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Civils.ai vs SitesAI Estimate

Two AI takeoff tools for civil and groundworks contractors that publish monthly prices. Civils.ai takes a plain-English scope prompt and returns areas, lengths, volumes and counts from PDF drawings, reviewed by its QA team, plus drawing discrepancy checks; SitesAI Estimate is a browser earthworks tool where you trace the work area and set levels to get cut and fill volumes and a 3D terrain view, with AI auto-takeoff drafts on its AI plan. Vendor pages read Oct 23, 2026; desk research, not tested, no winner.

DESK RESEARCH, NOT TESTED. Compiled from vendors' public websites (accessed Oct 23, 2026). Vendor claims are not verified by Means & Methods Lab. No scores or rankings.

In short: Civils.ai (Takeoff & document checks; vendor publishes prices) vs SitesAI Estimate (Earthwork takeoff; vendor publishes prices). Facts last checked Oct 23, 2026. No winner declared; not tested.

Side by side

Civils.ai vs SitesAI Estimate: vendor-published facts side by side
Sheet rowCivils.aiSitesAI Estimate
CategoryTakeoff & document checksEarthwork takeoff
AI role (our label)AI-firstAI features added to established product
What it doesAI quantity takeoffs from PDF drawings using plain-English scope prompts (areas, lengths, volumes, counts) plus discrepancy and compliance checks. Covers groundworks, landscaping, utilities, drainage, and concrete. Output is described as human/QA-reviewed. Vendor claims 97%+ accuracy on takeoffs (vendor claim, not verified). Homepage re-read Oct 17, 2026: AI agents are grouped by scope (quantity takeoffs; groundworks, landscaping and geotechnical takeoffs; issue and discrepancy checks). The checks flag issues as critical, high, medium or low risk, cross-check sheets against each other (for example civil vs landscape, architectural vs structural), and can be customized and saved as templates. Uploads can be scanned, historic or multi-sheet PDFs, with an option to extract CAD data; results export to Excel and annotated PDF. The FAQ says a human-in-the-loop QA process reviews all AI-extracted data, workflows aim to return results within 24 hours, accuracy is over 97% on modern PDFs but cannot be guaranteed on hand-drawn or pre-1975 drawings, data is stored on US servers, documents are anonymized and users can delete their data; the site also cites up to 90% less manual effort (vendor claims, not verified). Free cut-and-fill, concrete, rebar and haulage calculators and 32 engineering calculators are listed. The company is Civils.ai PTE LTD, Singapore. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: homepage and FAQ unchanged in substance (human-in-the-loop QA, over 97% accuracy on modern PDFs, results aimed within 24 hours, US data storage); the site now also cites 200+ firms across 8 countries, and the pricing page cites $3bn+ of projects supported and says uploads are never used to train models (vendor claims, not verified). Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: the homepage still cites 200+ firms across 8 countries, 97% accuracy and up to 90% less takeoff time (vendor claims, not verified) and says there are no setup fees and you can cancel anytime. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (quantity takeoffs, groundworks and subsurface takeoffs, issue and discrepancy checks; free estimating and engineering calculators). The 97%+ accuracy, $3bn+ and 200+ firms lines remain vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (plain-English takeoff prompts, QA-reviewed results, discrepancy checks graded by risk, free estimating and engineering calculators). The 97% accuracy, 90% less manual effort, $3bn+ and 200+ firms lines and client quotes remain vendor claims not used here. Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: homepage and pricing page unchanged in substance (plain-English takeoff prompts, QA-reviewed results, discrepancy checks graded by risk, free estimating and engineering calculators). The homepage now also shows a 4.8/5 client-feedback rating and a customer ROI case study; those, the 97% accuracy, 90% less manual effort, $3bn+ and 200+ firms lines and client quotes are vendor material not used here.Browser-based earthworks takeoff and estimating that calculates cut and fill from PDF, DWG or DXF plans, with an AI auto-takeoff plan. You load a PDF, DWG or DXF, calibrate scale, trace work areas and set existing/design levels; it calculates cut and fill, shows 3D terrain for levels and batters, and exports quantities to Excel or PDF. The AI plan adds AI auto-takeoff (draft for human review) and an MCP connector so Claude, Codex or ChatGPT can drive the same tools. Runs at takeoff.sitesai.net with Google or Microsoft sign-in. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: the estimate page still lists Free (markup and 3D terrain on one sheet, no cut/fill volumes), Pro and AI plans, and states a 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans and a 14-day free trial of the AI plan with no card (one per account). Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: the estimate page is unchanged in substance and adds that AI auto-takeoff proposes geometry for review and is metered as credits, with credits included each month on the AI plan, and that the MCP connector has 22 tools and is listed in the official MCP Registry as net.sitesai/estimate (vendor statements). Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: the estimate page is unchanged in substance (PDF, DWG and DXF cut and fill takeoff with 3D terrain; AI auto-takeoff proposes geometry for review and is metered as credits included monthly on the AI plan; MCP connector with 22 tools listed in the official MCP Registry). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: the estimate page is unchanged in substance (PDF, DWG and DXF cut and fill takeoff with 3D terrain; existing surface from spot levels, contours or a survey DXF against design platform levels and batters, with bulking and compaction added by the user; AI auto-takeoff proposes geometry for review and is metered as credits; MCP connector with 22 tools).
Who it's forCivil contractors.Civil and earthmoving contractors pricing cut and fill from plans.
Pricing (as publicly stated)Subscription. Starter listed at US$90/month, billed monthly, single user, 10 takeoffs/month; Professional US$270/month, billed monthly, single user, 30 takeoffs/month (adds revision requests from comments, learns your standards, priority support); Enterprise custom (volume pricing and annual contracts). (Pricing re-checked Oct 14, 2026.) Re-checked Oct 17, 2026: Starter US$90/month and Professional US$270/month unchanged. The page adds 2 GB (Starter) and 50 GB (Professional) project storage, unlimited AI searches and checks under fair use, and API and MCP integrations and SSO/SAML on Enterprise; its FAQ says takeoffs are counted per drawing sheet by scale (1 takeoff up to 1:365, 2 up to 1:505, 3 up to 1:720, 5 above) and that multi-step agent workflows beyond standard searches may be priced separately. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: Starter US$90 and Professional US$270 per month unchanged; the pricing FAQ says both are month-to-month, cancellable from the dashboard with data export, and that Enterprise adds a custom DPA and security review with bank transfer or invoicing. Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: plan structure unchanged (Starter 10 and Professional 30 takeoffs a month, each billed monthly, cancel anytime, single user; Enterprise custom with volume pricing, annual contracts and a custom DPA and security review), but the dollar amounts did not render in our read, so the US$90 and US$270 figures were not re-confirmed today. Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: the dollar amounts rendered again and are unchanged (Starter US$90 a month with 10 takeoffs, Professional US$270 a month with 30 takeoffs, each billed monthly, cancel anytime, single user; Enterprise custom with volume pricing and annual contracts); takeoff counting by sheet scale is unchanged. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: unchanged (Starter US$90 a month with 10 takeoffs and 2 GB storage; Professional US$270 a month with 30 takeoffs and 50 GB; each billed monthly, cancel anytime, single user; Enterprise custom with volume pricing, annual contracts, API and MCP integrations and SSO/SAML; takeoffs counted per sheet by scale). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026 (pricing rendered in a headless browser): unchanged (Starter US$90 a month with 10 takeoffs and 2 GB storage; Professional US$270 a month with 30 takeoffs and 50 GB; each billed monthly, cancel anytime, single user; Enterprise custom with volume pricing, annual contracts, API and MCP integrations and SSO and SAML).Free: markup and 3D terrain on one sheet (no cut/fill volume figures). Pro: $39/user/month or $390/year (volumes, unlimited sheets, Excel/PDF export, cloud sync). AI: $99/user/month or $990/year (adds AI auto-takeoff and MCP connector; 14-day free trial of AI plan, no card, one per account). USD. (Checked Oct 15, 2026; unchanged Oct 19, 2026: Free US$0, Pro US$39/user/month or US$390/year, AI US$99/user/month or US$990/year.) Re-checked Oct 21, 2026: unchanged (Free US$0 on one sheet without volume figures; Pro US$39 per user per month or US$390 per year; AI US$99 per user per month or US$990 per year with a 14-day trial, no card; 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans). Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: unchanged (Free US$0 on one sheet without volume figures; Pro US$39 per user per month or US$390 per year; AI US$99 per user per month or US$990 per year with a 14-day trial, no card, one per account; 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: unchanged (Free US$0 on one sheet without volume figures; Pro US$39 per user per month or US$390 per year; AI US$99 per user per month or US$990 per year with a 14-day trial, no card, one per account; 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans).
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Vendor links
Sources

