Compare · 8 min read
Magicplan vs CubiCasa: Which Floor Plan App Is Right for You?
Magicplan and CubiCasa are the two most-downloaded smartphone apps for creating floor plans. Both work without special hardware, but they use fundamentally different approaches, and serve somewhat different markets.
The short version
- Magicplan: Best for construction, renovation, and insurance workflows. Built-in estimating and reporting tools.
- CubiCasa: Best for real estate and appraisal. Walk-through capture, cleaner floor plan output, ANSI GLA add-on.
Magicplan vs CubiCasa: at a glance
| Magicplan | CubiCasa | |
|---|---|---|
| Capture method | Room-by-room corners / LiDAR | Continuous walk-through scan |
| LiDAR support | Yes (iPhone/iPad Pro) | No |
| Primary market | Construction, renovation, insurance | Real estate, appraisal |
| ANSI GLA | Not available | Add-on ($) |
| Pricing | Subscription or per-project | Per-scan ($4–$9) |
Already have a floor plan?
Upload it to PlanSnapper and get your square footage in minutes. No software to install.
Measure your floor plan →How Magicplan works
Magicplan uses your phone's camera and AR (augmented reality) to capture room dimensions. You point your camera at each corner of a room and tap to record it. The app assembles rooms into a full floor plan. It also integrates with LiDAR on compatible iPhones and iPads for more accurate measurements.
Magicplan is built around construction and facility management workflows. Beyond floor plans, it offers cost estimation, material takeoffs, and field report generation: features more relevant to contractors than real estate agents or appraisers.
How CubiCasa works
CubiCasa uses a continuous walk-through scan approach. You walk through the property holding your phone, and the app's AI processes the video and sensor data into a to-scale floor plan. The process is faster and requires less user input than Magicplan's room-by-room corner-tapping method.
CubiCasa's output is a clean, real-estate-ready floor plan with room labels and dimensions. It's the standard in many real estate photography packages and integrates with MLS platforms.
Pricing
Magicplan offers a free tier with limited exports and a paid subscription starting around $10–$30/month depending on features. Individual project exports are available without a subscription.
CubiCasa charges per scan ($4–$9 for basic floor plans) with no subscription required. Volume packages are available. The ANSI GLA add-on for appraisal use is an additional fee.
Accuracy
LiDAR-equipped iPhones give Magicplan a significant accuracy advantage on supported devices: typically ±1% or better. On non-LiDAR devices, accuracy depends heavily on user technique.
CubiCasa's AI-based approach delivers consistent 1–3% accuracy across devices without requiring the user to manually identify corners. For most real estate and appraisal use cases, both are accurate enough.
Already have the floor plan?
Either app can produce a floor plan accurate enough to calculate GLA. If you already have a floor plan image or PDF from Magicplan or CubiCasa, PlanSnapper lets you upload it and trace the perimeter yourself to get a square footage measurement without paying for an add-on report.
Related reading
- How to get square footage from a CubiCasa floor plan
- What is gross living area (GLA)?
- ANSI Z765 square footage standard explained
- Floor plan measurement tool for GLA calculation
- MagicPlan vs Matterport: comparison
- MagicPlan vs Floorplanner: comparison
- How to read a floor plan: symbols, scales, and dimensions
- Floor plan dimensions: how to read and use them for square footage
- Furniture floor plan: how to use one to verify room size
- Apex Sketch vs Cubicasa: comparison
- Apex Sketch vs Magicplan: comparison
- Canvas vs Cubicasa: comparison
- Canvas vs Magicplan: comparison
- MagicPlan vs RoomSketcher: comparison
- Total Sketch vs MagicPlan: comparison
- Using CubiCasa, Matterport, or iGUIDE floor plans: FAQ
- How to prepare your floor plan before uploading: FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between magicplan and CubiCasa?
magicplan and CubiCasa 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: magicplan or CubiCasa?
Magicplan and Cubicasa serve different workflows. Magicplan is better suited for one use case while Cubicasa fits another: the right choice depends on whether you need field capture or office-based GLA calculation from existing floor plans.
Can magicplan and CubiCasa be used together?
Magicplan and Cubicasa 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 magicplan cost compared to CubiCasa?
magicplan and CubiCasa 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: magicplan or CubiCasa?
Ease of use depends on your starting point. magicplan tends to fit one type of user or workflow, while CubiCasa 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 magicplan or CubiCasa 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 magicplan and CubiCasa are most useful for creating sketches from scratch or capturing measurements in the field.
Which works better for calculating GLA: magicplan or CubiCasa?
Both magicplan and CubiCasa 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.
How do magicplan and CubiCasa handle existing floor plan PDFs?
Neither magicplan nor CubiCasa is primarily designed to import and calculate square footage from an existing PDF floor plan. Both tools are built around creating or capturing floor plans from scratch. If you already have a PDF floor plan, PlanSnapper lets you upload it directly, trace the walls, and get an accurate GLA figure without redrawing anything.
Which is better for occasional users: magicplan or CubiCasa?
magicplan and CubiCasa are both specialized tools with learning curves that reward regular use. Occasional users often find dedicated subscription tools hard to justify. For someone who needs to calculate square footage a few times a month, PlanSnapper is designed for exactly that: no training required, no annual contract, upload and measure in minutes.