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Construction · head to head

Buildxact vs Propeller Aero

Buildxact logo

Buildxact

Construction

Estimating and construction management for builders, remodelers and material dealers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Propeller Aero logo

Propeller Aero

Construction

Drone survey processing and earthworks volume measurement for sites that measure stockpiles weekly

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Buildxact has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Buildxact 15% discount applied only to annual billing; Propeller Aero platform pricing is not published and is scoped by sites and users, so a contractor with many short-lived sites can be quoted very differently from one with a few long ones, and neither can benchmark against a list price
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buildxact and Propeller Aero actually diverge.

Attributes where Buildxact and Propeller Aero differ
AttributeBuildxactPropeller Aero
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionHardware purchase plus a quoted platform subscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: 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 Buildxact

Nothing recorded that Propeller Aero does not also cover.

Only in Propeller Aero

  • Photogrammetric processing
  • AeroPoints ground control
  • Volume measurement
  • Design surface comparison
  • Progress timeline
  • Machine telemetry
  • Corrections network

What people use each for

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

Buildxact

  • Reducing estimation time from 30-40 hoursnot Propeller Aero
  • Managing projects from lead to invoicenot Propeller Aero
  • Generating estimates with digital signaturesnot Propeller Aero
  • Integrating material dealers into workflownot Propeller Aero

Propeller Aero

  • A quarry that reconciles stockpile inventory monthly for its accounts and wants the volume evidence to survive an auditnot Buildxact
  • An earthworks contractor claiming progress payments on cubic metres moved who needs an independent measurement the client will acceptnot Buildxact
  • A civil site checking whether a subgrade is within tolerance of the design before the surfacing crew arrivesnot Buildxact
  • A mine that wants weekly volume reporting without a survey crew on the ground every weeknot Buildxact

Where each one falls short

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

Buildxact

  • 15% discount applied only to annual billing
  • Advanced AI add-ons require additional per-month fees

Propeller Aero

  • Platform pricing is not published and is scoped by sites and users, so a contractor with many short-lived sites can be quoted very differently from one with a few long ones, and neither can benchmark against a list price
  • The corrections network is free only while you hold a current platform licence, so cancelling the platform subscription reintroduces a 1,000 dollar per year per group hardware cost that many buyers do not model
  • AeroPoints are a hardware purchase at 1,000 dollars each and most sites need several, so the true entry cost includes several thousand dollars of equipment on top of a subscription
  • It measures rather than designs, so a contractor still needs Civil 3D, Trimble Business Center or an equivalent to produce and revise the design surfaces the measurement is compared against
  • Accuracy depends on flight planning, ground control placement and weather, and a poorly flown survey produces a confident wrong volume, so an organisation still needs someone who understands survey error rather than only a drone pilot

Pricing, plan by plan

Buildxact

Free
  • GoFree
    • 5 complimentary credits
    • AI Estimating
    • Professional Proposals
  • Foundation$199/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Lead management
    • Digital takeoffs
  • Pro$399/month
    • All Foundation features
    • Blu Estimate Generator
    • Job management
  • Master$599/month
    • All Pro features
    • Blu Takeoff Assistant
    • Blu Estimate Reviewer

Propeller Aero

On request
  • AeroPoint ground control unit$1000/one-time
    • Single solar-powered GNSS ground control marker
    • Includes 12 months of the Propeller Corrections Network
    • Network renewal 1,000 USD per year per AeroPoint group
  • Propeller Platform$undefined/year
    • Quoted by number of sites, users and survey volume
    • Not published
    • Processing turnaround and support level vary by agreement

Which should you pick?

Choose Buildxact if

  • You want to start without paying.
Buildxact review

Choose Propeller Aero if

  • You need photogrammetric processing.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want aeropoints ground control.
Propeller Aero review

Questions people ask

Is Buildxact or Propeller Aero better?
Neither clearly leads. Buildxact starts at Free and Propeller Aero at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buildxact or Propeller Aero?
Buildxact has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Buildxact and On request for Propeller Aero.
Does Buildxact or Propeller Aero run on more platforms?
Buildxact runs on Web. Propeller Aero runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Buildxact for free?
Yes. Buildxact has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Propeller Aero starts at On request.
What is Buildxact best used for?
Buildxact is most often used for reducing estimation time from 30-40 hours, managing projects from lead to invoice, generating estimates with digital signatures, integrating material dealers into workflow. Of those, reducing estimation time from 30-40 hours and managing projects from lead to invoice are not what Propeller Aero is typically brought in for.
What can Buildxact do that Propeller Aero cannot?
Propeller Aero covers Photogrammetric processing, AeroPoints ground control, Volume measurement, Design surface comparison.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Buildxact: Does Buildxact offer a free tier?

Yes, Buildxact's Go plan is free and includes 5 complimentary credits for AI Estimating and Professional Proposals, plus access to Home Depot Material Ordering.

Source
Propeller Aero: How much does Propeller cost?

The platform is quoted and not published. AeroPoints are 1,000 US dollars each, with the corrections network included for twelve months and thereafter free while a platform licence is current, otherwise 1,000 dollars a year per group.

Buildxact: What is the price difference between monthly and annual billing?

Annual plans include a 15% discount. For example, Foundation costs $199/month on monthly billing but $169/month ($2,030/year) on annual billing, saving $358 per year.

Source
Propeller Aero: Do I need AeroPoints?

No, you can use conventional surveyed ground control, but the AeroPoints workflow is the main reason contractors choose Propeller over generic photogrammetry.

Buildxact: How many users can access Buildxact?

Foundation, Pro, and Master plans include unlimited users. The free Go plan does not specify user limits.

Source
Propeller Aero: Is it survey grade?

Propeller states centimetre-level accuracy with correct ground control. Whether that satisfies a contract depends on your specification and on how the survey was flown, not on the software alone.

Buildxact: What add-on costs are available?

Additional AI tools cost $99/month for Blu Takeoff Assistant and $149/month for Blu Estimate Reviewer, available on Pro and Master plans.

Source
Propeller Aero: Who owns the data?

You retain your survey data and can export surfaces and point clouds, but check the export formats and retention terms in your contract before closeout, because bulk historical export is not a self-service one-click operation.

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