Does anyone have experience with online landscape design services such as Yardzen? Wondering if those providers offer much value vs hiring a landscape architect to design a front yard.

We have seen a few come into our office and they look very cool, but are not very practical. They either figure lots of elevation change in the design or do not account for the elevation changes if there is some. Most you have to provide the Measurements and photos, and they don't provide a usable plan that you can get a realistic bid off and quantity.
I am a landscape architect.

They make pretty pictures.

The Yardzen folks in my experience don't have great local plant knowledge. Species are poorly chosen & placement is bad - plants too close together, plants too close to house etc.

They don't actually go to the sites, so often specific drainage issues aren't recognized. A situation that could have been easily preventable becomes an expensive mistake.

Value lost as our extended group use such as these for only preliminary inspirations on small commercial projects (think Jack-n-Box, 7-11) that other licensed local L.Archs must meet local CODEs, visit site & inspect work.

That said, some L.Archs may come to yard (important) but are over priced or spend minimal time, so beware.

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That said, some L.Archs may come to yard (important) but are over priced or spend minimal time, so beware.

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Sound advice that applies to virtually any trade. Bottom line do your homework.

As a landscape architect who does residential work mostly. I do agree we are not needed for most residential work we tend to try not charge a large amount for plans and credit back a good portion of the fee if a proposal for the actual installation is signed