Zohgo vs RunEnvelope
Should I use RunEnvelope or Zohgo?
RunEnvelope is the deeper tool: a paid, architect-style feasibility study per lot, with every legal scenario modeled, floor plans, CAD and 3D exports and a published accuracy benchmark, at $149 to $499 a report as listed on its site. Its free check (no account) gives FAR, buildable square feet and the envelope. Zohgo is a quicker first pass you can question in plain English, free for 3 properties a month and $19.99 a month for unlimited. Try Zohgo on your address.
Both cover any lot in the five boroughs and cite the Zoning Resolution. The difference is depth versus speed and price. Checked on both sites on October 26, 2026.
At a glance
| RunEnvelope | Zohgo | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | "An architect-grade zoning study for any NYC lot" | NYC zoning first-pass tool with guided analysis and chat |
| Free use | Free check, no account, "as many as you like": district, overlays, max FAR, height, buildable SF, which scenarios apply, unused air rights | 3 properties a month with Google or Apple sign-in; citations and diagrams blurred |
| Paid | One report $149 to $499, priced by buildable SF; Pro $4,990/yr (10 full reports a month) | Pro $19.99/month (unlimited properties); Max $99.99/month |
| Scenarios | As-of-right, City of Yes UAP, Inclusionary Housing, Tower-on-Base, SRO, side by side | Zoning answer for the lot under the current ZR with City of Yes |
| Floor plans and CAD | Per-floor plates; DXF on AIA layers; massing as DXF, OBJ, GLB or IFC | No floor plans or CAD exports |
| 3D | 3D massing and cross-sections | 2D and 3D envelope diagrams (Pro); editable massing (Max) |
| PDF report | White-label PDF (its sample is one lot, 94 pages) | Branded analysis PDF (Max) |
| Ask questions in plain English | Not offered as a feature on the pages we read | Yes (smart chat) |
| Published accuracy benchmark | Yes, against DOB-approved New Building filings | No published benchmark |
RunEnvelope facts from runenvelope.com (home page rates block, pricing, about, air rights and accuracy pages). Its pricing page showed "Plan prices are temporarily unavailable" on October 26, 2026, so the prices above are from its home page. Zohgo facts from zohgo.ai.
Where RunEnvelope is better
- Depth. It models "every legal building," with FAR, height and unit count per scenario, split zoning and assemblages handled per edge, and special-district and overlay overrides applied automatically. It also lists unit mix, core sizing, parking layout and loading berths, a Building Code Chapter 5 analysis, and tax program eligibility (421-a, J-51, ICAP, 485-x).
- Drawings you can hand to a designer. Per-floor plans with rooms named and measured, editable DXF floors and massing in DXF, OBJ, GLB or IFC for AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino and SketchUp.
- Air rights. Unused floor area on the lot, what each neighbor could transfer, and what a zoning lot merger unlocks.
- A published accuracy test. It reports that 98% of 1,375 DOB-approved New Building filings stayed within its maximum zoning floor area, from a benchmark run of October 17, 2026.
- A generous free check. No account, no limit, and it shows max FAR, height, buildable square feet and which scenarios apply. Zohgo's free plan is capped at 3 properties a month.
Where Zohgo is better
- Price for frequent use. Zohgo Pro is $19.99 a month for unlimited properties. A single full RunEnvelope report is $149 to $499; its Pro plan is $4,990 a year for 10 reports a month.
- Conversation. You can ask follow-up questions in your own words ("could I add a floor?", "what if it were a community facility?") instead of reading a fixed report.
- Speed to an answer. Zohgo's home page lists a response time under 2 seconds; it is built for the quick first pass before you decide a site deserves a full study.
Zohgo shows the zoning district, FAR, height and setbacks for any NYC address in about a minute. Free to start, sign in with Google or Apple.
Check any NYC address free on ZohgoA sensible way to use both
- Screen addresses in Zohgo (or RunEnvelope's free check) to see the district, FAR and height.
- For the few sites worth pursuing, buy the full RunEnvelope study or hire an architect for schematic design.
- Before filing or buying, have a licensed professional confirm. Both tools say so: RunEnvelope's footer says it "is not a licensed architect, engineer, surveyor or attorney," and Zohgo calls itself a research tool, not professional advice.
What Zohgo does
- Enter an NYC address and Zohgo pulls the lot's city records (its pricing page names PLUTO, Geoclient and GeoSearch) and works out the zoning: district, floor area, height, setbacks and allowed uses, against the current Zoning Resolution including City of Yes (effective December 5, 2024).
- Two ways in: Fast Track, a guided button-by-button analysis, or smart chat, where you ask in your own words.
- Coverage: its home page says "850k+ NYC Lots" and "R1-M3 Full Coverage."
- Free plan: 3 properties a month, sign in with Google or Apple. Zoning Resolution citations and building diagrams are blurred on Free; the Pro plan ($19.99/month) unblurs them and removes the property limit. A Max plan ($99.99/month) adds an assistant, a branded analysis PDF and editable massing. Paid plans start with a 7-day free trial.
- Zohgo is an automated research tool, not legal or architectural advice. Its own site says to confirm with the Department of Buildings or a licensed professional before filing or buying.
Not to be confused with Envelope
RunEnvelope (runenvelope.com) is a separate company from Envelope (envelope.city), the 3D zoning platform for NYC. This page compares Zohgo with RunEnvelope only.
Who should pick which
- Developers underwriting a specific site, or architects starting schematic design: RunEnvelope's full study.
- Anyone checking many addresses, or asking quick what-ifs: Zohgo.
- Owners curious about one lot: either free option first.
Zohgo vs RunEnvelope FAQ
How much does RunEnvelope cost?
As listed on its home page in October 2026: a free check with no account, one full report for $149 to $499 priced by buildable square feet, and Pro at $4,990 a year (or $1,700 a quarter) for 10 full reports a month. Its pricing page said plan prices were temporarily unavailable on October 26, 2026.
Is RunEnvelope the same as Envelope?
No. RunEnvelope's own comparison page says Envelope (envelope.city) is a separate company, a 3D zoning platform from SHoP Architects and MIT's Civic Data Design Lab now marketed by First American.
Does Zohgo make floor plans or CAD files?
No. Zohgo gives the zoning answer, citations and envelope diagrams (Pro), with editable massing and a PDF on Max. For floor plans and DXF or IFC exports, RunEnvelope or an architect is the right choice.
Which is more accurate?
RunEnvelope publishes a benchmark against DOB-approved filings (98% of 1,375 stayed within its maximum zoning floor area, per its accuracy page). Zohgo does not publish a benchmark. Whatever tool you use, confirm with a licensed professional before relying on the numbers.
Is Zohgo free?
Yes for 3 properties a month, with a Google or Apple sign-in. Pro is $19.99 a month for unlimited properties.
Related pages
Sources
Competitor facts come from the tool's own live site, read October 26, 2026.
- RunEnvelope: home page (rates block): https://runenvelope.com/
- RunEnvelope: Pricing: https://runenvelope.com/pricing
- RunEnvelope: About: https://runenvelope.com/about
- RunEnvelope: Air rights: https://runenvelope.com/air-rights
- RunEnvelope: Accuracy: https://runenvelope.com/accuracy
- RunEnvelope: NYC zoning software compared: https://runenvelope.com/compare
- Zohgo: Pricing: https://zohgo.ai/pricing
- Zohgo: home page: https://zohgo.ai/