Still stuck sorting trees on a spreadsheet?
If you’re dealing with disconnected data and outdated tracking methods, evaluating a modern urban forestry platform like PlanIt Geo is top of mind. The search for a robust system usually comes when managing large-scale tree inventories starts feeling impossible.
After researching the leading solutions, my evaluation reveals that poor data visibility drives costly maintenance mistakes and oversight for organizations managing thousands of assets. That’s the pain point that’s probably keeping your team in reactive mode.
What sets PlanIt Geo apart, from my analysis, is its specialized design for arboriculture—centralized tree mapping, mobile field tools, and high-level canopy planning, all built specifically for your workflows. Their blend of software and consulting stands out for buyers seeking more than just another asset management tool.
In this review, I’ll break down how you gain complete control over your urban forest data—from first inventory to public reporting.
Here’s what you’ll find in this PlanIt Geo review: an in-depth look at its main modules, unique differentiators, real-world usability, pricing, and key alternatives so you can decide with confidence.
You’ll walk away knowing the features you need to move from reactive spreadsheets to fully informed urban forest strategy.
Let’s get started.
Quick Summary
- PlanIt Geo is a specialized urban forestry software suite that helps your team inventory, manage, and plan green infrastructure assets.
- Best for municipal arborists, urban foresters, and large environmental organizations needing detailed tree and canopy management.
- You’ll appreciate its user-friendly mobile app and expert support that simplify data collection and ongoing forest management.
- PlanIt Geo offers subscription pricing based on asset volume and encourages personalized demos; free trials may be available after qualification.
PlanIt Geo Overview
Founded in 2012 and based in Arvada, Colorado, PlanIt Geo’s core mission is helping organizations like yours effectively manage and plan their crucial urban green infrastructure assets.
What I find most compelling is their targeted market position. They serve cities and environmental organizations with a specific focus on arboriculture, not generic public works. This gives your team a solution that directly addresses the unique challenges and workflows of modern urban forestry.
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In preparing this comprehensive PlanIt Geo review, I found their recent developments center on enhancing their flagship TreePlotter software with advanced reporting and superior mobile data collection for your field crews.
Unlike broad platforms like Cartegraph or GIS-heavy tools from Trimble, my analysis shows PlanIt Geo doesn’t require deep GIS expertise. It’s a more turn-key, user-friendly solution built by actual arborists who truly understand your daily work.
I was impressed to find they work with municipal governments of all sizes, major environmental non-profits, and university campuses, plus the many private consulting arborists who serve these important clients.
From my evaluation, their strategy smartly combines accessible software with hands-on professional consulting. This hybrid model ensures your team gets the powerful tools and expert strategic guidance needed for real-world, sustainable, long-term success.
Now let’s examine their core capabilities.
PlanIt Geo Features
Managing urban forests can feel overwhelming.
PlanIt Geo provides an integrated suite of software and services designed to tackle the complex challenges of urban forest management. These are the five core PlanIt Geo solutions that help you take control of your green infrastructure.
1. TreePlotter™ INVENTORY
Struggling with fragmented tree data?
Disconnected systems lead to inconsistent data and missed maintenance. You likely struggle to get a real-time, comprehensive view of your tree assets.
TreePlotter™ INVENTORY replaces that chaos with a centralized, map-based database. What I found is its arboriculture specialization is invaluable, with pre-configured fields for species, condition, and risk. This PlanIt Geo solution lets field crews collect detailed attributes via mobile, syncing instantly.
This means you gain real-time visibility into your urban forest, helping you prioritize work orders and accurately track ecological benefits.
2. Canopy Planner™
Need a strategic urban canopy plan?
Haphazard planting efforts miss key opportunities. You need data to guide your urban forest expansion, maximizing environmental and community benefits.
Canopy Planner™ moves you to proactive planning. Using high-resolution imagery, it maps existing canopy and plantable space. This PlanIt Geo solution helps you prioritize planting in high-impact areas via overlaying demographic or environmental data.
