What is the difference between PlanSnapper and Hover?

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

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

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 Hover offers equivalent GLA functionality depends on its feature set.

How much does PlanSnapper cost compared to Hover?

PlanSnapper and Hover 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 Hover?

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

Which works better for calculating GLA — PlanSnapper or Hover?

Both PlanSnapper and Hover 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 PlanSnapper and Hover handle existing floor plan PDFs?

Neither PlanSnapper nor Hover 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 — PlanSnapper or Hover?

PlanSnapper and Hover 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.

Compare · 6 min read

PlanSnapper vs HOVER: Which Is Better for Property Measurement?

HOVER and PlanSnapper both measure properties, but they solve fundamentally different problems. HOVER uses photos taken around the exterior of a building to generate a 3D model for exterior measurements -- primarily used by roofing and siding contractors. PlanSnapper uses an existing floor plan image to calculate interior gross living area (GLA) for appraisers, agents, and investors. Here is how they compare.

The short version

HOVER: A mobile-first photogrammetry tool that creates 3D property models from smartphone photos of the exterior. Built for roofing, siding, and insurance estimates. Measures exterior dimensions, roof pitch, and surface areas. Not designed for interior floor plan GLA calculation.
PlanSnapper: A browser-based tool for uploading an existing floor plan -- PDF or image -- and tracing the perimeter to calculate ANSI Z765-compliant GLA. Built for appraisers, real estate agents, and anyone who needs interior square footage from a floor plan.

PlanSnapper vs HOVER: at a glance

	PlanSnapper	HOVER
Primary use case	Interior GLA from floor plan images	Exterior 3D modeling for contractor estimates
How it captures data	Upload an existing floor plan (PDF, photo, export)	Walk around property taking phone photos
ANSI Z765 GLA	Yes (interior perimeter, above/below grade)	No (exterior 3D model, not floor plan GLA)
Requires on-site visit	No (works from any to-scale floor plan)	Yes (photos must be taken at the property)
Exterior measurements	Limited (derived from floor plan scale)	Yes (primary feature)
Roof pitch and area	No	Yes
Works from CubiCasa / Matterport exports	Yes	No
Platform	Browser (any device)	Mobile app + web dashboard
Pricing	$9 day pass / $29/mo	Per-property reports (~$10-25+ each)
Target user	Appraisers, real estate agents, investors	Roofing contractors, siding companies, insurers

What HOVER does well

HOVER's photogrammetry technology is genuinely impressive. Walk around a house taking overlapping smartphone photos, and HOVER's AI stitches them into an accurate 3D model with roof pitch, wall dimensions, window and door placements, and surface area calculations. For roofing and siding contractors, this eliminates the need to climb on a roof to measure -- a meaningful safety and efficiency improvement.

Insurance companies use HOVER for property condition documentation. The 3D model provides a detailed, defensible record of a property's exterior at a specific point in time.

Where HOVER falls short for real estate and appraisal work

Does not calculate interior GLA. HOVER builds a 3D exterior model. It does not produce a floor plan or measure interior square footage in the way ANSI Z765 defines GLA. For residential appraisals, you need interior perimeter measurements separated by grade level -- that is not what HOVER delivers.
Requires a property visit. You have to be at the property to use HOVER. If you have a floor plan from CubiCasa, Matterport, or an MLS listing and just need to calculate GLA from it, HOVER cannot help.
Per-report cost model. HOVER charges per property, which works for contractors doing occasional estimates but adds up quickly for appraisers or agents processing multiple properties daily.
Not appraisal software. HOVER does not integrate with appraisal form software or produce output formatted for USPAP-compliant reports.

Where PlanSnapper wins for appraisers and agents

Works from any floor plan you already have. No property visit needed. If the MLS package includes a CubiCasa scan or the client emails a Matterport export, you upload it and have GLA in under 2 minutes.
ANSI Z765-compliant output. PlanSnapper measures exterior perimeter area from the floor plan, separated by grade level -- exactly the methodology ANSI Z765 and Fannie Mae require. HOVER is not designed to produce this output.
Predictable pricing for regular users. At $29/month unlimited, PlanSnapper makes more sense for appraisers and agents doing multiple properties than paying per-report.

Which should you use?

Use HOVER if: You are a roofing contractor, siding company, or insurance professional who needs 3D exterior models and surface area calculations from property photos. HOVER is excellent for what it does.

Use PlanSnapper if: You are a residential appraiser, real estate agent, or investor who needs to calculate ANSI-compliant GLA from an existing floor plan. PlanSnapper is built for exactly that workflow.

Already have the floor plan?

Upload any floor plan PDF or image and calculate ANSI Z765-compliant GLA in minutes. Works with CubiCasa, Matterport, iGUIDE exports, and any floor plan image.

Try PlanSnapper Free →