What is the difference between PlanSnapper and Canvas?

PlanSnapper is a browser-based tool for calculating ANSI-compliant GLA from existing floor plan images and PDFs. Canvas 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 Canvas?

It depends on your workflow. PlanSnapper focuses on GLA calculation from floor plans — uploading an image, tracing the perimeter, and getting square footage. If Canvas 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 Canvas?

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 Canvas offers equivalent GLA functionality depends on its feature set.

How much does PlanSnapper cost compared to Canvas?

PlanSnapper and Canvas 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 Canvas?

Ease of use depends on your starting point. PlanSnapper and Canvas 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 Canvas 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 Canvas are most useful for creating sketches from scratch or capturing measurements in the field.

Which works better for calculating GLA — PlanSnapper or Canvas?

Both PlanSnapper and Canvas 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 Canvas require special hardware to capture a floor plan?

Canvas uses the LiDAR sensor found in iPad Pro and iPhone Pro models to capture 3D room scans. Without a LiDAR-equipped device, the app cannot generate a floor plan. PlanSnapper does not require any hardware — you upload an existing floor plan PDF or image and trace it directly in the browser.

Which tool is better if I already have a floor plan from a previous appraisal?

PlanSnapper is the better choice if you already have a floor plan. Upload the PDF or image, trace the exterior walls, and get a GLA figure in minutes. Canvas is designed for capturing new floor plans with a device scan — it is not built for working with pre-existing floor plan documents.

Compare · 6 min read

PlanSnapper vs Canvas: Floor Plan Tools for Real Estate Appraisers

Canvas (by Occipital) and PlanSnapper both end up with a square footage number — but they start from completely different places. Canvas uses an iPad Pro's LiDAR sensor to scan and reconstruct a 3D model of a space on-site. PlanSnapper calculates GLA by tracing an existing floor plan in your browser. Which one belongs in your workflow depends on what you already have when you sit down to write the report.

The core difference

Canvas requires an Apple iPad Pro with a LiDAR scanner. You walk through the property, pointing the iPad at walls and ceilings, and the app builds a real-time 3D point cloud of the space. From that scan it generates a 3D model and — with a paid export — a 2D floor plan.

PlanSnapper requires nothing except a browser and a floor plan you already have. Upload the PDF or image, set the scale using any known dimension, trace the perimeter, and PlanSnapper returns the GLA immediately. No hardware beyond a laptop or phone. No on-site requirement.

PlanSnapper vs Canvas: at a glance

	PlanSnapper	Canvas
What it does	Measures GLA from existing floor plans	Captures a 3D scan of a space on-site
Hardware required	Any device with a browser	iPad Pro with LiDAR (12.9" or 11")
On-site presence	Not required	Required
Output	GLA by floor level, instant	3D model + floor plan (paid export)
ANSI GLA	Yes — trace and label each level	Not a stated feature
Cost	~$9/month or day pass	Free app; floor plan export ~$4.99/scan
Best for	Desk review, verification, any existing plan	Field capture with LiDAR hardware in hand

What Canvas does

Canvas is built on Occipital's Structure SDK and takes advantage of the LiDAR sensor Apple added to iPad Pro starting in 2020. As you walk through a space, the app captures millions of depth measurements per second and stitches them into a textured 3D mesh. The process takes a few minutes per room; the complete scan for a typical single-family home usually runs 15–30 minutes.

From the scan you can export a 3D model (usable in design and BIM software) or a 2D floor plan for a per-scan fee. The output is dimensionally accurate — Canvas advertises accuracy within 1% for linear measurements under ideal conditions. For appraisers, the main appeal is speed: one scan at the property can replace hand measurements entirely.

What PlanSnapper does

PlanSnapper is a measurement tool for existing floor plans. It does not capture anything — you bring the floor plan, from whatever source: a Canvas export, a builder's PDF, an MLS attachment, county records, or a previous appraisal. Upload it, draw a scale line using any known dimension (an exterior wall, a room width, even a noted scale bar), and trace the outline of each floor level.

PlanSnapper separates above-grade from below-grade area automatically based on how you label each floor, calculates GLA per ANSI Z765, and gives you a printable report. The whole workflow takes a few minutes once you have the floor plan in hand.

When Canvas makes sense

Canvas is worth considering if you already own an iPad Pro with LiDAR, you regularly need to generate floor plans on-site, and you want a self-contained capture tool that minimizes physical measurements. It is particularly useful on complex properties where manual measuring would take a long time or where you want the 3D model for documentation.

The catch is hardware dependency. Canvas only runs on iPad Pro models with LiDAR (2020 and later). If you do not own one, the entry cost to start using Canvas for this purpose is significant.

When PlanSnapper makes sense

PlanSnapper is the right tool when you already have a floor plan — which is most of the time for desktop reviews, re-certifications, and any assignment where the builder, MLS, or a prior report provides one. It works on any device, requires no hardware investment, and gets you from upload to GLA in minutes.

Common scenarios: verifying a builder-provided square footage before closing, checking a listing agent's stated GLA against the floor plan on record, or calculating above-grade area on a CubiCasa or Canvas export without relying on the originating app's reported number.

Can you use both?

Yes. The two tools are complementary rather than competing. A common workflow: use Canvas on-site to capture the floor plan, export the 2D PDF, then upload it to PlanSnapper at your desk to trace and calculate ANSI GLA with explicit control over which areas count. This keeps your GLA calculation transparent and auditable — a real advantage when a client or AMC questions the number.

Try PlanSnapper on your next appraisal

Upload a floor plan, set the scale, and get your GLA in minutes — no hardware required.

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