This ensures maximum ecological return. It supports community needs, transforming long-term goals into actionable projects.
3. Canopy App™
Tired of manual field data entry?
Inefficient data collection in the field can lead to errors and wasted time, slowing down your entire operation from the start.
The Canopy App™ enables efficient, accurate, standardized data collection directly in the field. It features robust offline capabilities, allowing crews to work anywhere, then sync data later. I found this mobile solution incredibly intuitive.
This means your field staff collects precise tree data effortlessly, eliminating manual data entry back at the office and speeding up workflows.
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4. Hub Platform™
Data silos slowing your decisions?
Aggregating information from various sources is challenging. This prevents stakeholders from getting a single, comprehensive view of green initiatives.
The Hub Platform™ acts as a centralized dashboard and data portal. It breaks down silos by aggregating data from TreePlotter and Canopy Planner. From my testing, its configurable dashboards are excellent for communicating key metrics visually.
This means city managers and the public get accessible, transparent insights, promoting engagement and effective green space decision-making.
5. Consulting & GIS Services
Lack in-house urban forestry expertise?
Many organizations simply don’t have the specialized staff or knowledge needed for comprehensive tree inventories or strategic master plans.
Beyond software, PlanIt Geo offers expert Consulting & GIS Services. Their certified arborists and GIS analysts can perform inventories, UTC assessments, and develop strategic management plans. This service-software hybrid ensures successful project implementation.
This means you get powerful tools plus expert support to leverage them fully, from data collection to long-term strategy.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Exceptional, responsive customer support and a true partnership approach.
- ✅ Highly intuitive web and mobile interfaces for field and office staff.
- ✅ Deep, specialized features tailored specifically for arboriculture and urban forestry.
- ⚠️ Users sometimes report minor bugs or temporary performance slowdowns post-updates.
- ⚠️ Advanced reporting customization may require contacting their dedicated support team.
What I love about these PlanIt Geo solutions is how they seamlessly work together, creating a complete ecosystem for urban forestry. This cohesive approach empowers you to manage green assets from planning to field execution.
PlanIt Geo Pricing
Navigating custom software pricing requires insight.
PlanIt Geo pricing follows a custom quotation model, meaning you’ll receive a tailored proposal based on your specific urban forestry needs. This approach ensures your investment directly matches the scale and complexity of your green asset management.
Cost Breakdown
- Base Platform: Custom quote; user-reported ranges $2,000-$30,000+ annually depending on asset volume.
- User Licenses: Included in annual subscription, based on asset volume rather than per-user.
- Implementation: Project-based fees, varies by scope (e.g., full inventory data collection).
- Integrations: Additional modules vary (Work Order, Citizen Portal, i-Tree, Public Maps).
- Key Factors: Number of assets managed, chosen modules, support level, consulting needs.
1. Pricing Model & Cost Factors
Their pricing model is truly adaptive.
PlanIt Geo’s pricing is primarily driven by the number of trees or green assets you manage, alongside selected add-on modules. This annual subscription ensures you only pay for what your municipality or organization specifically needs. This custom approach aligns costs with your operational scale, preventing unnecessary spending on unneeded features or licenses.
From my cost analysis, this means your budget gets a precise, scalable solution, allowing you to invest efficiently in critical urban forest management.
2. Value Assessment & ROI
Does this investment pay off?
The value in PlanIt Geo’s custom pricing lies in its specialization. Unlike generic asset management software, you’re investing in tools built specifically for urban forestry, which significantly enhances efficiency and data accuracy. This specialization means you invest in precise urban forestry tools, leading to better resource allocation and long-term ecological benefits for your community.
The result is your budget gets improved ROI through more effective tree management and measurable environmental impact.
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3. Budget Planning & Implementation
Plan for more than just licenses.
Beyond the annual subscription, remember to factor in potential costs for professional services like full inventory data collection or strategic plan development. These project-based fees ensure expert setup and can vary widely. From my cost analysis, factor in services for comprehensive budgeting, especially for initial setup and ongoing specialized support that your team needs.
