What is the difference between ACI Sketch and Total Sketch?

ACI Sketch and Total Sketch are different tools with different strengths. The best choice depends on your workflow, budget, and whether you need features like 3D scanning, floor plan generation, GLA calculation, or design capabilities. This page breaks down a direct comparison.

Which is better for real estate appraisers — ACI Sketch or Total Sketch?

Aci Sketch and Total Sketch serve different workflows. Aci Sketch is better suited for one use case while Total Sketch fits another — the right choice depends on whether you need field capture or office-based GLA calculation from existing floor plans.

Can ACI Sketch and Total Sketch be used together?

Aci Sketch and Total Sketch can complement each other in some workflows — for example, using one for field capture and the other for GLA calculation and reporting. Check the comparison table above for specific integration details.

How much does ACI Sketch cost compared to Total Sketch?

ACI Sketch and Total Sketch have different pricing models — one may charge per user, per project, or via annual subscription, while the other may offer a free tier or pay-per-use option. Check the comparison table above for current pricing details and which offers better value for your volume of work.

Which is easier to use — ACI Sketch or Total Sketch?

Ease of use depends on your starting point. ACI Sketch tends to fit one type of user or workflow, while Total Sketch is designed for another. If you are working from an existing floor plan PDF and need to calculate square footage quickly, a browser-based tool like PlanSnapper may reduce the learning curve entirely — no software installation required.

Does ACI Sketch or Total Sketch have better TOTAL appraisal software integration?

Total Sketch is developed by a la mode, the same company that makes TOTAL, so integration is native and seamless. ACI Sketch integrates with ACI's own software suite. Appraisers who use TOTAL as their primary report-writing platform generally find Total Sketch offers tighter data handoff, while ACI users benefit from the ACI Sketch integration within their existing ACI workflow.

Can you import an ACI Sketch file into Total Sketch?

ACI Sketch and Total Sketch use proprietary file formats that are not directly cross-compatible. Migrating sketches between the two platforms typically requires re-sketching. If you have a PDF floor plan or a prior sketch export, tools like PlanSnapper can recalculate GLA from the image without re-sketching, which can bridge the gap when switching software.

Does ACI Sketch or Total Sketch work on a Mac?

Both ACI Sketch and Total Sketch are Windows-based tools. Mac users need Parallels, Boot Camp, or a Windows VM to run either application. If cross-platform compatibility is a priority, a browser-based tool like PlanSnapper works on any device without installation.

Which is better for an appraiser who already uses a la mode TOTAL — ACI Sketch or Total Sketch?

Total Sketch integrates directly with a la mode's TOTAL platform, making it the natural choice for appraisers already in that ecosystem. ACI Sketch integrates tightly with ACI appraisal software but has a more indirect path into TOTAL. If your report-writing platform is TOTAL, Total Sketch will reduce friction in transferring GLA data to the final report.

Compare · 5 min read

ACI Sketch vs Total Sketch: Which Appraisal Sketch Tool Is Right for You?

ACI Sketch and Total Sketch are both built-in floor plan sketching tools — ACI Sketch ships with the ACI appraisal suite, Total Sketch ships with a la mode TOTAL. Both produce ANSI Z765-compliant GLA from field measurements. Choosing between them is almost entirely a question of which appraisal platform you use.

The short version

ACI Sketch: Use it if you're on the ACI appraisal platform. Integrated, included in your ACI subscription.
Total Sketch: Use it if you're on a la mode TOTAL. Same deal — included, no extra cost, deeply integrated.

ACI Sketch vs Total Sketch: at a glance

	ACI Sketch	Total Sketch
Platform	ACI appraisal suite (Windows)	a la mode TOTAL (Windows)
Standalone use	No — embedded in ACI	No — embedded in TOTAL
Pricing	Included with ACI subscription	Included with TOTAL subscription
GLA standard	ANSI Z765	ANSI Z765
Input method	Keyboard-driven measurements	Keyboard-driven measurements
Multi-level	Yes	Yes
Cross-platform export	Limited	Limited
Market share (form software)	Smaller, legacy user base	Dominant in residential appraisal

What ACI Sketch does

ACI Sketch is the built-in floor plan module for the ACI appraisal platform. It follows the same keyboard-entry workflow as other appraisal sketch tools — you type your field measurements, the software draws the floor plan, and GLA populates directly into your ACI forms. For appraisers who have used ACI for years, ACI Sketch is a familiar and reliable part of the workflow.

ACI has a smaller but loyal user base, particularly among appraisers who have used the platform since the 1990s and 2000s. The software is functional but has not kept pace with TOTAL in terms of market share or feature velocity.

What Total Sketch does

Total Sketch is the sketch module embedded in a la mode TOTAL, the dominant residential appraisal platform in the US. It works identically to ACI Sketch in concept — keyboard-driven measurement entry, automatic floor plan generation, GLA to the form — but lives inside the most widely adopted appraisal environment in the country.

Because TOTAL is so prevalent, Total Sketch benefits from broader training resources, more integration options (like mobile field capture apps), and a larger community of users sharing workflows and templates.

Does the sketch tool really matter when you're already on a platform?

Mostly no. If you are locked into ACI for form reporting, you use ACI Sketch. If you are on TOTAL, you use Total Sketch. The sketch tool is just a module — switching form platforms to get a different sketch tool is not a practical choice for most appraisers.

The more interesting question is whether to add a standalone sketch tool like Apex Sketch or WinSKETCH if the built-in tool feels limiting. Some high-volume appraisers prefer a dedicated sketch tool for its speed optimizations, then export back to their form platform. That is a workflow preference, not a requirement.

When neither tool helps

Both ACI Sketch and Total Sketch require you to sketch from your own field measurements. If you already have a floor plan — from a builder, an MLS listing, a prior appraisal, or a 3D scan tool — these sketch tools cannot measure it. You would need to re-sketch manually, which defeats the purpose.

PlanSnapper handles floor plans you already have. Upload the PDF or image, set the scale using one known measurement on the plan, trace the outline, and get ANSI Z765-compliant GLA instantly. No re-sketching, no field work. It works alongside ACI Sketch and Total Sketch — one tool for field sketching, one for existing plans.

The bottom line

ACI Sketch vs Total Sketch is not really a competition — you use whichever one came with your appraisal platform. The real decision is whether to supplement your built-in sketch tool with a standalone option, and whether you need a separate tool for calculating GLA from existing floor plans.

Try PlanSnapper on your next desk review

Already have the floor plan? Upload it, set the scale, and get GLA in minutes — no sketching required.

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