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Trimble Siteworks vs Propeller

Two field positioning setups for earthwork crews that start from different places (our reading). Trimble Siteworks is construction surveying software paired with a Trimble GNSS smart antenna and data collector, with modules for machine guidance on compact track loaders and excavators, roading and advanced measurement, sold through Trimble dealers. Propeller is a cloud map of drone and other survey data for volumes, progress and grades, with DirtMate GNSS receivers for stakeout, machine telematics and in-cab guidance, and Propeller CAD for AI-generated concept earthwork designs. Desk research from vendor pages read Oct 24, 2026; not tested, no winner.

DESK RESEARCH, NOT TESTED. Compiled from vendors' public websites (accessed Oct 24, 2026). Vendor claims are not verified by Means & Methods Lab. No scores or rankings.

In short: Trimble Siteworks (Construction surveying & machine guidance; no public prices (quote / sales)) vs Propeller (Drone survey & earthwork measurement; no public prices (quote / sales)). Facts last checked Oct 24, 2026. No winner declared; not tested.

Side by side

Trimble Siteworks vs Propeller: vendor-published facts side by side
Sheet rowTrimble SiteworksPropeller
CategoryConstruction surveying & machine guidanceDrone survey & earthwork measurement
AI role (our label)Not AI-firstAI features added to established product
What it doesTrimble's construction surveying software and positioning system for stakeout, grade checks and as-builts. It pairs software with a GNSS smart antenna and rugged data collector to capture points, work with 3D models, stake out and check grade, road and highway alignments/stations, in-field 3D design, as-builts with photos and feature codes, and office-to-field file transfer. An SE version covers core GNSS surveying, PDF reporting, tilt compensation and vehicle mode. Trimble says quantities requested in B2W Track can be captured in Siteworks and flow back (North America only). The Siteworks Machine Guidance module puts the same system on compact track loaders and excavators (standard or tilt attachments), moving between machines in minutes with machine-specific hardware kits; Trimble says it can "eliminate the need for a surveyor" for in-field work (vendor claim). Re-read Oct 18, 2026: Trimble now lists roads, advanced measurement (offsets, traverses, feature codes, utility locators, Trimble SX12) and machine guidance as Siteworks modules, and SketchUp Pro Civil Contractor for simple 3D site designs. Neither page we read describes AI, so we tag it Not AI-first. Re-read Oct 19, 2026: unchanged in substance (measurement, roading, advanced measurement and machine guidance modules; B2W Track quantities in North America only) and still no AI described. Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: the Siteworks and machine guidance pages are unchanged in substance and still describe no AI. The machine guidance page also lists ditch cleaning, trenching, shaping, backfilling and slope work with tilt attachments, surface tolerance and grade check reports from the machine and LandXML design import; the site navigation lists Works and Works Plus subscriptions. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: the Siteworks and machine guidance pages are unchanged in substance (field software plus machine guidance, roading, advanced measurement and SE Starter Edition modules; SE covers core GNSS surveying, PDF reporting, tilt compensation, vehicle mode, road-model navigation and live line tools; WorksManager, B2W Track (North America only) and SketchUp Pro Civil Contractor for data sharing; machine guidance on compact track loaders and excavators with standard or tilt attachments, machine-specific hardware kits required). The Siteworks page now describes the machine guidance module as running layout, positioning and machine guidance from one workflow on foot or in the cab. Still no AI described. The customer payback quote on the machine guidance page is vendor material and not used. Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: the Siteworks and machine guidance pages are unchanged in substance (field software plus machine guidance, roading, advanced measurement and SE Starter Edition modules; WorksManager, B2W Track (North America only) and SketchUp Pro Civil Contractor for data sharing; machine guidance for compact track loaders and excavators with standard or tilt attachments, machine-specific hardware kits required, under the Siteworks software subscription). Still no AI described.Cloud, map-based site platform that combines drone, GNSS rover, total station and scanner data to measure volumes, grades and daily production. It measures volumes, distances, heights, and grades from that surface data, overlays CAD designs, tracks daily production, and organizes site documents. Products: Propeller (core hub), survey processing (photogrammetry and lidar), DirtMate (GNSS receiver for machine telematics), and AeroPoints (smart ground control points). Integrations listed include Trimble Connect, Procore, Autodesk BIM 360/Build, Aconex, OneDrive, and HCSS. Re-checked Oct 19, 2026: the homepage now lists Propeller CAD, which the vendor calls AI-powered earthworks design: its product page says you describe an earthwork design in plain language (haul roads and ramps, balanced pads, ponds, trenches) and it is generated on the site's real drone survey surface, with an AI that reasons over the elevation data, for early-stage concepting with DXF and TTM export for the engineering team's final deliverables. Because the core map-and-measure platform predates this, we now tag Propeller as AI features added to an established product (previously Not AI-first, when the homepage did not describe AI). The homepage also announces handheld scanning and RTK updates. Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: homepage and Propeller CAD page unchanged in substance (plain-language earthwork design on the site's real survey surface for haul roads and ramps, balanced pads, ponds and trenches, with DXF and TTM export, for early-stage concepting); the menus also list Propeller PPK and a data centers industry page. Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: homepage and Propeller CAD page unchanged in substance (AI-powered earthworks design on the real survey terrain; the homepage still announces Propeller CAD, handheld scanning and RTK; menus list Propeller PPK and a data centers page). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: homepage unchanged in substance (concept designs with Propeller CAD, stake out with DirtMate RTK; PPK workflows; data centers page). Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: homepage, Propeller CAD and DirtMate pages unchanged in substance. Propeller CAD generates haul roads, ramps, balanced pads, trenches and ponds from plain-language prompts on the drone survey surface, can take attached standards and specs as context, and exports DXF and TTM. DirtMate GNSS receivers work as machine units, rover, base station or position monitor, with in-cab guidance for rough grading flat surfaces, automatic load and dump counts, and new surfaces every 30 minutes where machines are working (vendor descriptions). The CAD page's design-time figure is a beta customer's account and not used.
Who it's forSitework and civil contractors' grade checkers, foremen and field surveyors; small earthwork outfits moving into machine guidance.Earthmoving, civil, mining, aggregates, and waste-management site teams.
Pricing (as publicly stated)Not publicly listed ("where to buy" through Trimble dealers; the Siteworks Machine Guidance page mentions a software subscription). (Checked Oct 16, 2026; unchanged Oct 18, Oct 19 and Oct 20, 2026.) Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: unchanged (request a demo or find a local dealer; no prices). Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: unchanged (request a demo or find a local dealer; no prices).No public prices found (checked Oct 16, 2026; unchanged Oct 19, 2026, when /pricing still returned not-found and a free-trial sign-up page was live): the vendor site has no pricing or plans link in its navigation or footer, and /pricing and /plans return a not-found page. The site's calls to action include "Book a demo", "Free trial", "Request a demo", "Talk to sales". Earlier note (Oct 14, 2026): 14-day free trial offered. Confirm current pricing with the vendor. Re-checked Oct 20, 2026: unchanged (no pricing link; /pricing returns a not-found page; the homepage still offers a 14-day free trial and Request a demo). Re-checked Oct 22, 2026: unchanged (no pricing link; /pricing returns a not-found page; 14-day free trial and Request a demo). Re-checked Oct 23, 2026: unchanged (/pricing returns not found; 14-day free trial and Request a demo; no figures). Re-checked Oct 24, 2026: unchanged (/pricing returns not found; Request a demo; no figures).
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Vendor links
Sources

