SmartDirt vs HCSS Plans
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SmartDirt
Visualize AGTEK takeoff data, including 3D models, data lines, and plansheets, on your mobile device. Interact with a geo-referenced map to view cut-fill information, select points for detailed data, and measure distances or slopes. Create notes, tracks, and capture images for use in other software.
- View 3D models and plansheets
- Interactive geo-referenced map
- Cut-fill visualization
- Point data display (elevation, coordinates)
- Measurement tools (slope, distance)
- Create notes, tracks, and photos
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SmartDirt uses your AGTEK takeoff to display the geo-referenced 3D model, data lines, and plansheets on your iPhone or iPad. Show Cut-Fill as you walk on the interactive grid map or switch to the plans as needed. Select points to see elevations, coordinates, station & offset, point labels and approximate distance from your location. Measure slope or distance with a tap or estimate earthwork quantities with the measure tool. Take pictures, create notes, or create tracks that can be read by Sitework 4D or Google Earth.
HCSS Plans
This app facilitates real-time collaboration on construction plans for heavy civil projects. It allows teams to upload, annotate, and share PDF plans, ensuring everyone works with the latest revisions. Features include smart revision control, instant document access, and built-in calculators for accurate quantity takeoffs.
- Real-time collaboration
- Smart revision control
- PDF plan upload and markup
- Instant document access
- Built-in heavy civil calculators
- Location services for field use
- Sheet overlays for conflict detection
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Get everyone on the same (digital) page with this easy app, designed for heavy civil construction. Upload PDF plans from the office, and then collaborate with your entire project team in real time, no matter where they are, using markups, call-outs, notes, photos/videos, and more. Smart revision control ensures everyone works off the latest set of plans and site instructions so your crews can build correctly the first time, every time. ~~~~~ Collaboration ~~~~~ SEAMLESS TEAMWORK Align your entire project team — from foremen and managers to estimators, executives, and owners. • Management gains detailed insight into how the project was bid. • Foremen get instant access to project managers’ notes, clarifications, and calculations. • All team members can add and share layers, annotations, notes, photos, and videos. • Subcontractors can collaborate with your team for free while your sensitive information is protected. SMART REVISION CONTROL Avoid rework and delays when everyone works off the most up-to-date set of plans. • Sync revisions, annotations, and photos between the office and field. • Overlay new and old versions to identify design changes immediately. INSTANT ACCESS TO DOCS Digitally store all project documents in one, easy-to-use system for instant access in the office and field, even without Internet. • Organize your permits, contracts, shop drawings, vendor agreements, manuals, specs, and more. • Pin RFIs, issues, dig permits, and submittals directly onto plan sheets to quickly reference relevant info. ~~~~~ Heavy Civil Focused ~~~~~ CALCULATIONS & QUANTITIES Save time and money with effortless calculations, right in your app. • Accurately determine volume, tonnage, trucking, and more with built-in, heavy civil calculators. • No more guessing — report true quantities rather than eyeballing. • Supports both horizontal and vertical measurements for profile views. REAL-TIME LOCATION SERVICES No other digital plans solution provides this level of location services for your construction sites. • Easily locate yourself on the plans sheet, even in a green field, without a survey crew. • Catch issues early by walking the site to identify any obstacles that may not be accounted for in drawings. • Auto-pin photos in the exact place they were taken to more clearly communicate issues or work progress. SHEET OVERLAYS Overlay sheets to gain a more comprehensive view of your project. • Stack related sheets, such as electrical and sewer, to verify there are no conflicts in the area before each stage of work. • Stitch sheets over Apple Maps to see your plans in relation to existing structures in road or satellite view. ~~~~~ Smart Integrations ~~~~~ HCSS Plans is part of the HCSS suite, providing even more efficiency and accuracy across your teams. HeavyBid estimating software • Takeoff integration: Import HCSS Plans takeoff quantities into HeavyBid. • Easy reference: Link biditems and activities to relevant sheets for easy reference. • Better collaboration: Instantly share estimators’ notes and calculations with your Operations team after winning the bid. HeavyJob field entry & job management software • Accurate quantities: Pull in sheet calculations for accurate production quantities without double entry. • Quick reviews: Relevant sheets are one click away for easy quantity checks during web time card reviews. • Issue alerts: Get notified when an issue is logged on a sheet, and elevate it to an RFI if necessary.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: HCSS Plans at 4.6 against SmartDirt's 4.0. HCSS Plans also leads on ratings volume (392 vs 5) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). SmartDirt's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
HCSS Plans holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HCSS Plans has 392 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.
SmartDirt ships an update every 2 months, HCSS Plans every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SmartDirt | HCSS Plans |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (5 ratings) | 4.6 (392 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 392 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 201 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | AGTEK Development Company | Heavy Construction Systems Specialists, Inc. |
Customer experience
SmartDirt
HCSS Plans
In-app purchases
SmartDirt
No in-app purchases
HCSS Plans
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SmartDirt free?
Is HCSS Plans free?
Which has better reviews, SmartDirt or HCSS Plans?
Do SmartDirt or HCSS Plans have ads?
Which is updated more often, SmartDirt or HCSS Plans?
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