The Sill is known for its trendy, minimalist houseplants and physical retail stores that make plant shopping accessible and stylish. In contrast, Horti focuses on a sustainable, education-first experience for urban dwellers, building a plant care routine through curated subscriptions and expert guidance.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right houseplant company for your home.
The Sill: The Trendy, Accessible Plant Shop
The Sill has become a go-to brand for millennials and design-conscious shoppers looking to add stylish greenery to their spaces. The brand excels at making plant ownership easy and aesthetically pleasing, offering a curated collection of popular houseplants paired with modern pots. With both a robust online store and physical locations in major cities, they provide an accessible experience for beginners and plant lovers alike.
- Product mix: A wide range of indoor houseplants, including popular varieties like snake plants, ZZ plants, and pothos, available in sizes from small to extra-large. They also sell stylish ceramic and bisque planters, plant care tools, and accessories.
- Style/vibe: Modern, minimalist, and trendy. Planters come in a range of muted and contemporary colors, designed to fit seamlessly into modern home decor.
- Price point: Mid-range. Small plants often start around $20, while larger statement plants can cost over $100. Their signature planters are typically priced between $15 and $80.
- Quality: Plants are sourced from reputable growers and arrive healthy and well-packaged. The Sill offers a 30-day "Happy Plant Guarantee" if your plant doesn't survive.
- Shopping Experience: A flexible combination of online shopping with detailed care guides and physical retail stores where customers can see plants in person and attend workshops.
- Sustainability: The company uses eco-friendly packaging and focuses on responsible sourcing from its nursery partners to ensure healthy plant stock and sustainable practices.
- Return policy: Non-plant items can be returned within 30 days. For plants, they offer store credit or a replacement within the 30-day guarantee window if the plant dies.
The Sill is ideal for anyone looking for on-trend, "Instagrammable" plants and pots without the guesswork, especially those who appreciate the option of an in-store shopping experience.
Shop The Sill: thesill.com
Horti: The Sustainable, Educational Plant Experience
Horti operates on a philosophy of "plant care as self-care," building confidence in plant ownership through education and sustainability. Primarily known for its plant subscription service, Horti guides customers on their journey from beginner to expert plant parent. The brand's aesthetic is urban chic and eco-conscious, appealing to city dwellers who want to create a green oasis in their apartments.
- Product mix: Curated houseplants chosen for their resilience and suitability for indoor environments, plant care kits, growing supplies, and stylish, eco-friendly planters. Their subscription box is their signature product.
- Style/vibe: Urban, sleek, and eco-friendly. Planters often have contemporary or geometric designs and are made from sustainable materials like recycled plastics or ceramics.
- Price point: Mid-range and competitive. Individual plants range from about $15 to $80. Subscription plans offer consistent value for building a collection over time.
- Quality: Focuses on sourcing hardy, easy-care plants that are forgiving for beginners. They provide robust educational content and virtual support to help plants thrive.
- Shopping Experience: A digital-first experience centered around their sleek website. The subscription model and virtual consultations are key components, making it a high-touch online service.
- Sustainability: This is a core part of Horti's identity. They emphasize eco-conscious materials, responsible sourcing methods, and provide transparent information about their environmental practices.
- Plant Care Support: While not a formal return policy, Horti offers extensive support for plant care issues via their team, helping customers troubleshoot problems to save their plants.
Horti shines for those who want a guided, sustainable approach to building a plant collection and value ongoing education and support.
Shop Horti: horti.com
The Sill vs. Horti Comparison
Price Comparison
Both The Sill and Horti offer plants at a similar mid-range price point, making them accessible but a step up from mass-market nurseries. A small plant from either brand will typically cost you between $20 and $30. The Sill’s collection includes larger, more mature statement plants that can reach upwards of $100, offering a wider price and size range.
Horti's value is often found in its subscription plans, which provide curated plants and accessories at a consistent monthly cost. While both brands run sales, Horti’s business model is geared toward ongoing value for committed enthusiasts, whereas The Sill’s pricing accommodates both one-off purchases and gifting.
Style &, Aesthetic
The Sill embodies a minimalist and trendy aesthetic that aligns with popular contemporary decor styles like mid-century modern and Scandinavian. Their planters are often simple cylinders available in a broad palette of neutral and popular colors, making them extremely versatile. It’s a clean, polished look designed for widespread appeal.
Horti’s style is best described as urban chic with an eco-conscious edge. Their planters feature more modern, sometimes geometric, shapes and a focus on sustainable materials. The aesthetic feels curated for a design-savvy city dweller who appreciates both form and function with an eye toward sustainability. Your choice here comes down to whether you prefer The Sill's clean minimalism or Horti's eco-modern vibe.
