What is the difference between ClickFORMS and a la mode?

ClickFORMS and a la mode 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 — ClickFORMS or a la mode?

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

Can ClickFORMS and a la mode be used together?

Clickforms and A La Mode 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 ClickFORMS cost compared to a la mode?

ClickFORMS and a la mode 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 — ClickFORMS or a la mode?

Ease of use depends on your starting point. ClickFORMS tends to fit one type of user or workflow, while a la mode 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 ClickFORMS or a la mode 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 ClickFORMS and a la mode are most useful for creating sketches from scratch or capturing measurements in the field.

Which works better for calculating GLA — ClickFORMS or a la mode?

Both ClickFORMS and a la mode 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.

Do ClickFORMS and a la mode include sketch tools for floor plans?

Both ClickFORMS and a la mode (TOTAL) include built-in sketch modules for drawing floor plans and calculating GLA. These sketch tools are designed for field-measured data entry. If you have an existing floor plan PDF rather than field measurements, a standalone tool like PlanSnapper is more efficient for tracing and calculating area directly.

Which appraisal software is more widely used in the US — ClickFORMS or a la mode?

a la mode's TOTAL is generally considered the market leader in residential appraisal software in the US, with a larger user base than ClickFORMS. Both are UAD-compliant and accepted by major lenders. The choice often comes down to regional conventions, office preference, and integration with AMC platforms.

Compare · 7 min read

ClickFORMS vs a la mode TOTAL: Which Appraisal Software Is Better?

ClickFORMS (Bradford Technologies) and a la mode TOTAL are the two most widely used residential appraisal report platforms in the United States. Both fill UAD forms, integrate with MLS and sketch tools, and submit to AMCs — but they differ in price, interface, and ecosystem. Here is a direct comparison.

What they have in common

Both platforms have been in the appraisal market for decades. Both produce UAD-compliant 1004, 1073, 2055, and other standard forms. Both integrate with major AMC portals for assignment management and submission. Both include built-in comparable databases and MLS connectivity.

The differences come down to ecosystem, pricing model, sketch integration, and the desktop-vs-cloud architecture that increasingly divides the market.

ClickFORMS vs a la mode TOTAL: at a glance

	ClickFORMS	a la mode TOTAL
Developer	Bradford Technologies	a la mode (now part of ICE Mortgage Technology)
Platform	Windows desktop + limited cloud	Windows desktop + TOTAL for Mobile (iOS/Android)
Pricing	Annual subscription (~$400–600/yr depending on tier)	Annual subscription (~$600–900/yr depending on tier)
Sketch integration	RapidSketch (built-in, same company)	Sketch integration via WinSketch, ArcSite, others
Comp database	MLS pull + Bradford comp database	MLS pull + TOTAL comp database + Mercury Network comps
UAD compliance	Yes	Yes
AMC portal integration	Major portals via PDF/XML	Deep Mercury Network integration (same parent company)
Mobile app	Limited	TOTAL for Mobile (iOS/Android — full field data entry)
Market share	Strong in independent appraisers, small firms	Dominant among larger firms and AMC-heavy workflows

Where ClickFORMS has the edge

RapidSketch integration: Bradford makes both ClickFORMS and RapidSketch. The two products share data natively — your sketch dimensions flow directly into the report without export/import steps.
Pricing: ClickFORMS tends to run $150–300/yr less than comparable a la mode tiers, which matters for solo appraisers watching overhead.
Simplicity: Some appraisers find the ClickFORMS interface less cluttered for straightforward residential work.
Independence: Bradford Technologies remains an independent company. a la mode is now embedded in ICE Mortgage Technology (the same company that owns MISMO, Encompass, and MeridianLink), which some appraisers view as a conflict of interest.

Where a la mode TOTAL has the edge

Mercury Network: a la mode owns Mercury Network, the largest AMC portal. If your volume comes through Mercury-connected AMCs, the integration is tighter with TOTAL.
Mobile app: TOTAL for Mobile is a full-featured iOS and Android companion app for field data entry. ClickFORMS mobile is limited by comparison.
Comps ecosystem: TOTAL's comp database is larger and has deeper MLS connectivity in more markets.
Industry standard feel: a la mode has been the dominant platform for so long that most appraisal education and AMC training assumes TOTAL. If you're new to the field, fewer things will be unfamiliar.

What about switching costs?

Both platforms store reports in proprietary formats. Switching mid-career means manually re-entering old comps or losing access to historical reports in their native format. Most appraisers pick one and stay for years. If you are starting out, evaluate both on free trials before committing.

The bottom line

For solo appraisers who draw their own sketches and want tight sketch-to-report integration at a lower price: ClickFORMS with RapidSketch is a coherent stack. For appraisers doing heavy AMC volume through Mercury Network, with a need for mobile field entry: a la mode TOTAL has real advantages.

Neither platform is significantly better on form quality or UAD compliance — both get the job done. The decision usually comes down to sketch workflow, AMC portal mix, and whether the mobile app matters for your process.

Need GLA from a floor plan before opening your report software?

PlanSnapper measures exterior GLA from any floor plan image or PDF in under 60 seconds — then export the number into ClickFORMS or TOTAL.

Try PlanSnapper Free