What is the difference between Apex Sketch and magicplan?

Apex Sketch and magicplan 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 — Apex Sketch or magicplan?

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

Can Apex Sketch and magicplan be used together?

Apex Sketch and Magicplan 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 Apex Sketch cost compared to magicplan?

Apex Sketch and magicplan 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 — Apex Sketch or magicplan?

Ease of use depends on your starting point. Apex Sketch tends to fit one type of user or workflow, while magicplan 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.

Do I need Apex Sketch or magicplan if I already have a floor plan PDF?

If you already have a floor plan as a PDF or image, you may not need either tool. PlanSnapper lets you upload the PDF directly and trace walls in your browser to calculate GLA — no software installation required. Both Apex Sketch and magicplan are most useful for creating sketches from scratch or capturing measurements in the field.

Which works better for calculating GLA — Apex Sketch or magicplan?

Both Apex Sketch and magicplan can support GLA calculation, but the workflow differs. One may require field measurement and sketch entry while the other may allow importing existing floor plans. If your starting point is an existing PDF or image floor plan, PlanSnapper provides a faster path — upload, trace, and get the GLA figure without entering either tool's workflow.

Does magicplan produce ANSI Z765 compliant measurements?

magicplan can generate floor plans from phone scans or manual measurement entry, but it is not inherently configured to follow ANSI Z765 GLA rules. Appraisers using magicplan data must manually verify that above-grade, finished, heated space is correctly isolated and that garages, covered porches, and below-grade areas are excluded before using the figure in an appraisal report.

Does Apex Sketch or magicplan work on a Mac?

Apex Sketch is a Windows-only application. magicplan is cross-platform and available as an iOS and Android app, with a web-based editor accessible on any device including Mac. If Mac or mobile compatibility is a priority, magicplan offers more flexibility — but appraisers who need tight integration with TOTAL or other report-writing platforms will still lean toward Apex Sketch.

Compare · 8 min read

Apex Sketch vs Magicplan: Best Floor Plan Tool for Appraisers?

Apex Sketch and Magicplan take opposite approaches to floor plan creation. Apex Sketch is a desktop application designed specifically for real estate appraisers, built around the ANSI Z765 standard. Magicplan is a smartphone app built for contractors and field service workflows. Here is how to decide.

The short version

Apex Sketch: Best for appraisers who need ANSI-compliant GLA built into the sketching workflow. Industry standard. Desktop only.
Magicplan: Best for contractors, inspectors, and field service professionals. Fast mobile capture, but not designed around ANSI appraisal requirements.

Apex Sketch vs Magicplan: at a glance

	Apex Sketch	Magicplan
Platform	Windows desktop	iOS / Android smartphone
ANSI GLA calculation	Yes (built-in)	No
Capture method	Manual entry (wall lengths)	AR / LiDAR smartphone capture
Appraisal software integration	Yes (Alamode, ACI, etc.)	No
Best for	Residential real estate appraisers	Contractors, inspectors, field service
Pricing	~$100–$200/year	~$10–$30/month

How Apex Sketch works

Apex Sketch is a Windows desktop application used by residential real estate appraisers. You draw the floor plan by entering wall lengths and angles, and the software automatically calculates GLA according to ANSI Z765 methodology. It supports above-grade living area, below-grade finished area, garage, and all other components of an appraisal sketch.

Apex Sketch is deeply embedded in the appraisal workflow — it integrates with Alamode (WinTOTAL/TOTAL), ACI, Bradford, and other appraisal form software. Most appraisers who use sketching software use Apex Sketch.

How Magicplan works

Magicplan is a smartphone app (iOS and Android) that uses AR and, on compatible devices, LiDAR to capture room dimensions. You point the camera at room corners to record measurements, and Magicplan assembles the rooms into a full floor plan. LiDAR-equipped iPhones and iPads improve measurement accuracy significantly.

Magicplan is built around field service workflows: cost estimation, material takeoffs, insurance documentation, and renovation planning. It has strong integrations with construction project management tools. For real estate appraisers, it lacks the ANSI GLA calculation framework that Apex Sketch is built around.

ANSI compliance and GLA

Apex Sketch calculates GLA according to ANSI Z765 standards automatically. It handles above-grade/below-grade distinctions, finished basement area, and other ANSI-specific rules built into the drawing workflow. The output is an appraiser-ready sketch with a defensible GLA figure.

Magicplan does not have ANSI GLA functionality. It produces dimensioned floor plans, but converting those to ANSI-compliant GLA requires manual post-processing. For formal residential appraisals, Magicplan is not a drop-in replacement for Apex Sketch.

When Magicplan makes sense for appraisers

Some appraisers use Magicplan as a field capture tool — quickly capturing rough dimensions on-site — and then re-enter those measurements into Apex Sketch for the final ANSI sketch. This hybrid workflow speeds up the field visit while keeping the GLA calculation in a compliant tool.

For high-volume appraisers who want to reduce field time, a smartphone capture tool paired with desktop GLA calculation is worth considering.

Already have the floor plan?

If you have a floor plan from Apex Sketch or Magicplan exported as a PDF and want a quick GLA check or a second opinion on your measurement, upload it to PlanSnapper and trace the perimeter. It takes under two minutes.

Try PlanSnapper free →