one photo down to $23 a photo for 8 or more, usually within 24 hours (12-hour rush on weekdays), with unlimited design revisions and a money-back guarantee.
SofaBrain is self-serve AI on monthly or yearly plans: Studio is $59/mo for 100 credits ($0.59 a staged photo), up to Business at $299 for 600. The same credits cover photo edits and listing videos (30 credits each). Against PadStyler’s AI plans the difference is billing and breadth; against its bespoke service it is the usual trade-off of speed and cost versus a designer’s eye.
Speed
SofaBrain and PadStyler’s AI plans both return images in seconds to a minute. PadStyler’s bespoke staging takes 24 hours or less, with a 12-hour rush on weekdays. If the listing goes live tomorrow, use AI for everything but the hero photo.
MLS compliance
SofaBrain’s download options include a labeled file with the disclosure burned in and the original photo alongside; the label is a choice at download, not automatic. Whichever PadStyler product you use, add the disclosure your MLS or state requires before upload — in California, Wisconsin and treble-damages states this is not optional.
Related reading
More comparisons
SofaBrain vs BoxBrownie
SofaBrain stages a room in under a minute for about $0.50–$0.59 a photo on a monthly plan, against US$24–$30 per image and up to 48 hours at BoxBrownie, and the same plan makes listing videos. BoxBrownie suits agents who want a human editor on every photo.
SofaBrain vs VirtualStagingAI.app
SofaBrain costs less per photo on monthly billing ($0.50–$0.59 vs $0.93–$4.17), and the same credits cover listing videos, day to dusk, decluttering and every other photo edit. VirtualStagingAI.app is a staging-only tool for agents who need nothing else.
SofaBrain vs Apply Design
Choose SofaBrain for one predictable monthly plan that covers staging, every photo edit and listing videos across all your listings. Apply Design fits one-off per-image purchases in a drag-and-drop editor.
Reviewed by SofaBrain Staging Design Team
Staging design review · Last reviewed 2026-10-07
Sources
- PadStyler plans and pricing (opens in a new tab)
- PadStyler bespoke virtual staging (opens in a new tab)
- SofaBrain pricing (opens in a new tab)
Pricing and feature claims checked .