# Chief As vs BNi Reference

The clearest difference is rating: BNi Reference at 5.0 against Chief As's 3.6. BNi Reference also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). Chief As's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BNi Reference sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Chief As asks for nothing beyond the download.

BNi Reference holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 2 respectively.

Chief As ships an update every 6 weeks, BNi Reference every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chief As | BNi Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chief-as-built/id6752957994/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bni-reference/id6758135504/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 2 |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 156 MB | 362 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chief Architect](https://appshunter.io/developer/520677645) | [ProCureEdge LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1850903342) |

## What reviewers say

### Chief As

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chief-as-built/id6752957994)

Easily capture 3D floor plans of rooms using your iPhone or iPad's LiDAR scanner. Edit and import these models directly into desktop design software for remodeling projects. Streamline documentation of existing spaces and client collaboration.

**Highlights:** 3D floor plan capture via LiDAR, In-app 3D model editing, Import to Chief Architect desktop software, Client room scanning capability, Precise measurement tools, Cloud sharing

**In-app purchases:** none


### BNi Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bni-reference/id6758135504)

Access construction cost data, build reference lists, and stay updated with industry content. Explore free articles and insights, browse cost books, and export your saved lists.

**Highlights:** Access BNi construction cost data, Build and save Reference Lists, Export lists to PDF and Excel, Explore industry news and insights, Browse and search cost book items, Save up to 100 items per list

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BNi Home Remodelers - Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| BNi Mechanical Electrical - Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| BNi Public Works Costbook - Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| BNi Remodeling - Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| BNi Reference Web Access | $50.00 | per year |
| BNi Reference - Mobile Access | $50.00 | per year |
| BNi Home Remodelers - Yearly | $149.99 | per year |
| BNi Mechanical Electrical - Yearly | $149.99 | per year |
| BNi Public Works Costbook - Yearly | $149.99 | per year |
| BNi Remodeling Costbook - Yearly | $149.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chief As free?

Chief As is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is BNi Reference free?

BNi Reference is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Chief As or BNi Reference?

BNi Reference is rated higher. Chief As averages 3.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while BNi Reference averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Chief As or BNi Reference have ads?

Neither Chief As nor BNi Reference shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chief As or BNi Reference?

Chief As ships an update every 6 weeks, and BNi Reference every 3 weeks. Most recently, Chief As was updated on September 29, 2026 and BNi Reference on October 5, 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.*