Quick answerHOVER is our highest-scored tool for full-exterior work. Roof-only from $29 or the full exterior from $59, with an optional Pro plan at $999 a year, and the deliverable is a measurable 3D model of the whole house built from phone photos, with broad exports including ESX. Where it gives back points: capture is on you (someone walks the house with a phone), the per-job price is higher than the flat-rate report tools, and for a plain roof-only bid it is more tool than the job needs.
9.3/10
HOVER logoDudes GoldFull-exterior pick

A measurable 3D model of the whole exterior from phone photos. HOVER earns its place on scope: when siding, trim, and windows are on the ticket, one capture measures all of it. It gives back points on cost per job (higher per job than flat-rate reports) and done-for-you (you capture the photos), and on speed, since capture plus processing is not same-hour.

Cost per job8.4
Insurance-side ready8.8
Speed to bid8.6
Done-for-you7.9
Corrections9.0
Mark Thomas
Mark ThomasInsurance side

The ESX export means it can live on the insurance side, and on an exterior claim with siding it's genuinely the right tool. For a roof-only claim I'm paying more and doing more work than a flat report. Right tool, specific job.

Bradley Miller
Bradley MillerRetail side

When I'm selling a full exterior, HOVER sells it for me: the homeowner sees their own house in 3D with the new siding on it. Worth every penny of the $59 on that job. On a plain roof it's overkill and I'd rather have the $18 report in an hour.

Where it shines

  • A measurable 3D model of the entire exterior, roof and walls, from phone photos
  • Roof-only from $29; full exterior from $59; Pro plan optional at $999 a year
  • Broad exports including ESX, so it can serve the insurance side on exterior claims
  • The 3D model doubles as a sales tool for exterior remodels
  • One capture covers roof, siding, trim, and openings

Good to know

  • Capture is on you: someone walks the property with a phone
  • Higher per-job cost than flat-rate report tools
  • Speed is capture plus processing, not same-hour
  • More tool than a plain roof-only bid needs
  • The Pro plan is a real annual cost if you use it

What HOVER actually is

HOVER turns phone photos of a house into a measurable 3D model of the whole exterior. Roof-only starts at $29 and the full exterior at $59, with an optional Pro plan at $999 a year. Exports are broad, including ESX, and the model itself is a selling tool for exterior remodels.

It is the strongest option on our board the moment the job stops being just a roof.

Cost per job (30%)

$29 for roof-only and $59 for the full exterior is higher than the flat-rate report tools on a plain roof, which is where it gives back points. On a full-exterior job the math flips: one $59 capture measures roof, siding, trim, and openings, which would otherwise be a roof report plus a wall report plus a tape measure. Price it against the job, not the roof.

Insurance-side readiness (25%)

ESX is among the exports, so HOVER can carry an exterior insurance claim into Xactimate®, and on a siding-and-roof loss that is exactly the right file. It scores well here, just below the ESX-first report tools whose whole product is the claim-file deliverable.

Speed to bid (20%)

Capture plus processing. Someone walks the house with a phone, then the model processes. It is not the same-hour or same-day flat report; it is a different kind of tool. For a same-visit exterior sale the model's visual payoff often outweighs the wait.

DIY vs done-for-you (15%)

Hybrid. You capture; HOVER measures. That is a real step for a busy crew, and it is why the done-for-you subscore sits lower than the order-by-address tools. The tradeoff is that your capture is what makes the whole exterior measurable.

Corrections and support (10%)

Support runs through the HOVER platform, with a Pro tier for heavier users. Check current terms on the pricing page for correction handling at time of order.

Who should buy it

Exterior remodelers and multi-trade shops that sell roof plus siding plus windows. Insurance contractors on exterior claims where the ESX export earns its keep. Sales teams that want the homeowner to see their own house in 3D.

Skip it for a plain roof-only bid where a flat report in an hour does the job for less.

How we scored it

Figures from HOVER's published pricing page, checked August 2026, linked in Sources. Read how we score.

Real-world scenarios

Roof plus siding job.

HOVER. One capture, whole exterior, and the 3D model helps sell it.

Plain roof-only retail bid.

A flat report tool is cheaper and faster. HOVER is more than that job needs.

Exterior insurance claim.

HOVER's ESX export makes it a legitimate choice here, especially with siding on the loss.

I don't want my crew capturing photos.

Then an order-by-address report tool fits better; HOVER's model depends on your capture.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does HOVER cost?
Roof-only from $29; full exterior from $59; Pro plan optional at $999 a year.
Does HOVER measure siding?
Yes. The full-exterior model measures roof, walls, trim, and openings.
Does HOVER work with Xactimate®?
ESX is among its exports, so yes for exterior claims.
How fast is HOVER?
Capture plus processing; it is not same-hour.
Do I have to take the photos?
Yes. You capture with a phone; HOVER builds the model.
9.3/10
HOVER logoDudes GoldFull-exterior pick

A measurable 3D model of the whole exterior from phone photos. HOVER earns its place on scope: when siding, trim, and windows are on the ticket, one capture measures all of it. It gives back points on cost per job (higher per job than flat-rate reports) and done-for-you (you capture the photos), and on speed, since capture plus processing is not same-hour.

Cost per job8.4
Insurance-side ready8.8
Speed to bid8.6
Done-for-you7.9
Corrections9.0
Mark Thomas
Mark ThomasInsurance side

The ESX export means it can live on the insurance side, and on an exterior claim with siding it's genuinely the right tool. For a roof-only claim I'm paying more and doing more work than a flat report. Right tool, specific job.

Bradley Miller
Bradley MillerRetail side

When I'm selling a full exterior, HOVER sells it for me: the homeowner sees their own house in 3D with the new siding on it. Worth every penny of the $59 on that job. On a plain roof it's overkill and I'd rather have the $18 report in an hour.

Sources & verification

  • Roof-only from $29; full exterior from $59; Pro $999/yr; exports incl. ESX: HOVER pricing (as of August 2026)