Comparison
magicplan
vs Archistar
An honest comparison of magicplan and Archistar — pricing, features, strengths, weaknesses, and what real users say about each.
At a Glance
Option A
magicplan
Everything you capture on-site stays organized
Category
Floor Plans
Pricing
Contact for pricing
Platforms
iOS, Android, Web
G2 Rating
4.3/5 (50+ reviews)
Best For
Restoration teams needing floor plans + scoping in one mobile workflow
Not Great For
Large property management or pure inspection-only use cases
Option B
Archistar
Fast-track building permit assessment with AI
Category
Floor Plans
Pricing
AUD $79.17/month
Platforms
Web
G2 Rating
Unknown/5 (Unknown reviews)
Best For
Developers and municipalities wanting AI-driven permit and feasibility analysis
Not Great For
Field technicians or restoration contractors
The Details
magicplan
Pros
- +All features included on every plan — no add-ons or per-user fees
- +Unlimited users included at no extra cost
- +Complete field-to-office workflow: capture, scope, estimate in one app
- +4.7 stars with 290K+ ratings across app stores
- +Works offline for fieldwork
Cons
- −Pay-per-project pricing model may not suit high-volume users
- −Scope of Work feature still in early access
- −Primarily focused on restoration — less suited for general construction
- −Integration ecosystem appears limited compared to competitors
What Reddit Says
“Third. In addition to design build, we help our customers with this on a regular basis. OP, graph paper and pencil is a great way to show you plans as it is easy to scale and make sure you capture rich piece of equipment. Be sure to include a sched”
“I am a commercial kitchen designer, all I do is prepare submittals for health department review. Mostly as a sub consultant under an architect, but not always. We use AutoCAD and/or Revit and a utility called KCL CAD/BIM Designer. I’ll parrot what a”
“Is what you do fun? I dropped out of architecture school but I deeply love it and love kitchen design as well as being in the kitchen. That sounds like a neat job to consider if I ever leave my life of baking bread every day.”
“And expensive for someone who isn’t using it a lot.”
“Make sure to label these as estimates no matter how accurate they are. My brokerage discourages them almost to doesn’t let you put them on Because they don’t want nuisance lawsuits if the buyer decides they’re inaccurate but also because they don’t h”
“My brokerage does the same, too much liability.”
Archistar
Pros
- +Free tier with 3D generative AI design for all building types
- +AI PreCheck automates building permit assessment — reduces processing times by up to 90%
- +Trusted by 25+ cities and local governments worldwide
- +Comprehensive data integration: CoreLogic, Domain, Cordell, Nearmap
- +10+ years of innovation in property compliance and AI
Cons
- −Currently focused primarily on Australian market for property research
- −Pricing in AUD — may not be transparent for international users
- −Pro tier at $345-$595/month is expensive for individual users
- −International coverage not yet publicly available
What Reddit Says
“Excellent for quick feasibility studies on development sites”
“Planning rules engine saves hours of manual research”
“3D massing and site visualization is useful for early-stage design”
“Primarily Australia-focused - limited international coverage”
“Planning rules database not always up to date”
“AI-generated designs are very basic - need significant refinement”
The Verdict
Which one should you pick?
Choose magicplan if:
Restoration teams needing floor plans + scoping in one mobile workflow
Choose Archistar if:
Developers and municipalities wanting AI-driven permit and feasibility analysis
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