Comparison Guide
Tree Survey Apps
Compared
What's available for tree inventory software — what each tool does well, where it falls short, and how they compare.
What's out there
Tree inventory software falls into three buckets: enterprise GIS platforms built for municipal forestry departments, general-purpose field data collection apps adapted for tree work, and purpose-built arborist tools.
Most arborists doing residential or commercial surveys don't need enterprise GIS. They need something that works on a phone, handles PDFs, and exports clean data. Here's how the options stack up.
Enterprise GIS platforms
Tools like TreePlotter, Collector for ArcGIS, and i-Tree.
These are built for municipal forestry departments managing thousands of trees with GIS mapping, long-term trend data, and multi-department access. They're powerful, but they come with enterprise pricing, complex setup, training requirements, and features most solo arborists never use.
Best for: Cities, universities, and large property management companies with dedicated forestry staff.
Not ideal for: Solo arborists or small consulting firms who just need to survey a site and deliver a report.
General-purpose field apps
Tools like Fulcrum, Survey123, KoboToolbox, and Google Forms + Sheets.
These are flexible data collection platforms that can be configured for tree inventories. You build a custom form, collect data in the field, and export it. Some support GPS mapping and photo attachments.
The upside: Flexible, well-supported, and reasonably priced. You can customize the form to match any data schema.
The downside: They don't understand arborist workflows. You can't annotate a PDF site plan. Photos aren't linked to tree records natively. The export isn't arborist-report-ready. You're assembling pieces, not using an integrated tool.
Spreadsheet + camera roll (the default)
Let's be honest: most arborists still use a clipboard, a printed site plan, and a spreadsheet. It's free, it works, and everyone knows how to do it.
The cost is invisible but real: hours of transcription, photo sorting, and data re-entry after every survey. For a 50-tree job, that's manageable. For regular survey work, it adds up to days per month of avoidable office time.
What to look for in a tree survey app
If you're evaluating tools, here are the things that actually matter for field work:
Works offline — many job sites have no cell signal. If the app needs internet to function, it's useless in the field.
PDF site plan support — can you mark tree locations directly on your actual survey drawing? Or are you stuck with GPS pins on a satellite map?
Photo-to-tree linking — photos must be linked to specific tree records, not dumped into a generic camera roll.
Report-ready export — the output should be something you can hand to a client: spreadsheet, annotated plan, organized photos.
No setup friction — if it takes an hour to configure before you can start surveying, most arborists won't bother.
Works on your phone — you're in the field. You need one hand for the diameter tape. The app runs on the device in your pocket.
Where LogLog fits
LogLog was built specifically for arborists doing site-plan-based tree surveys. It's not a GIS platform. It's not a generic form builder. It does one thing: let you load a PDF, mark trees on it, record data, attach photos, and export a client-ready package.
Offline-first — works without any internet connection. Data stays on your device.
Native PDF annotation — load any site plan, tap to drop numbered tree pins.
Photos linked to trees — every photo is attached to its tree record. No sorting later.
One-tap export — ZIP with spreadsheet, annotated plan, and all photos. Client-ready.
No account needed — open it, start working. No signup, no credit card, no app store.
Free forever — unlimited projects, trees, and photos on the Solo tier.
No account required. Works in any mobile browser.