Comparison

SMART Inspector vs Bluebeam

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SMART Inspector

This app simplifies scaffolding inspections, digitizing records and eliminating paper forms. It allows for on-site signature capture, defect photo documentation, and automatic cloud uploads for easy access and sharing.

Highlights
  • Automated cloud uploads
  • Offline functionality
  • On-site signature capture
  • Unsafe scaffold reporting
  • Photo documentation of defects
  • Paperless reporting
Features
Read full description

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 requires records of weekly scaffold inspections by a qualified person. The records are a legal requirement on the scaffold user/ hirer. Streamlining the process of inspecting and decommissioning scaffolding structures with a new inspection smartphone app based upon the latest cloud technology makes recording inspections and sharing reports simple. SMART Scaffolder’s inspection app: * Automatically uploads a record of each inspection to the cloud * Works both online and offline * Captures customer signatures on site using the device * Allows you to raise unsafe scaffold reports * Is simple to use on site, even capture photos of any defects * Plan inspections in advance * No need for paper forms Save on paperwork The time and effort it takes to scan, file and send out reports can be dramatically slashed as there’s no need for paper forms. No more lost reports as everything is automatically saved in the cloud on secure servers. Retrieving reports couldn’t be simpler with our user friendly desktop web console should you need an old record. Instant inspection reports Not only can you set up the system so that each inspection is automatically emailed to your client, you also have instant access to the information. You can see which inspections are due, which inspections passed and which failed.

About

Bluebeam

Access and collaborate on PDF documents directly from your mobile device. Communicate project updates with markups and work offline by syncing files. Seamlessly join live collaboration sessions and manage document revisions from the field.

Highlights
  • Real-time PDF collaboration
  • Markup and annotation tools
  • Offline file access
  • Document syncing
  • Studio Project management
  • Live session joining
Features
Read full description

Bluebeam for iOS keeps you connected to your teams and documents, so you can quickly access the information you need in the field and capture what matters for the office. - Communicate with markups using tools like callouts, text, clouds, and status indicators - Import your team's custom Tool Sets from Revu, so your standardized markups are ready to go in the field, even offline - Attach photos captured in the field directly to a markup, so supporting documentation stays organized without cluttering your drawings - Open your files stored on your device, Studio Projects, or Studio Sessions - Join Studio Sessions for live collaboration. If your connection drops, your changes sync when you're back online - Check out files in Studio Projects to make edits, then check them back in when you're ready - Work offline by syncing Project files ahead of time or opening PDFs stored on your device Whether you’re reviewing submittals, placing markups in the field, or tracking revisions with your team, Bluebeam gives you the flexibility to get the job done from anywhere.

Screenshots

SMART Inspector4 screens
Bluebeam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Bluebeam at monthly against SMART Inspector's every 2 months. SMART Inspector's advantage is review sentiment (14% vs 3%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMART Inspector ships an update every 2 months, Bluebeam monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 4, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SMART Inspector versus Bluebeam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMART InspectorBluebeam
PriceFreeFree
Rating—1.5 (392 ratings) — better
Positive reviews14.3% of reviews — better2.6% of reviews
Number of ratings—392 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB288 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperComputer and Design Services LimitedBluebeam, Inc.

Customer experience

SMART Inspector

Written reviews7 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative71.4%

Bluebeam

All ratings392 ratings
Positive9.9%
Neutral2.0%
Negative88.0%
Written reviews229 reviews
Positive2.6%
Neutral3.1%
Negative94.3%

Bugs and requests

SMART Inspector

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Bluebeam

Reported bugs

28 issues
  • Markups fail to load or display correctly
  • App deletes markups instead of saving them
  • Documents wipe clean when reopened
  • Files uploaded disappear from app
  • Corrupted file errors when opening PDFs
Show 23 more
  • Keyboard disappears during login
  • Selection boundaries too large, preventing precise markup selection
  • Apple Pencil input stops working intermittently
  • Pen tool produces no line output despite input
  • App crashes when opening large file sets
  • Session documents fail to load
  • Blank PDF pages displayed
  • Scaling doesn't work properly
  • Blue screen errors
  • Markups missing after checkout and checkin
  • Incomplete markups syncing between devices
  • App freezes during document checkin
  • Unable to add users to sessions
  • Projects not showing up in app
  • App crashes when opening Studio sessions
  • Drawings won't load or open
  • Markup placement doesn't correspond to tap location
  • PDF goes blank when inserting callouts
  • Constant logout requiring re-authentication
  • Links to details don't work
  • App crashes on older iOS versions
  • Audio communication issues
  • File synchronization failures

Requested features

25 requests
  • Restore measurement and scaling tools
  • Add custom toolsets and tool libraries
  • Implement bookmarks for document navigation
  • Enable image embedding in callouts
  • Add undo/redo functionality
Show 20 more
  • Support multiple PDF tabs simultaneously
  • Create stamp library with standardized markups
  • Add dimension markup capabilities
  • Allow local PDF file access and import
  • Full Studio session integration
  • Improve Apple Pencil responsiveness and precision
  • Add eraser tool for pen markups
  • Enable photo capture and attachment to markups
  • Support Dropbox and cloud storage integration
  • Add form field editing capabilities
  • Implement punch list and defect tracking
  • Add RFI creation functionality
  • Support for custom columns and data fields
  • Reset viewpoints feature
  • Pen width and cloud shape customization
  • Settings menu for preferences
  • Better pen and drawing mechanics like Notability
  • Ability to download session documents to device
  • Support for opening PDF attachments from desktop
  • Batch file upload capability

In-app purchases

None

SMART Inspector

No in-app purchases

None

Bluebeam

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SMART Inspector free?
SMART Inspector is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bluebeam free?
Bluebeam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SMART Inspector or Bluebeam have ads?
Neither SMART Inspector nor Bluebeam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMART Inspector or Bluebeam?
SMART Inspector ships an update every 2 months, and Bluebeam monthly. Most recently, SMART Inspector was updated on June 4, 2026 and Bluebeam on September 24, 2026.

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