Horizon Is Shutting Down on December 15, 2026
Carson Dunlop is retiring Horizon, so every Horizon inspector has to move before that date — and export their reports first. Here is an honest look at how InspectorData compares, and how to bring your history with you.
Overview: InspectorData vs Horizon (Carson Dunlop)
InspectorData is a flat-rate home inspection platform built by an InterNACHI Master Inspector. AI photo categorization, a mobile app with offline mode for iPhone, Android and iPad, and Limitations and General Info tabs in every section. Single subscription covers full home inspection, 4-point, wind mit, sewer scope, mold, radon, pool, septic, commercial, and more.
Horizon (Carson Dunlop) is a different approach. Horizon is a desktop-legacy report writer from Carson Dunlop, popular among long-tenured inspectors. Inspectors using Horizon (Carson Dunlop) typically value its specific strengths and may have built workflows around them.
The honest version: which tool is better depends on your business. This page compares them on the dimensions that matter for working inspectors.
Feature comparison
AI photo categorization
InspectorData has it. The AI categorizes inspection photos by section automatically, saving 15-30 minutes per report. Horizon (Carson Dunlop) typically does not — photos get organized manually.
Mobile app with offline mode
InspectorData's mobile app keeps working at properties without signal. Capture photos and notes in basements and crawl spaces, and they sync when you are back online.
Limitations and General Info in every section
Every section of the InspectorData report writer has a Limitations tab and a General Info tab, the way Horizon users are used to working. Pick from section lists or type your own, and both print in the report and the PDF.
Comment library
InspectorData writes comments from your photos and your own saved comments, and you can bring your Horizon comments with you. In Horizon (Carson Dunlop) your library is what you built over the years, so export it before December 15, 2026.
Multi-template support (4-point, wind mit, sewer scope, etc.)
InspectorData includes every report type at the flat-rate — no add-ons. Horizon (Carson Dunlop) typically charges per-report or per-form for niche reports, or doesn't support some of them at all.
Pricing model
InspectorData: flat-rate, no per-report fees. Horizon (Carson Dunlop): typically per-report fees, per-feature tiers, or annual desktop licenses.
Founder credentials
InspectorData was built by Lisa Meine, InterNACHI Master Inspector (CMI #47330) with 11+ years of field experience. Horizon (Carson Dunlop)'s founder background varies.
When InspectorData wins (and when Horizon (Carson Dunlop) might)
InspectorData wins for:
- Inspectors running niche reports (4-point, wind mit, sewer scope, mold, radon) alongside standard home inspections — one subscription covers everything
- Horizon users who want Limitations and General Info in every section, plus AI help writing the report
- Inspectors at properties without reliable wifi — the mobile app has offline mode
- Inspectors who value AI photo categorization and the 15-30 minute time savings per report
- Inspectors who want flat predictable pricing
- New inspectors who don't yet have years of comment library customization invested in another tool
Horizon (Carson Dunlop) might win for:
- Inspectors with deep customization invested in Horizon (Carson Dunlop) that would take time to recreate
- Inspectors whose specific niche Horizon (Carson Dunlop) handles particularly well
- Inspectors whose business workflow has been built around Horizon (Carson Dunlop)'s specific features
- Inspectors who prefer Horizon (Carson Dunlop)'s specific pricing model
This comparison is honest because no tool is universally better. You can run both in parallel and compare on real reports.
Switching from Horizon (Carson Dunlop) to InspectorData
Most inspectors who switch from Horizon (Carson Dunlop) to InspectorData take 1-2 weeks to feel productive. The transition path:
- Sign up — . Set up your business profile.
- Import your client list — manual or CSV import. Most inspectors have ~200-2000 contacts to migrate.
- Bring your comment library — export your Horizon comments and send them to us, and we help you load them. Add new phrasing as you go.
- Run inspections in parallel for the first 2-3 reports — same property, both tools, see which produces a better workflow.
- Switch fully before December 15, 2026 — the day Horizon closes.
For migration help, read Switching from Horizon or email [email protected].
The home inspection software market in 2026
The home inspection software market has shifted significantly. Five years ago the choice was between desktop legacy products (HomeGauge, Horizon, 3D Inspection) and a few mobile-first newcomers (Spectora, Tap Inspect). The legacy products had deep features but slow workflows; the newcomers had clean UIs but limited templates.
In 2026 the market has changed:
- AI is now table-stakes — inspectors expect software to help with photo categorization and comment suggestion, not just store data
- Mobile-first is required — inspectors run their business from a phone or tablet, not a desktop
- Pricing is consolidating — flat-rate subscriptions are replacing per-report fees because inspectors hate doing math on every job
- Specialty templates matter — a 4-point inspection in Florida and a sewer scope in Minnesota and a wind mit on the Gulf Coast all need first-class templates, not afterthoughts
InspectorData was built around these 2026 realities. Older platforms are catching up but typically through bolt-on modules rather than ground-up redesigns. That's the structural reason inspectors switch — the new platform is built for how the work actually happens today.
Get Started
Run real inspections, compare with your current software, decide based on actual use. See pricing for the flat-rate details.
InspectorData vs Horizon (Carson Dunlop) at a glance
| Feature | InspectorData | Horizon (Carson Dunlop) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat rate, no per-report fees | Varies — typically per-report or tier-based |
| AI photo categorization | Yes — built in | Typically no |
| AI writes the whole report from photos | Yes — AI Auto-Write (first 2 reports free) | — |
| Limitations + General Info in every section | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app with offline mode | Yes | Varies |
| Bring your own comments | Yes, we help you load them | Your own library |
| 4-point inspection support | Built-in template | Varies |
| Wind mit support | Built-in template | Varies |
| Sewer scope support | Built-in template | Varies |
| Founder credentials | InterNACHI CMI #47330 | Varies |
Frequently asked questions
Is InspectorData cheaper than Horizon (Carson Dunlop)?
InspectorData's flat-rate is generally lower for active inspectors than Horizon (Carson Dunlop)'s typical per-report or tier-based pricing. Specific savings depend on your inspection volume.
Can I migrate my data from Horizon (Carson Dunlop)?
Yes. Export your client and agent lists and your comments from Horizon, and email them to [email protected]. We help you load them. Read the Switching from Horizon guide for the full checklist.
Will I lose my comment library when switching from Horizon (Carson Dunlop)?
No. Export your comments, Limitations and General Info lists from Horizon before December 15, 2026 and send them to us. We help you load them so your reports start with your own wording.
Does InspectorData have Limitations and General Info like Horizon?
Yes. Every section of the InspectorData report writer has a Limitations tab and a General Info tab, for every account.
Does InspectorData work offline?
Yes. The mobile app keeps working without signal — capture photos and notes in basements and crawl spaces, and they sync when you are back online.
Why do inspectors switch from Horizon (Carson Dunlop)?
Common reasons: predictable flat pricing instead of per-report fees, AI photo categorization that saves 15-30 minutes per report, mobile offline mode, all report types included in one subscription.
What if InspectorData isn't right for me?
Your data exports to PDF before expiration.