Autodesk Forma vs HCSS Plans
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Autodesk Forma
This app provides construction professionals with essential tools for jobsite management. Capture punch lists, log daily reports, and access the latest project documents and 3D models directly from the field. Stay connected to your team and keep projects moving forward efficiently.
- Capture punch list items
- Log daily reports and forms
- View and markup drawings
- Review 3D models
- Track issues and quality concerns
- Access project schedules
- Manage RFIs and submittals
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Autodesk Inc. Capture punch list items, markup drawings, log daily reports, view the latest sheets, and review 3D models from the jobsite with the Forma mobile construction app. The Forma mobile app puts the tools and project information you rely on in your hands. Stay connected to your crews on site, manage projects, and keep work moving. Make critical decisions faster with the Forma mobile construction app: • Forma Build Essentials for efficient, focused field execution • Forma Build for connecting field execution and project management Forma Build Essentials: Built for lean crews and growing jobs. Projects are quick to set up, easy to access, and designed for everyday work on site. • Capture punch list items and issues from the field • Complete daily reports, logs, and forms • View current construction sheets, drawings, files, and models • Open project files and documentation Latest sheets, files, and models View and mark up sheets directly from the jobsite. Access project files and review 3D models to understand design intent and context. Confirm the latest versions before work begins. • View and mark up drawings • Open project files, sheets, and construction documents • Review 3D models Punch list and issue tracking Capture punch list items and issues as you walk the jobsite. Track quality concerns. Log safety observations, near misses, and good catches. Assign responsibility and track work from open to closed. • Log issues with photos, locations, and references • Assign owners and due dates • Track progress from open to closed Daily reports, checklists, and forms Capture daily activity and site conditions, complete quality or safety inspections, and attach photos, signatures, and supporting files. • Complete daily reports and logs • Record site conditions and project information • Attach photos and signatures Fast mobile workflows Open a project and jump straight into work. • Access sheets, issues, forms, photos, and models quickly • Use shortcuts for common field actions • Keep project information accessible as connectivity changes Forma Build: With Forma Build, bring the office and field together to keep projects aligned and on track with connected project management workflows. • Includes core field capabilities • Review project schedules and work plans • Manage RFIs and track responses • Access approved submittals • Capture meeting notes and manage correspondence • Track project assets • Manage document and package reviews Connected across Forma: The Forma mobile app connects you to your Forma project information, construction documents, files, and 3D models across Forma Build Essentials, Forma Build, PlanGrid, Forma Design Collaboration, and Forma Data Management, while providing access to files created in Autodesk tools like Revit, Navisworks, and AutoCAD. See what our customers have to say: "The ability to access 3D models from the field eliminates confusion and allows us to come to a real-time resolution for any issues onsite. This capability reduces risk and provides cost and time savings while ensuring we deliver high-quality projects to our clients." Briana Mitchell, Project Manager, Boldt Company "We have about 460 field employees and for them to access documents in real-time directly on their iPhone or their iPad is priceless." Ken Mabe, Director of Field Operations, Eckardt Group
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 in-app purchases: HCSS Plans at none against Autodesk Forma's 7. HCSS Plans also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 41%). Autodesk Forma's advantage is ratings volume (22K vs 392) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, 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. Autodesk Forma sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. HCSS Plans asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Autodesk Forma against 4.6 for HCSS Plans. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Autodesk Forma has 22K ratings behind it against 392, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 41% of Autodesk Forma's written reviews are positive against 67% of HCSS Plans's.
Autodesk Forma ships an update every 8 days, HCSS Plans every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Autodesk Forma | HCSS Plans |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (22K ratings) — better | 4.6 (392 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 41.1% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 22K — better | 392 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 696 MB | 201 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Autodesk Inc. | Heavy Construction Systems Specialists, Inc. |
Customer experience
Autodesk Forma
HCSS Plans
Bugs and requests
Autodesk Forma
Reported bugs
4 issues- Inability to rotate photos
- Issues with loading and viewing documents
- Problems with task report formatting
- Inconsistencies between mobile and desktop apps
Requested features
4 requests- Add a to-do list feature
- Improve report editing and customization
- Allow selective project/document downloads
- Enhance photo management and organization
HCSS Plans
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Autodesk Forma
- Nailgun$49.99
- Autodesk Build 550$55.00
- Dozer$69.99
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- Autodesk Build 5000$85.00
- Forma Build Essentials$99.99
- Crane$139.99
- Autodesk Build Unlimited$174.99
HCSS Plans
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Autodesk Forma free?
Is HCSS Plans free?
Which has better reviews, Autodesk Forma or HCSS Plans?
Do Autodesk Forma or HCSS Plans have ads?
Which is updated more often, Autodesk Forma or HCSS Plans?
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