Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PlanGrid VS DevStack.co.nz

Compare PlanGrid VS DevStack.co.nz and see what are their differences

PlanGrid logo PlanGrid

The #1 construction app. Used by thousands of companies to save time, money, and ditch paper plans forever.

DevStack.co.nz logo DevStack.co.nz

A free curated directory of 42 New Zealand property development tools, arranged in the order you use them on a real deal, plus three free calculators for infrastructure levies, development finance and feasibility.
  • PlanGrid Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-09
  • DevStack.co.nz Landing page
    Landing page //
    2026-08-16

DevStack is a free hub for New Zealand property developers, bringing useful property development tools, calculators, data and resources together in one place.

Finding the information you need for a development often means jumping between council websites, property platforms, government databases and spreadsheets. DevStack makes this easier by organising useful tools around the way a property development actually happens, from site finding and due diligence through to feasibility, planning, finance and construction.

DevStack currently includes 42 curated property development tools and 3 free calculators, with a strong focus on Auckland and New Zealand property development.

Key features include:

  • 42 curated NZ property development tools
  • 3 free property development calculators
  • Development feasibility and residual land value analysis
  • Development finance comparison
  • Auckland zoning and planning resources
  • Property due diligence and market data
  • Development contributions and infrastructure costs
  • Construction and NZ Building Code resources
  • Environmental and natural hazard information
  • AI tools and workflows for property development
  • Free to browse with no account required

DevStack's free tools include a Development Feasibility Calculator, Development Finance Calculator and Watercare Infrastructure Growth Charge Calculator, helping developers quickly assess potential projects and understand development costs.

The platform also brings together useful resources from Auckland Council, Watercare, LINZ, Stats NZ, RBNZ and other organisations, alongside commercial property and construction tools.

Each resource includes practical information on what it does, when to use it, what it costs and where it fits into the development process.

The goal is simple: spend less time searching for information and more time working out whether a development actually stacks up.

PlanGrid features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    PlanGrid provides an intuitive user interface that can be easily navigated by users of varying technical skill levels. This allows for quick adoption and efficient use across project teams.
  • Real-Time Collaboration
    The platform supports real-time collaboration, allowing team members to share updates, comments, and markups instantly, which enhances communication and reduces delays.
  • Document Management
    PlanGrid excels in handling large sets of documents, drawings, and blueprints. Users can quickly search, view, and annotate documents, which streamlines project workflows.
  • Field Data Collection
    PlanGrid allows field workers to collect data on-site using mobile devices, including photos, notes, and measurements. This data can be synced with the central system, ensuring up-to-date information.
  • Integration Capabilities
    The platform integrates with various other construction management tools and software, which allows for a cohesive ecosystem and reduces the need for duplicate data entry.

Possible disadvantages of PlanGrid

  • Cost
    PlanGrid can be relatively expensive compared to other construction management tools, potentially limiting its accessibility for smaller companies or individual contractors.
  • Limited Offline Functionality
    While PlanGrid supports offline work, some users may find its offline capabilities limited. Features such as real-time updates are unavailable when not connected to the internet.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, some users report that there is still a learning curve to fully utilize all of PlanGrid's features effectively.
  • Feature Gaps
    Certain advanced features that are available in other construction management tools might be missing or underdeveloped in PlanGrid, which can be a limitation for highly specialized projects.
  • Data Security Concerns
    As with any cloud-based software, there are potential security concerns related to data privacy and protection. Users must rely on PlanGrid's security measures to safeguard sensitive project information.

DevStack.co.nz features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

Analysis of PlanGrid

Overall verdict

  • PlanGrid is a highly recommended platform for those involved in construction and related fields due to its ease of use and comprehensive feature set that addresses many of the day-to-day challenges faced in the industry.

Why this product is good

  • PlanGrid is well-regarded for its intuitive interface and robust set of features tailored for construction project management. It offers real-time collaboration tools, streamlined document management, and efficient communication options, which help in reducing project delays and errors. Its capabilities to handle annotations, manage blueprints, and facilitate on-site updates make it a valuable tool for architects, engineers, and construction managers.

Recommended for

  • Construction project managers
  • Architects
  • Engineers
  • Contractors
  • On-site supervisors
  • Real estate developers

PlanGrid videos

PlanGrid Review

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DevStack.co.nz videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PlanGrid and DevStack.co.nz)
Construction
97 97%
3% 3
Construction Estimating Software
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0
Real Estate
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing PlanGrid and DevStack.co.nz.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

DevStack is primarily designed for people working in property development, including property developers, development managers and other property professionals in Auckland and across New Zealand.

However, you don't need to be a professional developer to find it useful. Property owners, investors and anyone researching their next property purchase can use DevStack to learn about the tools, data and resources available to help them make better-informed property decisions.

What makes your product unique?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

DevStack hasn't tried to reinvent the wheel. It has vetted and identified which tools and resources are actually useful for property professionals working in Auckland and New Zealand.

Rather than being a long list of links, the tools are organised around the property development process, making it easier to find the right resource when you need it. The focus is on tools that are genuinely useful for property development, from site research and due diligence through to feasibility, planning, finance and construction.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

DevStack is free to use, so rather than traditional customers, its users include property developers, builder-developers, property professionals, investors and property owners looking for better information and resources.

It's particularly useful for people involved in Auckland property development who want to understand what tools are available and how they can use them in real projects.

I also share practical examples of how I use AI in property development and construction. For developers and builder-developers who want to go further, I offer a separate guide covering 13 areas where I currently use AI to save time, improve workflows and get more from the information available to us in New Zealand.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

None of the third-party tools listed on DevStack are my own. DevStack itself started as a side project while I was learning to build websites and improve SEO for my own businesses.

What started as a simple place to organise the property development tools I use every day gradually became a passion project. I found it so useful in my own work that I decided to make it available to other property developers and property professionals in New Zealand.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

DevStack is an easy choice because it's free, requires no sign-up, and lets you customise your own toolkit by pinning the resources you use most often in whatever order works for you.

You can also save tools you don't use regularly but don't want to forget. Instead of keeping links scattered across bookmarks, emails, spreadsheets and notes, DevStack gives you one place for the property development tools and resources you actually use.

What's the story behind your product?

DevStack.co.nz's answer:

My background started with a university property degree, a BProp, followed by property valuations, development management, managing a subcontracting business, and eventually returning to property development.

Throughout that time, I used many of these tools constantly and realised I had links saved all over my computer. They were in email drafts, spreadsheets, notes, bookmarks and sticky notes. I wanted one consistent place I could trust to keep the tools I use, as well as the ones I only need occasionally but don't want to forget.

We're fortunate in Auckland to have a huge amount of property and development information readily available. The problem is that it can take some effort to find and extract it. DevStack grew from my own need to make that process easier.

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing PlanGrid and DevStack.co.nz, you can also consider the following products

Procore - Procore is the world's most widely used construction project management software. Easy to use, mobile platform with unlimited user licenses.

Buildxact - Buildxact is an easy online estimating and job management software for custom builders and trades.

Fieldwire - The construction app for project and task management in the field.

Bluebeam Revu - The end-to-end digital workflow and collaboration solution trusted by over 1 million AEC professionals worldwide. Revu delivers award-winning PDF creation, editing, markup and collaboration technology designed for AEC workflows.

DevAssets - DevAssets is a place for any developer to find you the best free and paid resources available, submit your own ones and also get them featured on the top of every page!

BuilderTREND - Buildertrend is the #1 construction management software and construction app for home builders, remodelers, specialty contractors and commercial construction.