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Construction · head to head

Dalux vs Topcon MAGNET

Dalux logo

Dalux

Construction

BIM viewing, snagging and field quality control for construction and facilities teams

From
Free
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

  • Only Dalux has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Dalux no pricing is published for any paid module, so comparing Dalux against Procore or Autodesk Construction Cloud on cost requires entering a sales process and waiting for a quote you cannot benchmark.; 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: Dalux covers Mobile BIM viewer, Topcon MAGNET covers MAGNET Field.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Dalux and Topcon MAGNET differ
AttributeDaluxTopcon MAGNET
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WindowsWindows, Android, Web

Identical on both: pricing model (quote), 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 Dalux

  • Mobile BIM viewer
  • Field snagging
  • Dalux Box
  • InfraField
  • Dalux FM
  • Handover
  • Checklists and forms
  • Free viewer tier

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.

Dalux

  • A Nordic main contractor wants every subcontractor raising and closing snags in one system without paying a seat fee for each trade, so the free Field Basic tier carries the supply chain.not Topcon MAGNET
  • An engineering consultancy needs site staff to interrogate a federated model on a phone in a basement with no signal, where a browser-based viewer would be useless.not Topcon MAGNET
  • A public asset owner wants the as-built model and asset register to survive handover into an FM system rather than arriving as a pallet of ring binders.not Topcon MAGNET
  • A rail or highways contractor needs quality records located by chainage along a route rather than by level and grid on a building floor plan, which is what InfraField exists for.not Topcon MAGNET

Topcon MAGNET

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

Where each one falls short

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

Dalux

  • No pricing is published for any paid module, so comparing Dalux against Procore or Autodesk Construction Cloud on cost requires entering a sales process and waiting for a quote you cannot benchmark.
  • There is no cost management, estimating, budgeting or payment application functionality, so commercial teams keep a separate system and someone reconciles the two by hand.
  • The integration catalogue is thin next to the American incumbents, and ERP or finance connections generally mean custom work through the API rather than a listed connector.
  • Support, documentation and product terminology are strongest in Danish and Northern European construction conventions, and teams working to AIA or other North American contract norms will find the workflows do not map cleanly.
  • The free tier is deliberately limited: Field Basic has no checklists, no document control and no reporting, so the free users your subcontractors get are consumers of information rather than participants in a controlled process, and upgrading them is a paid conversation.

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

Dalux

Free
  • BIM Viewer and Field Basic$undefined/year
    • Federated model viewing on desktop and mobile
    • Basic snagging against drawings and BIM
    • Unlimited invited project members at no cost
  • Dalux Field, Box, InfraField, Handover, FM$undefined/year
    • Full quality, safety and document control workflows
    • Handover and tender modules
    • Facilities management on the as-built model

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 Dalux if

  • You need mobile bim viewer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
  • You also want field snagging.
Dalux 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 Dalux or Topcon MAGNET better?
Neither clearly leads. Dalux starts at Free and Topcon MAGNET at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dalux or Topcon MAGNET?
Dalux has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Dalux and On request for Topcon MAGNET.
Does Dalux or Topcon MAGNET run on more platforms?
Dalux runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows. Topcon MAGNET runs on Windows, Android, Web.
Can I use Dalux for free?
Yes. Dalux has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Topcon MAGNET starts at On request.
What is Dalux best used for?
Dalux is most often used for a nordic main contractor wants every subcontractor raising and closing snags in one system without paying a seat fee for each trade, so the free field basic tier carries the supply chain., an engineering consultancy needs site staff to interrogate a federated model on a phone in a basement with no signal, where a browser-based viewer would be useless., a public asset owner wants the as-built model and asset register to survive handover into an fm system rather than arriving as a pallet of ring binders., a rail or highways contractor needs quality records located by chainage along a route rather than by level and grid on a building floor plan, which is what infrafield exists for.. Of those, a nordic main contractor wants every subcontractor raising and closing snags in one system without paying a seat fee for each trade, so the free field basic tier carries the supply chain. and an engineering consultancy needs site staff to interrogate a federated model on a phone in a basement with no signal, where a browser-based viewer would be useless. are not what Topcon MAGNET is typically brought in for.
What can Dalux do that Topcon MAGNET cannot?
Dalux covers Mobile BIM viewer, Field snagging, Dalux Box, InfraField. Topcon MAGNET covers MAGNET Field, MAGNET Office, MAGNET Enterprise, Machine control model preparation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dalux: Is Dalux really free?

BIM Viewer and Field Basic are genuinely free with unlimited invited users. Dalux Box, the full Field product, InfraField, Handover, Tender and FM are paid and quoted privately.

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.

Dalux: Does Dalux work offline on site?

Yes. Models, drawings and snags sync to the device and the mobile apps are built to work in basements and lift shafts, syncing when signal returns.

Topcon MAGNET: Is pricing published?

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

Dalux: Can Dalux replace Procore?

Not on the commercial side. It covers field quality, safety, documents and handover, but has no cost control, budgets or payment applications.

Topcon MAGNET: Is the cloud service included?

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

Dalux: Is it available outside Europe?

It is sold globally and the apps are multilingual, but the customer base, partner network and support hours are centred on Northern Europe.

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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