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Propeller vs SitesAI Estimate

Two earthwork tools that both produce cut and fill numbers, but from different inputs, so this is only partly like-for-like. Propeller is a cloud site platform that measures volumes and progress from drone, GNSS rover, total station and scanner data of the real ground, with its own hardware and an AI design tool. SitesAI Estimate is browser-based earthworks takeoff that calculates cut and fill from PDF, DWG or DXF plans before work starts. Desk research from vendor sites read Nov 1, 2026; no winner.

DESK RESEARCH FROM VENDOR SITES. Compiled from vendors' public websites (accessed Nov 1, 2026). Vendor claims are not verified by Means & Methods Lab. No scores or rankings.

In short: Propeller (Drone survey & earthwork measurement; no public prices (quote / sales)) vs SitesAI Estimate (Earthwork takeoff; vendor publishes prices). Facts last checked Nov 1, 2026. No winner declared; desk research from vendor sites.

Side by side

Propeller vs SitesAI Estimate: vendor-published facts side by side
Sheet rowPropellerSitesAI Estimate
CategoryDrone survey & earthwork measurementEarthwork takeoff
AI role (our label)AI features added to established productAI features added to established product
What it doesCloud, map-based site platform that combines drone, GNSS rover, total station and scanner data to measure volumes, distances, heights, grades and daily production, overlay CAD designs and organize site documents. Products: Propeller (core hub), survey processing (photogrammetry and lidar), Propeller PPK, handheld scanning and RTK, DirtMate GNSS receivers (machine telematics, base station, rover or position monitor on equipment from any manufacturer, with in-cab guidance for rough grading flat surfaces, load/dump counts, run/idle time and new surfaces every 30 minutes where machines are working) and AeroPoints (smart ground control points). Propeller CAD, which the vendor calls AI-powered earthworks design, generates haul roads and ramps, balanced pads, ponds and trenches from plain-language prompts on the site's real drone survey surface, can take attached standards and specs as context, and exports DXF and TTM for the engineering team's final deliverables; it is pitched for early-stage concepting. Because the core map-and-measure platform predates this, we tag Propeller as AI features added to an established product. The hardware integrations page says it works with data from any drone and lists tested models with expected accuracy (e.g. Skydio X10 at 3-7 cm with at least 3 AeroPoints). Software integrations include Trimble Connect, Procore, Autodesk BIM 360/Build, Aconex, OneDrive and HCSS; a data centers industry page is listed. Customer quotes, design-time and efficiency figures 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 plan, calibrate scale, trace work areas and set the existing surface (spot levels, contours or a survey DXF) against design platform levels and batters; it calculates cut and fill (bulking and compaction added by the user), shows 3D terrain as a check, and exports quantities to Excel or PDF. The AI plan adds AI auto-takeoff, which proposes boundaries, areas and counts as a first pass that is not applied until you accept it, metered as credits with credits included each month, and an MCP connector (22 tools, listed in the official MCP Registry as net.sitesai/estimate) so Claude, Codex or ChatGPT can drive the same tools (vendor statements). Runs at takeoff.sitesai.net with Google or Microsoft sign-in.
Who it's forEarthmoving, civil, mining, aggregates, and waste-management site teams.Civil and earthmoving contractors pricing cut and fill from plans.
Pricing (as publicly stated)No public prices. The vendor site has no pricing or plans link and /pricing and /plans return not found. A 14-day free trial is offered with no credit card; other calls to action are Book a demo, Request a demo and Talk to sales. Confirm pricing with the vendor.Free: markup and 3D terrain on one sheet (no cut/fill volume figures). Pro: US$39/user/month or US$390/year (volumes, unlimited sheets, Excel/PDF export, cloud sync). AI: US$99/user/month or US$990/year (adds AI auto-takeoff and the MCP connector; 14-day free trial of the AI plan, no card, one per account). 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans.
User reviewsNo reviews yet. Read or writeNo reviews yet. Read or write
Vendor links
Sources

Facts last checked: Nov 1, 2026. Prices change; check the vendor page before relying on them.

Where the vendor descriptions differ

  • Partly like-for-like: SitesAI Estimate is a bid-stage takeoff tool working from plans and your existing-surface data. Propeller is mainly used once there is a site to survey, to measure stockpiles, volumes, grades and daily production against the design; its Propeller CAD design tool is pitched for early-stage concepting.
  • Inputs (vendor statements): SitesAI says you load a plan, calibrate scale, trace work areas and set the existing surface from spot levels, contours or a survey DXF against design platform levels and batters. Propeller combines drone, GNSS rover, total station and scanner data, overlays CAD designs, and says it works with data from any drone and lists drone models with expected accuracy.
  • Outputs: SitesAI calculates cut and fill (bulking and compaction added by the user), shows 3D terrain as a check and exports quantities to Excel or PDF. Propeller measures volumes, distances, heights, grades and daily production on a map and organizes site documents; Propeller CAD exports DXF and TTM for the engineering team's final deliverables.
  • Hardware: Propeller sells AeroPoints smart ground control points, Propeller PPK, handheld scanning and RTK, and DirtMate GNSS receivers for machines from any manufacturer (load/dump counts, run/idle time, rough-grading guidance and new surfaces every 30 minutes where machines are working). SitesAI Estimate runs in the browser with Google or Microsoft sign-in and lists no hardware.
  • AI (vendor statements): SitesAI's AI plan adds AI auto-takeoff, which proposes boundaries, areas and counts that are not applied until you accept them, metered as credits, plus an MCP connector so Claude, Codex or ChatGPT can drive its tools. Propeller describes Propeller CAD as AI-powered earthworks design that generates haul roads, ramps, balanced pads, ponds and trenches from plain-language prompts on the drone survey surface.
  • Integrations: Propeller lists Trimble Connect, Procore, Autodesk BIM 360/Build, Aconex, OneDrive and HCSS. SitesAI lists Excel and PDF export and the MCP connector.
  • Pricing (vendor pages read Nov 1, 2026): SitesAI publishes a free plan (one sheet, no volume figures), Pro at US$39 per user per month or US$390 per year and AI at US$99 per user per month or US$990 per year, with a 14-day trial of the AI plan and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Propeller publishes no prices; it offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card, and demos through sales.
  • Not used here: Propeller's customer quotes and design-time and efficiency figures (vendor material). Facts for both come from vendor websites (desk research).

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

  • Whether you need bid-stage cut and fill from plans, ongoing measurement of the real site, or both
  • How either tool's volumes compare with your surveyor's or engineer's numbers on a job you know
  • What Propeller's platform and hardware cost for your sites
  • 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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