# Autodesk Forma vs HCSS Plans

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Autodesk Forma | HCSS Plans |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/autodesk-forma/id498795789/reviews)** | [4.6 (392 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hcss-plans-revision-control/id1319971186/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | 392 |
| Positive reviews | 41.1% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 696 MB | 201 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Autodesk Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/295089690) | [Heavy Construction Systems Specialists, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/720784425) |

## What reviewers say

### Autodesk Forma

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/autodesk-forma/id498795789)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nailgun | $49.99 | one-time |
| Autodesk Build 550 | $55.00 | one-time |
| Dozer | $69.99 | one-time |
| Autodesk Build 5000 | $85.00 | one-time |
| Forma Build Essentials | $99.99 | one-time |
| Crane | $139.99 | one-time |
| Autodesk Build Unlimited | $174.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful for project management
- 🚀 Great for viewing and annotating plans
- 🚀 Useful for field work and collaboration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync and syncing issues
- 🔋 High battery usage
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🔒 Aggressive billing practices
- 🔒 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to rotate photos
- Issues with loading and viewing documents
- Problems with task report formatting
- Inconsistencies between mobile and desktop apps

**Requested features**

- Add a to-do list feature
- Improve report editing and customization
- Allow selective project/document downloads
- Enhance photo management and organization


### HCSS Plans

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hcss-plans-revision-control/id1319971186)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Autodesk Forma free?

Autodesk Forma is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is HCSS Plans free?

HCSS Plans is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Autodesk Forma or HCSS Plans?

Autodesk Forma is rated higher. Autodesk Forma averages 4.7 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while HCSS Plans averages 4.6 from 392 ratings.

### Do Autodesk Forma or HCSS Plans have ads?

Neither Autodesk Forma nor HCSS Plans shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Autodesk Forma or HCSS Plans?

Autodesk Forma ships an update every 8 days, and HCSS Plans every 3 weeks. Most recently, Autodesk Forma was updated on September 24, 2026 and HCSS Plans on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*