Limen vs Shovels
The same data. A fraction of the price.
Shovels charges $499/mo and requires a sales call. Limen starts at $99/mo with instant self-serve access.
What is Shovels?
Shovels is a permit data API and platform aimed at enterprise customers. Their pricing starts at $499/mo, requires a sales call to get started, and is geared toward large organizations with developer resources.
Why contractors choose Limen
$99/mo vs $499/mo — same permit data, 5x less
5x more affordable
Shovels starts at $499/mo. Limen Pro is $99/mo — the same core permit data at a price that makes sense for individual contractors and small teams.
Self-serve, no sales calls
Shovels requires you to book a demo and talk to sales before you can access anything. Limen lets you sign up and start browsing permits in minutes.
Built for contractors, not developers
Shovels is API-first, designed for engineering teams. Limen gives you a clean dashboard with search, filters, alerts, and CSV exports — no coding required.
Regional depth over national breadth
Limen covers 108+ cities across 4 states with deep, reliable data. We prioritize data quality in our coverage areas over thin national coverage.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Limen | Shovels |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $99/mo | $499/mo |
| Self-serve signup | ||
| Sales call required | ||
| Dashboard UI | API-focused | |
| Email alerts | ||
| CSV export | Via API | |
| Permit data | ||
| Contractor data | ||
| Coverage | 108+ cities, 4 states | National |
| Free tier |
Pricing at a glance
Shovels
$499/mo
Requires sales call. API-focused. Enterprise-oriented.
Frequently asked questions
How is Limen different from Shovels?
Both provide building permit data. Shovels is an enterprise API platform starting at $499/mo that requires a sales conversation. Limen is a self-serve dashboard at $99/mo — you sign up and start finding leads immediately.
Is Limen a Shovels alternative?
Yes. If you're a contractor or small team looking for permit data without the enterprise price tag and sales process, Limen is the more accessible option.
Does Limen have an API?
Not yet. Limen focuses on the dashboard experience — search, filter, export, and email alerts. If you need an API for custom integrations, Shovels may be a better fit.
Why is Limen so much cheaper?
We're built for individual contractors and small teams, not enterprise sales cycles. Lower overhead, simpler product, better price.
Ready to try a better approach?
Sign up free. No credit card required. See real permit data in minutes.
Start your free trial