Techstyles vs Design Manager
Comparing modern, cloud-native software with a tool built on a traditional desktop heritage. See why studios switch to Techstyles for agentic AI, a per-item delivery-risk engine, mobile access, a contractor portal, and honest UK pricing with a 3-month free beta.
Which is right for your studio?
- Modern, cloud-based software that works anywhere
- AI features that save hours on emails and sourcing
- Clients to approve and pay through one portal
- Simple, predictable per-user pricing
- Quick setup without IT involvement
- You prefer desktop software with local installation
- You have existing Design Manager workflows and data
- Your team doesn't need mobile or remote access
- AI and automation features aren't priorities
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | Techstyles | Design Manager |
|---|---|---|
| User Experience | ||
| Modern cloud-based interface | ||
| Mobile-responsive design | ||
| Real-time collaboration | ||
| Team capacity & workload planning | ||
| No installation required | ||
| Regular feature updates | ||
| AI & Automation | ||
| Agentic AI assistant (takes actions, not just answers) | ||
| AI email drafting | ||
| AI product sourcing | ||
| Voice notes in project messaging | ||
| Smart proposal generation | ||
| Workflow automation | ||
| Client Experience | ||
| Branded client portal | ||
| Contractor & trade portal | ||
| In-portal payments | ||
| Mobile client access | ||
| Real-time approval notifications | ||
| Client comment threads | ||
| Financial Management | ||
| Project budgeting | ||
| Invoice generation | ||
| Xero integration | ||
| Per-item delivery risk scoring | ||
| Profitability reporting | ||
| Purchase order management | ||
| Procurement | ||
| Product library | ||
| Supplier database | ||
| Trade pricing management | ||
| AI alternative finder | ||
| Order tracking | ||
Full support Partial/limited Not available
Migrating from Design Manager?
Our team helps you transition smoothly. Most studios are fully operational within 5-7 days.
We guide you through exporting your Design Manager data and handle the technical conversion.
Your entire product library transfers with images, specs, and pricing. Supplier relationships preserved.
Active clients receive branded portal invitations. Previous approval history is available for reference.
Each team member gets a personalised orientation. Our intuitive design means most are productive same-day.
Frequently asked questions
Experience modern design software
See why studios are moving from legacy systems to Techstyles.