What is the difference between Total and ClickFORMS?

Total and ClickFORMS are different tools with different strengths. The best choice depends on your workflow, budget, and whether you need features like 3D scanning, floor plan generation, GLA calculation, or design capabilities. This page breaks down a direct comparison.

Which is better for real estate appraisers — Total or ClickFORMS?

Total and Clickforms serve different workflows. Total is better suited for one use case while Clickforms fits another — the right choice depends on whether you need field capture or office-based GLA calculation from existing floor plans.

Can Total and ClickFORMS be used together?

Total and Clickforms can complement each other in some workflows — for example, using one for field capture and the other for GLA calculation and reporting. Check the comparison table above for specific integration details.

How much does Total cost compared to ClickFORMS?

Total and ClickFORMS 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 — Total or ClickFORMS?

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

Which works better for calculating GLA — Total or ClickFORMS?

Both Total and ClickFORMS 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 Total and ClickFORMS handle existing floor plan PDFs?

Neither Total nor ClickFORMS 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 — Total or ClickFORMS?

Total and ClickFORMS 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 · 7 min read

TOTAL vs ClickForms: Which Appraisal Form Software Should You Use?

TOTAL (by a la mode) and ClickForms (by Bradford Technologies) have dominated residential appraisal form software for decades. Both handle the core job -- filling out UAD-compliant URAR forms and submitting to lenders -- but they differ in workflow, pricing, integrations, and philosophy. Here is a plain-language breakdown to help you decide.

The short version

TOTAL by a la mode: The market leader. Tightly integrated with Mercury Network (the dominant AMC portal), built-in mobile inspection app (ClickMeasure), and a large ecosystem of plugins. Subscription-based pricing.
ClickForms by Bradford Technologies: The independent alternative. Preferred by appraisers who want more control over their workflow, lower all-in cost, and native WinSKETCH integration. Strong AMC compatibility without lock-in.

TOTAL vs ClickForms: at a glance

	TOTAL (a la mode)	ClickForms (Bradford)
Market share	Largest (estimated 60%+ of residential appraisers)	Second largest
Pricing model	Monthly subscription (~$99-149/mo)	Annual license (~$499-699/yr)
AMC portal integration	Mercury Network (owned by a la mode) + others	Compatible with most major AMC portals
Sketching tool	Sketch (built-in, with ClickMeasure mobile)	WinSKETCH (native integration)
Mobile inspection app	TOTAL for Mobile / ClickMeasure	ClickForms Mobile
UAD compliance	Yes	Yes
Comparable database access	DataMaster, MLS integrations	ClickForms Data, MLS integrations
Customer support reputation	Mixed (large user base, variable response times)	Generally well-regarded (smaller, more responsive)
Platform	Windows (primary), limited Mac support	Windows

What TOTAL does well

TOTAL is the default choice for most residential appraisers, largely because of Mercury Network. If most of your work comes through AMCs that use Mercury, TOTAL's native integration eliminates friction -- orders flow in directly, reports go out with one click, and revision requests come back into the same interface.

The mobile inspection workflow (TOTAL for Mobile) is genuinely useful for data collection in the field. You can pull property info, take photos, and sketch floor plans directly on a tablet, then sync to your desktop report. For appraisers doing high volume, this matters.

TOTAL also has the largest third-party ecosystem -- integrations with DataMaster, numerous MLS feeds, AI-assisted adjustment tools, and a broad support community. If you have a workflow question, someone in the a la mode forum has probably answered it.

Where TOTAL falls short

Subscription cost adds up. At $99-149/month, TOTAL costs $1,200-1,800/year. For independent appraisers doing lower volume, that is a significant overhead.
Mercury Network dependency. a la mode owns Mercury Network, which creates a subtle lock-in. The integration is excellent, but the business relationship means pricing and terms can change.
Support quality varies. A large user base means slower support response during peak periods. Common complaints include long hold times and inconsistent quality.
Interface complexity. TOTAL is powerful but has accumulated years of features. New users often find the interface overwhelming compared to simpler alternatives.

What ClickForms does well

ClickForms is the preferred choice for appraisers who value independence and lower total cost. The annual license model typically works out cheaper than a TOTAL subscription for appraisers who do not need the full Mercury Network integration.

WinSKETCH integration is a genuine differentiator -- for appraisers who do traditional hand-measurement field appraisals and want purpose-built sketching software, ClickForms plus WinSKETCH is a cohesive combination. The sketch flows directly into the form report.

Bradford Technologies has a reputation for more responsive customer service. As a smaller company, they are more accessible -- a meaningful factor when you are on deadline and something breaks.

Where ClickForms falls short

Mercury Network is less seamless. ClickForms works with Mercury Network, but the workflow is not as tightly integrated as TOTAL. For AMC-heavy appraisers, this creates more manual steps.
Smaller ecosystem. Fewer third-party integrations and a smaller user community compared to TOTAL. Some plugins and tools exist only for a la mode.
Windows only. Like TOTAL, ClickForms is Windows-only. Mac users are not well served by either platform.
Less development velocity. Bradford Technologies moves slower than a la mode on new features. If you need cutting-edge AI adjustments or new integrations quickly, TOTAL tends to ship them first.

Which should you choose?

Choose TOTAL if: Most of your work comes through Mercury Network AMCs, you do high volume and value the mobile inspection workflow, or you rely on third-party plugins and integrations.

Choose ClickForms if: You prefer an annual license over a subscription, you use WinSKETCH for traditional field sketching, or you value more direct customer support from a smaller company.

Many appraisers who switch between platforms report that the core form-filling experience is similar -- the differences are in the ecosystem, pricing model, and sketching workflow. The right choice depends on how you source work and how you sketch.

A note on floor plan measurement

Both TOTAL and ClickForms include sketch tools for drawing floor plans from field measurements. Neither is designed for measuring GLA from an existing floor plan -- like a CubiCasa scan, Matterport export, or floor plan image from an MLS listing. If you receive floor plans from third-party scanning services and need to calculate ANSI Z765-compliant GLA from them, that is where a tool like PlanSnapper fills the gap. Upload the floor plan, trace the perimeter, set the scale, and get the number in under two minutes.

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.

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