What is the difference between PlanSnapper and Total Sketch?

PlanSnapper is a browser-based tool for calculating ANSI-compliant GLA from existing floor plan images and PDFs. Total 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 Total 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 Total 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 Total 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 Total Sketch offers equivalent GLA functionality depends on its feature set.

How much does PlanSnapper cost compared to Total Sketch?

PlanSnapper and Total 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 Total Sketch?

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

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

Both PlanSnapper and Total 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.

How do PlanSnapper and Total Sketch handle existing floor plan PDFs?

Neither PlanSnapper nor Total Sketch 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 Total Sketch?

PlanSnapper and Total Sketch 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 Total Sketch: GLA Calculator vs Appraiser Sketch Tool

Total Sketch is the floor plan sketching module built into a la mode TOTAL — the most widely used residential appraisal platform. PlanSnapper is a browser tool for calculating GLA from floor plans you already have. They are not the same type of tool, and most appraisers who use Total Sketch would also find PlanSnapper useful.

What each tool does

Total Sketch is a drawing tool. You take measurements at the property — with a tape measure, laser measure, or Disto — then sketch the floor plan by entering room dimensions. Total Sketch calculates GLA automatically and embeds the floor plan directly in your TOTAL appraisal report.

PlanSnapper is a measurement tool for existing floor plans. Upload a PDF, photo, or scan — trace the outline of each floor level — and get a GLA calculation with a labeled floor plan you can export. No drawing from scratch required.

PlanSnapper vs Total Sketch: at a glance

	PlanSnapper	Total Sketch
Starting point	Existing floor plan (PDF, image, scan)	Your field measurements
Platform	Browser — any device, any OS	Windows only (a la mode TOTAL)
ANSI Z765 GLA	Yes	Yes
Appraisal report integration	PDF export	Embedded directly in TOTAL report
Standalone use	Yes — works independently	No — requires a la mode TOTAL subscription
Pricing	$9/day or $29/mo	Included with a la mode TOTAL (~$149/mo)
Best for	Measuring from existing plans	Sketching from your own measurements in TOTAL

The overlap and the gap

If you are a full-volume appraiser using a la mode TOTAL, Total Sketch is already part of your workflow and you are paying for it. It does exactly what it is supposed to do for that use case.

The gap Total Sketch does not fill: what do you do when you already have a floor plan and need to measure it? When a previous appraisal PDF lands in your inbox, or a client sends a scan from their architect, or you receive a CubiCasa export and need to verify the GLA independently? Total Sketch cannot accept an uploaded floor plan image and trace it.

That is where PlanSnapper fits. Upload the existing plan, trace the perimeter, and get a defensible GLA number in minutes.

Who uses PlanSnapper alongside Total Sketch

Appraisers reviewing prior reports who want to spot-check the GLA independently
Appraisers who receive scans or digitized plans from on-site capture tools and need to verify accuracy
Reviewers and supervisory appraisers checking field appraiser work
AMC staff doing desktop reviews without access to a la mode
Real estate agents who want a GLA number without paying for appraisal software

Bottom line

If you need to draw a floor plan from your field measurements and produce an TOTAL-integrated report, use Total Sketch — that is what it is built for. If you need to calculate GLA from a floor plan that already exists, use PlanSnapper. For many appraisers, both tools earn their place.

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