Facts last checked: Oct 23, 2026. Prices change; check the vendor page before relying on them.

Where the vendor descriptions differ

  • How a takeoff happens: Civils.ai has you upload PDF drawings (including scanned, historic and multi-sheet sets, with an option to extract CAD data), type the scope in plain English, and its QA team reviews the AI's measurements; it aims to return results within 24 hours, editable and downloadable as Excel and an annotated PDF. SitesAI Estimate has you load a PDF, DWG or DXF plan, calibrate the scale, trace the work area and set levels yourself; on the AI plan an auto-takeoff drafts the geometry for you to review before anything is applied.
  • Earthworks: SitesAI computes cut and fill between an existing surface (spot levels or contours you place, or a survey DXF) and the design surface inside the boundary you trace, and shows the job as 3D terrain to check levels and batters; its volumes are geometric, so you add bulking and compaction as priced lines. Civils.ai lists groundworks, landscaping, paving, geotechnical and borehole takeoffs and separate free cut and fill and haulage calculators; the pages we read do not describe how it builds existing and design surfaces.
  • Checks: Civils.ai runs an automated review that flags critical, high, medium and low risk issues and cross-checks drawing sheets, with checks you can tune and save as templates. The SitesAI pages we read do not describe document checks beyond its 3D level review.
  • AI assistants: SitesAI's AI plan includes an MCP connector with 22 tools so Claude, Codex or ChatGPT can drive a takeoff, listed in the official MCP Registry as net.sitesai/estimate. Civils.ai lists API and MCP integrations on its Enterprise plan.
  • Data (vendor statements): Civils.ai says data is stored on United States servers, documents are anonymised and uploads are never used to train models. SitesAI's Free plan saves projects locally and Pro adds cloud sync with Google Drive or OneDrive; text DXF files are read in the browser and DWG files are converted on its server.
  • Pricing (checked Oct 23, 2026): Civils.ai Starter is US$90 a month with 10 takeoffs and Professional US$270 a month with 30 takeoffs, each billed monthly for a single user and cancel anytime; Enterprise is custom. SitesAI Estimate Free is US$0 on one sheet without cut and fill volume figures, Pro US$39 per user per month or US$390 a year, and AI US$99 per user per month or US$990 a year with a 14-day trial and no card; paid plans carry a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Civils.ai's accuracy, effort-saved, project-value and firm-count figures, its client-feedback rating, case-study numbers and client quotes are vendor content and not used. We have not tested either tool.

Paraphrased from the sources listed above. Vendor claims are reported as claims.

What users say

The facts above come from vendor websites. Whether either tool is any good for your work is something only people who use them can say. These are member reviews, all ratings shown, never edited or removed for being negative.

Used either of these? Share your take

Good or bad, an honest review from an estimator, PM or super helps the next team more than another vendor demo. You post under a handle; your email is never shown.

Questions to ask in your review

  • Cut and fill volumes from each against surveyed quantities on the same grading plan
  • Whether Civils.ai's prompt takeoff handles existing-versus-design surfaces or only plan areas and volumes
  • How many Civils.ai takeoffs a typical civil drawing set uses up
  • What did you use it for, on what kind of work and project size?
  • How long did setup and training take, and who on your team did it?
  • What does it cost you in practice, compared with what the sales call said?

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