Elevation Survey vs Bluebeam
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Elevation Survey
This app simplifies leveling surveys by automatically calculating instrument and ground heights. It allows for instant computation of staff readings for layout work and offers flexible data entry modes. Survey data can be easily exported and shared.
- Automatic HI and GH calculation
- Instant staff reading computation for layout
- Color-coded input and results
- Add notes for projects
- Export data as CSV
- Standard and Staff data entry modes
- In-app tutorial
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Make leveling surveys smarter at any construction site. With the Elevation Survey app, you no longer need a field notebook, calculator, or pencil. Just enter the staff readings and the app instantly performs all the calculations, helping you complete surveying tasks efficiently and smoothly. Results are saved within the app and can be exported as CSV files or images. Share data instantly with colleagues using various methods for fast on-site delivery. The app supports the Instrument Height (HI) method, with a built-in tutorial that explains both app usage and surveying basics for beginners. 【Key Features】 • Automatically calculate Instrument Height (HI) and Ground Height (GH) from the benchmark elevation and staff readings • Enter design elevation to instantly compute the staff readings needed for batter board (layout) work • Add or delete rows freely • Color-coded display for input values and calculation results, improving readability • Add memos for each project or site • Export survey data as CSV, editable in Excel • Switch between Standard Mode and Staff Mode • Staff Mode allows intuitive entry, just like reading the staff directly through the level • Duplicate, delete, or edit past survey data • Built-in "How to Use" guide explains app operations, the HI method, and basic surveying for beginners • Cloud backup protects your valuable data — recover anytime from the cloud, even if your device is lost or damaged. Share data with various methods. • Multi-language support — available in 40+ languages • Convert recorded data between meters, feet & inches, and decimal feet • Data input units: meters, feet & inches, or decimal feet • 10-day free trial. After that, free for one project. Unlock all limits with a monthly or yearly subscription • Cancel your subscription anytime — use with peace of mind • Subscribers get unlimited project registration and unlimited data sharing Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
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.
- Real-time PDF collaboration
- Markup and annotation tools
- Offline file access
- Document syncing
- Studio Project management
- Live session joining
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bluebeam at none against Elevation Survey's 2. Bluebeam also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). Elevation Survey's advantage is review sentiment (32% vs 3%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support 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. Elevation Survey sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Bluebeam asks for nothing beyond the download.
Elevation Survey ships an update every 3 months, Bluebeam monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Elevation Survey | Bluebeam |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 1.5 (392 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 32.3% of reviews — better | 2.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 392 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 75 MB | 288 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Booth | Bluebeam, Inc. |
Customer experience
Elevation Survey
Bluebeam
Bugs and requests
Elevation Survey
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
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- 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
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- 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
Elevation Survey
- Premium Monthly$6.991 Month
- Premium Yearly$59.991 Year
Bluebeam
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Elevation Survey free?
Is Bluebeam free?
Do Elevation Survey or Bluebeam have ads?
Which is updated more often, Elevation Survey or Bluebeam?
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