Facts last checked: Oct 24, 2026. Prices change; check the vendor page before relying on them.

Where the vendor descriptions differ

  • Field positioning (vendor pages): Siteworks covers control setup, stakeout with tilt compensation, grade checks against design, cut/fill verification and as-builts, plus road alignments, stations and multiple roadways in one job; its advanced measurement module adds offsets, traverses, feature codes and connections to utility locators or a Trimble SX12 scanning total station. Propeller's DirtMate RTK covers grade checks against design surfaces, stakeout of points and lines, point capture and line, area and slope measurement, synced to the Propeller map.
  • On the machine: Siteworks machine guidance uses the same antenna and display on compact track loaders and excavators with standard or tilt attachments (machine-specific hardware kits required) for trenching, ditch cleaning, shaping, backfilling and slope work, with grade checks and tolerance reports from the cab. DirtMate units mount on machines from any manufacturer for live location, run and idle time, automatic load and dump counts and cycle times, and give operators in-cab design visibility for rough grading flat surfaces; Propeller says DirtMate creates new surfaces every 30 minutes where machines are working, for daily cut/fill tracking.
  • Survey data and office side: Propeller combines drone, GNSS rover, total station and scanner data on one cloud map for volumes, distances, heights, grades and design overlays, and also sells AeroPoints ground control and Propeller PPK for drone surveys. Siteworks moves designs and measurements between office and field through Trimble WorksManager, sends quantities to B2W Track (North America only) and pairs with SketchUp Pro Civil Contractor for simple field designs.
  • Where the AI sits: the Siteworks pages we read do not describe AI. Propeller CAD generates haul roads, ramps, balanced pads, trenches and ponds from plain-language prompts on the site's survey surface, can take attached standards and specs as context, and exports DXF and TTM; Propeller positions it for early-stage concepts that engineers finish in their own tools.
  • Pricing (checked Oct 24, 2026): neither publishes prices. Siteworks is sold through local Trimble dealers or a demo request, and the machine guidance page refers to a Siteworks software subscription. Propeller has no pricing page (/pricing returns not found) and routes to a demo.
  • Not used here: Propeller's beta-customer design-time figure and customer quotes, and Trimble's customer testimonial. Neither tool has been tested by Means & Methods Lab.

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.

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Questions to ask in your review

  • What each costs with the hardware your crews need (antennas, data collectors, DirtMate units, drones or AeroPoints)
  • Whether you need survey-grade stakeout and machine guidance on one Trimble system, a site-wide map of drone surveys and machine data, or both
  • How DirtMate in-cab guidance compares with Siteworks machine guidance for your grading tolerances
  • 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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