What is the difference between PlanSnapper and Roofsnap?

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

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

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 Roofsnap offers equivalent GLA functionality depends on its feature set.

How much does PlanSnapper cost compared to Roofsnap?

PlanSnapper and Roofsnap 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 Roofsnap?

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

Which works better for calculating GLA — PlanSnapper or Roofsnap?

Both PlanSnapper and Roofsnap 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 Roofsnap handle existing floor plan PDFs?

Neither PlanSnapper nor Roofsnap 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 Roofsnap?

PlanSnapper and Roofsnap 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 RoofSnap: Which Tool Do Appraisers Actually Need?

Both PlanSnapper and RoofSnap are used in real estate appraisal workflows — but they solve very different problems. RoofSnap is designed for exterior roof measurement from aerial imagery. PlanSnapper is designed for interior floor plan measurement and ANSI Z765-compliant GLA. Here is a direct comparison.

The short version

RoofSnap: An exterior measurement and roof sketching tool that uses aerial imagery (satellite photos, drone data) to generate roof diagrams with slope, area, and pitch. Primarily used by roofing contractors and insurance adjusters. Some appraisers use it for exterior footprint estimation, but it is not designed for GLA calculation or ANSI Z765 compliance.
PlanSnapper: Built specifically for interior floor plan measurement and ANSI Z765-compliant GLA output. You upload a floor plan (from CubiCasa, Matterport, iGUIDE, architect drawings, or any to-scale image), trace the perimeter, set one known dimension, and get finished GLA broken down by floor and above/below grade. Built for residential appraisers.

PlanSnapper vs RoofSnap: at a glance

	PlanSnapper	RoofSnap
Primary use case	Interior floor plan measurement and ANSI GLA	Exterior roof measurement from aerial imagery
Input source	Floor plan images, PDFs (CubiCasa, Matterport, architect drawings)	Satellite/aerial imagery pulled from mapping services
ANSI Z765 GLA calculation	Yes — above/below grade separation, compliant output	No — measures roof area, not interior GLA
Above vs. below grade handling	Yes (separate polygon per floor and grade level)	No (exterior footprint only)
Works with floor plans from CubiCasa / Matterport	Yes (PDF and image upload)	No (uses aerial imagery, not floor plan uploads)
Roof slope and pitch data	No	Yes
Suitable for appraisal GLA documentation	Yes — designed for this purpose	No — designed for roofing and insurance, not GLA reporting
Multi-level / finished basement handling	Yes (add polygon per level, each tracked separately)	No
Primary audience	Residential appraisers, real estate agents, investors	Roofing contractors, insurance adjusters
Price	$9 day pass / $29/mo	Subscription (~$60–$100+/mo depending on plan)

What RoofSnap is actually for

RoofSnap pulls aerial and satellite imagery for a given address and lets you sketch the roof directly on that image. It calculates roof area, pitch, slope, and generates a roof diagram used primarily for roofing bids and insurance claims. It is very good at what it does — but what it does is measure the exterior of the roof, not the interior of the house.

Some appraisers have used RoofSnap's aerial sketching to estimate a building's exterior footprint when they don't have access to a floor plan. This can work as a rough check, but it does not produce ANSI Z765-compliant GLA. It cannot separate above-grade from below-grade area, cannot account for interior voids (open stairwells, through-floor openings), and the aerial imagery may not have the resolution or accuracy required for a defensible appraisal measurement.

Where RoofSnap falls short for floor plan measurement

It measures roofs, not living area. Roof area and GLA are fundamentally different numbers. Roof overhangs, pitch multipliers, and exterior walls all affect roof area in ways that have nothing to do with gross living area. RoofSnap's output is not a GLA calculation.
No ANSI Z765 compliance. ANSI Z765 requires measurement from the exterior perimeter of finished, above-grade space. RoofSnap does not apply these rules — it measures the roof, not the living area by ANSI definition.
Cannot work from floor plan PDFs. If you have a CubiCasa, Matterport, or iGUIDE floor plan PDF, RoofSnap has no way to ingest it. PlanSnapper is designed exactly for this: upload the floor plan, trace the exterior walls, calibrate with one known dimension.
No finished basement separation. For a split-level or walk-out basement home, ANSI Z765 requires that above-grade and below-grade area be reported separately. RoofSnap has no mechanism for this — it only sees the roof from above.
Higher cost. RoofSnap pricing starts around $60–100+/month, built around the roofing contractor workflow. PlanSnapper offers a $9 day pass for occasional use and $29/month for unlimited access.

Can you use both tools together?

In some workflows, yes. Some appraisers use RoofSnap for exterior sketching (particularly for complex rooflines where a drone or aerial view is more practical than a field measurement) and PlanSnapper for floor plan GLA when a scanning company has already produced a floor plan. They are not competitive tools — they operate on different inputs and produce different outputs.

If you already have a to-scale floor plan from any source — a scanning service, a builder, an architect, or an MLS listing — PlanSnapper gives you ANSI-compliant GLA in minutes. RoofSnap cannot do that regardless of the plan tier you are on.

Who should use RoofSnap

Roofing contractors, insurance adjusters, and property inspectors who need roof area, pitch data, and exterior sketching from aerial imagery. RoofSnap is excellent for these tasks and is the right tool for that job.

Who should use PlanSnapper

Residential appraisers who need to calculate ANSI Z765-compliant GLA from a floor plan. If you have a floor plan from CubiCasa, Matterport, iGUIDE, an architect, a builder, or any other source — and you need a defensible, ANSI-compliant GLA number with above/below grade separation — PlanSnapper was built specifically for this. It costs less, takes less than 2 minutes per property, and produces the output appraisers actually use.

Have a floor plan that needs GLA?

Upload any floor plan PDF or image and calculate ANSI Z765-compliant GLA in under 2 minutes. Works with CubiCasa, Matterport, iGUIDE, architect drawings, and any to-scale image.

Try PlanSnapper — $9 Day Pass