What is the difference between PlanSnapper and ACI Sketch?

PlanSnapper is a browser-based tool for calculating ANSI-compliant GLA from existing floor plan images and PDFs. ACI Sketch is a separate tool with different core functionality. The right choice depends on whether you need to measure from a floor plan or perform a different task.

Can PlanSnapper replace ACI Sketch?

It depends on your workflow. PlanSnapper focuses on GLA calculation from floor plans — uploading an image, tracing the perimeter, and getting square footage. If ACI Sketch serves a different purpose in your process, the two tools may complement each other rather than compete.

Which is better for ANSI Z765 GLA calculation — PlanSnapper or ACI Sketch?

PlanSnapper is purpose-built for ANSI-compliant GLA calculation from floor plan images. It handles PDF uploads, perimeter tracing, and automatic area calculation in a browser with no install required. Whether ACI Sketch offers equivalent GLA functionality depends on its feature set.

How much does PlanSnapper cost compared to ACI Sketch?

PlanSnapper and ACI 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 — PlanSnapper or ACI Sketch?

Ease of use depends on your starting point. PlanSnapper and ACI Sketch each target different user types. 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 PlanSnapper or ACI Sketch 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 PlanSnapper and ACI Sketch are most useful for creating sketches from scratch or capturing measurements in the field.

Which works better for calculating GLA — PlanSnapper or ACI Sketch?

Both PlanSnapper and ACI Sketch 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 ACI Sketch integrate with ACI appraisal software?

ACI Sketch is part of the ACI ecosystem and integrates directly with ACI appraisal forms software, allowing sketch data to populate the appraisal report automatically. PlanSnapper is standalone — it outputs a GLA figure that you then enter into whichever appraisal software you use.

Can PlanSnapper be used alongside ACI Sketch in the same workflow?

Yes. Some appraisers use PlanSnapper to quickly verify square footage from an existing floor plan or prior report before entering measurements into ACI Sketch. The tools serve different steps — PlanSnapper handles PDF-based verification; ACI Sketch handles new field sketches tied to the appraisal form.

Compare · 6 min read

PlanSnapper vs ACI Sketch: GLA Calculation for Appraisers

ACI Sketch is a field sketching tool built into the ACI appraisal platform — designed to capture measurements on-site and generate ANSI-compliant sketches for your report. PlanSnapper calculates GLA from floor plans you already have, without field visits or sketching software. Here is how they compare.

The short version

ACI Sketch: Best for field measurement capture integrated directly into ACI appraisal reports. Requires physical presence and a paid ACI subscription.
PlanSnapper: Best for calculating GLA from an existing floor plan — CubiCasa, Matterport, builder plans, or any to-scale image — without field measurement.

PlanSnapper vs ACI Sketch: at a glance

	PlanSnapper	ACI Sketch
Primary use case	GLA from existing floor plans	Field sketch capture for ACI reports
On-site visit required	No	Yes — measurements taken at property
Works from photo or PDF	Yes — any to-scale image	No — requires field measurements
ANSI Z765 compliance	Yes — trace exterior perimeter directly	Yes — designed for ANSI-compliant sketching
Platform integration	Standalone browser tool	Integrated within ACI appraisal software
Cost	$9/day pass or $29/month	Included with ACI subscription (~$400–$600/year)
Best for	Desk review, plan verification, existing floor plans	Field-captured sketches for ACI appraisal reports

What ACI Sketch does

ACI Sketch is the built-in sketching module for the ACI appraisal platform (now part of CoreLogic). It is designed to capture property dimensions on-site using a laser or tape measure, then automatically calculate GLA and generate a clean sketch diagram for inclusion in your appraisal report.

The workflow is field-first: you arrive at the property, measure each wall, enter the dimensions, and the software calculates totals. The sketch outputs directly to the ACI form and includes area calculations broken out by level and type (above-grade finished, below-grade, garage, etc.).

ACI Sketch is a solid tool within its context. If you are already running ACI for appraisal reports and doing full field inspections, the integrated sketch workflow is efficient. The problem is that it is only useful if you are physically present — and it is locked to the ACI ecosystem.

What PlanSnapper does

PlanSnapper is a browser-based tool for calculating GLA from any to-scale floor plan. You upload the image — a CubiCasa export, a Matterport schematic, a builder plan PDF, or even a photo of a paper sketch — set the scale using one known wall length, trace the perimeter, and get ANSI-compliant square footage in under two minutes.

There is no software to install and no platform lock-in. PlanSnapper works in any browser, on any machine. The output is the GLA figure and individual wall dimensions — not a formatted sketch diagram, but the math behind one.

The key difference: field vs. desk

ACI Sketch and PlanSnapper solve different parts of the same problem. ACI Sketch captures measurements at the property and formats them into a report sketch. PlanSnapper extracts measurements from a floor plan you already have.

For a standard full appraisal with a site visit, ACI Sketch (or any sketch tool) is the right workflow — you are on-site anyway, and the integrated field capture makes sense. For desk reviews, review appraisals, builder plan verification, or any situation where you have a floor plan but not field access, PlanSnapper is the faster path.

Many appraisers use both: ACI Sketch for primary field inspections, PlanSnapper when they need to verify a GLA figure from a plan without scheduling another site visit.

When ACI Sketch is the right call

If you use ACI as your primary appraisal platform and conduct full field inspections, ACI Sketch makes sense as your sketch tool. The tight integration between field capture and report output reduces data entry and potential transcription errors. The sketch flows directly into your form without manual export steps.

ACI Sketch also handles complex footprints well — attached garages, multi-level homes, irregular shapes — because you are entering each wall measurement manually and can structure the sketch accordingly.

When PlanSnapper is the right call

PlanSnapper is the right call in any of these situations:

Desk review or review appraisal: You have the original floor plan from the file. No field visit required or permitted.
Builder plan verification: The builder provided a floor plan PDF. You need to confirm GLA before signing off.
CubiCasa or Matterport floor plan: These tools produce accurate, to-scale floor plans but no GLA output. PlanSnapper fills that gap.
Checking your own sketch: Upload your field sketch to verify your GLA calculation before submission.
Not an ACI user: PlanSnapper works with any appraisal software or workflow. No platform dependency.

Platform lock-in

One practical consideration: ACI Sketch only works within ACI. If you switch appraisal platforms, your sketch workflow changes. PlanSnapper is platform-agnostic — it outputs a GLA number you can use anywhere, whether you write reports in ACI, Total, ClickForms, or a custom template.

Cost comparison

ACI sketch is included in the ACI subscription, which typically runs $400–$600 per year depending on the plan. If you are already paying for ACI, ACI Sketch is effectively free. PlanSnapper is $29/month or $9 for a day pass — no annual commitment.

If you only need PlanSnapper for desk review or plan verification (not as a daily sketch tool), a day pass often covers several months of occasional use at a lower annual cost than any monthly subscription.

The bottom line

ACI Sketch is a field sketching tool built for ACI users who do full inspections. PlanSnapper is a floor plan measurement tool that works from any to-scale image, with no field visit, no platform dependency, and no hardware required.

They complement each other more than they compete. If you use ACI and do field inspections, keep using ACI Sketch for that workflow. Add PlanSnapper when you need GLA from a plan rather than from field measurements.

Try PlanSnapper on your next desk review

Upload a floor plan, set one known dimension, and get ANSI-compliant GLA in under two minutes — no software, no field visit, no ACI subscription required.

Try PlanSnapper →