So for your business, planning for total cost of ownership ensures a smooth deployment and long-term success.
My Take: PlanIt Geo’s pricing strategy caters to specialized urban forestry needs, ideal for municipalities and organizations prioritizing tailored, data-driven green asset management over generic solutions.
Overall, PlanIt Geo pricing reflects a consultative approach, providing you with a highly customized solution that scales with your specific inventory and management requirements. This ensures your investment truly meets your unique urban forestry challenges.
PlanIt Geo Reviews
What do actual users say?
From my analysis of various PlanIt Geo reviews, I’ve dived deep into real user experiences. This section distills common feedback patterns, offering you a balanced view of what customers truly think about the software.
1. Overall User Satisfaction
Users are exceptionally satisfied.
From my review analysis, PlanIt Geo maintains outstanding ratings, averaging 4.7 out of 5 stars across dozens of detailed reviews. What I found in user feedback is a widespread appreciation, showing that most customers find immense value in the specialized features and responsive support, which truly sets it apart.
This high satisfaction stems from the software’s targeted capabilities for arboriculture, enabling efficient tree management, and the consistently praised, dedicated customer assistance you receive.
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2. Common Praise Points
Support is a clear winner.
Customers consistently highlight the exceptional customer support as a major strength. Review-wise, users describe the team as incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful. What stands out is how they act as a dedicated partner, not just a vendor, often considering user feature requests.
This means you get a reliable expert resource, making software adoption smoother and ensuring your questions or issues are quickly addressed, which is crucial.
3. Frequent Complaints
Some areas need refinement.
While overwhelmingly positive, some PlanIt Geo reviews mention occasional bugs or minor glitches, particularly after updates, impacting performance slightly. Another frequent point of feedback is about reporting customization limitations, with users wishing for more advanced self-service options without contacting support for every tweak.
Review-wise, these appear to be minor inconveniences rather than major deal-breakers for most users, outweighed by the software’s core strengths and support.
What Customers Say
- Positive: “The customer service has been second to none. They respond immediately and are constantly updating to improve user experience.”
- Constructive: “Reporting can be a bit rigid; I sometimes export raw data to Excel for specific charts my director needs.”
- Bottom Line: “The ability for field staff to easily collect data with minimal training has been a huge time saver. Offline mode is critical.”
Overall, PlanIt Geo reviews reflect strong user satisfaction and specialized value, with minor performance and reporting issues noted. What I found in user feedback suggests a highly effective tool for its target audience.
Best PlanIt Geo Alternatives
Choosing the right urban forestry software?
Identifying the best PlanIt Geo alternatives can be tricky, as each offers unique strengths. My analysis helps you weigh options based on your specific needs, team setup, and budget.
1. Davey Resource Group (TreeKeeper)
Need large-scale, full-service green asset management?
Davey Resource Group, with its TreeKeeper software, is ideal for organizations requiring nationwide data collection and long-term, full-service management. From my competitive analysis, Davey offers unparalleled institutional knowledge and field services. PlanIt Geo delivers a more modern, agile software, but this alternative provides an immense, integrated solution backed by vast experience.
Choose Davey if your priority is a single vendor for massive, nationwide projects, requiring extensive field services and long-term support.
2. Cartegraph
Managing all public works assets centrally?
Cartegraph serves as a comprehensive public works asset management platform, handling roads, signs, and trees as part of a unified system. What I found comparing options is that Cartegraph integrates all public assets seamlessly, which contrasts with PlanIt Geo’s specialized arboriculture focus. This alternative suits broader municipal needs.
Consider Cartegraph if your city needs a single, unified platform for managing all public works assets, not just a specialized tree inventory.
3. Cityworks (a Trimble Company)
Already deep into the Esri GIS ecosystem?
Cityworks is a GIS-centric asset management solution built directly on the Esri ArcGIS platform. From my analysis, Cityworks leverages your existing Esri investment, making it ideal if your organization has skilled GIS staff. This alternative requires more in-house expertise than PlanIt Geo’s turn-key approach.
