A Focused Alternative to Programa
Programa offers an all-in-one platform for interior designers. If you need a dedicated selection schedule tool for your design or building projects, meet Swatcha.
What Programa Does Well
- All-in-one practice management for design professionals
- Client portal for project communication
- Time tracking and invoicing built in
- Product library with supplier integrations
Common Pain Points
Too many features, not enough depth
Programa tries to be project management, accounting, client portal, and specification tool all at once. The selection schedule functionality often feels like an afterthought.
How Swatcha helps:
Swatcha is built from the ground up for selection schedules. Every feature exists to make creating and sharing selections faster.
Manual specification process
Even within Programa, users still need to manually enter product details from supplier quotes and source images themselves.
How Swatcha helps:
AI-powered extraction reads your supplier documents. Product image search and background removal are built in.
Complex pricing structure
Programa's pricing includes multiple tiers with feature restrictions. Understanding what you get at each level takes research.
How Swatcha helps:
One plan, everything included. No feature gates, no user limits surprises.
Locked into the ecosystem
To get value from Programa, you need to use it for everything — projects, clients, invoicing. It's all or nothing.
How Swatcha helps:
Swatcha works alongside your existing tools. Use it just for selection schedules while keeping your preferred project management setup.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Swatcha | Programa |
|---|---|---|
| AI data extraction from quotes | ||
| Automatic product image search | Limited | |
| Background removal | ||
| Branded PDF export | ||
| Project management | ||
| Client portal | ||
| Time tracking | ||
| Invoicing | ||
| Dedicated selection workflow | Part of larger tool |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Swatcha a replacement for Programa?
Swatcha is a focused alternative for designers who need a dedicated selection schedule tool. Programa is a broader practice management platform. If selection schedules are your bottleneck, Swatcha solves it faster.
How does Swatcha compare to Programa for selection schedules?
Swatcha is purpose-built for the selection schedule workflow. Import a supplier quote, Swatcha extracts the product specs with AI, and you export a client-ready PDF — typically in under five minutes.
Does Swatcha have a free trial?
Yes — Swatcha offers a 14-day free trial. A credit card is required to start, but you won't be charged until the trial ends.
Can Swatcha work alongside Programa?
Yes. Many designers use Swatcha specifically for selection schedule creation and export, while continuing to use Programa for procurement, invoicing, or client management.
