Comparison

BIM 360 Layout vs UniversalPlantViewer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BIM 360 Layout

This app connects construction models to the field layout process, increasing job site productivity and accuracy. It guides users to exact point locations for staking and verification using compatible total station hardware. Models and point data can be downloaded for offline use.

Highlights
  • Connects model to field layout
  • Increases job site productivity
  • Improves accuracy of staked components
  • Guides users to exact point locations
  • Supports offline model and point data
  • Remote total station control
Read full description

The Autodesk® BIM 360™ Layout app for iOS and BIM 360™ web service provide vertical construction contractors the ability to connect the coordinated model to the field layout process, helping to increase job site productivity while improving the accuracy of staked or installed building components. The app synchronizes with your BIM 360 account to download and upload project models with point location coordinate detail. Once paired with a total station, BIM 360 Layout on your iPad™ guides the user to the exact location of those points on the job site for field staking and/or location verification activities. NOTE: The BIM 360 Layout app is currently directly compatible with the following positioning hardware: Topcon LN-100 3D Layout Navigator, Topcon DS-200i, Leica iCON robot 60, and Leica iCON robot 50. NOTE: The BIM 360 Layout app is currently compatible with the following positioning hardware when used in conjunction with a compatible BT Bridging device: Topcon LN-150 3D Layout Navigator, Topcon DS-200i/DS-200, Topcon GT and PS series, Sokkia SX and IX series, and Leica iCON robots 50, 60,70, and 80. ______________________ Share and Collaborate ◆ Share and assign layout points from within BIM 360 Glue Web to the BIM 360 Layout app ◆ Models and point data can be downloaded for offline use in the field ◆ Sync and share collected/as-built points from the app in the field with BIM 360 Glue web ◆ Upload models with layout points created in Autodesk Point Layout directly from AutoCAD, Revit and Navisworks into BIM360 Glue and sync with the BIM 360 Layout app Robotic Total Station Controller ◆ Seamless connection to total station hardware ◆ Control the total station remotely utilizing guide and point-turn functionality ◆ Step-by-step, guided total station set-up routine including coach marks for each feature User Interface and Navigation ◆ Select level and location in 2D, navigate directly to that location in 3D model view ◆ First person—immersive view of the building model as the user walks the jobsite ◆ Optimized views to see total station, prism, selected point and auto-zoom 2D & 3D viewing modes when nearing a point ______________________ Autodesk BIM 360 Layout mobile app is licensed under the following License and Services Agreement. Your download and/or use of the Autodesk BIM 360 Layout mobile app shall serve as your acknowledgement to the terms of this License and Services Agreement with respect to your use of the Autodesk BIM 360 Layout mobile app. Requirements: Requires iOS 12 or later.

About

UniversalPlantViewer

View 3D plant models and their attributes on your mobile device. Supports both online streaming and offline access to locally saved models. Offers identical functionality to its desktop counterpart.

Highlights
  • 3D plant model viewing
  • Attribute review
  • Online streaming mode
  • Offline mode
  • Cross-platform compatibility (mobile and desktop)
  • Industry standard model conversion
Features
Read full description

UniversalPlantViewer App – the official CAXperts mobile viewer app CAXperts UniversalPlantViewer App is a free 3D plant model viewing application that allows you to review 3D plant models together with their corresponding attributes. • Use the online mode to view server-based models from anywhere using our special streaming technology • Use the offline mode to work on locally saved models e.g. during plane trips • Available for both iPhone and iPad • Also available as a desktop version with identical functionality • Using the desktop version models from the most common industry standards for plant design and BIM can be converted to the mobile-streaming format Please feel free to ask for more information on info@caxperts.com

Screenshots

UniversalPlantViewer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: UniversalPlantViewer at 100% against BIM 360 Layout's 0%. UniversalPlantViewer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

UniversalPlantViewer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of BIM 360 Layout's written reviews are positive against 100% of UniversalPlantViewer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BIM 360 Layout ships an update every 2 months, UniversalPlantViewer every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 11, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
BIM 360 Layout versus UniversalPlantViewer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBIM 360 LayoutUniversalPlantViewer
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings34 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB345 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAutodeskCAXperts GmbH

Customer experience

BIM 360 Layout

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral66.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

UniversalPlantViewer

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

BIM 360 Layout

No in-app purchases

None

UniversalPlantViewer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BIM 360 Layout free?
BIM 360 Layout is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is UniversalPlantViewer free?
UniversalPlantViewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BIM 360 Layout or UniversalPlantViewer?
UniversalPlantViewer is rated higher. BIM 360 Layout averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while UniversalPlantViewer averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do BIM 360 Layout or UniversalPlantViewer have ads?
Neither BIM 360 Layout nor UniversalPlantViewer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BIM 360 Layout or UniversalPlantViewer?
BIM 360 Layout ships an update every 2 months, and UniversalPlantViewer every 6 weeks. Most recently, BIM 360 Layout was updated on June 11, 2026 and UniversalPlantViewer on September 23, 2026.

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