Side by side
| PermitPipeline | Shovels.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | 4 metros, deep: NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami-Dade | Nationwide U.S. permit dataset (170M+ permits) |
| Product | Scored daily lead feed + pursuit workflow app | Data platform: API, dashboards, enrichment |
| Audience | GCs, subcontractors, design professionals, suppliers | Data teams, lenders, solar/trades at scale, analysts |
| Scoring | Every filing graded for contractor fit (A+/A = high-priority) | Filters and metrics; you define what matters |
| Setup | None; sign up and the feed arrives | API integration or dashboard configuration |
| Pricing | $149–$599/mo, public, self-serve, 14-day trial | Tiered; API/enterprise pricing via sales |
| Best for | Firms that want leads they can work today | Teams building their own permit-data products or analysis |
Comparison last verified July 2026 from public information. Products and pricing change; check the other provider's site for current details.
Where Shovels.ai is stronger
Breadth and programmability. If you need permit history across the whole country, want to join permit data to your own models, or are building a product on top of permits, Shovels.ai's dataset and API are the right shape. Its coverage dashboard and data dictionary are genuinely good resources.
Where PermitPipeline is different
PermitPipeline compresses the same raw material — public permit filings — into a decision: which projects filed in your market are worth pursuing this week. Grading runs daily per metro, tuned to contractor fit rather than generic activity, and the app carries the follow-through. No integration, no queries, no sales call: public pricing and a trial.
How to choose
Want leads, not a dataset: start with construction leads from permit filings. Building something with permit data, or working far outside our four metros: Shovels.ai. The products overlap less than they appear to.
Related: PermitPipeline vs Construction Monitor · PermitPipeline vs Dodge · coverage & data dictionary.
Frequently asked
Is PermitPipeline a Shovels.ai alternative?
For contractors and design firms who want ready-to-work leads, yes. Shovels.ai is a nationwide permit-data platform and API aimed at teams that build their own analysis; PermitPipeline is a turnkey scored lead feed and workflow for NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami-Dade.
What is the main difference between PermitPipeline and Shovels.ai?
Shovels.ai sells access to a very large national permit dataset (API, dashboards, enrichment) and prices its API through sales conversations. PermitPipeline sells a finished workflow: daily scored filings, search, tracking, and contact research, at public prices from $149 per month.
Do I need a data team to use PermitPipeline?
No. PermitPipeline is built for contractors, not data teams: the scoring, filtering, and delivery are done for you, and there is nothing to integrate unless you want to.
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