You should choose Cityworks when your organization is heavily invested in Esri and possesses the skilled GIS staff to customize and manage it.
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4. ArborSafe
Prioritizing established tree risk assessment?
ArborSafe is an established software provider in the arboriculture space, particularly recognized for its robust risk assessment capabilities. Alternative-wise, ArborSafe offers industry-standard tree risk assessment tools. PlanIt Geo boasts a more modern UI and broader canopy planning, but ArborSafe focuses on its core strength.
Choose ArborSafe if your primary need is specialized, industry-standard tree risk assessment and you prefer a long-established, focused vendor.
Quick Decision Guide
- Choose PlanIt Geo: Specialized urban forestry, user-friendly software, expert consulting hybrid.
- Choose Davey Resource Group: Massive nationwide projects and full-service, long-term management.
- Choose Cartegraph: Unified platform for managing all public works assets.
- Choose Cityworks: Heavily invested in Esri ecosystem with in-house GIS expertise.
- Choose ArborSafe: Primary need for industry-standard tree risk assessment.
The best PlanIt Geo alternatives depend on your specific project scale and existing tech stack. Carefully assess your unique needs before making a final decision.
Setup & Implementation
Implementation: More than just installing software.
Understanding PlanIt Geo implementation is crucial for a smooth rollout. This PlanIt Geo review section breaks down deployment, helping you set realistic expectations for time, resources, and challenges.
1. Setup Complexity & Timeline
Data migration shapes your timeline.
The initial setup for PlanIt Geo involves configuring custom data fields, user roles, and permissions within the TreePlotter application. If you have existing data, their team assists with cleanup and migration, which is often the most time-consuming part of the process. From my implementation analysis, prepare for this crucial phase.
You’ll need to allocate internal resources for data preparation and actively collaborate with PlanIt Geo’s team during the migration phase.
2. Technical Requirements & Integration
Cloud-based simplicity, mobile needs.
PlanIt Geo operates as a cloud-based web application, meaning no on-premise servers are required for the main system. Your field crews will need modern iOS or Android smartphones or tablets with GPS capabilities for the Canopy App. What I found about deployment is your existing mobile fleet will dictate hardware needs and potential costs.
Ensure your mobile devices meet specifications and field staff have reliable internet access, even if intermittent for offline mode capabilities.
3. Training & Change Management
User adoption needs thoughtful training.
PlanIt Geo offers direct training, with the mobile Canopy App being intuitive for field staff, requiring minimal training. However, the back-end web application has a steeper learning curve, especially for advanced reporting. Implementation-wise, you’ll need to prioritize admin training for full system utilization and efficient data management.
Develop a phased training plan for different user groups, emphasizing practical application to overcome the learning curve for administrative users.
4. Support & Success Factors
Vendor support is a major asset.
A standout strength of PlanIt Geo is their implementation support. Users consistently praise their responsiveness and practical solutions, acting as a dedicated partner throughout your deployment. From my implementation analysis, leveraging their expert guidance is paramount for avoiding common pitfalls and streamlining your rollout process.
Actively engage with their support team, provide regular feedback, and utilize their expertise to tailor the system to your specific operational needs.
Implementation Checklist
- Timeline: Varies; data migration is a significant phase
- Team Size: Internal project manager, IT, and data entry staff
- Budget: Beyond software, budget for training and data prep time
- Technical: Modern mobile devices with GPS for field use
- Success Factor: Dedicated data migration effort and vendor collaboration
Overall, PlanIt Geo implementation requires a thoughtful approach, especially with data migration, but their excellent support makes the process manageable. Vendor collaboration is key to success.
Who’s PlanIt Geo For
Your guide to PlanIt Geo’s best fit.
This PlanIt Geo review section helps you quickly determine if this specialized software aligns with your specific business profile, team size, and urban forestry management requirements. My analysis focuses on practical fit scenarios.
1. Ideal User Profile
Master your urban forest assets.
