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An ArcSite Alternative for Showing, Not Drafting

ArcSite turns site measurements into precise drawings and estimates. PaperPlan turns one phone photo into the finished deck. Different jobs — and only one of them happens before the homeowner says yes.

By Monty, Founder, PaperPlan · Updated June 11, 2026

Try PaperPlan free — render the finished deck on your own backyard photo in about 15 seconds.

Why this page exists

A picture, not a plan view

ArcSite’s output is a precise drawing. PaperPlan’s output is the homeowner’s backyard with the deck built — the thing they actually want to see.

One photo of input

No measuring session before the first visual. Take the photo, mark the deck, render.

Materials the homeowner can shop

Named boards from Trex, TimberTech, AZEK, and Fiberon — compared on the same yard in seconds.

Proposal when they’re ready

Pro turns the winning render into a branded PDF with scope, pricing, timeline, and terms.

How it works

Upload a backyard photo. Use any phone photo of the build site. No measurements, no CAD file.
Mark the deck area. Drag to outline where the deck goes. Add stairs or a railing line if you want them.
Choose material and design. Pick composite, PVC, cedar, or pressure-treated. Compare looks on the same photo.
Generate the render and share. Get a photorealistic render in seconds. Send it to the homeowner or attach it to a proposal.

ArcSite Alternative for Showing, Not Drafting

ArcSite is CAD drawing plus estimating for field contractors — accurate site plans and takeoff-driven quotes from a tablet. It’s a precision tool. PaperPlan is a persuasion tool. The honest comparison is about which moment of the job each one serves.

Feature	ArcSite	PaperPlan
Core job	CAD site drawings + takeoff estimates	Photorealistic deck render on the real yard
What the homeowner sees	A precise technical drawing	Their own backyard with the finished deck
Input	On-site measuring and drawing	One phone photo
Time to first visual	A drawing session	About 15 seconds per material
Estimating	Takeoff-driven line items	Your numbers, presented in the proposal around the render
Best for	Precision quoting across trades	Deck sales conversations

If your close rate depends on takeoff-accurate line items, ArcSite earns its keep and PaperPlan won’t replace it. PaperPlan replaces the moment before that — when the homeowner still can’t picture the deck and won’t sign anything. Render first, then measure the job you’ve already won.

Common questions

Does PaperPlan do takeoffs or material estimates?

Not takeoffs. PaperPlan has a deck material calculator for rough quantities and cost guides for ranges, but precise takeoff math is ArcSite’s territory. Bring your own numbers to the proposal.

Is PaperPlan affiliated with ArcSite?

No. Independent product, independent company — this comparison exists because contractors evaluate both.

Can I use ArcSite and PaperPlan together?

Yes, and it’s a sensible stack: PaperPlan to sell the deck visually, ArcSite to draw and price the won job precisely.

What does PaperPlan cost?

Two free renders after sign-in, then $99/mo (regular $149) for 250 renders a month, all materials, no watermark, and proposal export.

Keep researching

A RedX Decks Alternative for the Sales Conversation — RedX Decks builds permit-ready construction drawings. PaperPlan wins the moment before that — a photorealistic render on the homeowner’s own backyard in about 15 seconds. Many crews use both.
A Cedreo Alternative Built Only for Decks — Considering Cedreo for deck design? PaperPlan is the photo-first alternative for deck-only crews: render the finished deck on the homeowner’s actual backyard in about 15 seconds, from a phone.
Deck Design Software, Built for the Sale — Deck design software built for small contractors. Photo-first, mobile-first, and engineered for the sales workflow — render the deck, share it, and export a branded proposal.
Deck Proposal Software That Starts With the Render — Deck proposal software for small crews: render the finished deck on the homeowner’s photo, then export a branded PDF proposal with scope, pricing, timeline, and terms — before you leave the driveway.
Deck Visualizer for Real Backyards — A deck visualizer that uses your real backyard photo. Compare composite, PVC, cedar, and pressure-treated decking on the actual yard before you commit.