CleverDings Plain comparisons of household help apps

Encircle vs Scanlily vs Packing Buddy in 2026

Compare Encircle, Scanlily, and Packing Buddy for moving, inventory, and restoration. See what each does, pricing, setup steps, and key questions to ask.

By CleverDings ·

CleverDings is published by the makers of Benefit Buddy, Postal Buddy and Packing Buddy, which are compared here alongside other apps.

Encircle captures restoration work offline and keeps data private while an estimator reviews every line. [1] [1] Scanlily offers plans for homes and small teams, with a $9 Pro plan. [2] [2] Packing Buddy photographs box contents, lists items with AI, and prints QR labels for easy lookup. [3] [3]

OptionOwn priceWhat its source says it is
Encirclenot published [1]Offline capture; pricing is not seat-based and has no hidden fees [1] [1]; data stays private; estimator reviews every line [1]
ScanlilyPro $9 USD/mo; Ultra $35 USD/mo; Premium $75 USD/mo; Enterprise custom; annual billing 2 months free [2] [2] [2] [2] [2]For homes, collectors, and small teams; equipment booking; multiple sites & locations [2] [2] [2] [2]
Packing BuddyFree: 3 test boxes per device; free account 10 boxes, 25 AI reads, up to 4 photos/box [3]; Plus $12.99/mo or $59/yr for 100 boxes; Pro $19.99/mo or $99/yr unlimited [3]Photos of box contents listed by AI; printable QR labels; searchable boxes; share links for movers (the movers link comes with your plan); 30 languages; phone or web use [3] [3] [3] [3] [3]

The short answer

Encircle lets a restoration shop capture work without internet and syncs later. [1] Its source says data stays private and an estimator reviews every line. [1] Scanlily has plans for homes and solo professionals, and for small teams that lend, move, and track equipment. [2] [2] Packing Buddy lets a household photograph what goes in each moving box, then AI creates a searchable list and prints a QR label that any phone can scan. [3] [3]

What Encircle, Scanlily is built for

Encircle is used by more than 3,000 restoration shops. [1] Its field app works offline and syncs when back online. [1] Encircle says your data stays private, and that an estimator reviews every line. [1] Its Pro plan is presented as best for homes and solo professionals. [2] The Ultra plan is described as best for small teams that lend, move, and track equipment. [2]

What Packing Buddy is built for

Packing Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site. You take photos of what goes into a moving box, and AI lists the items and picks the room. [3] Each box gets a code like K-03 printed on its label. [3] Labels print from a home printer on store-bought Avery 5163 sheets or on plain paper you cut out and tape on. [3] Scanning a box’s QR code with any phone camera opens that box in the browser, no app needed. [3] You can search your boxes to find which box an item is in. [3] Share links let a partner, friends, or movers join by typing their name, with no account needed; the movers link comes with your plan. [3] You can print blank QR labels in advance and start a box later by scanning one. [3] The app and its AI box lists are available in 30 languages. [3] It runs on phones and in a web browser; Bluetooth printing works only in the phone app, not on the web. [3] [3]

Pricing and fees

Encircle’s sources say its pricing is not seat based and there are no hidden fees. [1] Encircle offers a 2 week trial with no commitment. [1] [1] Scanlily’s Pro plan costs $9 USD per month. [2] The Ultra plan costs $35 USD per month. [2] The Premium plan costs $75 USD per month. [2] Enterprise pricing is custom. [2] Packing Buddy offers 3 free test boxes per device without an account, and with a free account you get 10 boxes, 25 AI reads, and up to 4 photos per box. [3] The Plus plan costs $12.99 a month or $59 a year for 100 boxes. [3] The Pro plan costs $19.99 a month or $99 a year and includes unlimited boxes and Bluetooth printers. [3]

Getting started

To try Encircle, speak to an Encircle expert for a 2 week trial; no commitment is required. [1] [1] The field app works offline and syncs when you regain signal. [1] Scanlily lets you start with a 14-day free trial. [2] Packing Buddy runs in a web browser or on a phone; on a computer you can upload existing photos without installing anything. [3] [3] Start with three free test boxes per device, then sign in to get the free account limits. [3]

Things to check before you choose

Does the tool work offline or need constant internet? Does it keep data private? What pricing model does it use: seat based, per box, or flat subscription? Does it include a trial and a no commitment start? Can you print QR labels or use a phone to open a box? Does it support multiple users or sites if you need a team?

How to choose

If you need offline capture for restoration work, Encircle says it provides that feature. [1] If you want a low-cost plan to track equipment at home, Scanlily’s Pro plan starts at $9 a month. [2] If you track equipment for a small team, Scanlily’s Ultra plan costs $35 a month. [2] If you want to photograph moving boxes, get AI item lists, and scan QR codes without installing software, Packing Buddy provides that functionality. [3] [3]

Frequently asked questions

Is Encircle free to try?

Encircle offers a 2 week trial with no commitment. [1] [1] Its pricing is not seat based and has no hidden fees. [1]

How much does Scanlily cost?

Scanlily’s Pro plan costs $9 USD per month. [2] The Ultra plan costs $35 USD per month. [2] The Premium plan costs $75 USD per month. [2] Enterprise pricing is custom. [2] Annual billing includes two months free. [2]

Is Packing Buddy free?

Packing Buddy lets you create three test boxes per device without an account. [3] With a free account you get 10 boxes, 25 AI reads, and up to 4 photos per box. [3] The Plus plan costs $12.99 a month or $59 a year for 100 boxes, and the Pro plan costs $19.99 a month or $99 a year with unlimited boxes. [3]

Can Scanlily be used for moving equipment?

Scanlily’s Ultra plan is described as best for small teams that lend, move, and track equipment. [2] It includes equipment booking for checkouts, reservations, and pickups. [2]

How do movers see your boxes in Packing Buddy?

Packing Buddy creates QR labels that any phone camera can scan to open a box in the browser, no app needed. [3] Share links let partners, friends, or movers join by typing their name, with no account required. [3]

Free: 3 test boxes per device without an account; with a free account, 10 boxes, 25 AI reads and up to 4 photos a box. [3]

Try Packing Buddy

Sources

  1. Encircle, encircleapp.com, read 2026-10-09
  2. Scanlily, scanlily.com, read 2026-10-07
  3. Packing Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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