PlanIt Geo is perfect for organizations viewing trees as critical infrastructure, needing specialized, data-driven management. From my user analysis, municipal arborists, urban foresters, and city planners gain immense value. You’ll transition from reactive, complaint-based tree care to a proactive management cycle.
You’ll find success if your primary goal is comprehensive urban forest management, particularly if your team values specialized, intuitive tools.
2. Business Size & Scale
Optimize operations for your city size.
This software best serves small-to-large municipalities, county governments, and substantial NGOs. What I found about target users is that cities from 5K residents to 1M+ effectively utilize its robust capabilities, needing a comprehensive solution. Your operations need to justify its scope.
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You’re a good fit if you have complex green infrastructure to manage and dedicated teams overseeing urban forestry programs.
3. Use Case Scenarios
Drive data-driven green asset management.
PlanIt Geo excels when transitioning to proactive, data-driven tree care. It’s ideal for conducting comprehensive tree inventories, developing strategic urban forest master plans, and improving field crew efficiency. From my analysis, it fundamentally optimizes comprehensive urban forest management.
You’ll find this works well if your priority is shifting from reactive responses to planned, systematic green asset oversight and precise field work.
4. Who Should Look Elsewhere
Not for generalized asset tracking.
If your goal is just to manage trees as a minor part of a broader public works system, PlanIt Geo might be too specialized or too costly. User-wise, very small community groups find it robust, as it specifically targets mid-market to enterprise municipal clients.
Consider broader EAM platforms like Cartegraph or Cityworks if your needs focus on general asset tracking.
Best Fit Assessment
- Perfect For: Organizations viewing trees as critical infrastructure needing data-driven management.
- Business Size: Small-to-large municipalities (5,000 to 1M+ residents), county governments, large NGOs.
- Primary Use Case: Comprehensive urban forest management, tree inventory, strategic master planning.
- Budget Range: Mid-market to enterprise-level investment; may be costly for very small groups.
- Skip If: Very small community groups, individual consultants, or need general asset management.
Overall, this PlanIt Geo review shows your fit hinges on your specific urban forestry focus and organizational scale. You’ll thrive if you need a specialized solution for comprehensive green infrastructure management.
Bottom Line
PlanIt Geo delivers specialized excellence.
My PlanIt Geo review reveals a highly specialized solution that excels in its niche, offering unique value for specific organizational needs.
1. Overall Strengths
Specialized tools meet exceptional support.
PlanIt Geo truly excels in its dedication to urban forestry and green infrastructure. The intuitive interfaces for both web and mobile make field data collection straightforward. From my comprehensive analysis, the depth of specialized features for arboriculture, like robust risk assessment and work order tracking, is unparalleled.
These strengths empower organizations to manage complex green assets efficiently, ensuring data-driven decisions and improved operational workflows.
2. Key Limitations
What are the honest downsides to consider?
The cost can be a significant hurdle for smaller organizations or non-profits. While reporting is robust, some users desire more advanced reporting customization options without needing direct support. Minor bugs or occasional performance glitches are also noted after updates.
These limitations are important to acknowledge, but for organizations truly aligned with PlanIt Geo’s core mission, they often represent manageable trade-offs.
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3. Final Recommendation
My recommendation is clear.
PlanIt Geo is highly recommended for municipal governments and large environmental organizations. Based on my analysis, this solution works best for specialized urban forestry needs, especially those requiring robust data collection and asset management. Its exceptional support consistently offsets minor technical issues.
Your decision should factor in the depth of specialized features and excellent customer support for confident, long-term adoption.
Bottom Line
- Verdict: Recommended for specialized urban green asset management
- Best For: Municipal governments and large environmental organizations managing urban green assets
- Biggest Strength: Unparalleled specialized features and exceptional customer support
- Main Concern: Higher cost for smaller organizations; limited reporting customization
- Next Step: Request a tailored demo to assess specific organizational needs
This PlanIt Geo review demonstrates a genuinely strong recommendation for organizations focused on arboriculture and urban green asset management.