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Construction · head to head

Assignar vs Topcon MAGNET

Assignar logo

Assignar

Construction

Crew, equipment and compliance dispatch for self-perform and speciality contractors

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Topcon MAGNET logo

Topcon MAGNET

Construction

Field, office and cloud software for surveying and civil construction, built around Topcon instruments

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Assignar it is built for contractors who own crews and plant, so a general contractor coordinating subcontractors gets little from it beyond its own self-perform scopes.; Topcon MAGNET mAGNET is built around Topcon and Sokkia hardware, so a firm running mixed instrument brands will not get the field workflows it expects and is better served by manufacturer-independent field software.
  • They diverge on capability: Assignar covers Crew and equipment scheduling, Topcon MAGNET covers MAGNET Field.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Assignar and Topcon MAGNET actually diverge.

Attributes where Assignar and Topcon MAGNET differ
AttributeAssignarTopcon MAGNET
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWindows, Android, Web

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Construction).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Assignar

  • Crew and equipment scheduling
  • Digital dockets and timesheets
  • Compliance and competency tracking
  • Forms and inspections
  • Offline mobile capture
  • Production and cost reporting

Only in Topcon MAGNET

  • MAGNET Field
  • MAGNET Office
  • MAGNET Enterprise
  • Machine control model preparation
  • Mass haul and earthwork
  • Point layout and stakeout
  • Live field to office link
  • Standard format exchange

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Assignar

  • A civil contractor scheduling crews and plant across multiple sites from one dispatch boardnot Topcon MAGNET
  • A concrete or earthworks subcontractor replacing paper dockets that arrive three days latenot Topcon MAGNET
  • A contractor that must prove operator competency and induction status on regulated sitesnot Topcon MAGNET
  • A self-perform contractor comparing actual crew hours against estimated production ratesnot Topcon MAGNET

Topcon MAGNET

  • A civil contractor running Topcon grade control that needs design models prepared and pushed to machines from one environmentnot Assignar
  • A survey crew doing construction layout with Topcon total stations and wanting field data to reach the office without a memory cardnot Assignar
  • An earthworks estimator producing takeoff quantities and mass haul plans from engineering drawingsnot Assignar
  • A firm standardising on one manufacturer end to end to reduce the number of software packages its crews have to learnnot Assignar

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Assignar

  • It is built for contractors who own crews and plant, so a general contractor coordinating subcontractors gets little from it beyond its own self-perform scopes.
  • It is not an accounting or payroll system, so the value depends on a clean integration to your finance system and on someone owning the reconciliation when hours disagree.
  • Australian origins show in terminology and compliance defaults, and North American users spend setup time translating concepts such as tickets and inductions into local equivalents.
  • Offline capture works, but photo-heavy forms on poor connections remain the weak point and should be tested on your worst site before a full rollout.
  • Supervisors have to maintain the schedule for the reporting to mean anything, and dispatchers used to a whiteboard resist that for months unless the change is enforced.

Topcon MAGNET

  • MAGNET is built around Topcon and Sokkia hardware, so a firm running mixed instrument brands will not get the field workflows it expects and is better served by manufacturer-independent field software.
  • Topcon does not publish a rate card and sells through dealers, so two customers can pay materially different prices for the same licences depending on region and negotiation.
  • Cloud connectivity through MAGNET Enterprise is commonly bundled for the first year and then charged, which surprises firms that budgeted only for the licence.
  • Office capability is spread across modules and disciplines rather than sold as one product, so getting from data collection to machine control model preparation can require more than one purchase.
  • The office desktop software is Windows only and the wider line has been reorganised more than once, so buyers should confirm which specific product name their dealer is quoting and how long it will be supported.

Pricing, plan by plan

Assignar

On request
  • Assignar$undefined/year
    • Crew and equipment scheduling
    • Digital dockets and timesheets
    • Compliance tracking

Topcon MAGNET

On request
  • MAGNET Field$undefined/year
    • Data collector licence
    • Sold through Topcon dealers
    • Annual service plan renewals available
  • MAGNET Office$undefined/year
    • Desktop licence with modules by discipline
    • Includes cloud connectivity for a first year
    • Renewal quoted separately
  • MAGNET Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Cloud project storage and field to office exchange
    • Subscription renewed annually
    • Bundled initially with Office licences

Which should you pick?

Choose Assignar if

  • You need crew and equipment scheduling.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want digital dockets and timesheets.
Assignar review

Choose Topcon MAGNET if

  • You need magnet field.
  • You work on Windows, Android, Web.
  • You also want magnet office.
Topcon MAGNET review

Questions people ask

Is Assignar or Topcon MAGNET better?
Neither clearly leads. Assignar starts at On request and Topcon MAGNET at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Assignar or Topcon MAGNET?
Assignar starts at On request and Topcon MAGNET at On request.
Does Assignar or Topcon MAGNET run on more platforms?
Assignar runs on Web, iOS, Android. Topcon MAGNET runs on Windows, Android, Web.
What is Assignar best used for?
Assignar is most often used for a civil contractor scheduling crews and plant across multiple sites from one dispatch board, a concrete or earthworks subcontractor replacing paper dockets that arrive three days late, a contractor that must prove operator competency and induction status on regulated sites, a self-perform contractor comparing actual crew hours against estimated production rates. Of those, a civil contractor scheduling crews and plant across multiple sites from one dispatch board and a concrete or earthworks subcontractor replacing paper dockets that arrive three days late are not what Topcon MAGNET is typically brought in for.
What can Assignar do that Topcon MAGNET cannot?
Assignar covers Crew and equipment scheduling, Digital dockets and timesheets, Compliance and competency tracking, Forms and inspections. Topcon MAGNET covers MAGNET Field, MAGNET Office, MAGNET Enterprise, Machine control model preparation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Assignar: Is this for general contractors or subcontractors?

Speciality and self-perform contractors. The unit of work is a crew and a machine on a shift, which is not how a general contractor coordinates trades.

Topcon MAGNET: Does MAGNET work with Trimble or Leica instruments?

Not as a practical daily workflow. It exchanges standard file formats but the field software is designed for Topcon and Sokkia hardware.

Assignar: Does the mobile app work without signal?

Yes, entries are captured offline and synchronised later. Test it with photos attached on your worst site, because that is where sync problems appear.

Topcon MAGNET: Is pricing published?

No. MAGNET is sold through Topcon dealers with quotes varying by region and configuration.

Assignar: Does it handle payroll?

No. It captures hours and quantities and passes them to your payroll or enterprise resource planning system.

Topcon MAGNET: Is the cloud service included?

Typically for a first year with a licence, then renewable as a paid subscription.

Topcon MAGNET: Can I get my data out at project closeout?

Yes, through LandXML, DXF and standard survey exchange formats, though field-specific configuration does not transfer to a competitor.

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