Quality &, Materials
Both brands deliver healthy, high-quality plants from reputable growers and take care to ensure they arrive in great condition. The difference often lies in the materials of the planters. The Sill primarily uses high-quality ceramic for its signature pots, which are durable and stylish.
Horti places a greater emphasis on using eco-friendly and innovative materials, including recycled plastics and sustainable ceramics in their designs. For plant health, The Sill’s 30-day guarantee provides a safety net for beginners, while Horti’s model focuses more on providing the owner with the tools and support to keep their plant healthy long-term.
Product Selection
Both companies offer a well-curated selection of beginner-friendly and more exotic houseplants. The Sill has a broader inventory of plant sizes available for individual purchase at any given time, from tiny 2-inch succulents to extra-large Fiddle Leaf Figs. They also have a stronger focus on gifting, with curated plant and accessory bundles for occasions.
Horti’s strength is in its kits and subscription offerings. Their product selection is often built around a learning journey, starting new subscribers with hard-to-kill plants and gradually introducing more unique varieties. This makes Horti an excellent choice for someone who wants to methodically grow their collection and skills.
Shopping Experience
This is a major point of difference. The Sill offers an omnichannel experience. You can browse their user-friendly website or visit one of their beautiful physical stores in cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. This in-person option is a significant advantage for those who want to see plants before buying or attend a workshop.
Horti is a digital-native brand with a sleek online experience. Their website is rich with educational content, and their customer support includes virtual plant care consultations. The entire process is designed to be streamlined and convenient from the comfort of your home, making it ideal for those who prefer online shopping.
Sustainability &, Ethics
Both brands take sustainability seriously, using eco-friendly packaging and responsible sourcing. The Sill communicates its commitment through these core practices. However, sustainability is more deeply woven into Horti’s brand identity.
Horti is more vocal about its eco-conscious mission, from its use of recycled and sustainable materials in its products to its educational content on sustainable plant care. For consumers where environmental impact is a primary decision-making factor, Horti’s explicit commitment likely gives it an edge.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends on your personal style, shopping preferences, and what you want out of your plant journey. Both brands offer fantastic products, but they cater to slightly different needs.
Choose The Sill if:
- You prefer a clean, minimalist, and versatile aesthetic that fits almost any decor.
- You value the option to shop in a physical store to see and choose your plants in person.
- You are shopping for a one-time gift and want curated plant bundles with stylish pots.
- You want a wide range of plant sizes, including very small or very large statement plants.
Choose Horti if:
- Sustainability and eco-friendly materials are a top priority for you.
- You're a beginner who wants a guided, educational experience to build your confidence over time.
- You love the idea of a subscription service that helps you grow your collection gradually.
- You prefer a streamlined online shopping experience with robust digital support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Sill or Horti cheaper?
Their individual plant prices are very similar, both falling into the mid-range category. The Sill may have more expensive options due to their larger statement plants, while Horti offers great value through its subscription plans for customers looking to acquire multiple plants over time.
Which has better quality plants?
Both brands provide excellent, healthy plants sourced from high-quality nurseries. Customer experiences for both are largely positive. The Sill's 30-day guarantee offers a concrete reassurance of quality, while Horti's approach focuses on education and support to ensure long-term plant health.
Which is better for beginners?
Both are fantastic for beginners. Horti is structured specifically for new plant parents through its guided subscription model that starts with easy-care plants. The Sill is also great for beginners due to their detailed online care guides, "beginner-friendly" filters, and helpful staff in their physical stores.
Do The Sill and Horti have physical stores?
The Sill operates several physical retail stores across the United States. Horti is a primarily online business and does not have brick-and-mortar locations.
What are the return policies for The Sill and Horti?
The Sill offers a 30-day guarantee on their plants, offering a replacement or store credit if it dies. For non-plant merchandise, they accept returns within 30 days. Horti doesn't have a traditional return policy for plants but instead offers dedicated customer support to help troubleshoot any issues you encounter.
Which brand is more sustainable?
Both companies are committed to sustainability through eco-friendly packaging and sourcing. However, Horti makes sustainability a more central part of its brand identity by frequently using recycled and eco-conscious materials for its planters and communicating this mission transparently.
Does The Sill or Horti offer plant subscriptions?
Yes, both brands offer plant subscriptions. It is a signature product for Horti and core to their business model of building plant care habits. The Sill also offers subscriptions, but they are positioned more as one product among many in their broader catalog.
Which brand has a better selection of planters?
This depends on your style. The Sill offers a wider array of colors in their minimalist ceramic planter designs, making it easy to match with specific decor. Horti offers smartly designed pots with a unique, modern aesthetic, often made from sustainable materials.
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